Habitat Development
A major objective of the new Lawn-to-Garden program is to support our local ecosystems through the use of water efficient California Natives and flowering plants. Each Lawn-to-Garden project will have their new landscape covered by 65 percent plant material at plant maturity or within two years of planting, whichever comes first. Of that 65 percent, at least 10 percent will be covered by California Native or flowering plants.
California Natives
California Native plants are species that over time have developed, evolved and coexisted with the wildlife species that inhabit our state. Native plants are great for your garden, because they are perfectly suited for our climate, soil, and wildlife, which comes with several important advantages. The greatest advantage of native plants is that they often require no watering once established since they have adapted to the Southern California rainfall patterns. By gardening with native plants, you can bring the classic beauty of California into your own landscape and help preserve our local ecosystems. A list of plants that have been classified as California Natives can be found at calscape.org.
Flowering Plants
Flowering plants are, as their name suggests, plants that produce flowers. Flowering plants provide color and style and are known for attracting birds and butterflies. They can be annual or perennial. Annuals are plants with a life cycle that only last for one year and need to be replanted each year. Perennials tend to bloom once a year for a short period of time, but do not have to be replanted each year. Deciduous perennials grow for part of the year, while evergreen perennials bloom all year round.