SUSTAINABLE

LANDSCAPING
RESOURCE EFFICIENT LANDSCAPES FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING
A WAY OF LOOKING AT YOUR YARD AS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.

Over time, our concept of landscaping has evolved. In the past, a lawn with a hedge and maybe a few flower beds
were fine. Now we ask more of our landscapes. Around our house, we want landscaping that is attractive, has
functional spaces such as an entertainment area, a children’s play area or a vegetable garden, or provides
erosion control or shade for the house. But at what cost?

If many of the terms used SAVE MONEY AND TIME

here seem new to you, don’t Maintaining a typical landscape requires many kinds of input: time, money, labor, water, chemicals, and fertilizers.
give up. A list of resources Most homeowners would be happy to reduce the amount of time, money, and labor that goes into their yards.
and references in the back The environment also benefits from decreased use of resources such as water, and potentially polluting
of this brochure can help elements such as chemicals and fertilizers.
take the mystery out of
creating your own sustain- REDUCE WASTE
able landscape. Maintaining our landscaping also creates output – wastes such as plant trimmings and weeds, irrigation run-off polluted
by the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and water lost by inefficient irrigation. The concept of sustainable landscaping
asks us to examine the input and output of our landscaping and find ways to minimize both. Applying the principles in
this brochure can save you time and money, and create a beautiful landscape that is environmentally responsible.
 County Landscape and Design

Many low water-using

flowers – lavender, yarrow
and penstemon – also make
beautiful cut flowers.

For efficient watering, design

the shape of your lawn to fit
the spray pattern of your
pop-up sprinkler heads.
County Landscape and Design

LUSH … AND WATER-SAVING!

Many people envision that every water-saving landscape looks like a desert: cactus and rock without a lot of
color. The landscape pictured here dispels that notion. The lush effect is created by the use of varied leaf
color and texture, and the elimination of turf areas. A flagstone path invites you to explore the possibilities.
County Landscape and Design

Natural vegetation, like a

venerable oak tree, can
provide the focal point for
the landscape design.
Van Atta Associates
Try experimenting with color
schemes just as you would in
an indoor room: silvery
greens accented by bright
yellow and gold blooms
surround a small terrace.
Water efficient and native County Landscape and Design County Landscape and Design

plants are available in a

FUNCTION & STYLE
wide variety of colors.
Sustainable landscapes are also functional. They invite the viewer in with a variety of color and interesting lawn and
Incorporating a small water patio areas. Careful planning can create outdoor “rooms” which can be used almost year-round in our mild climate.
feature adds a tranquil touch “Hardscape” areas, such as a brick patio or wooden deck, reduce water needs while providing areas for entertaining or
to a garden. relaxing in privacy. Hardscape areas designed to drain to planted beds conserve water and reduce polluted runoff.
 Look around in the community
for ideas on creating your own
appropriate landscape.
Chances are that neighborhood
landscapes you’ve admired in
the past were actually created
on sustainable principles.

Billy Goodnick Van Atta Associates County Landscape and Design

SUSTAINABLE STYLE – HOME OR BUSINESS

More and more homeowners are installing sustainable landscaping suited to their family’s needs, the style of their home, and the local environment.
Spanish mansions, California bungalows, and 60s tract homes can all be enhanced by a well-planned, resource-efficient landscape. Businesses
and municipalities also benefit from installing landscaping that requires less water and work. Sustainable landscaping principles are the same for
commercial, municipal and residential plantings, and resource-saving landscaping in public places demonstrates concern for the local community.
PLANNING AND DESIGN
In order to have a sustainable landscape, you must plan it – it doesn’t just happen.
Planning is the starting point and possibly the most important phase!

Van Atta Associates Suding Design County Landscape and Design

Billy Goodnick Billy Goodnick Suding Design

STARTING OVER IS EASY

Many people have an existing garden when they begin to plan a more sustainable landscape.
The task of converting a garden may seem overwhelming, but becomes manageable when done over time. Once
you’ve planned the surroundings you’d like to achieve, implement your plan in phases, over a number of years.
DESIGN WITH THESE STEPS IN MIND.....
County Landscape and Design Suding Design Suding Design Billy Goodnick

Begin by reducing lawn areas, Next add water-efficient Fine tune your landscape by
adding soil amendments, and plantings and trees, patios adding annuals or wildflowers,
installing an efficient and walkways, or other and adjusting the irrigation
irrigation system. special features. system for maximum efficiency.
 FIRST, ANALYZE YOUR SITE
County Landscape and Design County Landscape and Design Billy Goodnick

Van Atta Associates

County Landscape and Design

Consider your local climate

and try to orient patios for
Take into consideration your outdoor activities, existing qualities of your yard such as interesting rocks or large
the benefits of sun or shade.
trees, and special needs such as space for a vegetable garden and compost pile. Make note of the unique traits
Trees or vines near the of the location, such as conditions of sun and shade, ground slope, available moisture, soil type, and air move-
house can block the summer ment. (See “Soils”, following.) By considering these factors and planning with them in mind, the resulting
sun and lower temperatures. landscape will be easier to maintain.
City of Santa Barbara Suding Design County Landscape and Design

Make a list of possible

materials needed to create
your landscape. Include
CONSIDER SOLUTIONS TO SITE PROBLEMS recycled materials if they’re
The planning phase is also a time to propose solutions to problems, such as hard clay soil or poor drainage. For available locally. For example,
example, a shady area with poor soil could provide space for a small patio, the sound of water from a fountain railroad ties and broken
could mask street noise, or you could incorporate a swale or dry creek bed to provide drainage and retain water concrete can be incorporated
onsite. Laying out the design on paper and on the ground will help you identify problems and solutions. into retaining walls or patios.
Billy Goodnick County Landscape and Design County Landscape and Design

Suding Design

NEXT CONSIDER HOW YOU WANT TO USE

YOUR LANDSCAPING

There are many functions for a garden: to provide beauty, a place for children to play, space for growing
food, erosion control, wildlife habitat, and climate control. You should also design your area so that
rainwater and runoff from irrigation are retained on site. This helps conserve water, and also prevents
polluted runoff from reaching our creeks and ocean.
 Goleta Water District Demonstration Garden

SOILS
Healthy soil is an important foundation for every landscape. Dealing with problem soils
can take up much of the time spent in maintaining a yard. Aspects of soil composition,
slope, and need for amendments must all be considered. Characteristics of the soil can Soil testing can help you
help determine the best choice of plants and irrigation systems for your landscape. determine the characteristics
of your soil, so that you can
DIFFERENT SOILS HAVE VARYING WATER NEEDS
plan accordingly. Check under
Clay soils absorb water slowly and cause surface runoff if watered too quickly. Sandy
“laboratories” in the yellow
soils dry quickly because of fast downward percolation. It is important to know your Soil type and moisture
pages to find a lab that can
soil type. Your local water purveyor or landscape professional can help you determine can be assessed with a
soil probe. analyze your soil.
what type of soil you have.
Bark chips and wood shavings
IMPROVING YOUR SOIL
make attractive organic
Soil amendments, such as redwood bark or compost, will improve your soil. Composting your garden waste serves
mulches. Some local tree
an important dual purpose: it decreases the amount of materials taken to the landfill (up to 50% of the waste
services will deliver wood
stream is yard debris) and provides a valuable, organic amendment for your soil. Many good books are available
chips free of charge. Mulch is
on the subject of composting.
also available for free from
Mulching can help your landscape no matter what the soil conditions. Mulch covers and cools the soil, minimizes the County’s Solid Waste
evaporation, eliminates weed growth and slows erosion. As mulch decomposes, nutrients are added to the soil. Division. Call 882-3600 for
Mulching your garden 2 – 3" deep will allow you to irrigate less often. pickup details.
St. Catherine’s Lace (Eriogonum giganteum) California Lilac (Ceanothus sp.) Yarrow (Achillea sp.) Flowering Oregano (Oreganum sp.)
Penstemon (Penstemon sp.) New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)

PLANT SELECTION
Choosing plants for your yard is an important step in making the landscape
sustainable. Besides the usual consideration of how the plant looks, there
are other important factors to keep in mind.

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE

Choose plants that will grow to an appropriate size for the area you’re
planting. If a plant that grows into a tree is selected for a hedge, the result
is endless pruning: more work for you and more material for the landfill.
Many reference books will include the mature size of plants. Before you
select a plant, find out if it has pest problems locally. Some plants are more
susceptible to disease and insects, requiring more effort and pesticides or
herbicides to keep them alive.
 Billy Goodnick

Consider planting a meadow

instead of a lawn; seed
mixes are available that
usually include wildflowers,
Tea Tree (Leptospermum sp.) Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) Day Lily (Hemerocallis fulva) clovers, and herbs. These
meadows require no mowing,
County Landscape and Design
and less water and fer tilizer.
CONSIDER WATER NEEDS
In our semi-arid climate, the water requirements of a plant are an impor- When mowing the lawn,
tant consideration. Many beautiful, low-water using plants are available increase the mowing height
locally. To avoid maintenance conflicts, group plants with similar water, sun, and leave clippings on the
shade and soil requirements. This divides the landscape into “hydrozones” surface as mulch. Although
which also makes programming an irrigation controller much more efficient. Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) there are no truly “drought
tolerant” turf grasses, some
LAWNS varieties do use less water.
Lawns can be an attractive and useful part of a landscape, but can require
If plants develop disease,
large inputs of water, labor and often chemicals to keep them healthy. Max E. Badgley
look for biological controls
Many people find that even while reducing the lawn area, they can still meet (insects) or non-chemical
the need for children’s or a pet’s play area. A smaller lawn requires less means of easing the
fertilizer and mowing, and creates less waste (lawn clippings) to haul away. problem.
IRRIGATION &
WATER EFFICIENCY
In Southern California’s semi-arid climate, water is the most limited resource that goes into the landscape.
The choice of irrigation systems, techniques, and irrigation scheduling has great impact on the efficiency of
water use. Benefits of efficient water use, besides a lower water bill, include a healthier garden and less work.

IRRIGATION SYSTEM DESIGN

Group plants according to their water needs creating hydrozones, and use separate irrigation valves for
each hydrozone so individual scheduling is possible.

Make sure you have pressure regulators for each valve and that the pressure is set to manufacturer
recommended pounds per square inch (psi) for your sprinkler type.

Find ways to capture natural rainfall, such as cisterns or percolation basins. Hard surfaces, such as patios,
should drain into planted areas. Consider the use of porous paving surfaces, such as bricks laid on sand.
Keeping rain and irrigation water on your landscape reduces irrigation needs and prevents polluted runoff.

Consider using greywater on your landscaping. Check with your local water purveyor to obtain greywater
system requirements and permit information.
 County Landscape and Design

THE THREE STEPS TO EFFICIENT IRRIGATION:

STEP 1: CREATE A SEASONAL IRRIGATION SCHEDULE
To be most efficient, watering decisions should be made by observing the condition of plants, soil
and weather — not by a pre-set schedule. Easy tools that will assist you in creating a seasonal
irrigation schedule for each area of your landscape include a soil probe, catch can test for the
lawn areas, and a landscape water calculator (see www.sbwater.org). You will need to do a little
homework to develop your seasonal irrigation schedule. An important first step is to know your Check out
soil type. Your local water purveyor will assist you in collecting the information and developing a www.sbwater.org for
seasonal irrigation schedule. resources and contact
STEP 2: TROUBLESHOOTING information.
At least once per month, turn your irrigation system on manually and check for leaks, broken For a simple approach to
sprinklers or drip emitters, and overspray. Make corrections as needed. check if you need to
water, use a soil probe.
STEP 3: ADJUST YOUR IRRIGATION CONTROLLER
(See “Soils” section of
Avoid over-watering, the most common cause of lawn and plant disease. Adjust the irrigation
this booklet.) If the soil
schedule as the weather changes. Use the seasonal irrigation schedule you created in Step 1 to
is moist around plants’
adjust your irrigation controller. Most of our soils cannot absorb water as fast as sprinklers apply
roots, then there’s no
it. The best technique is to water in short on/off cycles early in the morning. Most irrigation
need to water.
controllers have a multiple start time function, so you can break up watering time.
Billy Goodnick
MAINTENANCE
Consider the use of time- Thoughtful planning and design, attention to soil characteristics, careful plant selection and irrigation design
release fertilizers. These should all contribute to a landscape that requires less maintenance. A sustainable landscape reduces
fertilizers, which look like maintenance cost and effort because it requires less water, fertilizers, chemicals, pruning and mowing.
charcoal briquets, get
PRUNING
buried around the drip-line
All landscapes, however, require some maintenance. Prune plants
of the plant. This reduces
carefully, keeping in mind that excessive pruning will promote
the possibility of fertilizer-
growth, increasing the water required and waste produced. Most
laden runoff.
plants look best if allowed to maintain their natural growth habit.
For more sustainable
LAWN CARE
landscape maintenance tips,
Mow lawns with the mower at the highest setting to keep the roots
use the “Gardener’s Check
and soil cool, and reduce the amount of clippings. Compost
List for Sustainable
trimmings from your lawn and plants to produce a rich soil
Landscape Maintenance”,
amendment which also reduces fertilizer requirements.
available at
www.greengardener.org or WEEDING
by calling (805) 568-3440. Keep weeds pulled; they compete with your landscaping for water.
 The person who hires a
Certified Green Gardener will
THE GREEN GARDENER have a professional with the
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM knowledge and resources
needed to make environmen-
tally responsible, economi-
The Green Gardener Certification Program is a regional program designed
cally sound landscaping
to offer education, training, certification and promotion of par ticipating
decisions.
gardeners and landscape maintenance professionals to:
If you currently employ a
Improve resource efficiency and reduce pollution on landscape sites.
gardener who is not certified,
Improve the health, appearance and value of landscapes for customers and site managers, and urge him or her to attend a
Provide economic incentives to program participants, both gardeners and their clients. Green Gardener certification
class. For more information
This innovative certification program offers a new educational tool to help local agencies further their shared
about the program, a class
goal of promoting resource efficiency and reducing pollution in landscapes for Santa Barbara County.
schedule, or the current list
In order to be certified, gardeners attend a training session, offered in both English and Spanish, covering of Certified Green Gardeners,
topics on sustainable landscaping practices, including non-point source pollution reduction, water efficiency, visit www.greengardener.org,
integrated pest management, and reduction of air pollution emissions and green waste. or call 564-5460.
 NEED MORE INFORMATION?
PLANT LISTS
Local nurseries have a wide variety of low-water using plants. You can obtain plant lists from your local water
purveyor. Be sure to seek as many information sources as possible for the widest variety of plants in your garden.
Bougainvillea and iceplant need not be your water-saving mainstays! Check out www.sbwater.org for an interactive
water-wise plant palette guide.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden DEMONSTRATION GARDENS

Corner of Micheltorena and Santa Barbara Many local water purveyors now have demonstration gardens, or can direct you to one in your community. Some
Streets, Santa Barbara are simply a collection of water-saving plants, while other address issues such as design, irrigation, erosion
control, and fire-resistant landscape design. Call your local water purveyor for more information on demonstration
gardens. See the list on page 22.

Goleta Water District Demonstration Garden

4699 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara

Santa Maria Valley Sustainable Garden

624 West Foster Road, Santa Maria
PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
You may wish to call in a professional during the planning, installation, or maintenance phases of creating your
sustainable landscape. Titles can be confusing; the following will give you an idea of which professional you may
want to consult.

Landscape Architect: A landscape architect can design the entire landscape, including hardscape features
(patios, decks, etc.) and the irrigation system. However, a landscape architect does not perform the actual
installation of the landscaping.

NOTE: A landscape architect or contractor must be tested and licensed by the state.
Billy Goodnick
Van Atta Associates Suding Design
Landsca pe Contr
Landscape actor
actor:: A landscape contractor can coordinate all phases of your
Contractor
project – design, installation of the irrigation system, construction of hardscape features,
and planting. The design may be done by the contractor or by a landscape architect.

Gar dener
dener:: A gardener can maintain your garden and irrigation system once it is
Gardener
completed. Generally, this person is not licensed to provide any design or
installation services.
 REFERENCES
Water purveyors often have a variety of brochures on sustainable landscaping principles. Call your local
purveyor for free publications on topics ranging from efficient irrigation to tree maintenance and
low-water using plants (see the list of Water Purveyors, following) or go to www.sbwater.org.

Check your local library or bookstore for publications on sustainable landscape topics. Below is a list of
some books you may find useful.

Common Sense Pest Control, Olkowski, Darr, Olkowski; The Taunton Press, 1991.

Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and All Climates, Robert Kourik, Metamorphic Press, 1992.

Create An Oasis With Greywater, Art Ludwig, Oasis Biocompatible Products, 1994.

Sunset Western Garden Book, Lane Publishing Company, (latest edition).

The Rodale Book of Composting, Deborah L. Martin & Grace Gershuny, Rodale Press, 1992.
Billy Goodnick
RESOURCES
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Community Environmental Council, 930 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, (805) 963-0583;
www.communityenvironmental council.org.
Information on composting, natural pest control, water conservation. Demonstration garden
on site.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, (805) 683-4726:
www.sbbg.org.
Displays of native California plants; Home Demonstration Garden of water conserving native
plants; books and garden publications; classes & tours.

Horticulture Consortium of Santa Barbara, c/o City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, P.O.
Box 1990, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, (805) 564-5437

Green Gardener Certification Program, c/o City of Santa Barbara, P.O.Box 1990, Santa Barbara, CA 93102,
(805) 564-5460; www.greengardener.org. Trains gardeners in resource efficient and pollution County Landscape and Design
prevention maintenance techniques. Provides a list of certified gardeners.

University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Barbara County Office: 624 West Foster, Santa
Maria, CA 93455 (805) 934-6240. Free and priced information on horticulture, erosion
control, pests & diseases, soils, irrigation.
Van Atta Associates Goleta Water District Demonstration Garden
WATER PURVEYORS

For information on water efficient landscaping and demonstration

gardens, call your local water purveyor.
All numbers are in the 805 area.
City of Buellton .................................................................................................................. 688-5177
City of Guadalupe .......................................................................................................... 343-1340
City of Lompoc .................................................................................................................... 736-1261
City of Santa Barbara ............................................................................................... 564-5460
City of Santa Maria ...................................................................................................... 925-0951
City of Solvang ................................................................................................................... 688-5575
Carpinteria County Water District ........................................................... 684-2816
Cuyama Community Services District ................................................. 766-2780
Goleta Water District ................................................................................................. 964-6761
Los Alamos Community Services District ..................................... 344-4195
La Cumbre Mutual Water Company ....................................................... 967-2376
Mission Hills Community Services District ................................. 733-4366
Montecito Water District ...................................................................................... 969-2271
Santa Barbara County Water Agency .................................................. 568-3440
Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District ID#1 ..... 688-6015
Southern California Water Company ................................................... 937-2007
Vandenberg Village Community Services District ............ 733-2475
INTERNET RESOURCES
GENERAL PLANTS
Backyard Wildlife Habitat www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat Las Pilitas Nursery (natives, Santa Margarita) www.laspilitas.com
National Gardening Association www.garden.org San Marcos Growers www.sanmarcosgrowers.com
(natives/low-water using, Santa Barbara)
COMPOSTING
Santa Barbara County Water Wise Plant List www.sbwater.org/PlantList.htm
Composting Council www.compostingcouncil.org
Theodore Payne Foundation (natives, Los Angeles) www.theodorepayne.org
Cornell Composting Site www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/composting.html
Tree of Life Nursery (natives, San Juan Capistrano) www.treeoflifenursery.com
WATER HARVESTING/GREYWATER
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Greenbuilder.com www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/rainwater.html
Integrated Pest Management Information Service www.efn.org/~ipmpa
Oasis Designs www.oasisdesign.net
UC Davis IPM Online axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu
Rain Gardens clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/raingarden/gardens.pdf
LOCAL RESOURCES
IRRIGATION
Green Gardener Certification Program www.greengardener.org
Center for Irrigation Technology www.wateright.org
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden www.sbbg.org
County of Santa Barbara Water Wise Website www.sbwater.org
(landscape watering calculator) County of Santa Barbara Water Wise Website www.sbwater.org

TURF & LAWN CARE DEMONSTRATION SITES

Ecological Lawn care www.life.ca/nl/43/lawn.html Center for Regenerative Studies (Cal Poly Pomona) www.csupomona.edu/~crs
CREDITS
Coordinated by:
Santa Barbara County Water Agency and City of Santa Barbara Public Works Department

Produced and written by:

Darcy Aston and Alison Jordan

Designed by:
Jan French Graphics

With special thanks to:

County Landscape and Design

Billy Goodnick, Landscape Architect
Van Atta Associates Landscape Architecture & Planning
Suding Design

Cover photos: (Main) Suding Design; (Upper side) County Landscape and Design; (Lower side) Van Atta Associates

Revised and printed with support from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 2003

Printed on recycled paper