If the drought convinced you to replace your front and/or back lawns with plants that require less water, then take advantage of the rebates offered through the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
The district has extended its rebate period – applications will now be accepted if postmarked by Dec. 31.
The rebate program is an incentive to convert water-guzzling lawns or swimming pools into gardens that feature plants appropriate for the local Mediterranean climate, chosen from an extensive, approved list.
The conversion of a lawn or pool must meet certain requirements: at least 50 percent of the area must be covered with the approved plants (calculated at their mature size), irrigation must be converted to drip and all nonplanted area must be covered with mulch (includes gravel, not only wood-chip types).
Rebate rates are $2 per square foot for most cities in Santa Clara County, with a whopping $4 per square foot in Palo Alto for qualifying lawns. Even lawns that homeowners have let go dry may qualify.
Life without a lawn
What does a garden look like if there is no lawn? Letting go of a lawn aesthetic opens up many possibilities that can add to our quality of life. Removing a lawn allows room for a butterfly or hummingbird garden, perhaps with a quiet place to sit with your morning coffee before starting a busy day. A birdbath placed in view of a window amid greenery and flowers becomes a welcome refuge for neighborhood birds – and you get to enjoy the show. Concerned about the decline in bees and other pollinators? Choose from a long list of flowering perennials that provide food for them and beauty for you. Add simple paths with stepping-stones or a rock garden with succulents to provide interest and structure.
Challenge yourself to brainstorm creatively about garden features that fit your lifestyle and interests.
Recently, I redesigned a front yard to include a bocce ball court. My clients now enjoy this traditional family game together, surrounded by a mix of attractive flowering shrubs, gravel paths and seating areas for visitors. It is satisfying to watch the grandkids playing on the court together – I don’t think they miss the old lawn.
How to apply
Make an appointment for a preinspection survey. Water district representatives will visit your garden to determine whether you qualify. They’ll take measurements of the lawn or pool, check irrigation and let you know if you are eligible. They will fill out a Request for Application form, and you will be sent the application package. Follow the instructions in the application package, which typically require photos, a plant list and simple diagram or description of the garden design.
You can do this yourself or hire a garden designer to design the space and even submit the application for you. Or hire a designer on a consulting basis, if you’d rather do some of the work yourself. A designer can help you find a landscaper, too.
Resources
For additional information on rebates, contact:
• Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation Hotline: (408) 630-2554
• Santa Clara Valley Water District: valleywater.org/programs/rebates.aspx
• Association of Professional Landscape Designers: apldca.org/FindADesigner.aspx
Patricia Larenas is a Mountain View-based garden designer with Qualifying Water Efficient Landscaper certification. She writes about gardening on her website, Urban Artichoke, at urbanartichoke.com.
