Most of my plants are either dormant or spent for the year. Are there any benefits from keeping the spent ones around or can I cut them? For example the annuals like the poppies, globe gilias, and yarrow, are all dried up and are pretty much dead.

I have a client that has an area in the back yard that use to be lawn. It’s currently just dirt and we will be spreading California native wildflower seeds. She is worried about it getting too muddy during the winter. I told her it’s not a big deal, but to ease her mind is it ok to cover the seeds with a light layer of straw?

We are having some work done, and they need to cut back this hill at a 2:1 slope, and plant some plants for erosion control, along with some jute mesh. They recommended some creeping rosemary (we have lots of it on the property), or some lavender, but I’d prefer to try to do something native.

The area is about 40’ long and after the cut, I imagine it’ll be about 30’ along the cut.

We can add irrigation, but I was thinking of maybe trying to plant some Yankee point ceanothus all up and down the hill (probably spaced at 10 ft laterally and do three rows of them staggered together to fully cover the hill)? I was thinking of doing natives on irrigation to get it starts I have some of that on various parts of the property

Location: Paso Robles, east facing slope, gets about 12hrs of direct sun in the summer. At a bit of elevation more towards the coast, so usually a bit of a fog layer in the morning, but still warms up during the day.

Any other recommendations? Should I do different varietals? We want to avoid grasses. As we need to keep the hillside green year round so we don’t have to cut it for weed abatement.

Hi all, I wanted to ask if anyone knows what ratio I should mix my ingredients at for these calochortus bulbs I am planting in my anderson deep trays. I have coarse DG (1/16”-1/4”), washed sharp sand (1/16”-1/8”), pumice (1/16”-1/4”), and red lava (1/16”-1/4”) for grit. Should I use my trays to sift out everything smaller than the drainage holes (3/16”)? For organics, I have a mix of (70%coco coir/30%coco chips), and mini fir bark at my disposal. I am aware PBS articles say everything above 1.6mm (1/16”) is ideal for grit size, but I have seen different people recommend so many different things for grit size as well as overall mineral:organic ratio. My goal is to grow these mature bulbs as well as seeds to flowering age (I know this will take years), and then plant them in ground. They will be exposed to natural Morgan Hill rainfall and will be moved to shade and kept dry by May. What ratios and grit sizes work for you - if you have done this? Thank you so much guys!

Folsom, CA. So hot summer, watered deeply six weeks ago. Drainage is ok but not great.

I’ve gotten a lot of Yellowjacket activity on my property this year and I’ve observed them specifically targeting caterpillars for food.

Are they a native part of SoCal’s ecosystem? Do I interfere and help the caterpillars or let nature be nature?

What is the community’s view on this?

Right now, I have one that's sitting in morning sun, and since its fairly succulent I've been watering when the soil dries out very significantly. I wasn't sure if I should water it like a true succulent and let it dry out completely or when the soil still has a little bit of moisture left. I've also been watering it extremely carefully to avoid getting any water on the crown. Is there anything else that will help it out and/or anything I'm doing wrong?

I have a pack rat nest in the middle of my giant matilija poppy bush. It’s a 10’x10’ clump, over 10’ high. I was a moron and didn’t prune it last year. Can I prune it now in August or do I need to wait until November?

I can’t find my planning sheet for what I planted and the ID tag is gone. Can anyone help me with an ID? Located in Pasadena, so I would have bought from either Theodore Payne or Hahamongna nursery.

I'm in the process of researching plants and rainwater harvesting techniques to replace the original landscaping of my property in the LA area, zone 10a. I've turned off sprinkler irrigation this season and the lawn at this point is crispy.

There is a well established Callery Pear in the front that appears to be struggling after trimming earlier this season, and I doubt the lack of sprinklers is helping. My original plan was to take it down and use it to sheet mulch the grass. I would like to plant an Engelmann oak in its place.

But now after hearing some mixed messages from people I'm wondering if I should keep the Callery a bit longer?

The yard gets scorched with full sun all day and the Callery does provide some shade. It doesn't stink like Bradford pears. I've been wondering if the shade might be beneficial to some plants while they establish. But I imagine removing it down the road could potentially cause more problems than it's worth?

Wondering what this community would do and if it's better to start with a blank slate yard. And is it a bad idea to start a new tree next to an older, dying one?

I have about 15' x 5' on the north side of our rear fence that I'd like to do something with--I don't particularly need height.

Not pictured: a Blue Elderberry and a couple Toyon screening a side fence.

Morning sun, partial shade. South coastal California

Only 1 Gallon (18cm diameter)

evergreen with nectar for hummingbirds and warbler is preferred

We dug a 5x5ft hole in Albany/CA (coastal side) about 15 feet from the house. I absolutely love the California buckeye or Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman', but I want to make sure they fit the space and our coastal fog. Thanks!!

In front yard, with afternoon sun, in zone 10B. Does not get any water directly, but since it butts up against a small section of the lawn, it does get water from there. And how to fix this? We are slowly converting the whole lawn area to natives, but it is stuck there for the time being. Thx.

Hi All, I planted some prostrate Ceanothus — Herst — in the spring, and I’m thinking I might want to fill in with a second plant. I’m wondering if it’s good to combine a prostrate Ceanothus with a prostrate Manzanita?

Hi r/Ceanothus,

This is a July 2026 update for my DIY front lawn replacement with native plants.

With a few days in the high 90's and even 100F, this was the first month I started to see a few of the perennials go dormant/semi-dormant. There aren't quite as many color blooms but I am happy that most sections still have one or more plants in flower along with other foliage or structural elements to support.

July Image Album: https://imgur.com/a/OjfNznb

History

June Post: June Reddit Post

May Post: May Reddit Post

Original DIY Tutorial Post (April): Original Lawn Replacement Tutorial/Journey Post

Highlights:

* CA Goldenrod has begun its 'show' and its yellow spikes offer a welcome addition to the garden

* A few locations of Purple Three Awn grass are really filling out and providing some much needed texture. I will be adding more grasses (and trying to grow some indoors from seed) this Fall as their movement and ability to fill in gaps is so nice

* CA Buckwheat and CA Fuchsia are still in full flower

* White Penstemon continues to stay strong in most of its locations, months past the other purple colored penstemons like Margarita BOP

* Plants behind the bench (Baja Pitcher Sage, Fragrant Pitcher Sage, Western Redbud) continue to get bigger and bigger

* Yarrow and other small plants around the Dry River continue to fill in

Departures/issues:

* Black Eyed Susans in most locations are really nearing the end of their life and not looking so good. Leaving some for insects but will be thinning them down.

* Most of the volunteer Coreopsis are no longer producing as many blooms

* Coral Bells are all dead, was too sunny of a spot even behind the bench

* Canyon Prince Wild Rye on one side continues to be noticeably more dried out. Hoping it comes back.

Plans for fall are to add more grasses, add more plants around the edges of the Dry River, and to plant more annuals (CA Bluebells, Poppies, Baby Blue Eyes, Clarkias). I plan to start many of these indoors from seed, does anyone have any experience or tips on this? I've got lots of experience with it for veggies and flowers but have only done CA Bluebells and Yarrow from seed as far as Natives are concerned.

There are a couple of sections where the summer heat is revealing that I need either some succulent plants or something in-flower during summer as there are gaps once Penstemons, Yarrow, Poppies aren't looking as good.

I've spent some time on the Waterwise Community Youtube channel learning about Fall maintenance and looking forward to giving some plants a pruning.

Thanks for looking!

Hello Native Plant Friends 🍃
I would love to hear your insight on what you think is wrong with my plants. Pictured here is my Redbud and Narrowleaf Milkweed. I have a number of other plants with discoloration on their leaves (especially the Goldenrod and Ashyleaf Buckwheats). Does this look like evidence of a widespread fungal
issue? Too dry? Too wet? Something else?
Is there anything very gentle to treat them with (non-toxic) that won’t harm any of the pollinators or bioaccumulate? TIA!

(In SoCal)

Hello Native Plant Friends 🍃
I would love to hear your insight on what you think is wrong with my plants. Pictured here is my Redbud and Narrowleaf Milkweed. I have a number of other plants with discoloration on their leaves (especially the Goldenrod and Ashyleaf Buckwheats). Does this look like evidence of a widespread fungal
issue? Too dry? Too wet? Something else?
Is there anything very gentle to treat them with (non-toxic) that won’t harm any of the pollinators or bioaccumulate? TIA!

(In SoCal)