Picture your Los Altos Hills estate with lush, artful gardens that stay beautiful while using far less water. You want a landscape that fits the local climate, meets fire-safety guidance, and still elevates curb appeal and long-term value. This guide shows you how to plan and implement water-smart landscaping tailored to Los Altos Hills, including plant choices, irrigation upgrades, costs, and local rebates. Let’s dive in.
Why it matters in Los Altos Hills
Summer here is dry and warm, so outdoor water use can spike if systems are not tuned. Local irrigation should follow seasonal evapotranspiration patterns, which the Town summarizes in its monthly ETo guidance with July as the peak month. You can often reduce or pause irrigation during and after winter rains. Review the Town’s ETo tips to pace your schedule with the seasons and avoid overwatering. See the Town’s ETo-based watering guidance.
Santa Clara Valley Water District continues to promote permanent conservation and may tighten outdoor watering rules during dry periods. Plan upgrades with potential seasonal restrictions in mind. In addition, much of Los Altos Hills sits in higher fire-hazard zones, so defensible-space practices must shape plant selection, mulch, and spacing.
Core design principles for estates
Start with site assessment
Note sun and shade, slope, and drainage. Clay soils are common and can shed water if overwatered. Design to slow and spread rainfall with gentle swales, rain gardens, and permeable paving. Group plants by water needs so each zone gets only what it requires.
Build healthy, water-holding soil
Soil rich in organic matter holds moisture longer. Add compost where appropriate and protect tree root zones. Mulch is a high-impact upgrade. A 3 to 4 inch organic mulch layer reduces evaporation and watering frequency, suppresses weeds, and improves infiltration. Review local Master Gardener guidance on mulch best practices. Explore UC ANR mulch tips.
Plant choices that thrive
Favor low-water, California-adapted and native plants suited to your microclimate. Think manzanita, toyon, ceanothus, deergrass, California fuchsia, select oaks, and native grasses planted in compatible hydrozones. These choices support biodiversity and often need minimal irrigation once established.
If you maintain lawn, limit it to functional areas. Replacing high-water turf with low-water plantings, permeable hardscape, or mulched courtyards can dramatically cut outdoor demand. The state offers step-by-step lawn removal guidance and alternatives. Review California’s lawn removal guide.
Irrigation that works smarter
Convert spray to drip where possible
Overhead spray can waste water through evaporation and runoff, especially on slopes or clay soils. Drip or subsurface drip delivers water directly to the root zone and improves uniformity. Pressure regulation and matched-precipitation nozzles help when spray is needed. See Valley Water’s irrigation efficiency guidance.
Use a smart controller
Weather- or soil-based smart controllers automatically adjust run times based on conditions, which helps prevent overwatering. EPA WaterSense notes that replacing standard timers with labeled smart controllers can save the average home thousands of gallons per year. Learn about WaterSense labeled controllers.
Schedule by local ETo
Set your controller using plant water-use factors and local ETo. Valley Water’s irrigation scheduler helps you create a site-specific program, then verify with soil checks and seasonal adjustments. Set your schedule with Valley Water’s tool.
Add graywater and capture rain
Laundry-to-landscape graywater systems can provide a steady source of irrigation for trees and shrubs when installed to code. Valley Water offers a rebate and clear design guidance on siting and simple systems. Explore the graywater rebate and how-to guidance.
Where practical, cisterns, rain barrels, and permeable features reduce runoff and store rainfall for later use. Integrating these elements during a landscape refresh can improve resilience during dry spells.
Design with fire safety in mind
Defensible-space rules shape what you plant and where. Use non-combustible hardscape in the 0 to 5 foot zone next to structures, choose low-fuel plants nearby, and keep canopies pruned and spaced. A water-smart, well-maintained landscape can also support fire resilience. Review the Fire District’s vegetation management guidance.
Costs, savings, and rebates
- Turf conversion: Project costs vary with design, grading, and materials. Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program lists a base landscape conversion incentive per square foot and residential caps that can offset part of the cost. Always check current rates and reservation steps before work. See Valley Water’s landscape rebates.
- Smart controllers and nozzles: Controllers often cost in the low hundreds to around a thousand, depending on system size. Nozzle upgrades are relatively low cost and commonly eligible for rebates. Review irrigation upgrade options.
- Graywater: A typical laundry-to-landscape system installed by a contractor often ranges from about $1,500 to $3,000 before rebates in many cases. Check the graywater rebate details.
What can you save? Smart controllers often cut irrigation use by double-digit percentages. Mulch and soil improvements can materially reduce evaporation and stretch watering intervals. Replacing lawn with low-water plantings usually delivers the largest reductions.
Who to hire and permitting notes
Work with professionals who understand water efficiency and local rules. The Town promotes QWEL-trained landscapers who are skilled in ETo-based programming and efficient design. See local QWEL outreach information.
For graywater, many simple laundry-to-landscape systems are allowed when they follow state and local rules. Large landscape overhauls may trigger plan review under the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Confirm requirements with the Town and your water retailer before you begin.
A simple five-step start plan
- Get a water audit. Schedule a system check and controller review, then fix leaks and overspray.
- Mulch and amend. Add 3 to 4 inches of mulch and improve soil where needed.
- Target quick wins. Convert key beds to drip and install a smart controller.
- Reimagine turf. Replace non-functional lawn areas with low-water plantings or permeable courtyards.
- Layer resilience. Add graywater where eligible and incorporate rain capture or permeable paving.
Ready to align beauty, resilience, and value? If you are preparing to sell or planning a long-term upgrade, our team can help prioritize improvements, coordinate trusted vendors, and position your property for the market. Connect with Straser Silicon Valley to map the right plan for your estate.
FAQs
What is water-smart landscaping and why is it vital in Los Altos Hills?
- It matches plants, soil, and irrigation to our dry-summer climate using ETo-based schedules, so you use less water in peak months and often pause irrigation in winter. See the Town’s ETo tips.
How much can smart irrigation and mulch save on water?
- Smart controllers often reduce use by double-digit percentages and mulch can materially cut evaporation and watering frequency, extending time between irrigation cycles. Learn about WaterSense controllers and mulch best practices.
Which Los Altos Hills upgrades qualify for rebates?
- Turf conversion, smart controllers, high-efficiency nozzles, drip retrofits, and laundry-to-landscape graywater systems are commonly eligible under Valley Water programs. Check landscape rebates and graywater rebates.
Do I need permits for graywater or major landscape changes?
- Laundry-to-landscape systems must follow state plumbing code and local siting rules, and larger projects may require landscape plan review. Confirm requirements before work begins. See graywater guidance.
How do fire-safety rules shape planting near my home?
- Use non-combustible hardscape within 0 to 5 feet, choose low-fuel plants near structures, and follow spacing and pruning guidance for defensible space. Review vegetation management guidance.
How can I find qualified contractors who program ETo-based systems?
- Ask for QWEL-trained professionals and experience with Valley Water rebate projects, then verify references and recent work. See the Town’s QWEL outreach.
