Green Despite Drought: How Water Restrictions Helps California Homeowners Rediscover their Landscaping Roots

As the drought continues in California, homeowners are shifting their landscaping dreams from lush lawns and water features to sustainable, drought-tolerant designs.

Considering California’s recent mandatory water restrictions, and the rebate programs available for homeowners to replace their grass lawns with more drought-tolerant plants and landscaping materials, now is the perfect time to design a yard that is both naturally beautiful and helps preserve natural resources like our water supply. And in California, you don’t have to look far to find beautiful options

Ask any landscape architect, and you’ll learn that using native, drought tolerant plants is not a new trend. It’s been growing in popularity for the past 10 to 15 years. Many native California plants are already drought-tolerant, while other California building materials like redwood offer pest and fire resistance to help protect a new design.

Most homeowners assume that drought-tolerant designs mean a monochromatic spread, yet nothing is further from the truth. California lilacs, poppies, the tower of jewels, are all examples of vibrantly colored plants that are designed to withstand the stresses of a drought-influenced climate. Use redwood, grown locally and sustainably in California on sanctioned commercial land, as a compliment to hardscaping design plans, and a new warmth and color play is introduced.

Redwood can also be used to create living spaces in the new design: from decks to trellises, shade pergolas to benches, the natural beauty and durability of redwood enhances 21st-century design with a sense of the timeless beauty.

Instead of treating the drought and related water restrictions as an end to landscaping as we’ve known it, let’s embrace the opportunity to bring more California into our homes than we imagined possible.

The financial incentives to try a new landscaping style make it easier to consider, but what homeowner wouldn’t want to spend more time enjoying their yards rather than spending more time working in their yards? We may never have a better opportunity to prove this point.

Californians have often been “early adopters” in other lifestyle facets: fitness, health, and, yes, the environment. By embracing the opportunities that hide in the challenges of a drought, we can once again lead by example. Let’s rediscover the forces of nature that thrive despite the lack of water, and set the example for more water-challenged states to follow.

Charlie Jourdain is president of the California Redwood Association -- http://realstrongredwood.com