Q&A: a new green frontyard
Your eco-questions answered:
Question: I live in Long Beach, Calif., and am looking to design a new frontyard -- on a budget and 'green.' I want to conserve water, xeriscape and use hardscape at the same time. Do you have any recommendations on where to go for information or for reputable landscapers? Thanks! Connie
Answer: Being an apartment-dweller, I'm lucky I don't have to worry about this stuff -- but I like to dream big about what I'd do with a front lawn if I had one. Current fantasy: plant fruit trees close to the sidewalk, with a little sign that says "help yourself" so passersby can pick a fresh orange to go.
Anyway, let me start with the most out-there options first, then move closer to what you asked about. :)
First -- What about an edible frontyard? My neighbors Jenn and Nat have done it (right). This way, you green your frontyard, you make it useful -- and you get to eat the fruits of your labors!
To make that edible garden even more eco, consider installing a gray water system that will let you reuse water from sinks and washing machines to water your garden or lawn.
Too radical? Let's turn to xeriscaping then: landscaping in a way that doesn't require additional irrigation. For inspiration, see Garden/Garden -- a project in Santa Monica that pits side by side a California-weather-friendly garden (left) and a traditional water-intensive one.
As expected, "The native garden is using seven times less water and costs 50% less to maintain than the traditional garden." This California Friendly Garden Guide makes it easy for you to find pretty plants that will also conserve water so you can do likewise.
As for hardscape -- I wasn't quite sure whether you meant that you'd like to find alternatives for hardscape -- which are paved areas like streets and sidewalks -- or if you're dead set on retaining this hardscape while greening the other parts of your frontyard. I'm hoping the former, mainly because having more permeable surfaces will help us prevent urban runoff, which both wastes our water and pollutes our oceans. The city of Santa Monica has put together a handy sheet comparing permeable paving products (PDF) to get you started.
Low Impact Living, a Web portal of sorts that helps people eco-up their homes, has many more tips on greening your lawn and garden. There is also "The Gardener's Guide to Global Warming" (PDF) from the National Wildlife Federation, which says “solutions to global warming are in gardeners’ hands.” Read it to find out what actions you can take in your garden, in your community and with your elected officials.
If all that sounds daunting, first go for the low-hanging fruit: getting a rain barrel, for example, or using a bucket to collect the cold water while you wait for the shower to warm up, and using that to water your frontyard.
And help is easy to find. To find a green landscape designer, just plug in your ZIP Code here.
Got a question? Ask me: greenlagirl@gmail.com.
Top photo by Siel; bottom photo courtesy of city of Santa Monica
