BAY-FRIENDLY GARDENING - FROM YOURBACKYARDTOTHEBAY - GROW A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN BUILD HEALTHY SOIL - RESCAPE CALIFORNIA
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Bay-Friendly
Gardening
rom yo ur backyard t
F o the Bay
Grow a Beautiful Garden
Build Healthy Soil
Bay-Friendly Gardening your backy From ard to the Bay
T Table of Contents
he Bay-Friendly Gardening Program was developed to encourage residents to make environmentally
friendly gardening choices. It is not a particular style, but an approach that works with nature to reduce
waste and protect the watersheds of the San Francisco Bay. Chapter 1: Gardening for a Sense of Place 7
Chapter 2: Into the Garden — Look Before You Leap 18
Bay-Friendly Gardening was originally developed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and
Chapter 3: Gardening from the Ground Up 27
Source Reduction & Recycling Board, also known as StopWaste, and is managed by the non-profit Bay-Friendly
• The Nitty Gritty on Soil 27
Landscaping and Gardening Coalition. Visit www.bayfriendly.org for more information.
• Building and Protecting Healthy Soil 29
This guide was first published in 2004 and is now in its third print run. • Choosing Appropriate Plants 30
• Putting Plants in Their Place 36
Chapter 4: Gardening Day to Day and Through the Seasons 40
Project Team
• All About Composting 41
Jeanne Nader - StopWaste • Worm Composting 45
Jennifer Ketring - Green Logic Consulting • About Feed the Soil 60
Anne Hayes, Principal Writer
Cindy Nelson, Associate Writer
• Integrated Pest Management 62
Ben Duggan, Associate Writer • Contending with Weeds 65
Chapter 5: Gardening for the Birds and the Bees 70
Chapter 6: If You Don’t Own the Land 75
Thanks to the following agencies and representatives for contributing to the first edition:
Chapter 7: Looking for Help 79
Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program • Bay-Friendly Qualified Professionals 80
Louise Cervantes
• Community Resources 80
Bio-Integral Resource Center
Tanya Drlik Garden Design Survey 81
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Susan Handjian and Chris Finch
The Watershed Project
Sharon Farrell and Jen Brown
Credits
Bay-Friendly Garden Profiles
Graphic Design, David Gilmore
Illustrations, Joal Morris From the Backyard to the Bay: Protecting our Local Watershed..................................................................... 16
Photographs, Ben Duggan, David Gilmore, Kwai Lam, Rachel Michaelsen, Richard Rollins, Sunny Scott,
Tamara Shulman
Reusing Local Resources: Reducing Waste with Creative Solutions................................................................ 17
Rainwater Harvesting & Greywater: Storing and Reusing Water On-Site...................................................... 26
Right Plant Right Place: Selecting Plants Suited to Your Site......................................................................... 34
A special thanks to the Bay Area gardeners and landscape professionals who shared their gardening wisdom and experiences.
A Garden for Every Lifestyle: Rethinking Your Lawn....................................................................................... 39
Compost, Chickens & Crops: Building Healthy Soil for Bountiful Harvests................................................ 46
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based inks.
Third edition 2013. Urban Habitats: Gardening for Wildlife........................................................................................................... 72
Disclaimer
The information presented in this
guide is provided as a public service
by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping &
Gardening Tips
Gardening Coalition. This information Words from the Wise:
is not a substitute for the exercise Gardening tips have been gathered from
of sound judgement in particular Bay-Friendly Qualified
Bay-Friendly Gardening is a local landscapers, organizations, books
trademark and servicemark circumstances and is not intended Professionals and tour host
as recommendations for particular and other resources. Tips of all sorts gardeners share insights from
developed and owned by
StopWaste.Org. products or services. can be found in each chapter. their experiences. Look for these anecdotes
scattered throughout the guide.
4 51
We live in an amazing place.
Gardening for a Sense of Place
n the edge of a continent, bounded by deserts
and mountains, California is a land of spectacular natural beauty.
It is also a land of extremes — within our borders are the highest
and lowest points in the lower 48 states.
California also boasts a Mediterranean Creek is the largest watershed in eastern
climate. A handful of places — regions Marin County with a drainage basin that
that lie between 30 and 40 degrees latitude covers 45 square miles; Alameda Creek in
on the western limits of a continent — eastern Alameda County drains an area of
share California’s exceptional climate. The almost 700 square miles, carrying water from
Mediterranean basin, the Western Cape the inland cities of Livermore, Dublin, and
of Africa, Central Chile, southwest and Pleasanton into the bay.
south Australia, and much of the state
of California: these are the only areas The bay is a great mixing ground that is
on the planet that experience our mild tremendously fertile and full of life. Fresh
temperatures. Furthermore, each of these water meets salt water in its northeastern
regions is defined for half the year by the reaches; drifting phytoplankton form the
absence of rain. base of a complex food web that includes
hundreds of thousands of resident and
The Watershed of the migratory birds. The bay is also a repository
San Francisco Bay for many abiotic elements — including
Seventy-five percent of California’s annual urban runoff.
precipitation falls north of Sacramento. Wherever there are surfaces that water can
Some of this area — 40 percent of the state not penetrate, such as rooftops, driveways,
— lies in the watershed of the San Francisco streets, and parking lots, rain quickly runs
Bay. Two rivers, the Sacramento and San off. It picks up whatever it flows across —
Joaquin, are the main channels of a system litter, motor oil, sediment, pesticides and
that covers 60,000 square miles. fertilizers, plant debris — and carries it
Immediately surrounding the bay are many to nearby storm drains, which lead to our
smaller watersheds — the hills and valleys creeks, which empty into the bay.
of our towns and neighborhoods. Novato
7The bay contains high levels of some pesticides, Standard gardening practice is to remove all Bay-Friendly Gardening mimics natural systems,
including diazinon. All Bay Area creeks have been plant debris off-site, to landfills or large compost which recycle everything — water, debris, and
listed by the EPA as impaired by diazinon, which facilities, which effectively mines our soils of nutrients — endlessly. It pays attention to A Bay-Friendly Garden:
is toxic to birds, mammals, honey bees, and other organic matter. Urban soils have often been climate and local conditions and uses plants
beneficial insects. compacted, eroded, and so depleted that they are that are adapted to those conditions. It follows
no longer able to function naturally. By keeping maintenance practices that support the goals of Builds Healthy Soil
The ubiquity of plant debris and fruit and vegetable trimmings conserving resources and reducing waste. This
Pyrethroid diazinon in Bay on-site in the form of mulch and compost, we approach to gardening:
insecticides have Area waterways restore the soil’s ability to absorb water or filter
replaced diazinon, illustrates the impact pollutants. Returning organic matter to the soil is • Landscapes locally Reduces Waste
which was banned that gardeners can the link between protecting our watersheds and • Landscapes for less to the landfill in the Garden
from the residential have in harming or • Nurtures soil health
conserving landfill space.
market in 2004. protecting our natural • Protects air and water quality
Pyrethroids are resources. Because of • Conserves water
found in many urban its toxicity, diazinon What Is a Watershed? • Conserves energy Conserves Water
creeks draining to has been phased A watershed is the area of land that water flows • Provides wildlife habitat
San Francisco Bay out of the market, across on its way to a creek, river, lake, bay, or
and are causing but other harmful ocean. Bay-Friendly Gardening does not advocate a
widespread toxicity products have taken particular style of gardening. Bay-Friendly Gardens
to aquatic organisms. its place. Through aren’t a mold you have to fit into — they offer Creates Wildlife
changing our gardening endless opportunities, from backyard wildlife Habitat
practices, many of gardens and native plant communities to vegetable
the contaminants in stormwater runoff could be gardens, flower beds, and more.
eliminated. Just as important, solid waste can also Protects Local Watersheds
The Benefits of Bay-Friendly
be significantly reduced. and the Bay
Gardening
Watersheds and Wastesheds — Because it works with nature, rather than against
What’s the Connection? it, Bay-Friendly Gardening simplifies garden
care. Using fewer resources, such as water and Contributes to a
The passage of AB 341 in 2011 set a statewide What Is a Wasteshed? Healthy Community
goal of reducing California’s waste stream by 75% fertilizer, can mean less maintenance. And because
A wasteshed is the area of land from which all
by the year 2020. Some Bay Area counties have of the “streams” of refuse — from individuals
it emphasizes natural gardening techniques, Bay-
established supplemental goals. For example, and their communities — flow into the same Friendly Gardening offers a way to make our
Alameda County has set a goal of having less than landfill. communities healthier, safer places.
Saves Energy
10% of what is landfilled consist of “good stuff”
Research has shown that children are particularly
that could have easily been recycled or composted.
vulnerable to contaminants in the environment.
The goal is to reduce and reuse as much as
Introducing Bay-Friendly Gardening They are also especially open to the opportunities
possible, and when it is time to throw something In the following pages, you will find
for discovery and play that a garden can provide.
away, recycle what is recyclable, compost what is Retaining organic materials on site is one of the guidelines for a variety of Bay-Friendly
Inviting children to go for a snail hunt on summer
compostable, and landfill only what is left. most important practices a gardener can engage in.
nights is a safer way to eliminate the pest than Gardening practices. They cover all the main
There are also many other ways that gardeners can
Californians discard over 4,000,000 tons of food, setting out poison. activities a gardener undertakes — planning
protect and care for the environment both near
leaves, grass and other plant debris annually — the garden, choosing plants, caring for the
and far. It has also been shown that looking out on a
this accounts for more than 30% of the state’s soil, planting, watering, pruning, and so on.
garden helps hospital patients recover more
residential waste stream. By recycling these The Bay-Friendly Gardening program was The icons shown above appear throughout
quickly. Even when glimpsed from a moving car,
materials at home — composting kitchen scraps, developed to encourage residents to make
natural scenery soothes the viewer. Whether you this handbook, to signal the benefits offered
converting plant trimmings into mulch, leaving environmentally friendly gardening choices. Bay-
want an attractive yard to view from your home by every gardening practice described. For a
grass clippings on the lawn — we keep valuable Friendly Gardeners work with nature to reduce
or a place where you can get your hands dirty, detailed list of the practices, see pages 10-11.
resources out of our landfills and we replenish the waste and protect the local creeks, waterways, and
growing a Bay-Friendly Garden can help make
soil. watersheds of the San Francisco Bay.
you a healthier individual and help you make your
community a healthier place.
8 9Putting Bay-Friendly Practices into Place Create Wildlife Habitat
Incorporating Bay-Friendly practices into your You may also find that your current gardening
n Provide food for wildlife with a variety of plants that flower and set fruit at different times of year.
garden does not have to be difficult. In fact, many habits are already Bay-Friendly. You do not need
n Provide water with a small pond, bird bath, or water dish.
Bay-Friendly techniques can make gardening to do all of the following techniques to capture the
chores less of a chore. Using mulch for example, n Create year-round protective cover with a planting of evergreen trees/shrubs, logs, rocks, or brush pile.
spirit of Bay-Friendly in your garden. Including
helps to build healthy soil, reduce waste and n Diversify your garden structure with layers of ground covers, herbaceous vegetation (non-woody)
even one practice will reap multiple benefits.
conserve water, but it can also save time spent and/or grasses, shrubs of various heights, and trees.
Take the case of choosing California natives —
weeding and watering in the garden. n Leave some areas of the garden somewhat untidy — let flowers go to seed to provide food for
this practice conserves water by selecting plants
birds, and leave dead leaves and stalks to shelter over-wintering insects.
The following checklist can be used as a guiding adapted to a Mediterranean climate, and creates
n Feature native plants. (Plant more than 50% of your garden with California natives.)
tool for incorporating Bay-Friendly practices. wildlife habitat by providing food for local wildlife.
Build Healthy Soil Protect Local Watersheds and the Bay
n Amend soil with compost. n For patios, driveways, or other hard surfaces, choose permeable materials that allow water to soak
in rather than run off.
n Prepare garden beds by hand rather than with a tiller.
n Terrace steep slopes to reduce rainwater run-off and prevent erosion.
n Maintain garden beds with little or no tilling.
n Cover nearly all soil with mulch or plants.
n Sheet mulch to establish planting areas or pathways, or to control weeds while improving soil.
n Avoid the use of synthetic fertilizers.
n Create clearly defined paths and or raised beds to protect soil from compaction.
n Avoid the use of plants considered invasive in local wildlands (see page 33).
n Grow cover crops to enrich the soil.
Contribute to a Healthy Community
Reduce Waste in the Garden
n Use an integrated approach for controlling weeds, insect pests and diseases with least toxic controls
n Create and maintain an active compost or worm bin for garden and/or food waste. used first for safety of children, pets and wildlife.
n Use your green waste cart for any plant wastes that are difficult to compost on site. n Tolerate pests as much as possible.
n Use leaves, chipped plant debris, compost, or other organic materials as mulch. n Select disease resistant varieties of plants.
n Minimize plant waste by not overplanting, overwatering, or overfertilizing. n Include plants that attract beneficial insects in the landscape.
n Minimize pruning by choosing plants that are appropriate for the space. n Grow vegetables organically for food and enjoyment.
n Avoid sheared hedges in the garden. n Plan outdoor lighting that is dim or directed downwards to minimize light pollution.
n Leave clippings on the lawn after mowing. n Use hand or electric tools instead of gas-powered tools.
n Use recycled or salvaged products for artistic or functional purposes. n Consider and control potential neighborhood hazards — including fire awareness, weed seed
disbursement, and rodent habitat.
Conserve Water
Save Energy
n Emphasize Mediterranean climate or California native plants. (Try to use these plants for at least
n Place trees and shrubs to reduce energy requirements. For example, plant deciduous trees on the
half of your garden area.)
west side of the house to provide shade during the summer and allow sunlight to warm the house
n Group plants in the landscape by water needs. in the winter.
n Minimize or eliminate lawn area. n Shade parking asphalt areas and air conditioners, if applicable.
n Install efficient irrigation (drip, timers, soaker hoses, etc.). n Select local garden products and suppliers.
n Water according to plants’ needs, not just on a fixed schedule. n Choose outdoor lights that are energy efficient or solar.
n Use mulch in garden beds. n Select pumps for water features that are solar powered or energy efficient.
n Install a rainwater collection or gray water system. n Include space in the garden for a clothesline.
10 11Gardening Locally
Riparian Woodland
Bay-Friendly Gardening recognizes that what we do in our yards has impacts on pesticide loads in the is structured like other
photo: east bay regional park district
San Francisco Bay and capacity at local landfills. One way to reduce such impacts is to garden locally — woodlands, with an overstory
that is, with an awareness of local conditions and the land’s natural inhabitants. of tall trees and, in this case, a
dense, lush understory of shrubs
As a part of this, Bay-Friendly Gardening uses natural plant communities as models for the garden. and smaller plants. This creekside
Plant communities are in large part determined by the conditions that a gardener needs to consider plant community depends on
when selecting plants — such as soil, light, moisture, drainage, and exposure — so plant communities year-round moisture; some
can provide inspiration for how to group plants in the garden and what plants to choose. Whether filled riparian plants are sun-loving,
with native plants or with exotics that do well in these settings, any garden can have a version of all of others are shade tolerant. In the
the following California plant communities. garden they prefer loose soils.
Bay-Friendly gardeners have individual approaches to the concept of Gardening Locally. Charlotte
Torgovitsky took inspiration from nearby open spaces to create native plant communities in her Novato
garden. Carlo Pessano relied on local resources to transform his yard in Berkeley. See garden profiles on
pages 17 and 72.
Coastal Prairie and Valley Redwood Forest
Grassland are distinguished by Redwoods are rightly famous,
their proximity to the bay. Valley and parts of the Bay Area
photo: east bay regional park district
grassland occurs on the inland are still graced with them. A
side of the East Bay hills; coastal distinctive group of understory
prairie is close to the water. Both species is adapted to the deep
are a rich complex of perennial shade of the redwood groves.
photo: Richard Rollins
bunchgrasses interspersed with
perennial and annual wildflowers.
Prairie and grassland species are
adapted to full sun and summer
drought; they will accept a variety
of soils.
Valley and Foothill Woodland
Northern Coastal Scrub
includes open oak woodlands, which have
a grassy understory; dense oak groves also lies close to the coast and along parts
crowded with lower shrubs and herbs; and of the bay. In addition to grasses and other
shady bay laurel woods. Oak woodlands herbaceous plants, this community also has a
are summer-dry environments; the plants shrub layer. Plants in this comtlemunity are
of denser woodlands will take moister adapted to exposed locations and at least a bit
of fog.
photo: Ellen Zagory
conditions and soils high in organic matter.
photo: jane huber
Many understory woodland plants are shade
tolerant.
12 13Common Plants for Bay Area Plant Communities Riparian Woodland
Aristolochia californica Dutchman’s pipe
Following are selected lists of representative species for the most common plant communities in the Bay Athyrium filix-femina Lady fern
Area. Understory plants are suggested for the Redwood Forest and Woodland communities — that is, an Carex species Dwarf sedge
assumption has been made that there are existing redwoods, oaks or other trees providing the inspiration and Clematis ligusticifolia Clematis
environment for your chosen plant community. Cornus species Creek Dogwood
Equisetum species Horsetail
Coastal Prairie and Valley Grassland
Juncus effuses bruneus Green rush
Achillea millefolim Yarrow Mimulus cardenalis, M. guttatus Scarlet monkeyflower, Seep Monkeyflower
Calamagrostis nutkaensis Reed grass Oenanthe sarmentosa Creek parsley
Calochortus luteus Golden mariposa Rosa californica California rose
Carex tumulicola Dwarf sedge Salix species Red willow
Danthonia californica Wild oat grass Sisyrinchium californicum Yellow-eyed grass
Deschampsia caespitosa holciformis Hair grass Vitis californica California grape
Dichelostemma capitatum Bluedicks
Eschscholzia californica California poppy Redwood Forest
Festuca idahoensis Fescue bunchgrass
Aquilegia formosa Western columbine
Iris douglasiana Douglas iris
Asarum caudatum Wild ginger
Nasella lepida, N. pulchra Needlegrass, Purple needlegrass
Carpenteria californica Bush anemone
Pteridium aquilinum pubescens Bracken fern
Dryopteris sp. Wood fern
Sidalcea malviflora Checkerbloom
Fragaria vesca ssp. californica Woodland strawberry
Sisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed grass
Heuchera maxima, H. micrantha Coral bells
Solidago californica California goldenrod
Myrica californica Pacific wax myrtle
Triteleia laxa Ithuriel’s spear
Polystichum munitum Western sword fern
Wyethia angustifolia Mule’s ears
Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry
Ribes sanguineum, R. viburnifolium Pink-flowering currant, Catalina perfume
Valley and Foothill Woodland
Symphoricarpos albus, S. mollis Snowberry
Achillea millefolium Yarrow Vaccinium ovatum California huckleberry
Arctostaphylos Manzanita (some species more shade tolerant than others)
Berberis Oregon grape Northern Coastal Scrub
Ceanothus California lilac (some species shade tolerant)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Pt. Reyes’ Manzanita
Cistus Rockrose
Artemisia californica Coast sagebrush
Correa Australian fuchsia ‘Carmine Bells’
Baccharis pilularis var. consanguinea Coyote brush
Festuca californica California fescue
Ceanothus gloriosus Ceanothus
Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon
Ceanothus cuneatus Buckbrush
Holodiscus discolor Ocean Spray
Cercocarpus betuloides Mountain mahogany
Iris douglasiana Douglas iris
Chlorogolum pomeridianum Soap plant
Keckiella cordifolia Heartleaf keckiella
Diplacus aurantiacus Monkey flower
Lepechinia Pitcher sage
Epilobium canum California fuchsia
Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’ Giant wild rye
Heracleum lanatum Cow parsnip
Mimulus aurantiacus, M. bifidus, M. puniceus Monkeyflower
Heteromeles arbutifolia Toyon
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer grass
Lupinus albifrons Bush lupine
Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry
Mimulus aurantiacus Sticky monkeyflower
Ribes sanguineum, R speciosum Pink-flowering currant, Gooseberry
Rhamnus californica Coffeeberry
Ribes viburnifolium Catalina perfume
Salvia melifera Black sage
Salvia spathacea Hummingbird sage
Scrophularia californica Bee plant
Satureja douglasii Yerba Buena
Wyethia angustifolia Mule’s ears
Symphoricarpos sp. Snowberry
Vitis californica Wild grape
14 15From the Backyard to the Bay: Protecting our Local Watershed Reusing Local Resources: Reducing Waste with Creative Solutions
I T
t’s hard to imagine a yard that more clearly plant communities that are represented in their he combination of Rochelle and Henry hardscaping there are “many more possibilities
evokes the spirit of gardening “From your yard: oak woodland, redwood forest, and coastal Ford’s sculpture garden and their brightly than just always buying something new.” He
Backyard to the Bay” than David Gaskin’s sage scrub. More than 80% of their plants are painted house is so distinctive that it salvaged many of the resources for his home
and Phil McPherson’s in Alameda. With 165 native including a large number of mature, native catches people’s eye from the street. The main garden in Berkeley from his own lot. For example,
Photos: Top: David & Phil’s garden, Alameda. Bottom: Stuart’s garden, Novato. RIGHT: Douglas & Alfonso’s garden, Hayward.
attraction is Rochelle’s metal sculptures which he tore up a huge concrete pad in back and turned
feet of lagoon frontage, Phil and David are very trees such as coast live oaks, blue oak, redwoods,
come in many shapes and sizes. “Almost every the broken pieces into a beautiful permeable patio.
aware that any garden inputs they use will drain buckeye, and incense cedar. Douglas uses fallen
day I find someone When he needed
straight into the bay. When they first moved, in limbs to build up raised beds, and adds leaves taking photos a retaining wall he
the backyard was covered in lawn, concrete and and other plant debris to his compost pile or uses of the garden or moved and rebuilt
bunched up pine trees. They them for mulch. Keeping plant knocking on the a failing stone wall
wanted to create garden space debris on-site in the form of mulch
photos: Top & Left: Rochelle & Henry’s Garden, Palo Alto. Right & Bottom: Carlo’s Garden, Berkeley.
door to ask if they that was already
that protects the bay and and compost helps restore the soil’s can take a tour of on-site rather
replaced a large concrete pad ability to absorb water and filter our yard and see than buying new
with a dry set permeable patio pollutants. the sculptures up materials. Carlo
that allows water to soak into close.” Rochelle built up large
the soil rather than runoff makes all of planting mounds
and pollute the bay. Chunks her sculptures and berms with soil
from the old concrete patio from salvaged excavated from a
materials, “I deep French drain
were used to build up planting
enjoy taking he installed around
berms, which also help reduce
something his house. The
runoff and prevent erosion. people find mounds provide
They never use synthetic useless and excellent drainage
fertilizers or pesticides that turning it into to help keep plants
could pollute the something healthy, and by
bay. After only a year personal and keeping the soil
Views of the wetlands from
of work they could meaningful for on-site he avoided
Stuart Bunting’s home in
relax in their garden the garden,” says sending it to the
Novato serve as a subtle Ford. landfill.
playing dominoes while
reminder that the gardening
watching shorebirds
choices he makes ultimately When the Ford’s Carlo is a master
fish in the lagoon. first started working on their at using the unique texture of
impact the bay. Stuart hired
Douglas Rooney is a Equinox Landscape to yard in Palo Alto was all lawn salvaged materials to create
landscape architect and help create a landscape that and required a lot of work to distinctive looking gardens. He
he describes his home evokes a sense of Northern keep up. As Rochelle put it, “We deconstructed a derelict fence on
decided that with the grass, the his lot and reused the good boards
garden in Hayward as, California. Contour
garden owned us...we didn’t own in a new fence that has a beautiful
“random and chaotic; infiltration swales slow,
the garden.” They removed the texture that wouldn’t be possible
not at all like a project I’d do for work.” It’s a sink and spread rainwater and help to filter toxins grass and replaced it with drought with new materials. He created his
large lot in an enticing setting along San Lorenzo and recharge the water table. California native tolerant plants that are carefully own garden art from scrap metal,
creek, which empties into San Francisco Bay. plants with deep tap roots and sprawling coverage placed so that they have room driftwood, and salvaged clay pipes.
Douglas and his partner Alfonso Valenzeula- combat erosion and create a sense of place. to grow and don’t need regular pruning. Not Even the plants he put in are ones he recovered or
Gumucio have been slowly removing Algerian California grapes, Dutchman’s pipe, ceanothus, only does their new garden require much less were given by friends and clients who didn’t want
and English ivy, vinca, arundo donax, privet trees coyote brush, buckwheat, penstemon ‘Margarita maintenance, it is also a more meaningful self- them anymore. Carlo’s use of reclaimed materials
and other particularly nasty invasive species that Bop’ and Cape Mendocino reedgrass, along with expression. helps make his garden casually beautiful and
have spread up from the creek. This work has the brilliant California poppy are some of his relaxing, a place that tilts the scales and makes life
Carlo Pessano, a Bay-Friendly Qualified just a little bit easier to enjoy.
helped make room for the three different native favorites.
Professional, thinks that when it comes to
16 172
Into the Garden: Look Before You Leap
Many an eager gardener can tell a tale of planting first
and then considering the consequences. Whether you create a garden yourself or hire someone to do it for you,
the process can be made clearer — and the end result more successful — by taking the time to think things
through at the outset.
7. Try out various designs. Start laying out beds
in your mind and on paper. Draw on copies of
your site plan or use tracing paper to make
overlays. Another good trick is to
draw features on photographs,
using tracing paper or a
grease pencil. Black and
white photos are
This chapter covers how to plan a garden and provides a visual example of all the elements a Bay-Friendly best because they
garden might contain. For help with assessing your site and planning the garden, use the tear out Garden show the site in
Design Survey located at the back of this book. clear relief.
8. Take stock of your
How to Plan a Garden 4. Think about how you use the space... time and your budget. Now
The following is a general overview of Every outdoor space has functions. Make consider all of your lists and
the factors to consider when you want to a list of how you use the areas surrounding drawings in terms of what you can
renovate all or some part of your garden. your home — do your children play in the afford and the role you see yourself
The best approach is to think first about yard? Do you spend much time gardening? playing in bringing these changes about. If
form and function — what the conditions Do you like to look out on the yard from you’re doing the work yourself, how much do
of your site are and how you use the different rooms in the house? you really have time for? What do you want to
5. Do a rudimentary layout. List-making
garden — then consider details such as tackle first?
. . . and how you’d like to use it. Very constitutes a simple form of planning, and from it
plant choice. See page 30. likely you have ideas about the purposes you can make some very simple designs. Think of 9. Start small. Gardens are dynamic
1. Get to know what you have. Spend you want your yard to serve. Perhaps you the garden in terms of rooms — connected spaces environments. They’re always changing, over time
some time puttering. Knock around out want an outside dining area, or a patio that have different characters and purposes. Using and according to season. Your efforts to renovate
there. Prune a few things, pull weeds, put where none exists. Or you need a site for your base map (or just a blank piece of paper), your yard, and to care for it, will necessarily play
a few plants in the ground. The point is to a bigger and better compost pile. Think draw bubbles that loosely represent these rooms. out over time too. Now, though, you have a clear
get to know the place, to build first-hand about those things next, and make a list of sense of where you want to go. Work on one
them. 6. Consider your materials. Once you have a
experience of your little piece of the earth. general picture of how you want the garden to be area at a time, gathering materials, building beds,
laid out, you can begin to consider the particulars: putting in plants, watching the garden grow.
2. Consider the structure of the
place. This means the hard features the wooden fence, the paths, the plants. Make
Words from the Wise: more lists. At this point, think as much in terms of
— driveway, buildings, fences, paved
paths. It also means plant materials — Take a Fresh Look plant characteristics as specific species — consider Tip: Use Salvaged Materials
what’s already growing in the yard and height, form, color, and cultural requirements.
Use fewer virgin materials in your
In terms of other materials, keep Bay-Friendly
B
what shape does it give your garden? For ay-Friendly Qualified landscape. Reuse existing materials or
help inventorying your site, see the Garden principles in mind — plan to reuse materials on salvaged materials, when possible, or
Professional Sherri Osaka site and buy used or recycled products.
Design Survey on page 81. select recycled products. A number of
recommends that you try to new recycled landscape products are
3. Make a simple plan of the property. walk through your garden as if you available in a variety of textures and
A property survey was completed for your are seeing it for the first time. “Tune colors. Many combine recycled plastics
home at the time it was built, and if you in to how it feels in different areas. with wood by-products. These materials
obtain a copy (available from your county Too dark? Too bright? Too open? Too require almost no maintenance and last
assessor’s office), it can serve as a base longer than wood.
closed in? Take photographs to get a
plan. If you don’t have the survey or don’t different point of view. Finally, make a The California Materials Exchange program
want to track it down, you can make one offers statewide listings for reused
list of all your goals, impressions, and
yourself. See “How to Draw a Site Plan,” materials —visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov.
desires on one piece of paper so you
page 20. can check them off as you design. And
have fun, this is the time to play!”
Broken concrete is used to create a retaining wall.
18 19Tip: How to Draw a Site Plan
Picturing the Bay-Friendly Garden
You’ll need graph paper — the best scale is eight squares to the inch.
To make sure your yard will fit on a single page at that scale, measure The landscape pictured below illustrates how Bay-Friendly Gardening benefits the gardeners, neighbors,
the width and depth of your lot. Translate that to the graph paper by local wildlife and the greater environment. You can reap the rewards of Bay-Friendly with these
counting one square of graph paper for every foot of your property. practices and others discussed throughout this guide.
Most yards of 80 feet by 60 feet or less will fit onto a regular sheet
of graph paper at eight squares to an inch. (The advantage of using
this scale is that every 1/8-inch mark on the ruler equals a foot, so
you can use the ruler to measure distances, instead of having to count Creates Contributes to a
squares.) Wildlife Habitat Healthy Community
Once you’ve got the right graph paper, it’s as simple as making all the Bird-bath Organic vegetable Protects Local
measurements and transferring them onto paper. Measure the perimeter provides water garden provides Watersheds
of the property. for wildlife. healthy, tasty produce and the Bay
Measure from the throughout the year.
perimeter to the house.
Permeable paving
Mark the perimeter and on the driveway
location of the house and front
on the graph paper. walkway prevents
Complete the outline runoff.
of the house. Measure
and draw in sidewalks,
driveways, and other
hard structures. This
can take a while, but
the process is fun
and the result — the
site plan — will be
very useful.
When it’s
completed, mark
north on the plan.
Keep the original Reduces Waste
clean. Make plenty in the Garden
of photocopies Raised beds
and use them for are created
experimental plans Saves Energy Conserves Water
from broken
and drawings. Deciduous Lawn in front
concrete
Adapted from and fence is trees on the replaced with
Rosalind Creasy, west shade low water
constructed
The Complete the house in use native
Book of Edible
from reclaimed
lumber. summer and Builds Healthy Soil groundcovers.
Landscaping.
allow sunlight Repository for
in the winter. leaves to collect
under trees as
mulch.
20 21Tackle Climate Change with Bay-Friendly Gardening
T
he news of global warming is We can expect a warmer and dryer environment Reduce Your Direct Output of Also Reduce Your Indirect Output
incontrovertible. Signs of climate locally, and the plants and animals that inhabit Greenhouse Gases
change are most evident in the polar our gardens will respond accordingly. The The single largest source of greenhouse gas
If the problem of global warming is the result
regions — photos of stranded polar bears and development of plants is temperature dependent, emissions is the generation of electricity. So
of an increase in greenhouse gases, then part of
glacial melt convey in no uncertain terms that so many will leaf out and bloom earlier. Insect life keep in mind that when you use electricity,
the cooler regions of our planet are warming cycles are also temperature dependent, so their the solution clearly lies in reducing our output of
you are burning fossil fuels indirectly, and thus
quickly. But even in temperate climes such as seasonal patterns will be altered as well. One study these gases. Take steps to reduce the amount of
contributing to global warming. Here are some
our own, scientists are seeing changes. Animals estimates that global warming will be a boon for emissions released from related activities.
in mountainous areas of the United States are aphids in California — warmer temperatures could ways to reduce your electricity use.
migrating to higher elevations, seeking the cooler enable them to reproduce in numbers three times Use hand-
powered tools Reconsider your need for outdoor lighting.
conditions they’re accustomed to. In the Sierra greater than they do now.
whenever Most outdoor lighting is for decorative or security
Nevada, as snow pack decreases, wetlands fed by
snow-melt groundwater are drying up. Change is upon us, but all is not lost. Even as we possible. All purposes. Evaluate where you actually need
begin to see the effects of global warming in our hand tools are lighting. In many cases you may find that you can
These trends will soon be playing out in own backyards, there are also steps we can take to zero-emission and do without — particularly in those areas where
our gardens as well. Before long, our Sunset arrest climate change. therefore should lighting is used for decoration. Consider motion
gardening zones may no longer apply. The Arbor be preferred in the sensors where lighting is used for security.
Day Foundation, an organization dedicated to garden.
encouraging people to grow trees, recently revised Where outdoor light is necessary, use compact
the national USDA hardiness zones. According to Choose electric
fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights
the new map, parts of coastal California, including tools when more
use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer
areas both north and south of the San Francisco power is needed.
Bay Area, have been moved into a planting zone Electricity has than traditional bulbs. And they are especially
about 10 degrees warmer than in 1990. its own climate- good for outdoor use because they maximize
change impacts, but it is the lesser of two evils. efficiency when in operation for long duration,
Quieter and less energy-intensive, electric tools are such as overnight. For each compact fluorescent
Greenhouse Gases and Bay-Friendly Gardening lower impact than gas-powered. bulb that replaces an incandescent, almost 700
Global warming is caused by the accumulation of several gases—carbon pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the
Use gas-powered tools as a last resort. When
dioxide (CO2) is the best-known among them — that persist in the upper atmosphere. Since all compact fluorescents contain
you do use gas-powered tools, choose the smallest,
atmosphere, trapping the heat of the sun like the glass panes of a greenhouse. These gases are mercury, be sure to dispose of them with other
most efficient, lowest-emission equipment — and
primarily the result of burning fossil fuels, so this is the ultimate cause of the climate change we keep it well tuned. You can improve overall fuel household hazardous waste.
are now experiencing. Methane, which is a byproduct of some microbial decomposition processes, efficiency in a car by as much as 30% just through Use solar-powered path lighting and water
also helps contribute to global warming. basic maintenance, and it stands to reason that
features. Reduce your impacts even more by
Burning fossil fuels in vehicles and for energy use in buildings and facilities is a major contributor the results would be similar for power tools. A
stepping off the grid entirely and using the power
to the county’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the U.S. EPA, electricity production and machine that runs well runs cleanly, emitting fewer
pollutants. of the sun to power your outdoor lights and
transportation produce over 60% of total emissions.
fountains.
Bay-Friendly Gardening helps reduce greenhouse gases by: Avoid excessive fertilizer applications.
• Reducing transport of materials to the landfill = less CO2 Nitrogen based fertilizers are a source of nitrous
oxide — the third largest greenhouse gas
• Reducing organic debris in the landfill = less CH4 (methane)
contributor to global warming. Be careful to use
• Reducing fertilizers = less N2O (nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas)
the appropriate amount of fertilizer, whether
• Reducing water consumption = less electricity use = less CO2 organic or synthetic, and time your applications
• Increasing soil organic matter = greater absorption of CO2 when plants most need the additional nutrients
and will absorb the nitrogen.
22 23Design and maintain your garden for low carbon dioxide; so can the soil. Take advantage
water use. According to the California Energy of these natural processes to decrease the planet’s
Commission, nearly one-fifth of all the power greenhouse-gas load.
generated in California goes into water-related
Plant a tree. Over its lifetime, a single tree can
uses. So by reducing your water use, you reduce
remove more than a ton of carbon dioxide from
your greenhouse-gas output.
the atmosphere. If sited appropriately around your
The current water usage for landscaping in house, trees can also help reduce your energy use.
California Coastal Zones (such as San Francisco
Grow your own food. The benefits of growing
Bay Area) is about 55,000 gallons per year
and eating your own food are many. In terms of
per garden. In Alameda County alone, a 50%
global warming, you reduce transportation and
reduction in water demand — which is possible
related emissions and you increase carbon uptake.
through Bay-Friendly Gardening — would result
Organic methods such as minimal- and no-till
in a cut in energy use equivalent to a reduction of
gardening, improve the soil’s ability to capture and
9,450 tons of CO2 per year overall, or 54 pounds
stabilize carbon. Build a Green Roof
of CO2 per year per garden. For tips on how
B
to reduce water use — including using efficient uilding a green roof — one that has plants on it — can conserve energy by keeping
Last But Not Least
the house insulated. Oakland gardener Greg Powell says his green roof reduces heat
irrigation — see pages 57-59. Bay-Friendly gardening is environmentally-friendly retention, reduces glare, and increases rainwater infiltration.
gardening. All its practices can help reduce
your contribution to global warming. Especially The idea for a green roof came when Powell and his wife were remodeling their home. Their
important are these two simple practices. parcel is sloped and they had sited a detached garage below the house. Rather than look out on a
bare rooftop, they began to think about planting it. They dug into the slope to recess the garage
Don’t forget to compost. In addition to reducing into the hillside and converted the roof, Powell says, into “a planter box.”
the gas required to haul your garbage to the
landfill, when you compost at home, you reduce Building and having a green roof is not as scary as it sounds, says Powell. “We build floors
methane gas emissions. At the landfill, organic strong enough to support grand pianos, so we can build roofs strong enough to support dirt,”
materials decompose anaerobically — without he says. To figure out how to do it, Powell first went online; he found descriptions of large-scale
oxygen — which results in the release of methane, projects such as the living roof on the new Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and adapted
a potent greenhouse gas. Compost those leaves, this information to his needs. He used housing foundation materials to provide waterproofing
Hang your clothes out to dry. After the grass, plant trimmings and kitchen scraps at home and drainage, added a layer of horticultural pumice on top of that for extra drainage and as a
refrigerator, the dryer is one of the biggest and they’ll break down in the presence of oxygen. root barrier, and then layered about four inches of dirt on top.
consumers of energy in your house. So make No methane added. Soil quality and quantity is
space in the garden for a clothesline, and reap the Powell says plant choice is important — he avoided large, woody plants, choosing instead to put
expected to decline as a result of global warming
benefits: lower energy use, lower utility bills, more in shallow-rooted succulents and grasses. (The Academy of Sciences building in Golden Gate
— making and using compost will help to alleviate
time spent outside, and good-smelling clothes. Park features low-growing coastal natives such as beach strawberry and sea pink, as well as a
that.
local succulent and herbaceous wildflowers.)
Increase Your Intake Use leaves and trimmings for mulch. In
For anyone considering a green roof, Powell recommends looking at one that’s been done and
In addition to reducing outputs, you can also addition to offering the same benefits as
talking to anyone with an interest in the topic. To plan and install his roof, Powell got advice
employ a variety of strategies for increasing composting, using mulch helps keep soil moist,
from architect friends; he also paid an engineer to calculate loads and thus ensure that the
the intake of greenhouse gases, resulting in a thus reducing water needs. It also builds the soil structure would be sound.
net reduction to the atmosphere. Plants take in and increases its ability to store carbon.
24 25Rainwater Harvesting & Greywater:
Storing and Reusing Water On-Site
O
ne of the first things Patricia and Dale rainwater, and a “smart” irrigation controller with
Parker did when they purchased their an onsite weather sensor helps keep water use low.
home in Napa was to replace the water-
thirsty front lawn with native and Mediterranean Using greywater for irrigation is another way
plants that thrive in the Bay Area’s summer dry that Bay-Friendly gardeners can conserve water.
climate. The Parker’s also installed rainwater Greywater systems reuse water from bathroom
cisterns, including some wine barrels, which can sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines for
store about 700 gallons of runoff from their roof. irrigation. According to Greywater Action, a
This amount of water goes a grassroots group that empowers people to “build
long way in their water-wise sustainable water culture and
landscape. infrastructure,” greywater may
contain traces of dirt, food,
PhoTos: Top: Eric & Jill’s garden, Mill Valley. Bottom: Patricia & Dale’s garden, Napa.
Patricia and Dale have joined grease, hair, and household
other Bay-Friendly gardeners cleaning products, and while
who have taken water it may look dirty, it is a safe
conservation to a whole new and even beneficial source of
level by installing rainwater irrigation water for a garden.
catchment systems. These If released into rivers, lakes,
systems can help alleviate the or estuaries, the nutrients in
challenge presented by our greywater become pollutants,
Mediterranean climate that but when released in a garden
typically has too much rain in they become valuable fertilizer.
the winter, and not enough
in the summer. Although When you visit Laura Allen’s
it is hard to store enough Oakland garden it’s hard to
water to make it through the believe that when she moved
summer, every drop helps there in 2003 the yard was
stretch out the wet season, all concrete and weeds. She
especially with lucky early fall transformed the neglected
or late spring rains. Catchment space into a bountiful garden
systems vary in capacity from that produces bumper crops
a single 60-gallon barrel to of fruits, nuts, and vegetables
large systems with thousands without using a lot of potable
of gallons of storage. There water. Allen is one of the
is a wide range of technology founders of Greywater Action
available; everything from low-tech gravity fed and uses her home garden to experiment with
systems to high-tech automated systems with different greywater technologies. She recommends
controllers, pumps and valves. “simple, low-tech systems that use gravity
whenever possible, instead of pumps, and prefers
Eric Woodhouse and Jill Thomas installed a irrigation systems that are designed to avoid
rainwater system, however, their approach is a clogging, rather than relying on filters and drip
little more high-tech. Working with a landscape irrigation.” Her greywater system drains directly
architect at their home in Mill Valley they installed outside and waters fruit trees and ornamental
two 1500 gallon underground rain catchment plants. She only uses all-natural, biodegradable
tanks below a patio. Pumps irrigate the “no mow” soaps that do not contain ingredients harmful to
turf meadow and native plants with the collected plants.
26Gardening is about plants, but it’s also about what plants grow
in — dirt. Without soil, very few plants can survive; without the organic material that plants provide,
most soils become lifeless. Bay-Friendly Gardening starts here, on the ground floor, with a look at what
soil is and how to care for it. Plant selection and plant placement are also considered in this chapter,
3
Gardening from the Ground Up
which concludes with a brief description how to plant.
The Nitty Gritty on Soil Structure
Every gardener’s ideal is a soil called loam. While constituent particles determine the
Dark and wonderfully crumbly, a good texture of a soil, the arrangement of those
quality loam has high organic content, is particles determines its structure. Just
teeming with life, contains all the nutrients as water clings to particles’ surfaces, the
that plants need, holds moisture well, particles themselves cling to one another,
and drains well. It has excellent structure forming aggregates. These define a soil’s
and texture, and provides the optimum structure. Like texture, structure influences
combination of soil’s main components: how much water the soil can hold, how
minerals, air, water, organic matter, and easily the soil releases nutrients, and how
soil-dwelling organisms. much air the soil contains. Unlike texture,
however, which is more or less immutable,
Minerals gardeners can
Gardeners categorize soils based upon the change their
size of their mineral particles. Coarse sand Sandy Soil soil’s structure,
(which has the largest particles) is at one either for good
end of the continuum and fine clay (the or for bad.
smallest of the small) is at the other. In the
middle is silt. The physical character of any When a gardener
garden soil is determined by how much Clay Soil digs in the soil,
sand, silt, and clay it contains. he or she creates
openings and
You can feel this character — a soil’s introduces air
texture — between your fingers. Clay soil into the soil. This
is smooth to the touch, and if you squeeze Silty Soil is good.
it when it’s wet, it holds together. Sand, But too much
on the other hand, is loose and grainy digging, or
regardless of whether it’s wet or dry, and digging in the
the grains are visible to the naked eye. wrong circum
Loam stances, can
Soil texture greatly influences a soil’s
degrade soil
water-holding capacity, because water
structure.
molecules are attracted to the surfaces of
Shoveling or
the mineral particles. Clay soils, because
hoeing dry soils diminishes aggregation —
the particle sizes are small, have greater
instead of hanging together, soil particles
surface area and can become quite sodden.
are torn apart. Aggregation is also lost by
The larger, fewer grains of sand give
handling very wet soils. Instead of being
water less to cling to. Texture also plays a
torn apart, though, soils become too
large role in determining a soil’s nutrient-
packed and clumpy.
holding capacity and how quickly or slowly
a soil warms in the spring.
27Tilling should be done initially to install a planting Building & Protecting Healthy Soil and retain its integrity as you move it around. If
W
bed and then only infrequently or not at all after Tip: Testing Your Soil hether or not you are one of the possible, loosen soil with a fork instead of a shovel
that. The preferred method for improving soil lucky gardeners who already have or rototiller. Once its structure has improved,
structure over time is mulching or top dressing Soil tests typically tell you the nutrient minimize tillage.
loam, there are plenty of things you
with organic materials. levels in your soil, what its pH is,
and whether or not it contains any
can do to protect and improve your soil. Add compost and mulch. Mulching is an easy way
Compost contaminants, such as lead. Consider to begin. Grasscycling — leaving clippings on
Guard against erosion. Plant bare soil or keep
Organic material is different forms of living doing a soil test when:
it covered with mulch. Organic mulches are the lawn — is another simple way to restore soil
or dead plant and animal material. Fallen preferable to inorganic ones, as they will slowly health. Compost, the foremost form of organic
• You begin gardening in a new house
leaves. Grass clippings. Wood chips. Sawdust. decompose, adding nutrients to the soil and recycling, can be dug into the soil or laid on as
and want to identify nutrient deficiencies
Manure. Kitchen scraps. It is compost, which topdressing.
or any contaminants left by previous improving its structure over time.
is the cornerstone of organic gardening and a
universally recognized soil amendment. Above all, owners. Encourage earthworms in the garden.
Prevent compaction. Keep most areas in the garden
compost is food for the living organisms in the relatively untrodden. Use consistent pathways to Earthworms are the true tillers of the soil, digging
• You are designing or redesigning and
soil. And keeping soil critters well fed ensures that navigate your yard. (A thick layer of wood chips tunnels, carrying leaves down into their burrows,
installing a new garden.
all the other qualities a gardener seeks in soil will on your paths can also help prevent compaction.) and mixing and sifting the earth. To encourage
gradually increase. Adding compost ensures that • Plants are having consistent and serious Avoid walking on wet soils and areas where you earthworms in the home garden, keep a layer of
soil will have: problems. have recently loosened the soil. In general, don’t mulch on the soil year-round, and use
gardening methods that are environmentally-
• Good structure • You live in an older home with lead-based tread on areas under cultivation.
(and earthworm-) friendly. In particular, avoid
• Sufficient water retention paint on exterior walls.
Cultivate with care. Till the soil when it is moist, but quick-release synthetic fertilizers and over-tilling,
• Proper drainage • You live within half a mile of a major not wet. Experiment a little to get a feel for the which can kill or harm earthworms.
• Nutrient supply and cycling roadway, freeway, or industrial area, desired moisture level — the soil will handle easily
• Disease resistance and want to produce food in your home
garden.
Tip: Checking Soil Texture by Feel
Test your soil at home by purchasing
Take a one- or two-tablespoon sample of soil in your hand.
a basic soil testing kit from your local Slowly add water and knead the sample until moist. Try to
nursery or garden center. form the sample into a ball. Squeeze it to see if you can make
a cast (an impression of your fingers). Gently stretch the soil
out between thumb and forefinger and try to make a ribbon.
For a more in-depth nutrient and Note the feel of the soil as you are working it and use the
contaminant analysis of your table below to determine its texture.
soil, contact: Characteristics of Soil Sample Soil
Texture
A and L Western Laboratories
Soil will not stay in a ball. Loose and single grained with a Sand
1311 Woodland Avenue #1
gritty feeling when moistened
Modesto, CA 95251
(209) 529-4080 A cast will form but it can’t be handled without breaking Loamy
www.al-labs-west.com/index.html and will not form a ribbon. Soil feels slightly gritty. sand
A short ribbon can be formed but breaks when about 1/2 Loam
Lead Prevention inch long.
Lead poisoning prevention programs can
A ribbon can be formed. It is moderately strong until it Clay loam
Compost helps loosen clay soil, allowing air and water to provide more information about lead testing
breaks at about 3/4 inch length. Soil feels slightly sticky.
penetrate. Compost unites fine particles in sandy soil, allow- and prevention in the home and garden.
ing greater water-holding capacity. Check online or in the phone book for your The soil can easily be formed into a ribbon that is an inch Clay
local program. or longer. Soil feels very sticky.
Adapted from S. J. Thein, “A Flow Diagram for Teaching Texture by Feel
Analysis,” Journal of Agronomy Education
28 29You can also read
