RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
PLANT LISTS – BOOKS AND WEBSITES
Inland Valley Plant Finder : inlandvalleygardenplanner.org/plant-finder
Landscape Plants for California Gardens book by Bob Perry (2010)
The New Sunset Western Garden Book edited by Kathleen Norris Brenzel (2012)
Water Use Classification of Landscape Species IV by University of California Cooperative Extension (2014) – An exhaustive anecdotal list of the water use of more than 3,500 plant species throughout California. http://ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS
REGIONAL GARDENING REFERENCES
SoCal Yard Transformation – Western Municipal Water District book edited by Pam Pavela (2017)
INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES
Plant Right: plantright.org
California Invasive Plant Council: cal-ipc.org
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT LISTS AND INFORMATION
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden – rsabg.org
Theodore Payne Foundation – theodorepayne.org
California Native Plant Society’s plant database – calscape.org
CLIMATE ZONES
The New Sunset Western Garden Book see Plant Lists – Books and Websites
Note: Western’s service area is in Sunset zones 18 and 19.
USDA: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb
ET Data: – www.cimis.water.ca.gov
SOIL HEALTH
nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health
Book: The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklè
Book: Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
University of California Center for Landscape & Urban Horticulture: ucanr.edu/sites/urbanhort
University of California Integrated Pest Management: ipm.ucanr.edu
This website is a treasure of credible information on more than just pests. Take a look at Quick Tips: ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/index.html, and a list of plants with their common pests: ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/plantmenu.html
The University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources has an extensive list of informative publications at anrcatalog.ucanr.edu. The following is a sampling that can be retrieved by entering the publication number in the search box on their website. Most publications are free.
9027: California Master Gardener Handbook
8553: Keeping Plants Alive under Drought or Water Restrictions
8536: Use of Graywater in Urban Landscapes in California
8531: Coastal California Rain Gardens
8504: Sustainable Landscaping in California
8322: Landscaping Tips to Help Defend Your Home from Wildfire
8255: Lawns ‘n’ Dogs
8228: Home Landscaping for Fire
8046: Planting Landscape Trees
8044: Lawn Watering Guide for California
8036: Water Conservation Tips for the Home Lawn and Garden
8035: Turfgrass Selection for the Home Landscape
HORTICULTURAL MYTHS AND THE INFORMED GARDENER
Even though this reference is from outside of California (Washington State University Extension), the information is applicable, informative, and well-presented for listening or reading – puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs
Books: The Informed Gardener and The Informed Gardener Blooms Again by Linda Chalker-Scott
CALIFORNIA STATE MODEL WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE
If your landscape changes exceed 2,500 square feet and triggers a permit, you are required to comply with the sate landscape ordinance. (This is based on the most recent ordinance of 2015.) Check with your local jurisdiction, as their requirements may exceed the state ordinance – water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/landscapeordinance
IRRIGATION
California Irrigation Management Information System – www.cimis.water.ca.gov
IRRIGATION DESIGN GUIDES
Hunter Irrigation – hunterindustries.com/sites/default/files/design_guide_Residential_System_LIT-226-US.pdf
Netafim (dripline) – netafimusa.com/landscape/support-materials/literature-download
Irritrol (The Toro Company) – irritrol.com/en/product-literature
Rain Bird – rainbird.com/landscape/resources/DesignGuides.htm Rain Bird has a complete library of design guides.
HIRING PROFESSIONALS
Any work totaling over $500 requires a contractor’s license in California! Know your rights by visiting the California State Licensing Board – cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Consumers.aspx
EPA WaterSense® Professionals – epa.gov/watersense/professional-certification-0
Irrigation professionals – irrigation.org/HireCertified
Landscape contracting professionals – clca.org/consumers/consumers_home.php
Tree care professionals – treesaregood.com
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
California Native Plant Society – cnps.org
Inland Empire Waterkeeper – iewaterkeeper.org
Rivers and Lands Conservancy – riversandlands.org
Riverside County Watershed Protection – rcwatershed.org
Santa Ana Watershed Association – sawatershed.org
RESOURCE AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District – rcrcd.com
Chino Basin Water Conservation District – cbwcd.org
STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
Riverside County Flood Control and Conservation District –www.floodcontrol.co.riverside.ca.us
WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS (RECYCLING, COMPOSTING, WASTE)
Cal Recycle – calrecycle.ca.gov/PublicEd/default.htm
Riverside County Department of Waste Resources – rcwaste.org