Embrace Drought-Tolerant Plantings

Embrace Drought-Tolerant Plantings

Embrace Drought-Tolerant Plantings

A Sustainable Luxury for Your Home

One of the benefits of living on the Monterey coast is the diversity of plant materials that grow and thrive in our environment. Today’s trends reflect a shift toward incorporating drought-tolerant plantings such as succulents and native grasses into gardens, bringing in a fresh look that contrasts sharply with the traditional English or East Coast styles featuring hydrangeas, lavenders, roses and boxwoods. Carmel and Monterey gardens have always boasted their unique aesthetic, using plants like Pride of Madeira, agaves and California lilac, which require lower amounts of water.

SUSTAINABLE AND BEAUTIFUL INDIGENOUS DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTINGS

Embracing indigenous drought resistant plants not only contributes to sustainability but also enhances the natural beauty of your garden. Native plants such as California poppies, manzanita and ceanothus are perfectly suited to the local climate and offer a palette of vibrant colors and textures. Complementing these plantings with hardscape elements like gravel paths, stone walls and wooden decks can create a harmonious and visually stunning garden. The juxtaposition of lush, drought tolerant greenery with natural stone or wood enhances the overall aesthetic, creating a garden that is both sustainable and luxurious.

California front yard with drought-tolerant plantings in a newly remodeled landscape

OPTIONS BEYOND TRADITIONAL LAWNS USING DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTINGS

Driving around, it’s common to see many lawns that have turned brown as homeowners opted to turn off their water years ago. Synthetic turf is an alternative, but it is costly, and many people prefer a natural look over an artificial one. Fortunately, there are living green options that once established require 50 percent less water than conventional lawns.

One such option is Kurapia®, a ground cover available in sod form that tolerates foot traffic and produces white flowers that provide food for local pollinators. Although it is about six times the cost of traditional fescue initially, Kurapia requires significantly less water once established. Additionally, maintenance costs are lower since this lawn needs less-frequent mowing.

Other alternatives include native “no mow” sod, which can be left to grow for a meadow-like appearance or mowed regularly depending on homeowner preferences. These alternatives not only save water but also reduce maintenance efforts and costs.

Landscape using drought tolerant plantings for an Eichler home remodel

View the full project Modernizing an Eichler Landscape

REDUCING LAWN SIZE FOR GREATER IMPACT

If you’re interested in saving on your water bill but not ready to completely eliminate your lawn, consider reducing its size. Thoughtfully paring down your lawn area and replacing it with drought-tolerant ground covers, shrubs and perennials can make a significant difference. Dymondia and thyme are excellent ground covers that provide a pop of color and textural contrast while conserving water. These plants can be layered with other drought-tolerant species to create a visually pleasing and sustainable garden.

Stacked stone wall with large house number

CONCLUSION

Integrating drought-resistant plants into the landscapes of the Monterey Bay Area is a practical and forward thinking approach. These plants support sustainability by conserving water and fostering local ecosystems, offer aesthetic appeal through their diverse and vibrant appearances, and provide cost-effective and low maintenance gardening solutions. As climate change continues to challenge water availability, adopting drought-tolerant landscaping is not only beneficial, but necessary, for the long-term health and beauty of the Monterey Bay Area.


Article originally published in Cypress COAST Living Magazine
Copy of original article in Cypress Living Magazine called Embrace Drought-Tolerant Plantings