Many businesses and associations throughout Orange County have slopes around or in their property. These areas can be problematic for both Landscapers and Property Managers. These slopes are usually very boring to look at and require quite a bit of water to keep all the plant material alive. Slopes are hard to water effectively simply because the water wants to run down to the bottom of the hill without percolating into the soil. This can leave the plants at the top without enough water and the plants at the bottom with too much. Adjustments in the irrigation system will help correct this issue, but there are also plant alternatives that require very little to no water, have long life spans, and will help reduce erosion.
Here is a small selection of plant material that you can consider adding on your slopes...
Rosemary-This plant can be very fragrant and blooms with small blue flowers. There are a few different varieties that will provide you with different growth habits for your site's needs.
Manzanita-These plants come in a wide variety of sizes from trees to low growing ground cover. Manzanita is known for its dark red branches and green leaves. This is a California native plant and will grow very well with little to no additional water once established.
Ceanothus-This hardy plant has dark glossy green leaves with dark blue blossoms. This plant is ideally suited for slopes and requires only minimal water once established.
Island Snapdragon-This shrub has small light green leaves with bright red flowers from spring till fall. They can be grown in the shade, although they prefer to have some sunlight. Again, this plant will only need occasional watering once established.
All of these plants will provide you with color during their blooming period and are drought tolerant which will allow you to reduce the amount of water required on your slopes.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Del Verde Landscape, Inc. For more information about water management and drought tolerant plant material selection you may visit their website at http://www.vdvlandscape.com or call (949) 713-5800.
Many businesses and associations throughout Orange County have slopes around or in their property. These areas can be problematic for both Landscapers and Property Managers. These slopes are usually very boring to look at and require quite a bit of water to keep all the plant material alive. Slopes are hard to water effectively simply because the water wants to run down to the bottom of the hill without percolating into the soil. This can leave the plants at the top without enough water and the plants at the bottom with too much. Adjustments in the irrigation system will help correct this issue, but there are also plant alternatives that require very little to no water, have long life spans, and will help reduce erosion.
Here is a small selection of plant material that you can consider adding on your slopes...
Rosemary-This plant can be very fragrant and blooms with small blue flowers. There are a few different varieties that will provide you with different growth habits for your site's needs.
Manzanita-These plants come in a wide variety of sizes from trees to low growing ground cover. Manzanita is known for its dark red branches and green leaves. This is a California native plant and will grow very well with little to no additional water once established.
Ceanothus-This hardy plant has dark glossy green leaves with dark blue blossoms. This plant is ideally suited for slopes and requires only minimal water once established.
Island Snapdragon-This shrub has small light green leaves with bright red flowers from spring till fall. They can be grown in the shade, although they prefer to have some sunlight. Again, this plant will only need occasional watering once established.
All of these plants will provide you with color during their blooming period and are drought tolerant which will allow you to reduce the amount of water required on your slopes.
Reprinted with permission from Vista Del Verde Landscape, Inc. For more information about water management and drought tolerant plant material selection you may visit their website at http://www.vdvlandscape.com or call (949) 713-5800.
