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If you have a native garden your in pretty good shape. You’re going
to the beach while your neighbor is watering, mowing, trimming, and
more watering. Your water bill is a fraction of his but that’s not
to say that there is “absolutely” nothing to do.
You have stuff to do too, although it’s relatively minor and low
cost but if you don’t get on it you’ll be getting a visit from the
Fire Department.
Here’s what you have to do to keep and existing native garden in
shape:
 1. Water. Yes, you should water. Depending
on where you live and how established you garden is you should water
between 1x and 2x per month. That’s per month! and real watering, in
the morning.
2. Dead flowers and spindly branches should
be cut back. Sages should be cut back after flowering by about 1/3. Sphaeralcea should be cut back before it goes to seed about 2/3rds.
It will continue to grow and flower. Encelia should also be cut back
hard too. Ceanothus and Manzanita can be “trimmed” a bit. That’s a
“bit” as in small amount if necessary.
Some plants flower in summer and you don’t want to cut them back
like Zauschneria.
Not much in the “cut back” department this time of year. For the
average garden maybe an afternoons worth if you have visitors you
want to avoid and you want to stay outside.
 3. Summer gardening and planting is
somewhat limited. This is generally not the best time to plant but
some things do real well when planted in summer. Go figure. These
include:
Zauschneria – Calif. fuchsia Muhlenbergia and Elymus
‘Canyon Prince’ Sphaeralcea – Desert Mallow Galvezia
 Vitis calif and
‘Roger’s Red’ Rosa calif. – Calif. wild rose Heteromeles – Toyon
Eriogonum Buckwheat
There are p lenty others too but the above is a pretty good list
of plants that will grow aggressively during the summer.
4. Mulching. This is can be done anytime
and will keep the soil cooler and the weed growth down.
That’s it!!!!!!!!!! Keep it clean, a little cutting back, a
little water, and go to the beach.
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