Gardening With California Natives.pdf

The UCCE Master Gardener Program of Santa Clara County promotes the use of California Native Plants in landscaping, offering numerous benefits such as reduced water and chemical use, lower maintenance, and enhanced local biodiversity. Key steps for successful native gardening include:

1. Benefits and Design Basics:
- Reduced water, pesticide, and herbicide use; fewer chemicals in water supply.
- Plants adapted to local climate and soil conditions.
- Lower maintenance and personal enjoyment.
- Attract native bees and birds.
- Define your style, understand your space, and set goals.
- Group plants by water needs (hydro-zones) and evaluate your site.
- Research plants' origins, size, water use, hardiness, dormancy, pruning needs, and exposure.

2. Landscape Plot Plan:
- Draw your yard to scale, add existing elements, and plan paths, mounds, trees, and large shrubs.
- Add perennials, grasses, and ground covers, keeping things low near walkways, planting in odd numbers, and using permeable hardscapes.
- Avoid straight lines, plant large groups of the same plant, stagger plants, and fill in with low-growing groundcover.

3. Installation and Maintenance:
- Optimum planting times: fall, winter, or early spring.
- Choose non-root-bound plants, test drainage, and prepare the planting site.
- Water regularly for the first season, deeply and infrequently; check soil moisture before watering.
- Mulch to reduce weeds, regulate temperatures, and provide nutrients.
- Prune plants when dormant, usually not necessary in the first year.

4. Resources:
- Websites for convincing arguments, design tips, plant lists, and local garden tours.
- Online plant lists for pollinators, water-saving plants, and local rebates.
- Guides for soil evaluation, native plant care, watering, and drip irrigation.