PLANTS

Plant Selection

Plant Selection: “Right plant, right place”
After reviewing the guidance in the Landscapes section, select plants using the following guidelines:

• Size and shape. Choose plants that will mature at the desired height and width, reducing or eliminating the need to prune to control their size.
• Site conditions will refine your plant selection. Consideration of slope, exposure, and wind will allow you to match the best plants to your unique situation. Be aware whether a plant prefers sun or shade, and its tolerance of different soil types and drainage. In choosing plants, it also helps to know the local plant communities of your watershed. 
• Plant type. Consider whether the best plant for the site will be a ground cover, a shrub, an herbaceous perennial, or a tree. These different plant types will have different roles to play in the defensible space, as described in the Landscapes section.
• Native plants provide many more resources to our native pollinators and other wildlife than non-native plants, and are an important source of habitat. A mix of at least 80% native plants provides excellent habitat for wildlife biodiversity, and allows plenty of room for other favorites. 
• Climate adaptation. Choose from plants that are well adapted to a summer dry climate, and that won’t suffer from your area’s temperature extremes in summer and winter. The goal is to choose plants that will be healthy with the least water and maintenance.
• Variety helps to create a beautiful garden and provides many resources to wildlife. Strive for a diverse planting with plants that bloom throughout the year, while utilizing some massing of three or more plants of the same species to create some continuity.

Plants and Fire
Remember that the condition of the plant is often as important as the species. Many plants that are considered fire hazardous can be beneficially used in the garden if properly maintained and irrigated, especially natives. Depending on its maintenance, growth form and access to water, the same plant may be ignition resistant in one environment and flammable in another. All water-stressed plants in poor condition are more likely to burn readily.

For this reason, and because all plants can burn, we don’t recommend use of a “fire-safe plant list”, as this can lead gardeners to a false sense of security. There are, however, certain plant species that create a lot of fine debris and are difficult to maintain. These plants would ideally be removed from the Defensible Space area and replaced with less problematic plant selections. Some characteristics that tend to make plants more fire hazardous include:

• gummy, resinous sap with a strong odor
• A fine, twiggy growth habit
• loose or papery bark

We recommend that plants with these characteristics are avoided or used with caution.

Recommended Plants

Groundcovers

California fuchsia Epilobium species and cultivars		Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
California fuchsia, photo by Jon Kanagy		Bearberry, photo by Jon Kanagy
The California fuchsia groundcover cultivars such as ‘Wayne’s Silver’ and ‘Schiefflan’s Choice’ are showy perennial groundcovers, with gray-green foliage, to about 1 ft. tall.  The  bright orange-red tubular flowers  attract hummingbirds in the late summer to fall.		Bearberry is a mat-forming evergreen groundcover growing 6-18 in. tall and 6-8 ft. wide. It prefers part shade and grows rapidly near the coast where it can take more sun. This valuable habitat plant blooms in early winter with white or pale pink urn-shaped flowers and is covered in showy red berries in the fall. Bearberry is a good choice for erosion control and for under oaks.  If appropriately spaced this lovely groundcover will need no maintenance.
California Lilac Ceanothus species and cultivars		Coyote Brush Baccharis pilularis cultivars
Yankee Point Groundcover Ceanothus – photo credit Pat Sesser		Coyote Brush Groundcover – photo by April Owens
Ceanothus groundcover species most commonly occur along the California coast.  Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus or Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’ are available in nurseries. This beautiful and drought tolerant evergreen groundcover grows from 8-24 in. tall, depending on the cultivar.		Baccharis cultivars ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Pigeon Point’ are evergreen groundcovers that can grow 12-18 in. tall to 6 ft. (or more) in width within a few years, so be sure to space appropriately. These groundcovers naturally occur along the entire California coast. They have a deep root system that provides good erosion control, and they can take a lot of pruning as needed. For fire-wise planting, pruning should be done every few years to keep plants  from becoming too woody.
Wild Strawberry Fragaria species		Lippia Phyla nodiflora
Beach strawberry, photo by Jon Kanagy		Lippia, photo by April Owens
This shade loving groundcover spreads quickly to cover 3 ft. or more and is only 3 in. tall. Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) occurs in redwood forests, and beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) occurs in coastal plant communities. Both form dense groundcover carpets with fire-wise value, and both plants appreciate monthly irrigation in the summer.		Lippia is a spreading ground cover that is tough and walkable and able to survive a wide range of conditions and soil types. Best with occasional deep watering in full sun to very light shade, lippia can be used as a lawn replacement that looks best in summer. Bees and butterflies are attracted to its small pink and purple flower blossoms.

Perennials

Sage
Salvia species
Sonoma sage, photo by April Owens		Hummingbird sage, photo by April Owens
Sages come in all shapes and sizes from groundcovers like Salvia sonomensis (Sonoma sage) to Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland’s sage), a 4 ft. x 4 ft. flowering perennial. Salvias bloom in the spring with an abundance of purple to blue flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bumblebees.  Natural oils give them their characteristic scent, which also can make them flammable. Maintain  by cutting back by two-thirds annually to encourage lush foliage. Hydrate in the summer in warmer inland gardens.
California Fuchsia		California buckwheats
Epilobium canum		Eriogonum species and cultivars
Epilobium canum is a beautiful late summer blooming perennial that is  native to California foothills and coastal areas. California fuchsia is notable for the profusion of bright scarlet flowers in summer and autumn, blooming when many other perennials have finished. This perennial  tends to die back and go dormant in the winter. Easy to grow, California fuchsia will flower most profusely in full sun. In the wetter, northern part of its range or near the coast, this plant will typically require no supplemental water after establishment. It can be watered once a month, generally, without harming the plant. By late fall or early winter, plants tend to get straggly, but if cut back to the ground as soon as the flowers are spent, they will come back lush and healthy in the spring. One of the best native plants for attracting hummingbirds.		The genus Eriogonum is one of the most diverse in the California flora and provides native plant gardeners with a wealth of beautiful plants of varying form and color. Eriogonum fasciculatum forms a shrubby mound to 3’ tall and 4’ wide, though the cultivar ‘Warriner Lytle’ tops out at only half the height. Eriogonum grande var. rubescens is a perennial to 18” with lovely rose-pink flowers, while Eriogonum umbellatum features yellow flowers on a similarly sized plant. All of the California buckwheats have clusters of tiny flowers that are very attractive to pollinators, and are followed by seeds eaten by birds.
Monkeyflower		Coyote Mint
Diplacus species and cultivars		Monardella villosa
A monkeyflower hybrid, photo by April Owens		Coyote mint, photo by Jon Kanagy
This colorful perennial grows to about 2 ft. tall and wide. Diplacus aurantiacus (sticky monkeyflower) occurs all over California from coastal to chaparral communities, and fits well into many landscapes. Monkeyflower browns out in the heat of the summer, but will tolerate some water. Monkeyflower is a food source for hummingbirds, bees and other pollinating insects.  Plant in sun to part shade and irrigate monthly in summer after established. There is a broad range of cultivars and hybrids in flower colors from red to white.		Coyote mint grows up to 18 in. tall and 4 ft. plus wide if unpruned.  It has a long blooming cycle, flowering through the summer and fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Songbirds eat the seeds. Cut back to a tight ball bi-annually to maintain lush foliage.

Shrubs

Manzanita Arctostaphylos species		Coyote Brush Baccharis pilularis
’Howard McMinn’ manzanita, photo by April Owens		Coyote Brush photo by April Owens
Manzanitas are shrubs with huge habitat benefits. With proper maintenance and placement manzanitas, whether as specimens or a grouping, offer great value  in the resilient garden. The manzanita berries attract mockingbirds, robins, and cedar waxwings. If unpruned theyprovide cover for quail and wren-tits and the flowers produce nectar for native bees and hummingbirds. Arctostaphylos ‘Howard McMinn’ is rounded in form and profusely branched, growing 3-6 ft. tall. It has shiny green leaves and abundant light pink flowers. Beautiful mahogany trunks create a wonderful sculptural effect. The dense foliage responds exceptionally well to pruning—even shearing, and tolerates a far greater range of soils and watering regimes than most manzanitas.		The upright form of coyote brush, growing 4-8 ft. tall and wide, is valued for its ability to flourish in a wide range of conditions. An excellent habitat plant, coyote brush provides food and cover to a wide variety of wildlife. Flowers are not showy on the male; female flowers are borne on separate shrubs. These plants produce ivory colored flowers with pollen and nectar.  An abundance of pollinators and beneficial insects use Baccharis flowers.  Plant in sun to light shade; coyote brush is not fussy about soils, and is quite drought tolerant once established. Coyote brush can tolerate hard pruning to keep it fire-wise.  The habitat benefit of this shrub is worth some maintenance.
California Lilac Ceanothus species		Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia
A California lilac in bloom, photo by April Owens		Toyon berries, photo by Jon Kanagy
Blueblossom ceanothus (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) is an evergreen shrub growing from 15-20 ft. tall by 10-15 ft. wide. It prefers full sun to part shade and needs very little water once established. A beautiful purple flowering shrub, blueblossom attracts an array of wildlife including birds, butterflies, bees and other insects. It can be hedged to control size or pruned into a small tree. ‘Concha’ lilac (Ceanothus ‘Concha’) is an evergreen shrub that grows 4-8 ft. tall with stunning, deep blue fragrant flowers in large clusters. ‘Concha’  is more compact than blueblossom ceanothus but has many of the same water and sun needs.  ‘Concha’ is considered one of the most reliable and garden tolerant California lilac species. Many species of California native bees are attracted to this plant. Though it can tolerate light pruning,  ‘Concha’ should be placed far apart from other plants to minimize pruning.		Toyon, or Christmasberry, is a moderately fast growing evergreen shrub that is good for screening. It prefers full sun or part shade and needs little water once established, but can tolerate some garden water. Toyon has attractive deep green leaves, produces small white flowers in summer and red berries in winter.  This is a great substitute for the invasive cotoneaster for bird habitat and screening. Toyon can tolerate pruning to be more tree-like or can be pruned lightlyas a hedge.
Flowering Currants and Gooseberries Ribes species		Western Redbud Cercis occidentalis
Flowering currant, photo by Jon Kanagy		Western Redbud photo Kathi Dowdian
Flowering currants and gooseberries (Ribes species) are a colorful group of shrubs growing 6-8 ft. and blooming in late winter to early spring,  providing an important early nectar source for bumblebees and hummingbirds. Flowering currants go dormant in the summer without some water and light shade. Clean off dead leaves that haven’t fallen on their own in August in the fire-wise garden.		Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) adds seasonality to the California native garden. Revealing its beautiful structure in the winter after losing its leaves, redbud produces beautiful small magenta flowers that cover the stems, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators in the late winter. After flowering, redbuds sprout shiny heart-shaped leaves and later in summer are covered in purple seed pods. Redbuds prefer sun or part shade and need no irrigation once established. They grow 10-20 ft. tall and 10-15 ft. wide. Redbuds respond well to overall pruning and shaping in winter. They are native to the Sierra foothills and inner coastal ranges.
Coffeeberry Frangula californica		Blue Elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Coffeeberry, photo by April Owens		Elderberry, photo by April Owens
Coffeeberry is an evergreen shrub with dark green foliage that can grow up to 15 ft., but more compact selections like ‘Mound San Bruno’ grow to 5 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide. Small, greenish-white flowers in spring are very attractive to pollinators, and are followed by black fruit relished bybirds in the fall making coffeeberry a valuable plant for the habitat garden. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types, prefers afternoon shade in interior sites and appreciates some irrigation at most locations. Irrigated monthly in the summer, coffeeberry is a habitat powerhouse and a beautiful fire-wise screening shrub.		Blue elderberry is a very fast growing screening shrub up to 15 ft. tall that can be cut back to the ground every few years to encourage fresh new growth and as a fire-wise practice. It prefers full sun to part shade and tolerates drought once established. However, blue elderberry benefits from some summer moisture and will thrive in a regularly irrigated garden. Blue elderberry has glossy, bright green leaves that provide texture in the garden. The large, flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer are a favorite of pollinators and the blue-black berries in late summer are a food source for birds and other wildlife.
Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium
The holly-like leaves of Oregon grape, photo by Jon Kanagy
Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub with holly-shaped glossy leaves that grows 3-7 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide and prefers shade or part shade. It has fragrant, yellow, nectar-rich flowers in winter/spring and dark blue berries in the fall, which can be used for jelly.  Give Oregon grape moist, well drained soil.  This shrub, which spreads by rhizomes, makes a hedgerow of prickly ground cover for birds and other wildlife. Keep it well irrigated in a fire-wise garden, although this shrub is drought tolerant once established.

Resources:
California Native Plant Society –  The Nature Restoration Approach

Plant Communities
It is very useful to consider local plant communities near you when selecting plants for your garden. Plant communities are groups of plants that grow together because of similar adaptations to microclimate, rainfall, soil, slope, and other factors, and knowing what grows naturally around you can give insight into plants appropriate for your home landscape. Some plant communities typically found in Sonoma County are:

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  Oak woodland or savanna: An oak savanna is characterized by trees that are widely spaced, often with grassland between, while an oak woodland is characterized by trees growing closer together with canopies often touching. Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), blue oak (Quercus douglasii) and black oak (Quercus kelloggii) are dominant species in Sonoma County. The understory can be sparse or more dense with a diversity of shrubs, depending on how much shade the oaks provide. Some oak woodland understory plants are: blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), California honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula), iris (Iris douglasiana), California Melic (Melica torreyana), and wooly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum). Northern oak woodlands are occupied by many birds but most conspicuously by the acorn woodpecker. A very gregarious bird, the acorn woodpecker lives in large, extended, talkative families collecting and storing acorns.

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  Grassland plant community: this plant community is composed of perennial bunch grasses, annual grasses, sedges and rushes as well as legumes, like lupine, and other wildflowers. These plants also occur in oak woodlands in open areas among trees.

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  Chaparral or coastal sage scrub: Chaparral often occurs on west-facing slopes which typically are hotter and drier, and feature few trees, but exhibit very drought tolerant shrubs with hard waxy evergreen leaves or needles. It is a myth that chaparral is “born to burn”, and its natural fire return interval is, in fact, 30 to 150 years. Coastal sage scrub, found on the cooler, moister coastal climates, features soft-leaved, summer-dormant shrubs. Coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) is a common component of both chaparral and coastal sage scrub, and is a very important habitat plant. Dwarf varieties of coyote bush make an excellent groundcover in the landscape.

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• Riparian Woodland: The riparian plant community is found along streams. Common plants include spicebush (Calycanthus occidentalis), willow (Salix species), dogwood (Cornus sericea), white alder (Alnus rhombifolia), big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), box elder (Acer negundo), Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia), valley oak (Quercus lobata), black walnut (Juglans nigra) and cottonwood (Populus fremontii). Riparian plants are generally more water-loving than those of the other California plant communities. Riparian habitat runs through other plant communities, as water flows through the watershed.
  

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• Redwood forest: This plant community is found along the ocean side of the coast ranges of Northern California. Common species include coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), California rose-bay (Rhododendron macrophyllum), Western azalea, (Rhododendron occidentale) and tanbark oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), The keystone species of the redwood forest, the coast redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens), can live for more than a thousand years.
  

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  Mixed evergreen forest: This plant community is found mostly in the northern coastal mountains of California, and usually occupies the cooler, damper north-east facing slopes. Some of the component species include tanbark oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), California bay (Umbellularia californica), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), black oak (Quercus kelloggii), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and California hazelnut (Corylus californica). This forest is filled with leafy trees and fewer conifers.

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Resources

Cal-IPC – California Invasive Plant Council

PlantRight – How to Plant Right

Cal-IPC (2018) – Invasive Plant Checklist for California Landscaping

Importance of Oak Woodland

Oak trees (Quercus spp.) are recognized as significant historical, aesthetic, and ecological resources in California. There are 40 species of native oaks found throughout California on approximately 20 million acres in widely different areas: the central valley, lower foothills, mixed coniferous zone and coastal mountains. Not only are oak woodlands beautiful, they are surprisingly productive communities. More than 330 species of animals (and thousands of insect species!) use oak habitats for some part of the year. As with almost all natural habitats in California, oak woodlands currently face a number of threats and uncertainties. These include concerns about poor regeneration, competition from invasive species, native and introduced pests, habitat loss, changes in land use, threats from fire, and climate changes.

Oak Trees and Fire
Oaks are integral to California’s native ecosystems, making the health and survival of our native oak species particularly important. Fortunately, oaks have evolved mechanisms to survive periodic burning, since fire is a natural element of oak ecosystems. With low- and even moderate-intensity fires that scorch all the leaves on native oaks, little or no long-term damage typically occurs. Even fully burned oaks often will re-sprout and recover over time. When fires occur in the summer and fall, native oaks usually will not produce a set of new leaves until the following spring. Following such fires the trees may appear dead, since all the leaves are brown and brittle and the trunks may be blackened. Many of these trees will survive.

Some oak species are reported to be less prone to ignition than many common non-native trees including eucalyptus, pepper trees and some pines. The large full canopy of oak trees can catch and deflect embers.

Re Oak California

California’s oaks are the powerhouses of our ecosystems, but disease and habitat destruction have put oak populations in serious decline. Now, Californians are coming together to restore this vital natural resource. With a few simple actions, you too can be part of the solution. Consider planting an oak (or a collection of oaks) on your property with locally appropriate oak species. Often, the local Resource Conservation District or local chapter of the California Native Plant Society have volunteer projects to plant acorns and care for seedling oaks. Find your local Resource Conservation District here, and your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society here.

Oak Tree Ordinances
Many jurisdictions in California, including Sonoma County, have Oak Tree Ordinances, and may have other protections for trees and their related plant communities. Check with your local municipality for information about protected trees, and permitting that may be required before removal, pruning, grading, or excavation with the root zone.

Pest Management

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
Insects, diseases, and weeds threaten California’s natural environments as well as homes, gardens, and agriculture. This page contains links to articles, fact sheets, and other information prepared by UC scientists on topics related to pests in natural environments.

Integrated Pest Management -or IPM- is an ecosystem-based strategy that gardeners can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. A fundamental concept of IPM is that a limited amount of pest damage to plants can be tolerated. Home gardeners using IPM strategies are usually willing to accept minor insect damage to avoid pesticide application. It’s good to remember that insects play a huge role in food webs, and are a tremendous food source for birds and other wildlife.

The University of California defines IPM as:
“An ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment.”

Integrated Pest Management Recommendations

Identify your pest
Pest identification is always the first step in IPM. The University of California has developed resources to help gardeners identify their pests and find the most effective and sustainable treatment methods. Consult the pages below if you need help with pest identification:

• Home, garden, turf, and landscape pests
• Natural environment pests
• Invasive and exotic pests

Weed management
All plant pests contribute to fire risk in the landscape as they weaken or kill plant parts. Weeds, however, are themselves flammable and special attention to weed management is needed.

In California, many landscape weeds become established in the winter, as their seeds germinate with winter rain. Most annual weeds will complete their life cycle by spring or summer, when they die and become dry and easily ignitable. In wildlands and parts of the landscape that are less intensively managed, larger invasive weedy vines, shrubs, and trees may create special weed problems. See our Invasive species section for more information.

Weed management strategies

Exclusion
Most weeds spread by seeds, and many common weeds can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant! It may seem daunting, but a “zero tolerance” approach to weeds, preventing them from setting seed, will definitely pay off over time. Seeds will always blow in from the surrounding area, but near total exclusion for a few years will make weed control much easier in the future.

Hand weeding and cultivation
Hand weeding is an ancient weed control method, and many tools help to make the job easier, including garden hoes, shovels, and hand weeders. Many find a “hula hoe” to be a valuable addition to the tool shed. Hand weeding and most other forms of weed control are much easier when weeds are young seedlings. With a small root system they’re much easier to pull or dislodge. While hand weeding in the winter season is important, weeds removed and left laying on the soil surface may reroot in damp weather before they die completely. While it’s possible to use weeding tools in areas covered by wood mulch and small gravel, larger gravel and cobble can not be hoed. Likewise, the use of weed fabric makes mechanical weeding difficult.

Mulching can be a great way to reduce weed pressure and has many other benefits. See our Mulch section for more information. (link to Mulch)

Flaming
Flaming is the use of a handheld propane torch to kill weeds by heating them and causing the cells to burst. It should be used with great care and is most appropriate for use during very damp winter weather. Flaming is not recommended during fire season or at under any circumstances when fire may escape control. Despite the high heat produced, the best effects are with weeds that are at a very small seedling stage. It can be a particularly useful tool for removing weeds from areas of gravel and rock, and in spaces between patio and walkway pavers.

Herbicides
The use of synthetic herbicides in home landscapes should be very limited given the risks they present to humans and the environment, and we do not recommend their use. Organic herbicides, often based on vinegar and certain essential oils, don’t persist in the environment, but should still be used with caution as they can injure the eyes and skin. Many find that organic herbicides work best with very young seedlings, and they will cause damage if they contact desirable plants.

Mulch

Mulching with wood chips, photo by Jon Kanagy

Mulch is any material used to cover the soil, and offers many benefits in a landscape. It can:

• Reduce the occurrence of weeds
• Reduce evaporation of water from the soil, leaving more for plants
• Keep soil temperatures cooler, which is important for plant roots and beneficial soil organisms including earthworms
• Help control soil erosion from rainfall and wind
• Prevent soil compaction, allowing more air to enter the soil for healthy plants and soil life
• Slowly decompose and contribute valuable organic matter to the soil, if a plant-based mulch is chosen
• Visually enhance the landscape

Using mulch in a firewise landscape
Adjacent to homes and other structures, in a zone 0-5’ from the walls, only inorganic mulch such as gravel and rock are recommended. In a zone 5-30’ from homes and other structures, plant-based mulches such as wood chips and bark may be used to a depth not more than 2-3”. Since all plant-based mulches are combustible, they should not be used in a widespread or continuous manner. Islands of plants can have wood mulch underneath, but the groupings of plants should be separated by some pathways or other features that utilize non-combustible materials. Note that larger sizes of gravel and rock do not allow weeding tools to be used, thus reducing the options for weed control to hand pulling (or herbicides). Wherever organic mulch is used, it should be kept a few inches away from the bases of taller shrubs and trees. 

Leaf litter provides a valuable free mulch that is highly beneficial to plants and soil. As leaf litter can be flammable, it should be kept to 1” or less in Zone 1 in the dry season, but allowed to accumulate to enrich the soil in winter In zone 2, it may remain year ‘round but not allowed to accumulate to more than a few inches. It’s important to continually remove any leaf litter or other debris within 5’ of the structure.

Weed barrier fabric and plastic
Weed fabric and plastic sheeting are also types of mulch typically used under gravel and bark. They do, however, have many disadvantages and are not recommended. Before long, weed seeds begin to germinate in the mulch on top of the barrier, and their roots will tear it when pulled. Loose fabric and plastic is an eyesore and difficult to bury once it becomes exposed. Most importantly, weed barrier fabrics and plastic exclude earthworm and microorganism activity, leading to dead, compacted soils. A weed barrier that may have a place in the weed management arsenal is cardboard. Cardboard sheets, especially when used in the late fall or winter and covered with 2-3” of wood chips, will provide great weed control and the cardboard will be largely decomposed by the following summer. This technique is called sheet mulching and is also a great way to convert a lawn into a new, native landscape.