Tools to Create Your Own Sustainable Garden

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The City of Manhattan Beach has several examples of sustainable landscapes, from the entrance to City Hall to the Leadership Manhattan Beach garden in front of the Post Office, to Nelson parkway off of Aviation. All of these gardens aim to show the community how you can create a beautiful landscaped space that will conserve and retain water, and bring natural wildlife back to the area.

Landscape Sustainability Audit
Learn how to transform your landscape into a California-friendly garden that will conserve water, reduce runoff, and bring birds and beneficial insects back to your yard. The goal of DIY audit is to provide residents with information pertaining to California-friendly landscaping, including reducing turf to 20% of overall landscaped areas; water-efficient irrigation systems and rain sensors; rainwater retention and harvesting; composting and growing an organic vegetable garden, etc.
Turf Replacement Rebate
Are you ready to get rid of your water-guzzling lawn and switch to a drought-tolerant garden? If you are interested in making the switch, then please make use of the informational resources available here, and go to the SoCalWaterSmart website to reserve your rebate. The West Basin Municipal Water District also offers an additional partner rebate to increase the total rebate amount.
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
Once you complete your landscape project, or if you already have a sustainable garden, make sure to get your very own Seal of Approval from the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden. The MB Botanical Garden Seal of Approval list of yards (PDF) offers some great examples of sustainable yards in town. The Botanical Garden is also a great place to visit for ideas of what thrives in our coastal town -- please review their extensive plant list. To get your own Seal of Approval, contact Julie Gonella at (310) 546-1354.
FREE Mulch!

Mulch is available free of charge, at the City's Public Works Yard (3621 Bell Avenue, next to the National Guard Armory). The program is self-serve, and residents are encouraged to pick up as much mulch as is needed for their landscape projects. Should residents require a larger load of mulch for their projects, local tree trimmers will make large mulch deliveries to the homeowners, also at no charge. You can view the list of tree trimmers, as well as a more information on the program and a map of the mulch site, on the Got Mulch Flyer (PDF).

Free mulch is also available at other South Bay locations including Lago Seco Park in Torrance, and the S.A.F.E. Collection Center in San Pedro.
Post Office Demonstration Garden
The City's Environmental Task Force and Leadership Manhattan Beach Class of 2012 designed a wonderful example of sustainable landscaping. Learn more about the features of the project, and review the Post Office Plant List (PDF) to find out how you can create your own sustainable garden.

Please direct questions to the City's Public Works Department at (310) 802-5313.

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