With significant water rate increases this month of up to 16%, and another 19% projected for next year, now is the perfect time to upgrade to a more sustainable landscape. Smart irrigation equipment and drought tolerant plant materials can save significant amounts of water, easily up to 50% on older projects.

The labor market is so competitive these days that a re-investment in the landscape at this time will be well worth it.

Many of San Diego’s major corporations and property managers have already begun to upgrade their properties, inside and out, in an effort to control the cost of operations.

San Diego’s mild Mediterranean climate is the perfect host to a wide array of stunningly attractive, low-water-use trees, shrubs, succulents, and ground covers. We can choose from an abundance of species, with new introductions being imported from all around the world. Many of the regions native plants are very handsome and fit right in to the upgraded look. The old boring shrubs are giving way to this incredible palette of beauty in terms of textures, colors, patterns, and forms.

The science of landscape design has come a long way recently, with an abundance of new information, strategies, materials, and equipment. Water delivery devices have been re-engineered to improve efficiency and minimize waste. These smart irrigation components are now able to work in concert to deliver just the right amount of water to just the right place (the root zone, instead of the bark mulch or the sidewalk).

If you think of an irrigation system as an organism similar to the human body, with the ‘brain’ being the controller of all other functions, you can begin to see the importance of the new generation of ‘Smart Controllers’. Delivering water based on the daily temperature and moisture content in the air makes good sense. These two factors are important in establishing an accurate ‘Evapo-Transpiration Rate’ for the plant material types in the landscape.

Smart irrigation components now include ‘weather-based’ controllers, rain shut-off devices that can detect moisture, flow sensors that can detect major leaks in the piping, rotator nozzles that are not affected by wind, and in-line drip emitter tubing that is durable and delivers water directly to the rootzone. The MP rotator nozzles can be easily installed right on the old rotor heads, and the in-line drip tubing can be installed on-grade with no trenching, just a 3" layer of bark mulch.

In addition to plants and irrigation, ‘unifying elements’ are critical to the success of these upgraded landscapes. These elements provide a basic ‘structure’ to organize the spaces, and tie the landscape scene together, from one side of the property to the other.

‘Unifying elements’ include meandering pathways, social gathering nodes, ribbons of decorative stone, boulder accents, strategically placed seatwalls, as well as vertical elements such as arbors, colorful banners, light bollards, etc. These site amenities don’t require water, and can add enduring beauty to any space.

Sustainable site design deals with not only irrigation and plants, but also the landforms and the soil. Carefully crafted soil mounds can add wonderful ‘rhythms’ to the landscape. Carefully placed depressions can funnel rainfall from parking lots and filter impurities through the plants and down into the rootzone, thus saving even more water over time. Amending the old compacted soils adds air space and organic nutrients, thus accelerating healthy growth and helping plants deal with stress from less water.

The process of finding your own sustainable landscape should first begin with an investigation of the potentials and constraints of the existing landscape features. Mature trees are so valuable in these upgraded drought tolerant landscapes. They provide welcome shade and cooling, interesting shadow patterns on the ground plane, and a nurturing environment for the newer plants underneath them.

The science and the art of the landscape should be carefully studied before any major expenditures are made, in order to maximize the ‘bang for the buck’.

Landscape Architects are highly skilled in the science and the art of beautiful landscapes. They understand the value of ‘enhancing the human experience’ and ‘respecting mother nature’ at the same time.

While contemplating changes to a property, it’s critical to learn more about these topics by reviewing the Sustainable Sites Initiative at sustainablesites.org.

It’s also worth considering consulting with a design professional that has acquired special LEED credentials. This credential indicates a deeper understanding of the complex aspects of site design, energy and water conservation, green building practices, and sustainable living.

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