UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties

It's January and, although it may be cold and damp, the days are getting longer by a few seconds each dayjust enough additional daylight to stir a gardener's blood.

Last winter's epic rainstorms have caused many of us to think about what we can do to mitigate the impact of heavy downpours on our communities. As it happens, the impervious surfaces that keep us dry and mud-free (our homes, patios, driveways, etc.

What is a lawn? For many of us, those traditional squares of lush, green turf grass have not only been a part of the landscape, but also an icon of our American culture for generations. A manicured lawn symbolized prosperity and respectability.

Enjoyment of the world around us and in our gardens is a deep-rooted and multifaceted aspect of the human experience.

Last winter's storms were unprecedented. The volume and intensity of rainfall turned creeks and streams into rushing torrents that overflowed their banks and flooded nearby areas. Gutters and drains couldn't handle the flow and turned streets into virtual canals.