When painting your house, you don’t just open the can and start painting, do you? Preparation is number one, just like landscaping.

First, find out what type of soil you have. Clay is the most common in the metro area from Mission Hills to Talmage, sandy along the beach cities, lots of rocks in North County inland, and granite in Mount Helix.

Go to any nursery, and I mean a nursery – not some mega store that has a nursery. Begin by telling them where you live and what type of soil you have. They will tell you what type of amendments to use.

Now you need to think about drainage and grading. The two go together. Drainage is important. Gutters around your roof line dropping the water into an underground three-to-four-inch drain is the best way to get water away from your house. Adding drains off that underground pipe is a great way to keep excess water from gathering around your plants. Whether your property is level or grades toward your house, drainage systems can be installed and should be.

Choose plants according to your zone. Your zone can be found easily in the Sunset Western Garden Book. Frankly, almost everything grows here in San Diego, especially in the metro area. Don’t plant a succulent plant next to a thirsty banana tree or other tropicals. The biggest mistake often made by homeowners is planting too close to your house or garage. Think about how big a plant will grow and how roots may affect your garden and foundation.

Now for irrigation. Do you need drip or sprinklers? Drip tubing has improved over time, so don’t be afraid of it. Sprinklers, too, have improved, but are usually recommend for ground covers such as lawns. Sprinklers can damage stucco and wood if sprayed too much.

After you have your irrigation system installed, it’s time for mulch. Mulch has nutrients and helps keep moisture in the soil. This lowers your irrigation use and keeps weeds to a minimum. Mulch can be obtained at the San Diego landfill for free or next to free. It is located at Convoy and Highway 52. You don’t need to feed your lawn or garden with manmade plant foods to supply them with the proper nutrients. Using mulches and worm castings are a great, organic way to keep plants healthy. Worm castings can be purchased at Hydroscape or through Dutch Boy Irrigation with any service call.

For more information about Dutch Boy Irrigation, call (619) 546-6090. Advice is always free.