Fall Is Gardening Season

Here on the central coast, November is traditionally an ideal time to plant native and drought resilient plants. Cooler temperatures, short, bright days, and a possibility of rain create the right conditions for new plantings to spread their roots through winter and be poised for growth come spring. A cozy blanket of mulch may also provide new and established plants with welcome insulation as temperatures dip. Remember – Montecito Water District has mulch rebates!

Need a Little Inspiration? 

Last spring, Montecito Water District, Carpinteria Valley Water District, City of Santa Barbara, City of Buellton, Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, and Vandenberg Village Community Services District all teamed up for the annual Countywide Waterwise Garden Recognition Contest. The Countywide and regional winners were recently announced, and you can find images online at www.waterwisesb.org/4333/_2034

Don’t miss the fabulous photos of Montecito’s own Dale Zurawski in a water-saving wonderland!

Local Favorites

This year’s regional contest entrants revealed some spectacular gardens. In Montecito Water District’s eyes, they were all winners, showcasing a couple of ideas so good we had to share: 

1. Succulent Tapestries: 

Succulent is synonymous with luscious. Fleshy and highly evolved at water storage, succulents can look amazingly lush when thickly layered in a variety of colors and textures. Highly admired for their distinctive looks, they are deceptively low maintenance and non-thirsty, requiring minimal hand watering or drip irrigation. A practical choice in small or larger spaces, many thrive even under oak canopy.

2. Bocce Ball Courts:

This festive use of garden space requires no irrigation whatsoever. Great entertainment when used for sport, and easily converted to extra space for entertaining with the occasional introduction of tables and chairs. When properly made with permeable surfaces, these allow rainwater to percolate back into the groundwater basin rather than race away as runoff. A win-win-win!

Takeaways

– Take advantage of rebates from Montecito Water District and Montecito GSA for improving landscape water efficiency and groundwater sustainability. 

– Tend to your garden this fall to be ready for next year’s garden contest in March/April. 

– Utilize local resources including www.waterwisegardeningsb.org where the waterwise partnership provides an inspiring database featuring beautiful, sustainable, climate-appropriate, and drought tolerant plants, trees and grasses that thrive in Santa
Barbara County.