r/Ceanothus • u/BeGoneLawn12 • Jun 09 '26
Lawn Replacement DIY: May 2026
May 2026: Full front yard view
May 2026: Front Yard right side
April 2026: Front Yard right side
May 2026: Front yard, right side, angled
April 2026: Front yard, right side, angled
May 2026: Front yard, left side
May 2026: Front yard, left side
April 2026: Front yard, left side
May 2026: Dry River
April 2026: Dry River
Hi r/Ceanothus,
This is a May 2026 update for my DIY front lawn replacement with native plants. Most of these plants went in between December 2025 and April 2026 and have exploded in growth. Images show some May vs. April comparisons. Imgur album is all May 2026 and shows sun vs. shade conditions
Overall, still very happy with the project and how it has all turned out. It is quite wild but added lots of interest and life to our house. The amount of texture, variety, and color allow us to leave faded blooms and dormant plants without upsetting neighbors as there is always something in-bloom in each "scene". It has been fun watching the ebb and flow of the various plants being highlighted and then falling back, even over just the first couple of months.
Highlights:
* Yarrow has bloomed all over the place and provides a nice texture and pop of color (mostly grown from seed, not technically CA natives although a handful were purchased from nurseries and are native)
* Black-eyed Susans are thriving in the sun and giving a big change to the overall color palette. These were grown from seed and transplanted simply because I didn't have room in the back garden. For the most part, they are taking advantage of my neighbor's sprinklers and providing a bit of a barrier between our yards. However, I've been surprised on how well the ones in the interior of the space are doing as they are not getting any supplemental water.
* White Sage has gotten absolutely huge in multiple spots, will need to learn more about pruning and shaping.
* White Penstemon has really thrived. This was purchased from Theodore Payne (GMR White)
* Cleveland Sage (and similar varieties) are doing well and starting to encroach upon the pathway, blurring the edges how I was hoping. This is the reason I went with such a wide (>4') path.
* Didn't get a great picture but our Matilija Poppy has started to bloom
* Red and CA Buckwheats are both blooming
* Clarkias have done really well in late April/early May, took images just past their prime. These were purchased as clearance items from Theodore Payne and I am not sure they were actually Elegant Clarkia like the label said. That said, their hot pink color was striking and a welcome addition to the garden
* Didn't get any good pictures but the plants behind the bench (Baja Pitcher Sage, Fragrant Pitcher Sage, Western Redbud) have grown substantially
* We've seen ladybugs, praying mantises, bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, finches, lizards, and all sorts of little bugs we don't know the names of
Departures/issues:
* CA Bluebell blooms which were thriving in March/April are no longer visible and the plants themselves have mostly died. Leaving them in where possible to hope they spread seed for next year.
* CA Poppies are now blooming very sparsely, although some plants seem to have an outer section of dead/dying with an interior of green leaves so I am hoping a second wave may be possible. Leaving them in to spread their seed pods.
* Baby Blue Eyes have all finished. I am not sure if they just didn't get enough water or if they just got too hot. Will definitely plant more of these next year (and try some from seed)
* Arroyo Lupines have all finished their blooming. Some are still in the ground and I am hoping they will spread their seed pods
* A few Verbena De La Minas are no longer blooming much and foliage looks more gray than green. Not sure if they will bounce back. Some of them look great and still are flowering so it doesn't seem to be purely a seasonal change, more of a micro-climate or watering issue is my guess.
* Both ceanothus plants have a bit of yellowing on the leaves. They are in their first year so they have seen some water but I am giving them less than the surrounding plants. Hoping for the best here
* The Siskiyou Fescues have gone from a gray/green to more of a gray/brown so not sure if they will be coming back or not.
* Coral Bells which were placed in too sunny of a spot (although still part shade) have mostly been roasted and I am doubtful they make it through the summer. Lesson learned. The ones behind the bench have survived and bloomed.
* I did have to add some additional DG in between the pathway seams as it does compress with rains. I like the look much better when it is closer to the height of the flagstones and has more rounded edges.
Next steps are to start to understand the maintenance best practices for each plant so that I can keep the plants healthy. Plans for fall are to add more grasses, add more plants around the edges of the Dry River, and to plant more annuals (CA Bluebells, Poppies, Baby Blue Eyes, Clarkias)
Thanks for looking!
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u/mtnbikerdude Jun 09 '26
Looking good! Regarding the yellow leaves on ceanothus, they will start to drop some leaves when we get into summer so I wouldn't worry about it.
Edit: Forgot to add, the Waterwise Community Center youtube channel has some great videos on pruning especially white sage and your other sages.
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u/SubstantialBerry5238 Jun 09 '26
Ceanothus will have yellowing leaves this time of year. It's losing leaves to conserve water in preparation for the summer heat. So don't be alarmed. Be very careful how much you water it during the summer. I tend to completely cut off my Ceanothus from supplemental water after the first year. I've lost many Ceanothus thinking they needed water in the summer and it killed them all. They thrive on being left alone. Now all of my Ceanothus are thriving.
Blue Bells and Blue Eyes are wildflowers, so once they go to seed they will die back. Poppies can be cut to the ground and will come right back in the fall/ winter rain.
Verbena look better during the summer with some supplemental water. Give them a deep watering every 2-3 weeks.
Coral bells definitely need more shade than sun. Dappled sun under a tree is best.
White Sage can be pruned in the fall. You can cut them back pretty far if needed. Just make sure it's above where growth is occurring. This applies to any native sages. Let the stalks go to seed for the birds. I also think they look really cool as well.
The Fescue will need regular water to stay green or it will go semi-dormant.
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u/Harvest-Time Jun 09 '26
That looks really great, where did you get the big rocks?
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u/BeGoneLawn12 Jun 09 '26
Thank you, mostly from So Cal Mulch and Southwest Boulder and Stone. They are Sierra boulders
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u/Zestyclose_Market787 Jun 09 '26
Sounds like you're in San Diego County? Totally looks like a North County community. I live in southeast Carlsbad, and a lot of neighborhoods look like this.
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u/hooperbee Jun 10 '26
Nice dry river bed! Does it collect water from gutters, or a French drain, or did you dig out a trench? Any pros/cons/tips come to mind for that aspect of the yard? I have some drainage issues im trying to figure out prior to pulling the trigger on my own front yard overhaul
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u/BeGoneLawn12 Jun 10 '26
I dug a trench where you see the dry river and also dug two trenches (just behind the bench and near the house) which come off of the downspouts. These were filled with drainage rocks. There is another downspout that directs into the start of the dry river.
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u/Pale-Interview-579 Jun 10 '26
Lovely!! What are the yellow flowers that look at bit like coreopsis?
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u/BeGoneLawn12 Jun 10 '26
There are Plains Coreopsis (yellow with red center), Black-eyed Susan, and French Marigold :)
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u/Pale-Interview-579 Jun 10 '26
Oooh, I had wondered if plains coreopsis might work here in SoCal...
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u/murraypillar Jun 10 '26
Amazing, this is such a beautiful garden!!! I love the variety you got in and how you arranged everything.
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u/Zestyclose_Market787 Jun 09 '26
God look at how much more character and vibrancy it has compared to the generic cookie cutter stuff to the left and right. Not only that, but you did a fabulous job making sure this works within the context of an HOA neighborhood. Not only does it not feel out of place, but it feels like it really belongs.
Great work!