Turf Replacement Rebates

A regularly updated List of Water Department Rebate offerings for lawn replacement across metropolitan California. Plus FAQ's

California's BEST Ornamental Grasses

Citrus Quarantines

Why it's hard to get citrus in Southern California & what to plant instead.

Sheet Mulching FAQ

From recyclables to fecundity in one long weekend.

Design Tips

The beautiful, easy and understated plant palette of the wild Mediterranean "Maquis" landscape

Maquis is to the Mediterranean region what Chaparral is to California. This semi-arid shrub land can just take up a narrow band along the shores or extend as deep as...

Sustainable Gardening 101 - What a Swale is and Why you need One

The most effective rain water catchment is hands-down, the swale. Swales are trenches dug parallel to slope contour lines that act like water breaks in the landscape. They catch overland...

36 Go-To Plants for Northern California & SF Bay Area Gardens

If you're new to gardening and looking for easy California native or drought-tolerant plants that are going to look great, here's a collection of 36 options that are adaptable and...

5 Great Ideas for Planting Dry Slopes - Best California Natives & Drought-tolerant plants to Landscape Steep Areas

A Plant Community is a grouping of plants that grow symbiotically in nature and reoccur in clear predictable patterns. Together, plant community members create a lush self-perpetuating (or "net growth")...

Natural Christmas - How-to Make your Own California Christmas Wreath

Is there anything more beautiful and seasonally appropriate than trees & light? Religious notions aside, winter is a time we all need a little lift. So here's a FREE way...

13 Great California Natives for Xeric Landscaping

In Northern and Central / Coastal California there's SO many great plants you can grow without irrigation. It's not easy, and it may take some trial and error, but be...