California weather is typically hot, sunny, and dry year-round. While many of us enjoy this kind of climate, it does make the job of landscaping companies Los Angeles a bit harder because not all plants thrive under these conditions. So if you want the kind of garden that is the envy of the entire neighborhood, you’ll need to get creative with it. Luckily for you, our creative landscaping ideas for California weather specifically will make this easier. Find out how you can plant the right plants, design the perfect space, make your garden sustainable, and more even in the sometimes unforgiving climate of California.
Figure out what you’re working with before you choose one of our creative landscaping ideas for California
Before you decide what to do with your garden, you first need to know what you can do. Most plants require very specific conditions to even survive, let alone thrive. The right amount of moisture, the perfect exposure to sunlight, an exact acidity of the soil – all these are conditions you’ll have to meet for any plant you want to see in your garden. So before you put any seeds or roots down, make sure the conditions on your property are right for your chosen plants. This requires testing the soil and closely examining your property. Some of the best general contractors in Los Angeles will do this as a part of their services. But you can also buy a kit to do it yourself or hire a third-party business.
Consider some of these creative landscaping ideas for California weather
Once you know what you can do, it’s time to decide what you want to do. Combine some of these ideas to create the perfect landscape around your home – beautiful, functional, and sustainable.
Use artificial grass to minimize the use of water
California is infamous for its droughts. As you can imagine, most plants don’t really tolerate those very well. Standard lawn grass is among those plants. To maintain a perfect lawn with natural grass in California, you’d need to spend massive amounts of water. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it’s also not always possible as local governments frequently impose water rationing measures in the state. The solution, then, is either not to have a lawn or to use artificial grass. Artificial grass is drought-resistant and easy to maintain. And spring is the perfect time to install it.
Plant native drought-resistant plants that create welcoming ecosystems
Plants that are native to California will naturally be better adapted to the local climate. They also come with the added bonus of already being an established part of the local ecosystem. So they won’t be destructive to other local plants and they may even attract local bees, butterflies, and other critters. This doesn’t mean you absolutely cannot have plants from other areas, of course. But they’ll be harder to maintain. If you really want to add non-native plants, choose some from similar warm and dry climates.
Choose the right color combination
If you’re planting any type of flowers, you should give some thought to the color combination you’re creating. Your best bet is to choose some of your favorite colors that go well together. That way, even if planted in disarray, they’ll always look good. But there are no hard and fast rules to garden aesthetics – if you’re a fan of color, there’s nothing stopping you from going wild with it.
Think of the highs and the lows
One of the best ways to create visual interest in a landscape is to make sure it varies in height. And unless you’re planning on hiring a home remodeling contractor Los Angeles to make some drastic changes to your house, you’ll need to take the design of your home into consideration too. If you have a particularly tall home, you don’t want it to stand out like a sore thumb from the rest of your property – add some trees or tall bushes. You can even plant some fruit trees to combine aesthetics with functionality. Vary between short and tall plants to create an interesting design that adds dimension to flat surfaces.
Match the garden to the space
When you’re building a new home, you get to decide how everything looks. But when you already have a home or buy a finished one, you need to work with what you’ve got. Your landscape shouldn’t detract from the home or the property in general. If you don’t have a lot of space, for example, you shouldn’t plan for many trees. If you live by the beach, then seaside vibes with lots of rocks, sand, and palms would be the perfect fit but a 100-year oak probably wouldn’t. So try to match the style of the exterior to the style of the house and the interior.
Combine plants with pathways, rocks, bodies of water, and other decorations
Plants are not the only things you can use to create a beautiful outdoors. The landscape around your house will be much more interesting if you add some tiled pathways lined with rocks or a fish pond. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own decorations DIY-style. Paint an old bicycle and use it as a plant holder. Upcycle old pots, pans, and ashtrays into planters. Hand-paint some rocks and turn them into cute and colorful nature-inspired decorations. Finally, complete the look with some outdoor lighting. Fairy lights will add a touch of romance and whimsy to your garden. Or you can be practical and choose mosquito-repellent lights.
Create an area for relaxation or fun
Your landscape isn’t there just for decoration – it can be a functional part of your home as well. Dedicate a part of it to a patio where you can lay down with a book and a cold drink on a hot summer day. If you don’t have space for that, try adding some garden furniture, throw pillows, a hammock, or a swing. Or you can use your yard to stay active – level a part of it, put down artificial grass, and turn it into a sports field where you can run around or play ball. And an outdoor kitchen is always a good idea, especially if you like to entertain. Put a grill in the backyard and you can start hosting BBQs for friends and family.
Creative landscaping ideas for small California homes
If you only own a small property, then many of these creative landscaping ideas for California homes won’t be feasible for you. However, that shouldn’t stop you from doing the most with what you’ve got. Instead of planting large trees and bushes, focus on small plants and flowers. You don’t even have to plant them into the ground – you can keep them in pots.
In fact, this will make them easier to transport and move around allowing you to make easy changes to your garden whenever you want. Succulents are a particularly popular choice in California because they’re pretty, low-maintenance, and great for warm and dry climates. Or you can plant a vegetable garden – they don’t take much space and they’re very handy! Landscaping and gardening in small spaces can be just as satisfying and yield beautiful results; you just need to get a bit creative.