Increased property values through water
By Steve Economou
As you read this, we are entering the full glory of our spring season. Community Associations will start to see more activity- as homeowners reestablish their warm weather routines: walking, bicycling, etc. the color of those soft clear spring tones comes to mind. New growth, pale greenery and blossoms begin to appear. Even though we have a year-round climate for growing, the spring show provides a more intense offering. Wildflowers are the harbinger. These annuals pop up all over our hillsides and along the freeway, reminding us of the season of fresh activities and planning.
Now is the time to set landscape goals for the upcoming seasons. With a goal of saving water while intensifying the natural beauty
and increasing property value in your association, comes a period of planning. The first project is to look closely at water usage and monitor your irrigation budget. The winter was kind and we had more than our annual average of 10.33 inches, an abundance of growth follows. When we fall on the arid side, then spring is the time to make plans to compensate.
If your community is already using water-wise techniques, you would have drastically reduced irrigation schedules, or even turned your entire system off for several months, late last fall. And that means now is a good time to reset your programs and test your overall system. If you using smart controllers or more commonly referred to as“ irrigation timers” that makes the task much easier.
Smart controllers automatically update the irrigation schedule to adjust water needs through the year. A smart controller will electronically reduce the watering times as we enter our cool, rainy winters when most of our rain is delivered( between November and May). Less irrigation is needed. Then as the weather begins to warm up and we enter our dry summer, the controller will add more watering time. Creating water budgets allows you to see how accurately your system is performing and to get a handle on water bills.
The next step is to look for areas that could be converted to colorful, drought resistant plants. This is where California native plants are a beautiful alternative.
Maybe you have seen those riotously colorful traditional flower borders in the coffee table garden books, posted on web sites, or photographed in gardening catalogs. Californians can get that look in one of two ways: use a palette of plants from climates that boast higher rainfall: hydrangeas( China and the Himalayas), impatiens( New Guinea), Gerbera daisy( South America) or use native plants that add color, texture, scent and use a fraction of the water- the progressive alternative that fits southern California’ s climate.
Consider getting started this spring. Our favorite spring blooming plants are in the sage family. Two in particular are stellar:
Tall, intense magenta
flower spikes of the Hummingbird Sage attract lots of hummers. The two-foot tall spikes are accented by large, fuzzy soft-green leaves that give off a pleasing minty fragrance. This plant slowly spreads, using easy to cultivate rhizomes.( Salvia spathacea)
Cleveland Sage is another reliable performer. Where the Hummingbird Sage is deep red, the Cleveland sage is a twelve-inch tall stem with golf-ball sized clusters of lavender-colored, delicately perfumed flowers along the stalk. The gray foliage is also nicely aromatic and soft to the touch. This beauty performs well in dry, sunny gardens. Hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to native sages, as are some songbirds.( Salvia clevelandii)
“ Now is the time to set landscape goals for the upcoming seasons. With a goal of saving water while intensifying the natural beauty and increasing property value in your association,” savings and landscape beautification
Here is a plant that is a San Diego native- how much better can it get? And it is a good, cheerful bloomer: San Diego Sunflower. This one is so profuse, you may see blooms year-round. The blossoms look like daisies crossed with the larger non-native sunflowers: cheerful yellow petals and a nice central button of smaller yellow buds. This plant pairs well with Salvia clevelandii. San Diego Sunflower tolerates everything from regular water through drought, sun to part-sun, sand to clay, but it does not like standing water.( Viguiera laciniata).
Install these perennials and you have the beginnings of a water-wise garden. This means you will reduce the need for expensive annual plantings that are a strain on the environment and the budget.
When we find new ways to break through outmoded patterns, we often come up with creative solutions that carry additional side benefits. And saving water is an example:
• Less transportation required to bring the plants to market. By their very nature, natives are grown close to where they will be installed. Less transportation reduces carbon footprint.
• Less water means less energy usage. Susan Krzywicki, Rainscape Native Plant Consultant tells us that,“ Water-related energy use( for example, bringing water from Northern California to Southern California) consumes 19 % of the state’ s electricity.
Starting off on the adventure of using California natives can be a little daunting at first; so many plants, so many new names. As with any new venture, the process brings us to a new level of understanding and these unfamiliar plants become like good friends. You learn their names, their color, their scent, their role in our heritage and our future. Our children learn important social, historical and scientific lessons. Benefits abound and you are rewarded for your efforts.
Steven Economou Founder and CEO Rainscape Environmental Management 8322 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 112 San Diego, CA 92111 Phone( 858) 650-3398 steve @ rainscape. com www. Rainscape. com
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10 | The HOA Board Quarterly | Issue # 2 | Spring 2012 Spring 2012 | Issue # 2 | The HOA Board Quarterly | 11