Re: Low maintenance plants
- Subject: Re: Low maintenance plants
- From: B* L*
- Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 11:06:48 -0700
We have a "Water-Wise Gardening" guide at the UC Botanical Garden at
Berkeley. It's a tour of the garden showing plants that use little water,
and it is in conjunction with East Bay MUD (Municipal Utility
District). It is undergoing some changes at the moment, but they hope to
re-release it this fall at the latest. Unfortunately, it is more specific
to what grows well in the SF Bay Area, but it's a start! I know for
awhile, EBMUD was reimbursing East Bay area home-owners for planting their
gardens with plants that are drought tolerant. I'm not exactly sure what
the details are, or if they are still doing the program. For those of you
who are interested, contact UCBG or EBMUD.
*******************************************
Bridget Lamp
Horticulturist/Museum Scientist
Mediterranean and Eastern North America
University of California Botanical Garden
200 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, Ca 94720
(510) 642-3812
*******************************************
At 09:05 PM 5/24/02 -0700, you wrote:
>Everytime I look at a list of so-called
>"low-maintenance plants" for California landscapes, I
>bump into Rhaphiolepis, Podocarpus, Ilex, Abelia,
>Hibiscus, and the like.
>
>Of course, low maintenance, in my opinion, starts with
>low water use. Second, I would think, would be
>freedom from serious pests or diseases. Third, maybe,
>would be minimal need for such standard maintenance
>practices as pruning, dead-heading, dividing, and the
>like. Fourth, as it goes, would be no need for
>special fertilizing. What have I missed?
>
>I'd like to put together a NEW list of "Low
>Maintenance Plants for California Landscapes". And
>since I don't want to reinvent the wheel, let me first
>ask if anyone has seen such a contemporary list?
>Where would I get it?
>
>If not, and this is my big question, what do you think
>are the best "low maintenance plants" for a California
>(Mediterranean climate) landscape? You can make it
>your favorite ten, your top 20, or the first three
>that come to your mind. Or any dissertation you want
>to offer.
>
>Yes, I am aware of the practices, techniques,
>materials -- beyond plant choice -- that lead to a
>proper low-maintenance garden. And yes, I like the
>word "Sustainable".
>
>Thanks,
>Joe
>
>=====
>Joe Seals
>Santa Maria, California --
>where the weather is always perfect
>and my garden always has something blooming
>and birds galore
>
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