Landscaping in San Diego County (Freedom, Nice: for sale, houses, neighborhoods)

[luv4horses]

Looking at homes for sale in SD county I am saddened by a general lack of curb appeal and landscaping in the mid price range. While I realize water is scarce, isn’t there a wish for some sort of pretty planting’s around the home to add attractive artistry? Mostly I see gravel, pavers, artificial turf. Is use of gray water allowed with a permit? The SD I remember from a few decades ago was green and lovely. Even north county.

By mid price range I mean maybe 500-800.

[T. Damon]

Many of us have lush green gardens that we maintain with smart irrigation practices. We have three small rain barrels that help out but certainly don't provide much more than a couple of months worth. It's not all gravel and Aloe plants out here though.

[IMG][/IMG]

[luv4horses]

Oh T. Damon you are a landscaper hero! If only others would follow your example.

It's impressive that you can do that with collected rain water. Do you need to live close to the coast to get that lush effect or can you live 10 or more miles inland. And if I might ask, did you use the existing soil or did you need to import or strongly amend it.

[malcorub16]

Nice set up TDAMON, do you have neighbors in the back? If so, you can't even tell!

You have to be willing to spend lots of money on a water bill or collect rain water.
Living on the coast versus in land will make no difference, if anything it rains more inland and in the mountains than it does on the coast.

If you really want to see what most of San Diego County looks like without homes and planted trees, visit Mission Trails Regional Park.

[T. Damon]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

Oh T. Damon you are a landscaper hero! If only others would follow your example.

It's impressive that you can do that with collected rain water. Do you need to live close to the coast to get that lush effect or can you live 10 or more miles inland. And if I might ask, did you use the existing soil or did you need to import or strongly amend it.

Originally Posted by malcorub16

Nice set up TDAMON, do you have neighbors in the back? If so, you can't even tell!

You have to be willing to spend lots of money on a water bill or collect rain water.
Living on the coast versus in land will make no difference, if anything it rains more inland and in the mountains than it does on the coast.

If you really want to see what most of San Diego County looks like without homes and planted trees, visit Mission Trails Regional Park.

Thanks. Amazingly this is only an 1/8 acre lot (less watering, maintenance ) surrounded by similar sized properties and I am quite close to the houses in the front yet cannot really see anybody from the back. We have borrowed landscape from the canyon/park behind us.

The soil around here is mostly clay, with cobblestones throughout so amending it is very beneficial but we mostly work with what we have. We definitely water from the municipal supply but we supplement that with captured water from the barrels and grab a gallon from the kitchen faucet when warming up to pour into watering cans. Don't tell the governor but we have three GASP! water features that evaporate some, but try to keep them topped off with the captured water.

The county gets about twice as much annual rain in the mountains but the coastal weather is milder so slightly less need and evaporation and probably makes it a wash.

There really are 1000s of incredible gardens in the city, some like ours and others more native/xeriscape yet equally beautiful. We go on garden tours all over the area and are amazed what people have created.

If you live in San Diego you might as well have a beautiful garden because we are so lucky to live outside year round I say!

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[NYSD1995]

People who live here are busy. They are working and don't have time to maintain landscaping. Some don't earn enough to pay others to maintain their property. Some inherited their mom's house and are intent on riding it into sawdust. This can be surprising when you are looking at neighborhoods with 700k+ home prices, but it's very common in SD.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by T. Damon

Thanks. Amazingly this is only an 1/8 acre lot (less watering, maintenance ) surrounded by similar sized properties and I am quite close to the houses in the front yet cannot really see anybody from the back. We have borrowed landscape from the canyon/park behind us.

The soil around here is mostly clay, with cobblestones throughout so amending it is very beneficial but we mostly work with what we have. We definitely water from the municipal supply but we supplement that with captured water from the barrels and grab a gallon from the kitchen faucet when warming up to pour into watering cans. Don't tell the governor but we have three GASP! water features that evaporate some, but try to keep them topped off with the captured water.

The county gets about twice as much annual rain in the mountains but the coastal weather is milder so slightly less need and evaporation and probably makes it a wash.

There really are 1000s of incredible gardens in the city, some like ours and others more native/xeriscape yet equally beautiful. We go on garden tours all over the area and are amazed what people have created.

If you live in San Diego you might as well have a beautiful garden because we are so lucky to live outside year round I say!

Looks great. Are you using any drip or drip spray irrigation components? If not, they can extend the benefit of your rain water a lot and allow you to also use less city water..

[tstieber]

T Damon, you have wonderful garden composition. I'm also a huge garden enthusiast and absolutely love what you've done.

I see a lot of lazy people even in the $1.5 mil price range replacing lawns with green carpet or cobble rock with a few succulents stuck in them. It's important to educate homeowners about the wide variety of drought tolerant trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers available to them with totally affordable watering costs. It's not only worth the investment in curb appeal, but it makes enjoying our beautiful weather so much more enjoyable, provides important habitats for wildlife, and keeps soil temperatures lower.

[hitman619]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

People who live here are busy. They are working and don't have time to maintain landscaping. Some don't earn enough to pay others to maintain their property. Some inherited their mom's house and are intent on riding it into sawdust. This can be surprising when you are looking at neighborhoods with 700k+ home prices, but it's very common in SD.

As usual spot on
I'm going to be a killJoy here and post this about lawns. "Freedom Grass"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS1pZp2ILwg

[joosoon]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I see a lot of lazy people even in the $1.5 mil price range replacing lawns with green carpet or cobble rock with a few succulents stuck in them.

Nothing looks worse than ripping out a genuine 20' x 20' lawn, and throwing the identical synthetic variant back in its place. That's where people go wrong with fake grass. That's the carpet effect. There's way to do it right but that's not it.


As for hardscapes and dry rock rivers with succulents, I'm fine with those. We're in an older neighborhood so there's old growth that doesn't need any water both on and abutting the property. This at least gives a green backdrop even where I've removed the lawns and filled it with mostly hardscape. In newer developments this tends to look scorched earth though. But I don't hold it against anyone who doesn't want to dump literal bucketfuls of money into the dirt. Water is just too expensive to waste like that. I much prefer potted plants.