Design & Ideas

The Internet has an abundance of free information about drought-tolerant landscaping, from instructions on how to kill your lawn to guidelines for efficient irrigation methods. Here are some key resources from Long Beach Utilities to help you get started are below.

Stormwater Retention

 

Smart Irrigation Program

 

Choosing the Right Plants

Garden Inspiration

Budgeting for Success & Money Saving Tips

Lawn to Garden: Landscape Design Assistance Program

Additional Resources

Two terrific sites are: LA Coastal Water Wise Gardening and BeWaterWise.com Garden Spot. In addition to photos of beautiful landscapes, both sites have extensive on-line databases of drought tolerant plants, including photos and information about the plants, such as size, color of blooms, whether they attract wildlife such as butterflies, and more.

Here is additional suggested reading before starting your project

  • Sunset Western Garden Book (2001) Ed. Kathleen Norris Brenzel, Sunset Publishing Group.
  • California Native Plants for the Garden (2005) Bart O’Brien, David Fross and Carol Bornstein; Cachuma Press.
  • The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn (2009) John Greenlee and Saxon Holt; Timber Press, Inc.
  • California Gardener’s Guide Volume II (2007) Nan Sterman; Cool Springs Press.
  • Designing with Succulents (2007) Debra Lee Baldwin; Timber Press.
  • Home Landscaping, California Region (2001) Roger Holmes and Lance Walheim; Creative Homeowner.
  • Landscape Plants for California Gardens (2010) Bob Perry; Land Design Publishing.
  • Landscaping with Stone, Paths & Walls, Water & Rock Gardens, Installation (2000) Marianne Lipanovich, editor; Sunset Books.
  • Making Garden Floors (2001) Paige Gilchrist; Lark Books.
  • Outside the Bungalow (1999) Paul Duchscherer and Douglas Keister; Penguin Studio.
  • Reimagining the California Lawn: Water Conserving Plants, Practices and Design (2011) Carol Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O’Brien, Cachuma Press.
  • Succulents for the Contemporary Garden (2002) Yvonne Cave; Timber Press.
  • Sun Drenched Gardens, the Mediterranean Style, (2002) Jan Smithen and Lucinda Lewis; Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
  • Tough Plants for California Gardens: Low Care, No Care, Tried & True Winners (2006) Felder Rushing, Cool Springs Press.

Be sure to visit the Garden Inspiration page, which contains before and after photos of beautiful Long Beach landscapes, and includes the design plans and names of plants.

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