Aspiring Gardeners - Lawn Conversion

Hello, and welcome back! This week in the Aspiring Gardener, we’re going to talk about lawn conversion. With no end in sight to California’s drought, it becomes all the more important for us, as gardeners, to make sure our lawns and gardens are as water-efficient and drought-tolerant as possible. If you’re having second thoughts about converting, Cal-Water is offering various rebates to help reduce water waste in the home and garden, including a $3 rebate for every square foot of grassy turf replaced with a more drought-tolerant option from 250 to 1,500 square feet. There is also a spray-to-drip rebate of 50 cents per square foot for replacing spray watering systems with drip lines.

If you are considering converting your lawn, then the first step is planning! Before you apply for any rebates, it’s good to have a plan in place of what exactly you’re going to do. It’s important to check where the sun shines throughout the day, where it’s hottest and where there’s the most shade. Another important thing to check is the soil itself.

Dig a few test holes roughly two feet deep to check what your soil is like. Is it sandy? Compacted, full of clay or rocks? Are there any slopes or poor drainage? All of these are important to take into consideration before beginning a project. It seems like a lot of work, but it's worth it in the end, and there are landscaping companies in Chico that will offer their services for an evaluation or project planning. Take a look at your options and see what works for you. Stay safe, stay hydrated, and happy planting!