Last fall, I began volunteer work at the Buena Vista Audubon Society in Oceanside in their California native plant garden. I became an instant convert to native plants. So, I decided to kill the grass in our backyard, and plant a native garden. Killing the grass wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I used undiluted table vinegar, and then I had to be very patient. It took about three months.
The grasses in the backyard were extremely hardy, and didn't go without a fight. Eventually, the grass was dead, and I was able to plant many native plants, which is so exciting because it's like have a little bit of San Diego's wildlands in our backyard. I planted Ceonothus, Encelia, Sunset Manzanita, Salvia (Pozo Blue), Buckwheat, Mountain Mahogany, Western Redbud, and more. 
But again, I have to be patient. The garden doesn't look like much right now because everything is so small. But, if the plants survive the summer, they should really take off next year. (I can't wait!!) 
Why plant natives? First of all, they're beautiful and unique; but also by planting species that occur naturally in the wild together, in your garden, you create an environment that will draw various birds, insects and other critters. This is the sign of a healthy garden.
Also, native plants require a lot less water than non-natives. In fact, I keep checking the soil under the surface to see if I need to water, but it's still damp under there; it's been more than three weeks since I've watered my plants. You really have to check the soil to determine when watering is needed. Because I live in a town-home, there are sources of water that surround our yard, which is most likely why the soil is still damp. So, really this native garden is low maintenance, and it provides us with a little piece of our natural landscape right here in our backyard.
Comments(21)