skip to main content

Landscape Design Cacti & Succulents Organic Gardening

Looking for drought resistant and bee welcoming landscape

5 years ago

I live in California’s Santa Cruz mountains. Our yard is mostly sun and free of redwood trees. We have 2 long established wisteria trees along our house that we need to train off the house. Looking for suggestions for how to best do that.

Most importantly, we are wanting to create a bee friendly and drought tolerant landscape for the rest of our yard. We have a 6 ft x 3 ft area, a 5 ft x 3 ft area and a 9 ft x 3 ft area to create. We are getting a bunch of 3/4 drain rock for a septic project. I was thinking of using the leftovers to line the bottoms of our garden beds.

Last we are looking for drought resistant ground cover to help with erosion around our leech field, as it’s built into a hillside. Our ground water is quite high. When we had our new leech field installed we were told they hit water at 2 ft down. Thanks!

Featured Answer

Paul MI

5 years ago

Folks who can give you advice will also wish to know what your temps are like and how much sun those areas get for them to make better suggestions.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I suggest you post this in the California Gardening forum for the best localized input. Conditions in CA with regard to the drought, fire concerns and invasive species makes it somewhat tricky for outsiders to make meaningful comments.

I would also suggest you take a close look at the California Friendly gardening program, which is statewide, promotes all 3 of the previously listed concerns and even pays out rebates for converting one's garden into a more environmentally friendly landscape.
Related Professionals
Eau Claire Landscape Contractors · Daytona Beach Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Morgantown Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Flint Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Jacksonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Williamsport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bend Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Washington General Contractors · Atlanta General Contractors · Elko General Contractors · Aberdeen Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kalamazoo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Scranton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Columbus Architects & Building Designers · Denver Architects & Building Designers
licia luna
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! I’m totally new to this.
lkloes
5 years ago
Where in the Santa Cruz mountains are you located? I’m familiar with many local nurseries there and can point you in the right direction!
licia luna
Original Author
5 years ago
Boulder Creek. Thank you!
lkloes
5 years ago
Ok, visit Dig Gardens in Aptos and San Lorenzo Garden Center in Santa Cruz for a wonderful selection of local perennials and some great advice!
nancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
If your wisteria is established, it could be difficult to "train" it away from the house.

For the drought friendly ground cover visit stepables.com .

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Blooming Container Gardens That Welcome Butterflies and Bees

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Attract pollinators with one of these colorful nectar- and pollen-rich container combinations

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 6 Driveway Looks Take Landscapes Along for the Ride

See how to design a front yard that makes your driveway its own destination

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 4 Tips for Creating a Small Garden That Welcomes Wildlife

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Win over birds, bees, butterflies and neighbors with these design strategies

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

LANDSCAPE DESIGN For Garden Design Inspiration, Look Beyond the Fence Line

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Nearby landscapes and wild habitats can inspire your garden design and help welcome even more wildlife

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Soft-Looking Plants for a Dry Climate

Weave a romantic tapestry with this drought-tolerant combination of plants as tough as they are lovely

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Lay of the Landscape: Mediterranean Garden Style

By Marianne Lipanovich

Earthy, lush and warmly welcoming, a Mediterranean garden can thrive in any warm-climate landscape with a few adaptations

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 20 Ways to Get the Cottage Garden Look

By Becky Harris

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Cellophane Bees to Your Garden by Providing Patches of Bare Soil

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for cellophane bees (Colletes) pollinating flowering trees and shrubs in U.S. gardens this spring

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Columbus' Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Planning an Orchard

42

Way Too Early for Blossoms

8

Is it time yet? [g]

26

Looking for humidifier recommendations for my indoor plants—what featu

3

Garden Tales >>> September/Aug 2026

4