6 lawn care tips to survive the next drought
Ensure your lawn lives, treat every year like a drought year The concept of a steady “average rainfall” is misleading. For example, 2016 saw 32.34 inches of rain while the following year only 17.53 inches fell. Of course, we do not control these variances in rainfall. The best we can do is adapt. And one…
Read MoreSan Francisco’s microclimates: As simple as fog, sun and mixed
Few places on earth host such a wide range of microclimates as San Francisco. A trip out west to Ocean Beach often requires you to don both hoodie and hat, while six miles east shorts and a t-shirt are enough to keep you comfortable. Between these east and west extremes, a spine of 40 hills…
Read MoreMaking your lawn a sign that you’re doing the right thing
Homeowners maintain millions of acres of grass. But lawns have become somewhat of a punching bag in these times of drought and growing environmental awareness. Due to past pesticide, herbicide and watering methods, much of this abuse is well-deserved. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We want lawns to become a symbol, not…
Read MoreDrought garden must-dos (and a few don’ts)
Your garden’s a great source of food. But with recurring drought, it can be hard to justify watering that head of lettuce each day. To bring a tomato from seed to salad saps more water than a comparable measure of almonds. Simple steps like planting shorter season crops and drought resistant veggies will help your…
Read MoreLawns and gardens love potassium – here’s how to do it organically
The devil is in the details, or potash in this case. By now we’ve received advice from the neighbor, corner store clerk and that one barista. Everyone has a theory on perfect organic maintenance. You might be scratching your head and muttering “but how exactly?” Everyone loves to throw around the term organic on the…
Read MoreMint, basil, oregano – Go! Quick and easy herb garden
Stop running to the store for herbs when you need them. Having fragrant cooking ingredients at hand will make sprucing up any dish, iced drink or snack, quick and easy. With this guide, we learn how to make an attractive, accessible and tasty herb garden with just a few repurposed household items (or new if…
Read MoreAs drought becomes the new normal, these grasses will save your lawn
Ever heard of sheep fescue, buffalograss or bahiagrass? As the days of wasteful lawn watering go the way of programmable VCRs, we found an article that celebrates several drought-resistant strains of grass and how to care for them. This list of grasses includes helpful cultural practices like deep, infrequent watering and changes to mowing habits.…
Read More12 plants to help you channel that positive energy
Looking for something a bit different? While many of us use plants to connect with a positive force, some of us have never really thought about it. Author David Wolfe lists his top 12 picks to create positive energy in your home. With plants. Is this too much pressure to put on that ficus you’ve…
Read MoreHardscape vs. Landscape: Knowing the Difference
What’s the difference between hardscaping and landscaping? As Northern California moves through more drought years and water restrictions, one popular option is hardscaping. What is hardscaping? While landscaping involves living plants and terrain, hardscaping is done using anything non-living. So an area raised along a fence with attractive bricks and re-claimed timber would be hardscaping.…
Read MoreTrash to treasure – A little DIY work goes a long way
All you’ll need for this total open space transformation is a few thrift store or flea market baskets, pots, benches, buckets and more. The fun starts when you apply paint. In this piece, DIY design sage Shauna walks us through several super simple transformations of readily available items. With a little paint, the distressed wood…
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