The pride of homeownership starts with a beautiful lawn, which is the first thing visitors see when they approach the property. In a warm climate like San Diego, maintaining an attractive yard (without a lot of physical effort) is an easily achievable goal for most homeowners. The key? Simplicity. Landscaping with native and drought-resistant plants is the way to go.
Know Your Grass
The type of grass in the yard helps determine how much work would be involved to keep it thriving. Your lawn likely has one of the following warm-season grass types.
- St. Augustinegrass grows well in shaded areas and thickens as it spreads. It needs regular fertilizing and is drought-tolerant.
- Bahiagrass has a coarse texture. It does need watering but can handle periods of drought.
- Bermudagrass loves bright sunlight, doesn’t mind the heat, and won’t be damaged by nearby salty ocean breezes.
- Buffalograss, Zoysia, Switch, Bent, and Carpetgrass are other types of warm-season grasses that thrive in tropical climates.
The more you know about yard grass, the less time you’ll waste on doing unnecessary lawn chores. But keep in mind, if you want it to stay beautiful, everything needs fertilizing, weeding, and watering — that’s the nature of nature.
Lawn Upkeep
No matter what kind of grass is growing in the yard, knowing how to mow the lawn the right way is important. Alternating patterns and directions keep the grass healthy. Cut the grass every 10 to 14 days when the weather is overly dry, and set the mower blades high so you don’t grind up dry blades.
Some grass types go dormant when the sod isn’t getting enough water (especially during a hot, dry season). Dry lawns don’t handle foot traffic very well because grass blades aren’t storing carbohydrates needed for photosynthesis. Stay off a dry lawn as much as possible. If the home is for sale and you’re showing the house while living in it, don’t be afraid to put a few “keep off the grass” signs around the yard. Your real estate agent can explain the reason to buyers.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your lawn depends on the type of grass growing in the yard — especially during a drought. Chemical fertilizers can burn dry sod. Organic fertilizers are better, but only when the grass is moist enough to absorb them and break down the nutrients. Ask for help at your local garden store for the best type of fertilizer to use.
Watering
Even drought-resistant lawns need to be hydrated, whether it’s by Mother Nature or sprinklers. Because we cannot always count on rainfall, plan a watering schedule for your Cali home. Here are a few ways:
Water in the early morning or after sundown. Moisture evaporates in hot sunshine, so the best time for watering is between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Determine lawn water needs. How long should you leave the sprinkler on? Lawns that receive too much water can develop root rot, attract bugs, and grow more weeds.“Smart” irrigation systems with moisture sensors gauge how much water your lawn needs at any given time. Some models can even connect to local weather data.
Rain Barrels
Because California is known for having its dry seasons, making the most of those sporadic rainfalls saves precious water for lawn irrigation. Try using a rain barrel to store rainwater that you can reuse for irrigation. Since rainwater runs off your roof into the barrel, it contains a lot of pollutants like chemicals, bacteria, debris, and bird droppings, so never use it for drinking –– only for watering your plants and lawn.
Xeriscaping
Low-maintenance grasses and plants grow well in San Diego’s climate, and they don’t need a lot of maintenance. Xeriscaping is the art of planting drought-resistant greenery and hardscaping throughout the yard that won’t shrivel up when the weather is dry. Xeriscaping requires very little water — and that leads to a lower utility bill.
Plants for xeriscaping that thrive in Southern California include succulents like aloes, cacti, prickly pears, palms, and agaves.
Xeriscaping may need an occasional weeding session, but nothing that will take a lot of effort.
Native Plants
California yards with native shrubbery won’t need a lot of upkeep. Choosing climate-friendly natives for the yard and flower beds is a lower-maintenance option than exotics. Native plants for San Diego like salvia, fuchsia, California poppy, mallow, and manzanita grow easily here and require less effort on your part.
Maintain Your Yard with Ease
After a long work week, the last thing anyone really wants to do is outdoor household chores, yet that’s just a part of suburban life. Whether you plan on selling your home or staying put for the long run, caring for your yard, even minimally, is part of the sweat equity of this important financial investment.