Need landscape plant suggestions and/or designers for association

10 years ago

Our association is looking into redoing our landscaping. In the interest of the drought, we want to go drought resistant and remove areas of lawn but need to maintain a lush, Mediterranean look. So that means dense color and green, so strict xeriscaping won't work. Because of the size of the landscape, we want low maintenance plants/succulents for both shade and sun areas. Can anyone suggest some plants that would work in Orange County? Also, cost is a concern so expensive plants are a no-go.

Finally, if anyone knows any good landscape designers in my area who can create a drought tolerant yet lush (not overly grassy) look, let me know.

Thanks!

Comments (6)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
10 years ago
Inland Orange County is different than coastal--so would help to know what you've got.

I'd recommend talking to Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar, they are very much into drought-tolerant landscaping projects and commercial drip-irrigaiton systems, and there's a guy at Roger's Gardens, very knowledgeable in CA natives. They do very professional work. I would say they tend to overplant their projects a bit, but perhaps that is because most of their customers want "instant lush".

Plants to consider, all low-water needs and tough.
Ceanothus--deep deep green foliage, blue flowers in spring
Lemonade Berry, Rhus integrifolia
Toyon-- Heteromeles arbutifolia
Deer Grass -- Muhlenbergia rigens
Arctostaphylos -- many fine species and selections, from groundcover to shrub to small trees

Aloes--many species and cultivars with spectacular flowers that attract hummingbirds
Agave attenuata -- no-spine agave with elegant archtectural form.

Keep in mind your irrigation will likely need updating and whoever maintains your property will need some re-education about not buzzing native and drought tolerant-plants into cubes and meatball shapes.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
10 years ago
Look at the long term cost rather than the inital cost of a plant.

For example, a tree that costs $20 but needs yearly pruning at a cost of $300 per year and lots of water all its life at a cost of $100 per year.

Compare that to a tree that costs $200 but needs pruning once every decade to remove small amounts of dead wood at a cost of $200, and only enough water the first year to establish itself at a cost of $100 for that first year.

Over 10 years the first tree costs $4,020 and the second costs $500.

Which is the most expensive tree?
Related Discussions
Landscape Design Suggestions for House (pics)
Q
Comments (12)
Cute house. Love your shutters. From the pictures it appears that your front yard is fairly small, and the side yards appear narrow too. I like the Mt. Laurel idea, they grow slowly. I think a standard pomegranate would be far to large for your lot and overpower your house and the rest of the landscape. There is a dwarf that might work better, but the fruit isn't said to be edible, but I've never tried them. I would worry about fruit falling on the driveway tho. I can't tell what the plants are in front, but they kind of look like standard builders plants and will also get larger than I would want to take care of that close to the house (lots of pruning to keep them short enough). Is that a crape myrtle on the right corner that looks like it's been topped? If it is anything other than a dwarf CM, I'd remove it and plant something more in scale with the house (my dwarf is about 7-8' tall). You shouldn't top crape myrtles, it makes them weak and I think their form suffers when they are topped. Personally, I'd remove it all and start over. On the wall to the left of the big window I'd go with a nice green evergreen plant 5-6' centered on the wall. Under the window something that stays fairly short - there are some small nandinas that would get very pretty red leaf coloring. On the right corner where the crape myrtle is might be a good spot for the Mt. Laurel with some perennials beneath. Where the boxwoods are, I'd do some short colorful perennials - iris would be evergreen. Interplant some sprawling summer bloomers like in plantmavens picture. Since I don't know where you are, I don't know what plants might work best in your type soil. Anyway, don't mean to totally wreck your current landscape, but I've always said, best to make changes early before the roots get so big you have a chore digging them up. If you could tell us where you are, some might be able to chime in with plant suggestions.
...See More
Any suggestions on landscape design would be greatly appreciated!
Q
Comments (5)
In order to get help, your property needs to be better understood than the above pictures allow. I suggest you line up with an axis that runs roughly through the center of the house and take a contiguous, slightly overlapping set of photos that pan across the property. I drew a sketch to help explain what I mean. Since I'm rough guessing and inaccurately drawing the layout, take it with a grain of salt and adjust for real life conditions. Since the patio is elevated, the camera needs to be high up. I suggest taking the pictures while standing on a step ladder or from the bed of a pickup truck. Try to take sharp, well lit photos.
...See More
need suggestions on paint color and landscape designs.
Q
Comments (4)
No. The windows do not have to stay brown. Everything needs a good painting. What were you thinking?
...See More
Landscape design plan and complimentary plant ideas needed
Q
Comments (13)
I would plant it diagonally off the corner of the house if possible, and if you don't own enough space, then plant if straight toward the street from the house corner, expanding the bed to accommodate it. It will help break up that large wall next door as well as not blocking the low front window. I would keep the plants in the area of walkway low and far enough from the edge so visitors don't feel like they have to avoid the walk edges. I agree with the previous poster who suggested adding mulch over the pine straw instead of removing it. Just use a brown mulch so it isn't the main feature. For specific plant suggestions (for which I will be no help since I am3- 4 zones colder than you), you want to add the amount of sun this part of the garden receives and your USDA zone - you have already given us your general location. One of the issues I see with your current plants is that they are all fine-textured and of a similar color, so having a bit more variety in general plant appearance will make it look better while still having multiples of each type for visibility from the street. You might want to take photos of your current plants and get them IDed on the Name that Plant forum here on the Garden Web part of Houzz. [Name-that-plant forum[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/name-that-plant-dsbr0-bd~t_29966) It may be that at least some of the plants will be a good choice for that spot if used in combo with some replacement plants. You haven't really explained why you are planning to move all of them.
...See More
gyr_falcon
10 years ago
Am I correct in making the assumption that you are referring to an HOA's common areas? I'm not going to bother trotting out a resume, but will try to help by giving you a few points to consider.

The cost of the plants is a minor portion of the expense of a landscape renovation. The budget bulk is going to go to labor, materials to convert the irrigation system, the landscape maintenance the installers will be in charge of during the plant replacement period, etc. If you plan to install in-house from a designer's plan, are the persons responsible for that task sufficiently knowledgeable in all of the necessary skill areas?

Who is currently contracted for your landscape maintenance? If they are a full service company, they might be the best source for installation and irrigation conversion. But check thoroughly--a verbal "Oh, yeah. We can do that." is not sufficient. Also learn if the maintenance company will be able to properly care for the drought resistant plants.

What is the current style of landscape and maintenance? Drought resistant landscapes are better maintained using selective pruning techniques rather than the common practice of taking hedgers and shaping everything into balls and squares, for example. Actually all non-formal landscapes are best selectively pruned, IMO, but that is a different thread. ;)

It really is impossible to judge the suitability of plants without knowing, at minimum, where you are located. Even then, an on-site evaluation is really necessary to put together a working design. There may be portions of the landscape that would be suitable for xeriscaping, without compromising the overall lush look.

What is behind your association's interest in the renovation? Is it time for a plant renovation and you decided to check into converting lawn areas to reduce water requirements? Water bill sticker shock? The why is important, especially because of your budget concerns. If a full renovation is beyond your financial scope, there may be other ways to evaluate and reduce expenses (drip and micro-spray irrigation, different horticultural practices, etc.). Or the renovation can be done in phases.

My husband would be my source for suitable companies that would be interested and available should you want to progress to a project consultation or bids. It does not sound as if you are at that point yet. An idea of the scope and budget would be necessary starting details.
nil13
10 years ago
Have the association buy the Bob Perry book and pick only L/VL plants and force the maintenance crew to learn how to calculate the monthly water requirements for your ET0.

Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape Plants for California Gardens
OregonGrape
10 years ago
You can do "strict xeriscaping" with with manzanitas and Ceanothus, both of which are evergreen. (Though you'll have to water for the first year, to get them established.) The prostrate forms can be used in place of a lawn.

Las Pilitas Nursery in Escondido specializes in drought-tolerant natives. Their website is also extremely informative.

http://www.laspilitas.com/easy/easy.html

http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/native-plants.html
gyr_falcon
10 years ago
Joining the information the GW forum members provided on this topic.

Here is a link that might be useful: Background Planting for OP

Need landscape plant suggestions and/or designers for association

Comments (6)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

Related Discussions

gyr_falcon

nil13

OregonGrape

gyr_falcon

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US