If you have your own yard in Southern California, you may wonder how to landscape it! With such an arid, hot climate, it can be challenging for flowers, grass, shrubs, and even trees to survive. Oh, and the full sun is almost year-round! Stand-out landscaping in this area comes through a mixture of design, aesthetic choices, and planting suitable plants that will thrive in the climate. Read on for some Southern California landscaping ideas!
Southern California Landscaping Ideas
Landscaping can be as unique as you and your home. It can be challenging to choose how you’d like your home to look with so many possibilities. Here are some popular and creative SoCal designs!
California Native Landscape
Incorporating native California plants celebrates the natural beauty of the state. It simultaneously produces a low-maintenance garden. These plants and flowers are already accustomed to the climate; therefore, maintaining their health is much less work. Planting in groups based on soil composition and water requirements will help these native plants thrive.
Modern Minimalist
Modern design is all about minimalism, neutral color pallets, and clean lines. Hardscapes are common themes in contemporary landscaping. You can easily incorporate tiers and retaining walls into your landscaping to achieve this look. Rock gardens, concrete pavers, and simple planters are also frequently used. Planting unique, feature plants in a sparse design can complete this aesthetic.
Southwest Rancher
Southern California is influenced by its southwest neighbors, cowboy roots, and rancher style. Many homes incorporate southwestern architectural design elements, so why not match your landscaping? Plant casual groupings of desert-inspired plants to accompany a tile roof. Any variety of cacti or succulents is easy to maintain and drought-resistant.
Hilly Layers
Many Southern California homes have hillsides built into some part of their yard due to the area’s mountainous nature. You can use these slopes to your advantage! Plant in layers using plants with different colors and textures along your hill to achieve an organized yet varied aesthetic. Ensure the plants you use have robust root systems to prevent erosion.
Timeless Traditional
Traditional gardens have been popular for centuries – think old-style European palaces. Standard elements include brick pathways, geometric shapes, and a symmetrical design incorporating repeating patterns. Try using boxwood shrubs, which can be groomed into a tidy design of your choosing. These landscapes require more maintenance, but for those who enjoy the art of gardening, the results are well worth the effort.
What is the California Garden Style?
The contemporary California garden style was created around outdoor living. Informal outdoor furniture such as swinging benches and chairs, dining sets, and even outdoor couches can help achieve this aesthetic. With the Mediterranean climate, Californians just want to be able to use their space as another room in their home year-round. Adding seating areas, light fixtures, and design elements to your backyard can increase your garden’s versatility.
How Do You Start a Low-Maintenance Landscape?
Xeriscaping is a landscaping method in which you select plants that require minimal supplemental watering. Low-maintenance landscape design comes primarily from planting drought-resistant plants that need little trimming and pruning. Incorporate xeriscaping by switching your water-needy grass to no-maintenance artificial turf or a rock garden. Alternatively, try an ornamental ground cover such as dwarf yarrow to add splashes of color.
What is the Best Low Maintenance Ground Cover?
Ground cover is an excellent low-maintenance alternative to traditional grasses. Depending on your selection, some ground covers are very drought-tolerant. The California native dwarf woolly yarrow is a flowering plant that comes in many colors. You can find this perennial in silver, yellow, and orange! However, this ground cover isn’t very resilient, so if you have kids or pets, select a ground cover like clover for better results.
What is the Most Drought Resistant Plant?
The most drought-resistant plants are cacti and succulents. There are so many stunning variations of these plants that you will be able to find the perfect type to fit your garden. Agave or yucca are large enough cacti to make a stand-alone appearance as a feature plant. Low-growing or trailing succulents such as echeveria, ghost plants, moss rose, or creeping sedum can be used as a unique, low-water-requiring ground cover.
What Flowers Bloom All Year Round in Southern California?
Flowers are the most popular choice for adding pops of color to your garden. Hibiscus thrives year-round in Southern California and can bring a tropical vibe to your garden as it hangs from branches. African violets are low-growing flowers – but don’t let their name mistake you – they come in a wide variety! Petunias are trumpet-shaped, versatile flowers. They have annual and perennial types and a range of colors.
What is the Best Soil for Native Plants?
California native plants adapted to native soils through evolution, even clay soils! This means they barely require any soil preparation. However, it depends on what kind of plant or grass you are planting. For example, if you plant dune sedge or other plants usually found in coastal areas, you will need well-draining soil with a sandy composition. However, most plants will do well just in the simple soil that already exists in your yard. If you want to up the ante, add a bit of fertilizer or compost!
How Design Scapes Can Help
Are you looking to refresh your yard with new Southern California landscaping ideas? Design Scapes is here to help! We have years of experience working with plants, grasses, and shrubs and designing landscapes for this climate. We balance your desired aesthetic, budget, and the types of plants best suited to your area. Call us or visit our website today for more information on our services!
