The state paid me to plant a palm garden?!

[msporty]

I owe a very large debt to Palmtalk and all of its regular (and irregular) contributors. I’ve spent many hours learning, laughing, and drooling over everyone’s posts for the last few years. I hope someone enjoys my first post…

 

We moved into our house in October 2014 -- a 1/3-acre lot with turf, 2 ½ king palms, and a hedge of volunteered laurel sumac. I had never been a big fan of turf, especially during our historic drought, so I applied for the SoCal Turf Rebate and used the money to redesign the front yard. Specifically, the state reimbursed me $2/square foot of turf grass removed, provided (1) I didn’t replace turf with turf or (2) build a pool. What follows is what I did over a two months, by myself, between work and time spent with my family. And yes, I did get a check for $1800 at the end of all this!

 

The area shown is my front yard – 925 square feet of exposed North-facing slope in Tustin (Orange County) about 10 miles from the ocean in zone 10a. Here is how it looked before I started:

 

 

[msporty]

Here is what you can do with $40 of round up and a sprayer.

[msporty]

Initially, I didn’t plan to dig up all the old PVC, but in the end I did. Also, I added PVC for a third watering zone for a future project to the front-left side of my property. You can see this area in the second photo below.

[msporty]

I had no idea how sprinkler systems worked, let alone drip irrigation. MattyB is a super-smart guy and I read his old posts on drip irrigation a billion times (and sent him a few PM’s) and here is what I came up with.

[msporty]

I used Hunter valves with Rainbird 30psi pressure regulating filters. The PVC runs underground and there are PVC risers throughout. I used threaded PVC elbows to connect the PVC risers to the ½”drip line and then to spaghetti tubing and emitters. The system hasn’t had any kinks after many months of use (I checked it again today). I would be happy to explain this part of the project in more detail, if anyone needs help for his or her own project.

 

I divided the planting areas using 1/8” steel edging and then I had 20 yards of mulch, 1 ½ yards of pea gravel, and umpteen bags of river rock dumped in the middle of the street – I mean delivered to my house.

[msporty]

I am a little bit OCD, so the planting areas are all geographically themed (this is true throughout my property). The gravel area is filled with succulents from the Southwest and Mexico. The main mulch area is African and Madagascan. The thin strip in the middle is New Caledonian – this one is a bit iffy I admit. The lower mulch area is Australia/Asia/South Pacific. The area around the irrigation valves is hodge-podge. Here are the completed(ish) photos:

[msporty]

This is a photo from today as a proof of life! I added text for the palms. I admit they are still little babies – mostly 1 and 5 gallon plants – not much to look at now.

 

I will update pictures over time as I fill in the areas – I have more plants waiting to go in the ground. Thanks for reading!

[msporty]

[Ben in Norcal]

Great start!

[RedRabbit]

That looks really good, I like how you mixed in cacti too... Nice view there btw. :)

[Pip]

Awesome job, well done. I'm looking forward to seeing photos as the plants mature.

[DoomsDave]

And they paid you!

Even the New Cal palms will take less water than the lawn did.

 

[Josh-O]

[BS Man about Palms]

Great work! When I think back to the beginning of mine, your first step was the one I missed.. ROUNDUP. I just mulched and am still trying to get rid of the ST. Augustine type grass!

 

[Monòver]

Good job!!!

[Steve Mac]

Great job mate. You are not the only one with OCD on this forum, you would have noticed. 

[NatureGirl]

Super nice job, I love the barrel cactus and succulents!

[JT in Japan]

Great effort, M. Sporty. I'm going to quiz you later on the irrigation. But first, who's responsible for the gnome, the flamingo, and the tombstone?

[Monòver]

2 hours ago, JT in Japan said:

Great effort, M. Sporty. I'm going to quiz you later on the irrigation. But first, who's responsible for the gnome, the flamingo, and the tombstone?

[msporty]

First off, thanks for all the kind replies. Also, I have a correction -- those are Chamaedorea plumosa, not radicalis, next to the irrigation valves.

 

My wife loves those cheezy flamingos, though I admit I bought them for her after she commented how cool they were at someone else's house. 

 

The gnome came from the rebate people. I have no excuse why I haven't trashed it yet. The check already cleared! Here's a better shot of it:

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

Well done and a ton of work. My back is sore just thinking about it.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Kris]

Very nice house and great effort

Love,

Kris.

[rprimbs]

16 hours ago, msporty said:

This is a photo from today as a proof of life! I added text for the palms. I admit they are still little babies – mostly 1 and 5 gallon plants – not much to look at now.

 

I will update pictures over time as I fill in the areas – I have more plants waiting to go in the ground. Thanks for reading!

Wow, that is a lot of palms!  It will be great to see the yard in five or so years.

[Cape Garrett]

Awesome job.  I wish more people here in SWFL would do what you did.  Curb appeal!!  Job really well done.  Keep us posted as it grows  and fills in.

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Very cool, awesome work you are doing......and cool idea to do "themed" beds, wish i had started my garden just that way