Techniques

Backyard composting is an attractive, simple method of managing organic waste at home. It adapts to fit individual lifestyles, incomes, yard sizes, and ambitions. Backyard composting can be performed by a variety of methods. Typically, these include placing materials in open piles, burying in pits or trenches, or enclosing in drums or compost bins (e.g., turning bins and worm bins). In order to heat up properly, compost piles should be at least one cubic yard in size. This provides the minimal insulation required to sustain the high temperatures in the core of the pile. Composting bins can either be commercial units or simply constructed from inexpensive materials with little carpentry skills.

Start the composting process with 50% green and 50% brown materials cut into pieces no larger than 1 inch in size. Mix and add water every 7-10 days. Your compost is ready to use when it is dark brown, crumbly, and smells like fresh turned soil.

The compost produced is an excellent soil conditioner. It enhances the structure of soil by binding soil particles together. This improves aeration and helps soil retain water and nutrients. Compost also improves drainage in clay soils and water retention in sandy soils. Compost improves the buffering capacity of the soil and minimizes adverse effects to plants due to extreme shifts in soil pH.

Adding compost to soil also attracts earthworms, which aerate and add additional nutrients to the soil. Compost can store nutrients and release them slowly for use by surrounding plants. Although highly beneficial for soil, most composts are not considered fertilizers because they lack the amount of nitrogen to be classified as a fertilizer. Here is a Fact Sheet.

1. Use a plastic box with a tight-fitting lid with plenty of air vents or purchase a worm compost bin.
2. Add bedding (coconut coir or shredded newspaper) and then add ½ – 1 pound of red worms.
3. Keep the worm bin warm, but not hot, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
4. Keep bedding moist, but not wet.
5. Use crushed egg shells or ground limestone to keep the pH neutral (around 7.0).
6. Feed one end of the bin for two weeks, then harvest your worm compost from the other end.
7. Feed the worms regularly with:

With so many trees and lawns in Southern California, it is easy to forget we live in a desert. We import millions of gallons of water from the Colorado River, Owens Valley, and north, and pump millions more from aquifers.

Water is becoming shorter in supply and greater in cost. Climate change has caused severe droughts. Therefore, conserving water is critical. Water-wise gardening uses landscaping techniques to help conserve water while maintaining a beautiful yard. Here’s a Fact Sheet.

1. Hydrozone: group plants according to their water needs. Hydrozone your yard and garden so that low water-use, moderate water-use and high water-use plants are grouped together. Also, use elevated planting beds so that plants are watered more efficiently, thereby reducing overall water usage.

2. Selecting Plants: use drought-tolerant or native plants to create a low water-use, low maintenance landscape.

3. Irrigation: install sprinklers, drip emitters, and timers so you only give plants the amount of water they actually need.

4. Improve Your Soil: mix compost into your soil to improve its moisture retaining capability and fertility.

5. Use Mulch: place mulch around your plants, along walkways, and on top of other bare areas to reduce water use and prevent

Grasscycling is a simple, natural approach to lawn care. Grass clippings are 75% to 85% water. When you mow and grasscycle, the clippings quickly decompose and release nutrients to fertilize the lawn. Proper mowing, watering, and fertilizing of a lawn results in moderate turf growth, yet still produces a healthy green lawn. Grasscycling helps reduce fertilizer and water usage, which can protect local streams, rivers, and the ocean from pollution, since runoff from yards and gardens can contain fertilizers and pesticides. Also, since you do not have to bag your clippings, mowing time is reduced.

California lawns can generate 300 to 400 lbs of grass clippings per 1000 square feet annually depending on turf type, ambient conditions, and lawn care practices. This can amount to over eight tons per acre per year! Grasscycling reduces waste going to landfills by reusing this valuable, rich material right in your own yard! Here is a Fact Sheet.

Los Angeles County is home to scenic vistas. The natural beauty and mild climate have attracted millions to settle in the mountains, deserts, and coastal valleys of our County. In many areas, fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. Fire cracks seed casings, allowing native plants to reproduce and thrive. It clears out dead brush that can choke living plants and cut off food for wildlife. While fire may be essential to natural systems in some areas, fire is usually disastrous for people. Your best defense against fire is learning to develop fire-wise landscape around your home.

Fire-wise gardening is not necessarily the same as a well-manicured yard. A fire-wise landscape uses careful planning as well as resistant plants that are strategically placed to resist the spread of fire to your home, combined with proper maintenance. It also means learning to water, prune and maintain your yard and garden in ways that help reduce fire danger. The good news is you do not need a lot of money to practice fire-wise gardening, and it could increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home. These fire-wise gardening precautions can make a real difference when brush fires strike.

1. Assess Your Fire Risk: Is your home on a hill or in a canyon area? Are you near highly flammable vegetation? Plan your landscape to reduce the amount of flammable vegetation nearest your home.
2. Plan a Defensible Space: Remove dry brush, grass and dead leaves from within at least 30 feet from your home, and at least 150 feet if you are on a hill. Depending on lot size, have 100 feet of area space that is cleared and landscaped appropriately. Install dual-paned windows with exterior pane made of tempered glass to reduce breakage.
3. Remove Combustible Plant Materials: Fire needs fuel to burn, so remove any unnecessary plant materials. Also, space trees and shrubs at least 10 feet apart and keep branches trimmed at least 10 feet from your roof. For trees or shrubs taller than 18 feet, prune lower branches within 6 feet of the ground and remove dead leaves, twigs and branches from below the plants. Remove/prune vegetation near windows. For trees or shrubs less than 18 inches, prune branches from the lower 1/3.
4. Choose Plants Carefully: Some plants are more resistant to burning than others. Consult with the County Fire Department at (323) 881-2411 to identify plants that are more fire-resistant.
5. Water Wisely: While all plants will eventually burn, green plants burn less quickly. Make sure you give your plants the amount of water they need to stay healthy without over-watering which can promote excessive growth.
6. Maintain Your Landscape: Keep your yard and garden clean and well-groomed by removing dead and dying grass, plants, and leaves on a regular basis. Prune and thin shrubs, trees, and other plants to minimize the fuel load. Compost your plant materials to make a nutrient rich soil amendment for use under and around your plants.
7. Evacuation Plan: Know two ways to exit neighborhood. Install dual-paned with exterior pane made of tempered glass to reduce breakage. Ensure your home address is clearly visible from street, and street signs are clearly posted.