By Daily Press staff
City Hall is giving money to residents to watch their gardens grow. Santa Monica has introduced a second round of grants in order to promote California-friendly landscaping concepts.
Many homes in Santa Monica use more than 200 gallons of water each day to irrigate landscape, with much of it running off into streets, alleys and sidewalks, city officials say. Research shows that converting turf and other water-thirsty plants, and traditional, high-volume sprinkler irrigation systems to California-friendly plants and water-efficient irrigation systems can save up to 80 percent of water and 60 percent of maintenance costs, city officials say.
Additionally, California-friendly gardens produce less yard waste, reduce the need for harmful chemicals and polluting maintenance equipment, and provide habitat for beneficial birds and insects, officials say.
The competitive landscape grants awarded provide partial funding for new or remodeled innovative gardens that include the design and the potential installation of one or more of the following: California native plants, water-efficient plants, water-efficient irrigation systems, storm-water management systems, graywater systems and other innovative water-saving features.
The landscape grant program is just one of 15 programs the city offers to save water and reduce ocean pollution. By managing water demand through California-friendly landscaping, the city hopes to further the goal of reducing citywide water use 20 percent by 2010.
Applications for the next round of grants are due Oct. 3. Visit www.smepd.org or call (310) 458-8405 for more details. Cheese for charity
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2005. Read the original PDF.