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Landscaping and Weed Control

Landscaping can turn a ho-hum house into a beautiful showpiece. Unfortunately, many landscaping techniques require large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizers, increase the spread of invasive plants, and create an unnecessary fire hazard. When planning your garden, make it easy on yourself AND the watershed.

Water-wise Landscaping

  • To reduce the use of water, fertilizer and pesticide around your home, landscape with attractive and low-maintenance native plants (refer to Creek Care Plantings section for a list of recommended native plant species). Native plants are more tolerant of drought conditions and are better suited to the local soils and pests.landscaping with native plantings
  • Minimize irrigation by grouping plants according to watering needs and consider installing a timer and/or weather-controlled drip irrigation system to help prevent over-watering. Avoid watering and planting within oak tree canopy cover.
  • Contact Solano RCD or your local nursery to help identify the type of soil in your yard. Adjust your irrigation and/or plant selection to match or amend the soil for optimal water efficiency.
  • Mulch your plants to keep the roots cool and prevent water evaporation. You can make your own compost with your yard and kitchen waste or buy it locally at nurseries and garden stores.
  • Need help creating your water-wise garden? Contact Solano RCD, visit the RCD’s Watershed Friendly Demonstration Garden (call the RCD at 707-678-1655 x 3 for hours) or visit Las Virgenes Municipal Water District’s website (www.LVMWD.com) for ideas for integrating native species into your landscape, complete with photos.


Non-Native Plants and Weed Control

  • Non-native plant species displace native plants, reduce biodiversity and eliminate wildlife habitat. They are harmful to agriculture, cost taxpayers a lot of money for eradication programs, and can increase fire losses and damages. They can also be very unsightly.
  • When you have the opportunity, replace non-native plants with native alternatives. For example, invasive pampas grass and fountain grass can be replaced with native deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens), spiny rush (Juncus acutus), or giant wild rye (Leymus condensatus). Weedy myoporum can be replaced with native coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica), hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), or California wax-myrtle (Myrica californica). Non-native periwinkle and cape ivy are easily exchanged for native wild grape (Vitis girdiana), snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis), or California blackberry (Rubus ursinus). Trade invasive iceplant for native yarrow (Achillea sp).
  • Contact Solano RCD (707-678-1655 x3) for weed identification guides and weed control information.
  • Visit www.plantright.org for lists of invasive plants of particular concern in Solano County and recommended alternatives. Look at the plants listed for Sunset Zones 14-17 and 7-9.
  • Contact the Solano County Weed Management Area for advice about particularly noxious weeds to look out for, and advice about the best management practices to control and eradicate them.

Weed Control Resources

Landscaping Resources

  • Solano Resource Conservation District (information and semi annual plant sales)

    707-678-1655 x 3
    www.solanorcd.org

  • Circuit Rider Productions Inc. Ecological Restoration Services (Native Plant Nursery)

    707-838-6641
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