With water rates getting more and more expensive, and the introduction of mandatory water rationing programs being introduced throughout most of California, replacing grass with regional drought-resistant plants is a smart move. However, major changes to landscaping can be a scary thing. Hopefully, this post provides you with the inspiration you need to tackle your own home transformation.

In this first edition of a new series called Home Transformation – Before & After, we feature this home in Southern California

There are a lot of easy and effective ways to eliminate weeds and pests from your garden without the use of commercial pesticides. Most of these methods have been used for decades by traditional farmers with success.

Photo: Meredith_James
But first, an overview on why the commercial options should be avoided:
The number one selling herbicide, or weed-killer, is Roundup. Roundup is produced by the U.S. company Monsanto and contains the active ingredient glyphosate. In the US, 5-8 million pounds are used every year on lawns and …