The drought experienced in the California region is one for the record books. The severity of the phenomenon has prompted the state's Federal Government to release $11 million to cope with domestic water shortages, according to CA.gov.
Looming on the horizon is a "Godzilla" El Niño that can potentially end the drought affecting the state, the Los Angeles Times reports. However, weather experts expect significant landslides and flooding as the intense rainy season passes over California.
The situation is making it difficult for homeowners in Southern California who want to turn their lawns into beautifully landscaped sections of their properties. Talking to Off-Ramp, Frank McDonough, botanical information consultant at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, advises people to wait for the El Niño to pass as the rainfall will be too much to handle and could ruin drought-resistant landscaping projects.
"It's a good time to plant, but what happens when El Niño comes? We're talking a huge amount of flooding," he said.
For homeowners who can't resist giving in to their green thumbs, however, here are a few expert tips from McDonough in creating a drought-resistant garden.
1. Go for Bermuda grass as sod
A number of sods in the market are tolerant to drought. Bermuda grass has proven to thrive even during long stretches of dry and arid seasons and is quite effective as a sod. The U.S. Verde buffalo grass is also a good alternative.
2. Water capture systems are hit and miss
Installing a water capture system in your garden requires excavation, and it could get messy if rain suddenly bores down. If done right, however, water capture systems are a miracle even in the driest of seasons, as they can "collect up to 10- to 20,000 gallons of water."
3. Stay away from big chain nurseries
When purchasing seeds, McDonough says that homeowners should make sure they got the right ones. Most stores offer mixes, but many of them for large chains contain seeds of grass varieties that may not be resistant to drought as others.
