Drought weary, water wise:
Trees need water and yards beauty
June 24, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Drought weary and water wise is the new mantra but don’t overdo it and be especially nice to your trees is the advice of Mike Coleman of Coleman’s Landscaping, who believes the drought shouldn’t destroy beautification.
The state has almost run dry with a record four-year drought and Santa Paula is facing a mandated 28 percent water conservation order that has caused new restrictions for water use and a heightened interest in landscaping that requires less watering.
Coleman, who is also an active volunteer with America in Bloom, said there are various ways to save water while retaining landscaping.
“That’s the big push right now, we need to save water of course but instead of removing your entire lawn you can shrink it,” by reducing, not eliminating turf.
“In Santa Paula I don’t see a huge rush to remove the lawns…more than before but not a lot. The cost is very close to $8 to $10 a square foot,” for professional installation that could cost a homeowner “close to $10,000 for 1,000 square feet.”
That alone said Coleman, “could turn people off and there are other ways to do it…”
He suggested that those “With huge lawns can keep a portion of their turf and use planters,” for decorative, drought resistant plants or even flowers using a drip system.
“Personally, I tend to discourage people that want to jump into artificial turf completely…I’ve been in this business for a long time,” about 25 years, “and I’ve seen fads come and go.”
He does believe artificial turf “does have its place…Hillview Estates is a perfect example,” where the senior-only community has smaller lawns.
Replacing grass with look-alike covering is easier to maintain and he noted eliminates gardening costs.
Coleman said more rain is projected for the coming season although a certain level of conservation should become a way of life.
Mulch is a smart product: “A lot of people are taking advantage of using mulch, it’s good to use to cover the soil and if you have plantings it keeps moisture from evaporating too fast. It’s a quick, easy way,” to cover bare spots is an attractive.
“I’ve seen redwoods, wood chips that are dark brown, almost black, pine chips,” in various colors and textures that also have varying costs.
“I try to encourage people to mulch their yards — its hard to make dirt look good,” or keep anything near it clean.
Coleman said gravel is also a groundcover that works with many landscapes: “Any kind of cover you put on the ground will do the same thing, cover the soil, keep the sun from hitting it,” which reduces moisture and “accomplish the same result,” of mixing the practical with attractive.
Coleman is very concerned about trees: “I’ve seen really distressed trees,” that are lacking water.
“Trees are completely different from landscaping…trees all have a cooling effect, you can’t turn the whole world into concrete and plastic,” and trees are very important to the environment.
Coleman said trees “should be deep-watered once a month…turn the hose on low and let it soak,” an hour to two hours depending on what type and how large the tree.
People must be careful to water the roots, not just the trunk; Coleman suggests a “low-flow sprinkler,” placed in an area that matches the tree’s canopy.
“The canopy,” said Coleman, “is where the roots are...”
In general, “People don’t really understand the concept of water and maintenance of a yard,” watering too long, too short or not enough.
“If people learn correct watering and fertilizing — they can save 20 to 30 percent of water by proper fertilizing — and mow the grass a little taller in the summer it helps save the water in each blade. It’s a combination of a lot of things,” that can conserve water and provide nice landscapes.
And that includes sprinkler systems that have been modernized to the point that sensors can self-direct watering without pesky human in put.
Coleman said in the last five years “There’s been a huge change in irrigation as far as controllers go…they will self-adjust to the weather,” and as he learned when he switched to such a system, are more efficient than humans that initially set it up “and tell it all about the area you’re going to water,” and some systems can be operated through a cell phone with reports via email.
During a recent rain a system Coleman installed turned itself off then “ramped up again,” after a proper amount of time to resume its watering schedule.
Even sprinkler heads and nozzles, “everything is gearing up to save water.”
With an El Nino forecast for the coming season Coleman is guardedly optimistic…or not: “I’ll believe it when I see it,” but he laughed, “I hope they’re right. The odds of a wet year have to come up pretty soon, but hopefully we won’t make up all we lost all at once!”
For now, “Although I get how we’re in a drought I’ve seen an awful lot of places and yards that have been abandoned,” stripped of all growth.
“There are lots of things you can do and it’s frustrating to see that,” especially, said Coleman, “Letting everything die doesn’t do anybody any good!”
