Back Yard Theme Garden

Common name:Pink Soap Aloe
Botanical name:Aloe maculata

This succulent plant will grow about 2' high and has large, greenish-white leaves with orange, pink, and red flowers that bloom in spring and fall.

Common name:Golden Bamboo
Botanical name:Phyllostachys aurea

This bamboo will grow to about 25' tall and is drought tolerant with dense foliage.

Common name:Pork And Beans
Botanical name:Sedum X rubrotinctum

This groundcover will grow less than 1' tall and has small leaves that vary in color and are brownish/bronze in the fall. Red and yellow flowers will bloom in spring and summer.

Common name:Elijah Blue Fescue
Botanical name:Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'

The 'Elijah Blue' is a lovely ground cover grass with silver blue foliage that quickly reaches 12" tall and wide. This evergreen grass has golden flowers that bloom in summer. However, 'Elijah Blue' is grown for its foliage. Plant in full sun in coastal areas; in warm inland areas, it should receive afternoon shade to prevent it from turning brown. It is drought tolerant once it's established. It prefers well draining soil.

Soils and Compost:

Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.

Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

Integrated Pest Management:

Drip and other smart irrigation delivers water directly to roots, allowing no excess water for weeds.