low-water landscape design
3 Easy Lawn Alternatives
for Drought-Conscious Californians
California native lawn
1. Native Grasses & Groundcover
A heck of a lot cheaper and wayyy better for the environment than artificial turf! Keep the lawn without covering it with plastic.
California Native Grasses grow and look a little different than old-fashioned lawn. But they require half the water (or less) during droughts and are generally mowing optional! Mowing on a regular basis gets you less water savings. Leaving it on the longer side and mowing one to a few times a year (depending on species) is a great option to save on water and keep it looking fresh.
Why does it matter if you plant Native lawn? Well about 4 million acres of California is currently lawn. That means turf grass makes up 5% of our state’s ecosystem. An area that was once mostly rare wild grasses. So if we at least choose native grasses to replace old lawn with than we're actually doing something halfway decent for restoring habitat.
Best Native Grasses & Groundcover
Alternative Lawn Species
Frogfruit Groundcover (sterile): Phyla nodiflora
- The only native spreading groundcover that currently works as full-coverage lawn in California. And it's a SUCCULENT. Most Waterwise option on the market. This low-growing groundcover plant survives on once a week watering on average in most areas. Lushes up quick with more and an occasional mow.
California Bentgrass Lawn: Agrostis pallens
- The closest thing to conventional sod that California grass has accomplished so far. Without mowing it gets 12-18" long and takes on a warm soft green look. Can brown in significant summer heat, greens up again in fall.
best native grasses & groundcovers
Frogfruit Groundcover
Exceptional pollinator habitat. Sport & kid friendly. Stays 1-3” high. Can survive drought on 1x weekly waterings.
best native grasses & groundcovers
Native Bentgrass
Dog & kid-friendly. Water-savings over conventional lawn start at %50 on average. Mow 2x a month like regular lawn or leave at 1' length and string trim 2-3x a year for best water-savings.
best native grasses & groundcovers
California Silver - Fescue Blends
Ideal for slightly cooler climate regions (though can take some heat with part-shade). MODERATE to LOW FOOT TRAFFIC only. Beautiful long lush appearance.
best native grasses & groundcovers
California Buffalo Grass Plugs
The infamous native lawn alternative is the MOST heat-tolerant. But can have some dramatic winter dormancy. Great mowable option.
groundcover lawns
OTHER GROUNDCOVERS
silver carpet dymondia, dichondra, creeping thyme and baby's tears work great mixed with stepstones. In our experience, they don't have the consistent coverage or durability necessary to create a long-lasting "lawn."
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California Fescue Blends: Festuca californica, Festuca rubra, Festuca idahoensis, etc.
- These no-mow meadow grasses grow thick with a long and sweepy look. They're much more drought tolerant than conventional lawn grasses but not suited to high heat areas. Does awesome on slopes. Like Bentgrass, it browns in patches in summer.
California Meadow Grasses & Wildflowers: Carex pansa, carex praceagalis, Boutlouea gracilis, Buffalo Grass, Achillea millefolium (yarrow), Aquiglea, etc.
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These low-growing ornamental grasses are native to dunes and meadows up and down California. We've mixed buffalo grass, California sedges and yarrow together for a more diverse native micro meadow. Space grasses and yarrow at 12-18" apart for full coverage. Or even further toseed poppies, lupins or other wildflowers in during Winter.
low-water lawn alternatives
2. Drought-Tolerant Plants
There's a lot of options when it comes to drought-tolerant plants. More than 20,000 to be exact!
From silver-leaved beauties to succulent rosettes you can make any classic landscape look with drought-tolerant plants.
Group them with plant community members and soils similar to their native wild habitats for the easiest-to-maintain garden and the best water-savings.
Tried & True Drought-Tolerant Plant Combos
Cactus & Succulents (xeric gardens): Some supplemental irrigation is usually a good idea where rainfall is less than 20" a year. Remember cactus can be slow-growing. And good SOIL DRAINAGE is key to their success.
- Favorite Cactus & Succulents (sun): Rock Purslane (Caladrinia), Desert Spoon (Dasilirion), Thornless Prickly Pear, Chalk Lettuce (Dudleya)
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Favorite Succulents (shade): Blue Agave, Foxtail Agave, Aeonium's, Aloe Vera, Echeverias, Paddle Plant (kalanchoe)
California Native Plants: Most are adapted to longgg periods of drought. They are susceptible to disease if over-watered in hot times. Some, like ceanothus, even die off entirely if summer watered. Natives are also OBSESSED with great drainage.
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Favorite Sage Blend: Brushes like sagebrush and coyote brush, flowering salvia’s, buckwheats and other low-water perennials makeup this plant community. Try: Artemisia californica, any big Salvia ( apiana, gregii, leucantha, leucophylla) any Erigeron species and yarrow (Achillea).
- Favorite Grass & Wildflower Blend: . Easiest small species to try: carex pansa, festuca californica, golden poppy, verbena (rigida or de la mina) & Oenothera. Muhlenbergias are great for a bigger ornamental grass.
drought tolerant plants
Cactus & Succulents
Some xeric gardens like this can survive with little to no supplemental water - particularly when within 15 miles of the coast.
drought tolerant plants
Southern California Natives
In general, Southern California’s native plant communities are dominated by either a blend of grasses & wildflowers or a mix of sages & cacti.
drought tolerant plants
Northern California Natives
All manner of forests and open woodlands intersperse with meadows and Sage scrubs.
drought tolerant plants
Mediterranean Shrubs
The 4 other mediterranean climate regions in the world offer many plants very adapted to drought & that work great in California landscaping.
drought tolerant plants
Spreading Groundcovers
The cheapest lawn replacement option by far! Here calandrinia makes a great low-water succulent carpet & blooms prolifically.
drought tolerant plants
Favorite Mediterranean Shrubs
Many varietals wear out quickly in landscaping (especially if over-watered). New cultivars make Mediterranean gardening in California darn right heavenly...if you know what to buy!
drought tolerant plants
Year-round Gardens
Many cactus from other mediterranean regions of the world bloom in winter and help to feed hummingbirds.
drought tolerant plants
Sage Scrubs & Meadows
Sage scrubs & grasslands tend to have some bare seasons. Here Santolina, Santa Barbara Daisy & Purple Sage mix for a natural effect that stays green year-round.
- Favorite Mediterranean Garden Plants: Rosemary ‘Boule’, Lavender ‘goodwyn creek’, Thyme - thymus citrodonis, Lavender cotton - santolina virens, Catmint ‘walker’s low’
- Mediterranean Accent Trees: Dwarf olive - ‘little ollie’ or ‘montra,’ Strawberry tree (arbutus marina), Cypress ‘tiny tower’ and Bay laurel.
- Southern California Groundcover Plants: Rock Purslane, Rosemary 'huntington carpet,' Ceanothus ‘yankee point’ and ‘Bee’s bliss’ Salvia can spread 5-10 feet if adequate drainage is provided.
- Northern California Groundcover Plants: Juniper, Bearberry and creeping Manzanita can quickly cover hillsides. While yerba buena, bearberry, and columbines can fill-in under large trees.
- Dry Shade: Hummingbird Sage (salvia spatheca) Deer Grass and Catalina Perfume or Evergreen Huckleberry can work wonders.
Lawn Alternative Landscaping
3. Waterwise Hardscaping
Permeable hardscapes are non-living surfaces that allow water to infiltrate (instead of run-off into drains and gutters). Rainwater infiltration is one of the BEST ways to make a difference in California's water shortages.
You need open, walkable space for your landscape to be usable. 50/50 is a good balance for a large family or a house with lots of dogs. But much less is needed if you just want a nice seating area and a path to wander.
It's important to remember that even if you want to put down all permeable hardscape you need to add shade to be climate responsible. Removing lawn - even dead lawn - and replacing it with all exposed sand, concrete or gravel heats up the environment and makes more desert.
Let's all resist desertification by adding hardscaping responsibly! Even one or 2 shade trees to cool surface temps significantly (like at least 10-15 degrees F). Ultimately you want 2/3 - 3/4 of the exposed surface to be at least part shaded.
Best Shade Trees: Try Palo Verde, Shoestring or Fernleaf Acacia or Strawberry tree for 20-30' evergreens. Or 'Shademaster' Locust, Western Sycamore or Jacaranda if you want a seasonal shade canopy and don't mind the litter!
Gravel
Gravel patios and walkways have stood the test of time in European courtyards from Belgium to the Balearic islands. Use sharp-edged gravel for better rainwater infiltration. Anwyere from ⅜ to ¾ is a good diameter. Choose a warm color like ‘California Gold’ for more of a California feel or stick with traditional gray for more euro vibes. Layout gravel courtyards with a central accent like a birdbath, large decorative planter or firepit for a more formal look. Frame the edges with plants that grow 3-5’ to break up open spaces into outdoor dining or lounge areas.
DG - Decomposed Granite
Decomposed granite is a crushed rock dust that can be compacted into smooth flat surfaces. It’s very close in makeup to many California natives soils in canyon washes and foothill slopes. Golden poppies and cactus love to grow right in it (and so do weeds, so make sure it’s lined well!). Perfect for full sun, DG does tend to discolor if it gets wet in shade. It can also scratch wood flooring if tracked indoors so keep some distance between it and your entries.
Permeable Pavers
Precast Concrete Pavers - A favorite modern walkway material. You can find these at most stoneyards ranging in sizes from 12x18” to 3x3.’ If you can’t find them you can always pick up 1x1’ ones at home depot and line them up 2 or 3 tight in a row for the modern look. Space pavers at 3” for groundcovers or sod to grow in between. Mix precast concrete pavers with DG or lawn in the gaps. Or in part shade plant succulent sedums!
Spaced Paver Stones & Permeable Driveways - Many companies today offer paver stones with small spacers at the edges so you can have the refined look of pavers and great rainwater infiltration. Just make sure your masons don’t mortar in the cracks! When it comes to permeable driveways,I have some concerns around the environmental impact of the heavy duty plastic mats used for driveway lawns. Instead try concrete turfstone.
Stepstones & groundcover
Loose Flagstone offers a more informal look. Flagstone is a very affordable and thin material so it’s easy to move. It also comes in a huge range of colors and shapes. You’ll want to lay down sand to ensure the stones sit flat on your ground and don’t crack from walking pressure. There’s a lot of flexibility with piecing together walkways or casual patios with flagstones and stepstones. Again, leave gaps at a minimum of 3” for groundcovers or sod to grow between.
waterwise hardscaping
Gravel
Gravel patios and walkways have stood the test of time in European courtyards from Belgium to the Balearic islands. Anywhere from ⅜ to ¾ is a good diameter. Choose a warm color like ‘California Gold’ for more of a California feel
waterwise hardscaping
Permeable Driveways
Many companies today offer paver stones with small spacers at the edges so you can have the refined look of pavers and great rainwater infiltration. Just make sure your masons don’t mortar in the cracks
waterwise hardscaping
Precast Concrete Pavers
A favorite modern walkway material. You can find these at most stoneyards ranging in sizes from 12x18” to 3x3.’ If you can’t find them you can always pick up 1x1’ ones at home depot and line them up 2 or 3 tight in a row for the modern look
waterwise hardscaping
DG - Decomposed Granite
Decomposed granite is a crushed rock dust that can be compacted into smooth flat surfaces. It’s close to many native soils in canyon washes and foothills . Golden poppies & cactus love to grow right in it (and so do weeds, so make sure it’s lined well!)
waterwise hardscaping
Stepstones & Groundcover
Loose Flagstone offers a more informal look. Flagstone is a very affordable and thin material so it’s easy to move. It also comes in a huge range of colors and shapes
What are the Drawbacks of Artificial Turf?
There’s a lot of reasons I think artificial turf is another fossil-fuel mad scam. Artificial Turf is a single-use non-recyclable plastic with up to a pound and a half of mass per sq.ft. This means that a small 400 sq.ft. lawn contains 600 pounds of single-use plastic that will be going straight to the landfill when it gets faded or degraded. Add to this the fact that artificial turf actually heats up surface temperatures (worse than concrete or gravel) and requires more water to clean than it takes to keep a frogfruit lawn alive in summer and I think you can see why overall it’s just a really bad idea for the environment (and your bank account, given the huge price tag).