Environmental Programs

544 - Sustainable Landscaping

When Americans moved west in the 1800s, they continued to plant traditional English gardens, gardens more suited to the northeast. Dependent upon intensive amounts of water, fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanized maintenance, these gardens produce water and air pollution, and mountains of solid waste material.

To ensure a sustainable future for all Santa Monicans, to protect our drinking water supplies, our marine resources and our air, the City of Santa Monica encourages the installation of sustainable, California-friendly landscaping. Sustainable landscaping, including native and Mediterranean-type plants, creates gardens that suit our local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizer, pesticides and maintenance than traditional gardens. Switching to sustainable landscaping reduces your costs and the costs to Santa Monica as a whole.

For more information on sustainable landscaping or to visit the city's demonstration gardens, please call the Environmental Programs Division at (310) 458-8972 or visit www.smepd.org. Our hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and alternate Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.