The upcoming water shortage has forced Californians to look for alternative garden choices. I personally endorse the use of drought tolerant and succulent plant pallets. There are a myriad of reasons why I offer this suggestion.
Traditionally, a once a week maintenance contractor must care for your yard. Most gardening has been reduced to a “mow and blow” procedure, using lazy hedging procedures to manicure the yard. The lack of know how has now reduced your yard to, ” time for a do over”. The anticipated vision you had originally just didn’t turn out the way you wanted. I have a suggestion that will bypass most future frustration and needless expense. Succulents, the garden of the future. There are so many advantages to consider. First of all, the maintenance aspects. It requires very little attention. Most succulents are resistant to diseases, lack of care and you don’t have to be an expert for your garden to thrive. Many have beautiful leaf shape and variation of color but have flower blooms as well. You can care for them without special training. Amazingly they need very little water. I can leave my garden with “no care” for a month and when I return everything still looks the same. Many people think of succulents as cactus type plants. Not true. There are now so many new hybrids which have been created for their superior aesthetic values and their ability to survive without professional care. Gardening can become enjoyable, particularly the results. You can still have the beautiful garden you originally wanted. You can also cut the weekly maintenance down to a once a month expense or less.
Take time to investigate. Go to a nursery with a landscape designer. I consider this the most important aspect of the process. This is the most intelligent investment of time and resource that you can make. A horticultural designer can make specific recommendations on what types of plants are to be used and their locations in your yard. See all that is available to you. Don’t make the mistake of purchasing a quantity of plants that you find appealing and then finding out that they were completely wrong for your yard. Huge strides have been made in landscape materials in the past few years. You just need to be steered in the right direction. After all, you are the ones that will spend time in your yard. Why not have it the way you want it. You spend time picking out furniture, cars, clothing and personal items. Why not approach the outside with the same methodology and exuberance? The creation of your home environment can be rewarding. Take the time to go through the proper process in order to achieve what you want.
Christopher Winkler
Consumer Advocate
Orange County, California