California Gardening Challenges: Soil, Wind, Water, Privacy, and Fire

Soil

Depending on location, soil may be heavy clay, alkaline (disliked by camellias), or salty (desert). Lighten clay with compost. Acidify alkaline soil with peat or acid fertilizer periodically. Leach salts by slow, deep watering at least once a year.

Wind

Late-summer east-to-west winds dry foliage and topple young trees. Stake new trees; prune dead/weak branches on established ones. Deep-irrigate plants.

Water

Dry summers, recurring drought, limited supply. Choose arid-adapted plants and group by water needs.

Privacy

Increasingly valuable in urban areas with small lots. Block views with leafy screens of closely spaced, fast-growing shrubs like purple hop bush.

Fire

In fire-prone areas (Malibu, Bel Air, Santa Barbara, hills behind San Bernardino, Laguna Beach, Oakland), avoid highly flammable plants (junipers, manzanita, pines). Create an irrigated greenbelt around the house; clear overhanging branches.