As the summer months come to a close and we are seeing the full effects of the drought it may be time to start thinking of how you, too, can save on water. You do not need an oracle to predict that the current drought levels and lack of water in California is going to drive the costs of water incredibly high. And already California is finding ways to police water waste, and take greater steps in water conservation. What better time to save than now with a redesigned backyard or front yard that takes full advantage of the myriad of water efficient plants, pavements, and landscape design. Our team at US Home Developers would like to share some ideas worth remembering when designing your drought tolerant landscape.

Replace Those Plants!

Choosing the right kinds of plants is one of the first major steps you can take in saving water. Something that is often overlooked is that a lot of native Southern California plants are already drought tolerant and highly efficient in growing in low water conditions. They come in a huge variety of cacti, succulents, trees, flowers, brushes, that are great for your backyard, and are still beautiful to look at.

Some suggestions are: Showy Penstemon, a beautiful blue petaled flower native to California's dry climate, Coast Live Oak, Deergrass, and Coyote Mint. All of these are naturally grown in dry conditions, yet retain an amazing and vibrant color palette fit for any landscape.

Water Penetarting Hardscape

Did you know that the kind of hardscape you choose can greatly affect how much water you save? Replacing grass with hardscape such as a brick walkway, can save tremendously on water. Not only are you replacing water consuming patches of grass with stone work, but, if properly spaced apart, the stone work can actually help water penetrate the soil better. This would allow more water for the grass and plants next to or near the brick walkway, and less water that you have to waste to keep them alive.

Choosing natural looking flagstone slabs, and the right kinds of plants, you can really create a backyard that takes the best out of the native environment, and makes your backyard alive.

Take Advantage of Slopes

Southern California has a lot of hills. This is especially true in places like Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, San Fernando, and lot's more. These areas frequently have homes with backyards being partially on a slope. Slopes can be taken advantage of by creating terraces. Terraces help retain water because they flatten out a gradual slope that pulls water from the top of the slope to the bottom. A terrace would allow the water to flow downwards then spread out on a flattened terrace, before sinking again to the next step.

But even terraces themselves can be further made efficient in water use. Planting larger plants, such as trees, shrubs and bushes on higher terraces would allow the water to be used more efficiently as it is absorbed by the plants. Plants that require less water such as flowers and grasses will absorb the run-off that isn't absorbed by the larger plants. By the time the water from the top get's the bottom, all the plants will be able to drink their fill in much greater efficiency.

In a recent project in Agoura Hills, CA, our US Home Developers team had an opportunity to turn our customer's lush, green, and water intensive backyard into a water efficient backyard that is still green, but water efficient. We replaced their tropical plants and water intensive flowers with some native California flora.

We installed a new patio, which allowed for greater area of shade, with a tan natural stone patio floor. Then our team took the patches of grass and replaced it with natural looking pebbles which help retain water loss through solar exposure. We then planted native California flowers like Firecracker Penstemon, a gorgeous red flower that is very water tolerant, and brings out the red colors against the green California Sheep Fescue grass.

On their south western corner they had a slope that we carved into a beautifully natural shaped terraces. On the first (top) terrace we planted some Island Manzinitas, on the second terrace (bottom) we planted Chalk Dudleya, and on the ground around the terraces we planted patches of bearberry.

Our customer went from having to water his lawn every other day, to having to water it once a week. This not only is saving them a lot of money, now, but it will save them even more money in the future when water scarcity will make water prices sky-rocket.