San Luis Obispo Landscaper Blog

We all know the hidden costs of manicured green grass ~ fertilizer, mowing, water, time... it's endless! But what choice do we have, right? WRONG! The Leave It To Beaver picket fence yard days are gone. A new generation of nutrient-rich, water-wise plant habitat-development is taking over.

We’re thrilled for the grand re-opening this Saturday, June 11th, of Green Goods’ new showroom at 111 South Street in San Luis Obispo! Our friends Mikel and Brian Robertson, Green Goods' owner/brother duo, deal exclusively with Green building supplies, design consultation and construction services.

Silver Bush, Arroyo, Bush, Pigmy-leaved, Silver Dune, Broadleaf, Dwarf Silver Bush, Sky and more--all varieties of California Lupine, and all with diverse growing requirements. Some are happy in sandy or salty soil, some tolerate clays, some want full sun, while others still love a little dappled shade.

For much of the year, gardeners in our Mediterranean climate gaze at the dusty, golden hills dreaming of the first shower that will bring verdance back to the parched earth. During the summer months, irrigation from our public water supply keeps our plants from drying out, but it's difficult to mimic all the benefits of natural rainwater.

We're famous! Our friends at Tolosa Press graciously printed an article we wrote about the historic Anholm House's garden restoration. Head over to their website to download whichever version of the News is your favorite: the SLO City News, the Coastal News, or the Bay News.

You've seen them sprouting for about a month now--waxy yellows, creamy oranges, and maybe some rusty reds. Our California state flower, the California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, begins its season in the cool spring months when rains are plentiful and the days are beginning to think about getting warmer.

If you love the look of a lush green yard, look no further than California Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis). You've seen this beautiful grass or its cousins, perhaps without realizing it, dotting gardens throughout the Central Coast, contributing fresh, clean lines and structure.

One of our favorite resources at Gardens by Gabriel is Native Sons Nursery in Arroyo Grande. Their plant material and their crew are oriented toward sustainability--and we're oriented toward them!

Rainwater is naturally distilled through evaporation prior to cloud formation, and is thus one of our purest sources of water. It also contains small doses of fertilizer and is considered ‘soft’ because of its lack of calcium and magnesium.

Our central coast is blessed to share a Mediterranean-style climate with 4 other zones around the globe. This means we have the ability to feature plants in our gardens from an incredibly rich and diverse palette that are well-adapted to our growing conditions.