We’ve had a very wet year, as far as yearly averages are concerned, but if you’ve lived in San Diego for any length of time, you know we will have our seasons of drought. It’s only a matter of time. In areas like San Diego that have more dry years than wet years, it makes sense to install a drought tolerant landscape at your home.
It may seem odd to be talking about installing a drought tolerant landscape in your yard when we’ve had so much rain, but think of it as getting ahead of the trend. Once we are in the middle of the next drought, there will likely be high demand for drought tolerant plants and landscapers who design drought-tolerant landscapes.
Late winter/early spring is the perfect time to start changing up your landscaping. You want your new plants to be well established before the hot, dry summer months get here.
What Types of Drought Tolerant Plants Work Best in San Diego?
Succulents are very popular in interior decorating right now, but larger succulents are also great additions to exterior design. Artichoke agave, with its silvery blue leaves and dark red spines are beautiful in gardens. Various types of Aeonium are also very popular, as well as species of aloe plants, which have the added benefit of possessing some medicinal qualities.
When looking for trees, nothing says “San Diego” like a good palm tree. However, there are other trees that are worth considering, such as Crape Myrtles or Australian Willows, which require very little water.
If you enjoy flowering plants, but still want to be water wise, look at the various types of sage and lavender plants. Lantana is another great option, as its flowers come in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple.
For more drought tolerant plants that work well in San Diego’s Mediterranean climate, see this list of 50 plants recommended by the San Diego County Water Authority for use in residential landscapes.
Don’t Forget the Hardscape
Drought tolerant landscapes can almost always benefit from well-designed hardscapes. Carefully selected and placed boulders can do wonders in a garden, as can built-in seating, large planters, walkways, arbors, decks, or patios.
It’s typically the hardscaping that gives your landscaping its personality and provides organization to your outdoor space. Hardscaping can also help you more easily achieve a drought-tolerant landscape. You could replace that thirsty lawn with decomposed granite, pea gravel, mulch, or synthetic turf—or a combination of these materials.
Call in a San Diego Landscaping Expert for Help
If you’re not quite sure where to start, get the help of a San Diego landscape designer that specializes in drought tolerant landscaping, using plants that are native to San Diego. Many will create a plan that then you can execute yourself, which will save you a bunch of money in labor costs, or you can hire a company that will take care of everything from design to installation.
Check out the list of San Diego landscapers and landscape designers in our business directory to get started.
