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Impervious surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt, have enabled large-scale urban development throughout Southern California by providing stable foundations for building structures, facilitating the efficient movement of pedestrians and vehicles, and promptly transporting rainwater away from buildings and…

Why Smart Irrigation Matters Now More Than Ever As Southern California enters the peak of summer, water agencies, utilities, and residents are turning their attention to one of the region’s most pressing challenges—sustainable water use. July is officially recognized as Smart Irrigation Month, a…

Imagine a garden designed to focus on creating natural wildlife habitat. Why not eliminate turf grass from your own garden and replace it with trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals that benefit wildlife? Welcome to Naturescaping, a method of landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By growing…

 As climate change in California becomes more palpable, local gardeners are feeling the literal heat. In a recent episode of KQED Forum, host Alexis Madrigal brought together a panel of gardening experts to discuss how rising temperatures, inconsistent rainfall, and urban microclimates are reshaping the…

 Las copas de los árboles urbanos (UTC), es decir, las capas de hojas, ramas y tallos que cubren el suelo en las ciudades, son herramientas esenciales para gestionar las aguas pluviales, en particular en zonas urbanas densas como las del sur de California. En paisajes dominados por superficies…

Los jardines de lluvia son depresiones del terreno transformadas, diseñadas para almacenar e infiltrar el escurrimiento pluvial proveniente de superficies impermeables cercanas dentro de entornos urbanos. Disponibles en una variedad de formas y tamaños, los jardines de lluvia representan una solución…

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…

 La gestión de aguas pluviales se refiere al control sistemático de la cantidad y calidad del agua de escorrentía generada por superficies impermeables, áreas urbanas y paisajes durante y después de eventos de precipitación. Incluye una variedad de prácticas y estrategias destinadas a capturar, tratar y…

Rain gardens are transformed land depressions designed for storing and infiltrating stormwater runoff flowing from nearby impervious surfaces throughout urban environments. Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes, rain gardens offer a community friendly approach to generating several environmental benefits,…

When using pesticides and other garden chemicals, you should always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep yourself safe. Pesticides can enter the body via the eyes, skin, nose, or mouth. The skin is the most common way pesticides enter our bodies, usually by splashing, spillage, or spray drift…