Green Landscape Design In Los Angeles - Using Native Plants In Your Landscape

In general, the landscape of a typical Los Angeles home consists of sod and softscape material

, the irrigation of which constitues approximately 50% of the average residential water bill. Low Impact Development (an eco-concious design philosophy, geared towards reducing the amount of water we feed directly to storm drains) suggests a number of tactics for reducing storm water run off. One of these methods is the use of Native plants in our landscapes.

However, decreased water usage and runoff is not the only benefit of using native plants in your landscape. Here are several of the main reasons why utilizing native plants in our landscape is a good idea for any environmentally minded property owner:

The native plants found in California are resistant to drought, and they are able to survive (and thrive) soley on local rainfall levels. As a result, using native plants in your landscape reduces the need for additional irrigation, and as a result, less water is sent to storm drains in the form of run off.

When we, as a community, make an effort to reduce our water usage, we cut down on the electrical cost of pumping water. Currently, California allots 8 percent of its energy budget to the pumping of water.

Native plants support the delicate balance of our eco-system in ways that might not be readily apparent. For example: while there are 1000 different types of bees in California, many feed from only one speices of plant. If bees cannot survive, they cease to pollinate these plants, thereby endangering the existence of both plant and animal.

Plants native to California are inherently beautiful, and a remarkable plant palette can be assembled utilizing only native plant material. These plants are acclimated to grow and flourish in the conditions that exists naturally in our climate and soil conditions.

California natives work in conjunction with the ecology of our site and soil. Much of this ecology has been damaged in ways that are impercetible to us by the use of chemical fertilzer, pesticides, and cultivation. California natives augment the growth of fungi and bacterica, in addition to attracting and promoting the activity of eathworms.

Native plants tend to grow to their natural size and remain then remain consistent, thereby reducing maintenance, which reduces our contribution to landfills. About 20% of our landfills are occupied with garden waste.

Native plants require significantly less soil amendment and fertilizer, which reduces the levels of chemical by-products that are fed to our waterways. Fertilizers ultimately damage local soil conditions, by altering the make up of the soil, which can cause significant damage to our local ecological system.

Many of these local plants and shrubs are endangered or extinct, due in part to the expansion urbanization. Local animals depend on these plants for their livelihood.

The landscape design team at Nature-Scape, Inc. (located in Los Angeles, CA.) will work closely with you to create a plant palette that incorporates native plants, in part, or in whole. For more information, and for comprehensive lists of plants native to California, take a moment to look at the website for Las Pilitas Nursery.(There is no affiliation with the author - it's just a great website for reference.) Also, look at the wikipedia entry "List of California Native Plants."

by: John Read Classick

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