Water Wisdom: Drought-Tolerant Garden in Clovis, California

Matching Garden to Climate

Claudia Kus’s 3-acre Clovis property features a Southwestern house style and water-wise garden driven by costly water, serious soil problems, and hot, dry summers. She planted drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials in front; trees for shade—Australian melaleucas, chitalpa, cork oak, desert willow, hackberry, shoestring acacia. Near a back fountain: acacia, chitalpa, redbud. Grapevines ramble over a back patio arbor.

Soil Solution

A cementlike hardpan underlay much of the property. Instead of breaking through, Kus brought in 80 tons of topsoil amended with homemade compost. In back, she sculpted curving mounds; gravel paths cover perforated pipes draining to a partially manmade pond.

Eclectic Plant Mix

Three nurseries helped create a stunning mix of mostly drought-resistant plants: California and Australian natives from Planet Earth Growers, native California plants from Intermountain Nursery, herbs from Mountain Valley Growers. Over 600 species grow, including acacia, grevillea, melaleuca, olive, rosemary, ceanothus, manzanita, Matilija poppy, redbud, toyon, four oaks, wildflowers, diverse salvias, roses, grasses, fruit trees.

Water-Saving Strategies

• Elaborate drip irrigation with 1,000+ emitters/microsprinklers, 21 valves, 2 automatic controllers with weather-adjustment features.
• Regular maintenance: cleaning emitters, repairing rabbit/coyote damage.
• All beds mulched with redwood bark chunks.