Jim Contopulos had always had a conventional, lush, green lawn since he bought the home back in 1988. Recently, when he got a new dog, Mr. Contopulos noticed his lawn was getting orange spots where his puppy was using the restroom and he knew he needed to change things up. He had the opportunity to interview someone at the University of California, Riverside regarding landscaping and she provided some great insight. Jim had never dealt with succulents but quickly learned about color, textures, designing, and the role the ground plays in a landscape. As a result, he brought in good soil, barrel by barrel. He also knew he wanted a riverbed incorporated into his design, created it with contouring, and lifted the sides of the bed throughout which helps the water absorb and stay without any runoff. His goals from the beginning were to limit the water usage, eliminate weeds, and be easy to maintain. The drip system, chosen plants, and design have helped tremendously! There is minimal upkeep and he only waters once or twice a week now. He highly recommends transforming anyone’s landscape into a water-saving design such as his.
