Living in San Diego is amazing. We have the best weather in the world. For those of you who like putzing around in the garden, you will be able to do so year-round. If you own your home, there are many drought-tolerant landscaping ideas that you can find by either searching online or simply walking around different neighborhoods in San Diego. More and more people are turning to maintenance-free yards because of the water shortage that has been going on in Southern California for several years.
Backyard Grass Alternatives
“Fake grass,” aka synthetic grass, is an alternative. Although, it can be costly to install, depending on the size of your backyard. It is marketed as kid-friendly and pet-friendly. Although, I would not recommend it if you have dogs. I tried it once and eventually had to remove it because the odor of the urine became unbearable. Even though we hosed it down after our dogs relieved themselves on it, the smell always lingered. Another low-water landscape idea would be to add river rocks throughout, DG, and pavers. This would help create the indoor-outdoor living that Southern California is known for. You can then add some outdoor furniture and create your little oasis.
What To Plant Instead Of Grass
Once you’ve decided whether to do DG, river rocks, or pavers, it is time to plant a few things to add greenery. It is always nice to have a few organic fruit trees around. Here are a few of my favorite trees planted in my backyard that are easy to grow and go with your maintenance-free yard. Although they are not drought tolerant in the beginning stages of their lives, if planted correctly, they will develop quickly, and you won’t have to water as much once they mature. Remember that all of these trees can be dwarfed, so they don’t take up all of your front or backyard.
- Lemon Tree
- Orange Tree
- Peach Tree
- Avocado Tree- not drought by a must-have for me:-)
Hydroponics
For those of you with smaller spaces, there is another excellent alternative. Having a hydroponic garden in a small yard area is always a great thing to have. With minimum effort, you can harvest kale, chard, basil, peppers, tomatoes, and so many more vegetables that will be right at your fingertips.This is a good place to start for more information on Hydroponic Gardening. They are located in Leucadia, CA, and they are great guys.
The initial idea of tearing out the grass in your back or front yard may make you tired, but don’t let it stop you from the endeavor. There are different approaches you can take for doing this task. Of course, you can always do it yourself, but why not get help? Maybe you can get the family involved. It is an excellent way to spend quality time. Or how about inviting friends over and having several shovels ready to start digging? You can have a catering service come by a few hours later and feed everyone. Or, you can ultimately hire it out. However you decide to do it, do it. You will be happy when you receive your water bill every two months; You will also be doing your part by using less water.
If you need help finding a home in North Park, South Park, or any other neighborhood in San Diego so that you can put your drought-tolerant ideas to work, the McT Real Estate Group is here to help you find that very home. Contact us right away.
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