For us living in the Sacramento area, we should keep in mind that we have mild winters and dry and hot summers. So ideally you would want to design your garden around plants that can thrive in dry conditions. One such plant is the Vinca. These require very little water to survive and can multiple quite easily. Another plant to consider is the Western Redbud. These are bushes that produce very elegant purple flowers. Keep in mind that the Western Redbud can grow quite large, so you will need to space them appropriately.

If you want a livelier feel to your garden that includes more than plants, you might want to consider planting some fuchsia-flowering gooseberry. These shrubs can grow up to four feet tall and are known to attract humming birds and butterflies.
Planting shrubs and flowers can make a front yard look very appealing. A great plant to have in the front yard is the Mexican Heather. These plants produce beautiful purple flowers and look delicate. However, they can thrive in the most severe conditions, thus making it a very low maintenance plant to have.

To get a wide variety of ideas on landscaping design, you can take a look at what other homes are doing. Drive to locations where there are a lot of high end homes and see what plants and trees have been placed in the front yards. By seeing other yards, you start to see what is possible and you can combine those designs with your individual taste.

In order to effectively water trees, you must make sure that the water penetrates the ground and reaches the roots of the tree. Becasue some ground may be difficult for water to run through, you might want to consider using a soaker hose. In addition to saving water, soaker hoses will help water reach more of the tree’s roots.

Another thing to consider when caring for trees is clearing up debris and weeds at the base of the trees. Debris like fallen leaves and dead flowers tend to build up especially early on in the spring months. It is important to remove weeds and debris from the base of trees since this is where plant pests can live and thrive. By making sure the base is not cluttered with anything, you will reduce the chances of your trees becoming infested by pests.

Once your trees start growing, your next task is to make sure it is pruned and trimmed. In addition to making sure the trees look nice and tidy, trimming and pruning can help prevent certain things that can harm a tree. During the fall and winter months in the Sacramento area, it can sometimes get a bit windy. If your tree isn’t managed and trimmed properly, those windy days can severely damage your trees. Pruning branches that are dead or dying can also help prevent the spread of infection within the tree, and therefore actually help the tree heal more quickly.

As you can see, caring for trees is no easy task. There are many things to consider, and what’s mentioned above are just some of the things you should keep in mind. But if you are diligent and are willing to put in the effort, the final results will always be worth it!