Hydro Zoning

It isn't hard to see the arid condition that southern California happens to be in at the moment. Simply step outside and look around. You'll see plenty of brown patches and wilting petunias. You'll also see some lush, green lawns... but in order to survive our climate, these are watered religiously -- either manually, or with an irrigation system.

Watering an entire front and back yard on a daily basis can surely cost an arm and a leg, particularly here in San Diego - which is why it pays to learn a technique like hydro zoning. Hydro zoning involves grouping plants together based on their needs. If you do it right, hydro zoning can yield you a gorgeous landscaped yard, while saving you both water and dollars.

Zone 1: Drought Tolerant Plants

Hydro zoning in a place like San Diego should of course start with drought tolerant plants. These breeds survive best in areas with little water or scarce resources. Cactuses and succulents are typical; but also, many other types of Californian natives thrive well with just a little water.

To create a drought tolerant zone, simply lump together plants that require very little water. Locate your drought tolerant zone in an area that receives full sun, around the perimeter of the garden, or far away from more water intensive plants such as trees and lawns. This way, you won't ever have to worry that one day you'll over water your cactus due to the nearby tree that requires a good amount of moisture to stay alive.

Besides cactuses, what other types of native plants would grow best in your drought tolerant zone? Look to the hillsides around your community for ideas. Also investigate undeveloped areas nearby your home, where plants are likely to naturally converge based on similar needs for sunlight, water and soil conditions. For example, the ice plants on the beach slopes of Carlsbad would do well if your house happens to be on a beach front property. The orange poppies covering the hills of San Marcos would be a welcome addition to your garden if you live more inland.

Zone 2: Water Intensive Plants

Water intensive plants are ones which, in the dry climate of San Diego, should be watered at least once per week. Trees and lawns are a good example of water intensive plants. Unlike cactuses, which can thrive for long amounts of time in desert-like conditions, these will turn brown, and eventually die without a periodic watering.

Trees which are native to southern California of course will need some amount of watering; and yet they will still require less than a non-native such as a pine tree. As goes for your drought tolerant zone, place water intensive plants near each other according to the amount of room you have, and the space you'd like to create. For example, you might plant a tree and surround it with low growing shrubs. The roots of a tree grow as wide as the span of its branches, and therefore the surrounding plants should require an equal amount of water as the tree you planted.

Remember that these types of plants have deeper roots, so water needs to really soak through to get to them. Instead of watering daily, water a good 3 times a week for an extended period so that the soil is soaked thoroughly and the plants can thrive.

Important things to consider when hydro zoning:

Soil quality is key factor for healthy plant growth in a garden. If you live inland, your soil might be more rocky or it might be a richer, darker color. If you reside along the coast, your soil might be more sandy and fine, in which case you'll want to add mulch or ground covering to help keep water from evaporating. The type of soil should determine how you go about landscaping as well as your hydro zoning strategy.

The best time to hydro zone is when you're either starting from scratch or redoing your landscaping. With a clean slate to work with, you can more easily organize water zones within the backyard without the hassle of having to deal with existing plants. Not only is it a great amount of work to relocate plants that have already taken root in the ground, but many plants become stressed after being moved and don't fare well under the new conditions.

Locate your most water intensive hydro zone closest to the house. This way, being nearest the water system, you'll require less irrigation and tubing overall. Not only that, but as the water intensive plants are watered more frequently over the summer, the evaporating water will cool down the house a bit.

A shady area should be one hydro zone, while a sunny area is another. Plant drought tolerant plants such as succulents and cactuses in full sun, and locate more delicate flowers and shrubs in the shade. Group your plants according to how much sun or shade an area gets, as well as how much water they will require to thrive.

Useful websites:

Plants for Southern California Homes

This is a simply stunning and detailed, 45-page listing of native Californian plants that you'll be able to find at most of the nearby nurseries. The list includes trees, shrubs, and perennials, along with each plant's growing requirements. Highly recommended if you plan to re-do your entire garden and are not sure about which plants to choose.

Las Pilitas Nursery: Drought Tolerant or Resistant Native Plants

Not only does this site offer native plants for the garden, it categorizes them by region, covering the San Marcos, Carlsbad and Ventura areas. Note that plants are listed by their Latin rather than English names, so you may want to keep your plant dictionary handy when you explore this list.

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