One of the basic uses of plants is to enclose and define the boundaries of outdoor gardens and spaces. This is often achieved by planting hedges and screens to divide areas into rooms. Plants are planted side by side and clipped into natural or geometric shapes to function as a hedge. Many times the first idea is to achieve dense and total screening treatments. However, another strategy can also be effective. Plants are arranged in layers and left to grow natural and to varying heights until a separation is achieved. This separation does not have to be total; sometimes a partial view through a screen is more effective and enjoyable.
Screen planting is also done to improve the character of garden spaces space. The creation of privacy and blocking poor views of trash enclosures and utility poles are important visual improvements. From another perspective, hedges and screens can be strategically placed to frame and emphasize views as well as provide low boundaries to further define interior garden areas and circulation.
Hedge and screen plantings can often be efficiently watered with drip irrigation systems. Two to three rows of drip tubing can be placed along the sides of the plants to reduce runoff and provide moisture close to the roots. The drip tubing can be covered with organic mulch to hide the tubing and to keep the root zone of the shrubs cooler during the summer.
An online resource for you to learn about and choose the best plants for your inland Southern California landscape.
Promoting water conservation through education, stormwater capture, waterwise landscapes, and other initiatives.
We provide programs, services, and resources to serve audiences of all ages to cultivate a community-wide conservation ethic and build regional capacity for water resilience.
Choose between a list or map view of all signs found in our waterwise garden and park.
This is a digital registry created to offer further information on the physical signs in our waterwise garden and park premises.
Would you like a few tips on how to use this tool?
Using the map view, you can preview what each specific sign is about by tapping on the plus icon.
You can view these tips at any time by tapping the Help link in the top left.
