All changes to the architecture or landscaping of your home must be approved by the Westwood Homeowner’s Association (oversees all HOAs in the Westwood area of RB). There has been some confusion about landscape criteria. I asked the director of the Westwood ARC, Reed Reichert, if he would provide the guidelines they use to approve all landscaping plans. This is a link to the criteria he provided in an email.
2. Landscape
Some Examples of Drought Resistant Plants
N. N. Jaeschke, Inc., has provided us with a power point presentation containing numerous examples (pictures plus text) of drought resistant plants. You can download the pdf file here.
Lawn Replacement – a mixed bag
Although replacing your lawn generally decreases your household water use by around 30%, non-grassy surfaces often result in a “heat island” effect, causing temperature differentials, which can lead to higher electrical bills. An article from the RB Journal discusses the negative affects of replacing your lawn.
See full article from the RB Journal here.
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Artificial Turf
This article lists several facts for homeowners to consider when planning a water-wise landscape. Among the advantages: saves water, no fertilizer (or runoff), looks like grass. Among the disadvantages: expensive, hot in the summer, limited lifespan, infill not suitable for children. Download the article here, or go to the original link.
The Rancho Bernardo Westwood Valley #5 HOA (the Promenade) 