Transform Your Lawn Into a Drought-Tolerant Native Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Alyssa Stubbs
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 24
Replace your lawn with a stunning drought-tolerant native garden. Learn how to design, plant, and maintain a water-wise landscape in Southern California.
If you’re ready to replace your water-hungry lawn with a drought-tolerant landscape design, you’re not alone. Homeowners across Long Beach, Lakewood, and Orange County are switching to beautiful, low-maintenance gardens that save water and support native wildlife.
California’s dry climate makes it difficult to maintain traditional lawns year-round, but with thoughtful planning, you can transform that patch of turf into a vibrant, eco-friendly garden that thrives naturally.
At Native Bloom Landscape Design, we create sustainable outdoor spaces that celebrate California native plants while conserving water and reducing maintenance. Here’s how to begin your own lawn-to-native-garden transformation.
Why Replace Your Lawn
Traditional lawns may look neat and uniform, but they require constant watering, fertilizer, and mowing — all while struggling to stay healthy in drought conditions. Replacing turf with a native or drought-tolerant garden offers multiple benefits:
Conserves water — native plants can reduce outdoor water use by up to 70 percent.
Saves money — the Long Beach Lawn-to-Garden Rebate Program reimburses homeowners for replacing grass with sustainable landscaping.
Supports wildlife — native plants attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
Reduces maintenance — no mowing, no fertilizers, and less weeding.
Improves soil health — deep-rooted natives stabilize the ground and encourage healthy soil life.
You can find out more information about the Lawn to Garden rebate program below.
Step 1: Plan Your Native Garden
Begin by observing your space carefully. Ask yourself:
How much sunlight does each area receive?
Does the soil drain quickly or stay soggy?
Where does rainwater naturally flow or pool?
Understanding your site helps you design hydrozones — groupings of plants with similar water needs. This planning step is essential for efficiency and for most rebate applications.
If you’re not sure where to start, consider working with a native landscape designer. At Native Bloom, we evaluate your site, create a personalized layout, and select plants suited to your soil type, sun exposure, and aesthetic preferences.
For inspiration, explore Calscape.org to find California native plants by ZIP code.
Step 2: Choose the Right Native Plants
Selecting the right plants is the heart of a successful native garden. Choose species that thrive naturally in Southern California’s climate. Here are some top performers:
Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) – Fragrant purple blooms that attract hummingbirds.
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) – Excellent for erosion control, with long-lasting flower clusters.
Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa) – Compact and aromatic, ideal for pollinators.
Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ – A hardy evergreen groundcover with vibrant blue flowers.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) – A bright, reseeding annual and California’s state flower.
Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) – Perfect for partial shade and wildlife-friendly areas.
SunDrops(Oenothera fruticosa), Foothill penstemon(Penstemon heterophyllus), Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glauca)
Combine plants of different heights, textures, and bloom times for year-round color. Many native species, like poppies and milkweed, naturally die back in cooler months and return each spring — creating a self-sustaining landscape over time.
Suggested image: A collage featuring these native plant species.Alt text: California native plants in a drought-tolerant garden, including Cleveland Sage and California Buckwheat.
Step 3: Install Water-Wise Irrigation
Even drought-tolerant plants benefit from consistent watering during their establishment period. Efficient irrigation methods include:
Drip irrigation — delivers water directly to the roots and minimizes evaporation.
Retrofitted sprinklers — replace high-flow nozzles with low-flow rotating heads.
Manual watering — deep, occasional watering encourages strong root systems once plants are mature.
Water early in the morning and group plants by water needs for best results. A well-planned low-water irrigation design supports healthy plants and can qualify for local rebate programs. You can find out more information about the Lawn to Garden rebate program here. https://www.liveh2olb.com/Save-Water/residents/lawn-to-garden
Step 4: Maintain and Enjoy
Once established, native gardens are remarkably easy to maintain. Follow these simple steps to keep yours thriving:
Apply a two- to three-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
Remove weeds regularly during the first growing season.
Water deeply but infrequently to promote strong roots.
Some native species, such as Eschscholzia californica and Asclepias fascicularis (narrowleaf milkweed), naturally go dormant in fall and return each spring. Embrace these natural cycles — they’re part of what makes a native landscape resilient and low-maintenance.
Step 5: Reap the Rewards
A well-planned drought-tolerant garden rewards you in many ways:
Lower water bills and reduced maintenance costs
Increased curb appeal
A thriving ecosystem filled with pollinators
The satisfaction of contributing to a more sustainable Southern California
Your garden becomes more than just a beautiful outdoor space — it becomes part of the local ecological recovery, conserving water and supporting native life.
Ready to Transform Your Yard?
If you’re ready to create a California native garden that’s sustainable, low-maintenance, and rebate-eligible, we’d love to help.
At Native Bloom Landscape Design, we specialize in drought-tolerant landscape design tailored to Southern California homes. Whether you’re in Long Beach, Lakewood, or Orange County, we can help you plan your layout, choose the right plants, and connect with reliable installation partners.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start your lawn-to-garden transformation.https://www.nativebloomdesign.com/
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