TreePeople
Native, non-native, and invasive. If you’re passionate about plants, you’ve probably heard these terms thrown around a lot. They’re used to describe the origins of different species, and often the connotation is that native plants are “good,” while other plants are “bad” or unwanted, and should be removed. But is this always true? Can plants…
It’s been a wet, rainy winter here in Southern California, and as we look towards the warmer days ahead, nature-lovers are wondering — does that mean there’s another superbloom in store? The short answer is: it’s too soon to tell. While rain can help usher in the dramatic floral displays that blanket our hillsides in…
Are you thinking of replacing your lawn with a native garden? Turning your yard into a native landscape can be a powerful tool in protecting local habitat, saving you money on your water bill and lowering your carbon footprint. It can seem like a daunting challenge: where do you start, how hard is it to…
It’s hard to go a day in Southern California without overhearing someone say, “Well, you know LA is a desert.” Let’s get this out of the way immediately — Los Angeles is one hundred percent, categorically not a desert. Southern California does have desert environments, but you have to go out to say Joshua Tree…
Rainwater is a precious resource in Los Angeles and the best way to harvest it is to start with your home. Many of our homes have gutters and downspouts installed that direct vital rainwater away from our gardens and directly to the street and storm drains. A great alternative to this is to install a…
As your garden evolves from a typical lawn-centered landscape to one that is more sustainable and appropriate to our southern California climate, it is important that the maintenance of your yard shifts to accommodate the new landscape. Sometimes this involves working with your gardener to better understand the needs of your garden. Some helpful tips…
Southern California winter months are the ideal time to install native and climate-appropriate non-native plants into your landscape. In Southern California, it rains in late fall, winter and spring with almost no rain in the summer. Rainfall in December is around 1.75 – 2” increasing to 2.75” in January and then begins to decrease after…
One of the keys to maintaining native and climate-appropriate plants in your sustainable landscape is the health of the soil. Plant roots utilize and store nutrients in the soil environment, so it is essential that the soil contains what the roots need! Can’t I Just Add Fertilizer? It is not necessary to spend your…
One of our recent blogs gave you an idea of why organic soil is better for your plants than dousing your garden with chemicals. Here are the key components of healthy soil, explained: Sand, Silt, and Clay These materials comprise the texture of soil. While the three are comprised of rocks and minerals, they vary in…