Water-Wise Beauty for Your Garden - Ojai, California

1. Water-Wise Beauty for Your Garden
by Linda Harmon
D espite being an avid
Southern-California
more seepage into the water
table. Use any concrete you
pushed into the soil, and when you pull it
out, it brings up a neat soil sample. Why
gardener for 30 years, remove to build walkways or water the soil if it is already moist below
attending workshops and short retaining walls for raised the surface? I also recommend replacing
listening to speakers, I find beds. Raised beds give you sprinklers with low-volume emitters
I am learning new things added soil control making it wherever possible.
constantly. It’s one of the easier to add humus. Humus After you’re done planting, eco-pest
joys of gardening. As you can help retain moisture while control is easy and environmentally
look out your window and also providing needed drainage friendly. Old as nature itself, it works with
itch to get back into your for vegetables or fruit trees. nature not against it. Use your plantings
garden, it’s the perfect time Lower your water con- to attract “good” insects. Ladybugs are the
to pick up some important sumption dramatically by earth-friendly solution to stubborn aphids
tools on water saving and getting rid of grass. You’ve and are available at local gardening
chemical-free pest control. heard this one before, but it centers. The birds I have attracted are now
First, consider not only ought to be repeated; use grass busy eating the aphids too. For slugs,
what you plant but the way sparingly. It is a water and snails, and sow bugs, I have found that jar
you choose to plant. Think maintenance hog that requires lids filled with leftover beer are an effective
about the general lay of the fertilizers. Fertilizer is expen- solution; they crawl in but don’t crawl out.
land. You will be more sive and can end up in run-off, Also, a good forceful spray with the
successful and save time, contributing to our ocean’s garden hose works on some pests, and
frustration and expense. “dead zones.” removing infected leaves or branches
Most importantly by Getting off grass can be quickly is a reliable first defense.
exploring your options, painless. Remove a little at a There are products on the market that
and perhaps changing time and replace it with are listed as safe for organic agriculture but
things up a bit, you can give our Southern drought-resistant and native plants, surround- do the research yourself – I still think
California environment a little extra loving ed by gravel or mulch. Leave your “small patch nature is best for the home gardener.
care. I first removed of green,” if you must, where it extends your If you want to learn more about water-
In the garden, a good design needs at least
one focal point. I suggest a tree. By planting a
my backyard lawn living area and nowhere else. I did this several
years ago in stages. I first removed my
wise and earth friendly gardening, the web
is a great place to start. As a home
particular tree you can define the mood of completely, and then backyard lawn completely, and then started on gardener you can also get help from a local
the front. I retained a small patch for the
your garden and improve the ecosystem that
exists in your yard. Trees slow wind and water
started on the front. grandkids to play in or recline on. I don’t miss
agricultural advisor or the Master
Gardener program through the University
erosion, and regulate temperature. Many it. The extra bonus is I have more areas to of California cooperative extension
don’t require extra water after being estab- grow edibles. I put in vegetables, several fruit service. You don’t have to have a farm to
lished and have leaves that add valuable and ornamental trees, along with drought-tol- get advice.
mulch, needing no raking. erant plants to attract birds and butterflies instead.
Contact the Master Gardener program
When replanting for added garden interest and health,
If you aren’t sure what tree is right for you, or where it would helpline at (805) 645-1455 or online at
diversify plantings. You can repeat plantings but alternate them
be the most effective for shade and water conservation, ask local http://groups.ucanr.org/vcmg_old/
with another variety. According to the experts, this will discourage
organizations for help. The Arbor Society has a great website with For tree information and tips go to www.
pests and lower the need for fertilizer. Keep in mind to group your
tree statistics, recommendations and photos. Other groups even arborday.org/treeguide, or http://www.
plants according to water needs but be creative, mix it up.
teach you to plant trees. treepeople.org/
Then there’s “mulch magic.” Mulch, mulch, mulch your plants
Creating ground contours is another way to add focal points to and trees. Chunks of bark, peat moss, or gravel all slow evapora- For tips on vegetable gardening check out
your garden. Contours are aesthetically pleasing because they allow tion and keep plant roots cool. Low cost or free mulch is available this link: http://ucanr.org/freepubs/
the eye to wander. The irregular ground surfaces they create will at many green-waste recycling centers and, if you have access to a docs/8059.pdf
capture groundwater, forming small dips and obstacles where the mushroom farm it makes fantastic cheap mulch and soil amend-
water can pool and be absorbed slowly. For more eco-friendly water and garden-
ment. But when you mulch keep it from making contact with your ing tips visit: www.bewaterwise.com
You may even want to create an infiltration basin. A basin is tree and scrub trunks, as it encourages rot.
typically built at the lowest point of your garden to capture Last, but not least, when you do water it is healthier for plants Linda Harmon is a freelance writer, artist, ABOVE: Garden pathway of concrete pavers and gravel passes between raised beds for potatoes, fruit
rainwater that then will slowly infiltrate the surrounding soil. and more effective to water in the early morning. The best gauge of and community activist living in Ojai, trees and a Cecil Brunner climbing rose. I constructed my re-bar trellis for a meandering wisteria
Another water saving tip is to use permeable pavers instead of soil moisture that I’ve found is actually a neat tool my forestry and California. Contact her at lhart412@ and it doubles as my clothesline. I just sunk construction rebar at regular intervals and then bent the
solid concrete when creating a patio or new driveway. Pavers with arborist friends use: a T-shaped soil tester. It lets you check up to roadrunner.com or visit her website at www. “walls” together, crossed and tied off with wire. I added horizontals for strength and steel cables be-
gravel, decomposed granite, or other permeable materials allow 12 inches beneath the surface so there is less guess work. It is easily highergroundart.com. tween rods to provide extra hanging space.
THE WHOLE PERSON CALENDAR / JUNE 2011