Transform Your Landscape: How Santa Clara County Homeowners Are Saving Water by Removing Thirsty Trees and Planting Drought-Resistant Alternatives
Santa Clara County residents are facing a new reality when it comes to water conservation. This is the driest water year since 1977, with the area currently in “severe drought,” which means reservoirs are low with exposed banks, there is increased stress on trees and wildlife, and fire season is longer than usual. As homeowners look for ways to meet the mandatory 15% reduction in water use compared to 2019, many are turning to a strategic approach: removing water-intensive trees and replacing them with drought-tolerant alternatives.
Why Tree Removal Has Become a Water Conservation Strategy
Given that at least half of the water in a typical Santa Clara County home is used outdoors, making your yard drought-ready is a great way to help save water. Unfortunately, many mature trees in the region are struggling under current conditions. The trees’ health has declined due to the multi-year drought, and the presence of wood-boring insects and decay fungi, making them both water-hungry and potentially hazardous.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District has already taken action, removing up to 30 eucalyptus trees that pose a threat to public safety along Saratoga Creek. These non-native eucalyptus trees, once popular for landscaping, have proven particularly vulnerable to drought stress and now require tree removal santa clara county services to maintain safety and conserve water.
The Smart Replacement Strategy
Simply removing trees isn’t the complete solution – the key is strategic replacement with drought-tolerant alternatives. Following tree removal work, the water district will plant and maintain native vegetation, which will be more adaptable to drought conditions. This approach creates a sustainable landscape that requires minimal irrigation while still providing environmental benefits.
California native plants are naturally adapted to our conditions, making them ideal replacements for water-hungry non-natives. Summer water requirements for these plants can range from occasional (once or twice a month) to no summer water at all.
Best Drought-Tolerant Tree Options for Santa Clara County
When selecting replacement trees, homeowners should focus on species that thrive in the region’s Mediterranean climate. The valley oak and coast live oak, two beautiful species, grow fairly quickly and are easy to cultivate. While ancient trees which grew to maturity under summer dry conditions may resent irrigation, young oaks adapt to garden watering.
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) is a keystone species, meaning that it supports the survival of hundreds of other species. This species in particular supports a total of 270 species and is also highly fire resistant. Blue oak woodland is dominated by blue oak, a highly drought tolerant species adapted to growth on thin soils in the dry foothills.
Other excellent native options include:
- Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea / Sambucus mexicana), a gorgeous shrub that can also be pruned into a tree. Its delicate parasol-shaped clusters of flowers turn into dusty blue berries that a variety of wildlife depend on
- Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), which gave Hollywood its name and is another fire resistant species that commonly likes to grow as a companion to Coast Live Oaks
- Hairy Ceanothus (California Lilac), a wildfire resilient shrub that comes in a large variety of species and cultivars
Professional Tree Removal: A Critical First Step
Removing large, established trees safely requires professional expertise, especially when dealing with drought-stressed specimens that may be structurally compromised. Certified arborists have determined that these trees need to be removed to mitigate a safety hazard to the adjacent properties and PG&E distribution lines.
For Santa Clara County homeowners, working with experienced professionals like The Dump Pro ensures safe, efficient removal and proper disposal of tree debris. 1-877-DUMP-PRO is a full-service, locally owned and operated junk removal company that has been providing residents and business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area with the most dependable, efficient, and affordable hauling services. The entire team is committed to delivering the highest quality results and always goes the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.
Water-Wise Landscaping Beyond Trees
Non-native waterwise plants typically come from places with similar climates to ours, such as Australia, South Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Chile. This gives homeowners a wide palette of attractive options that complement drought-tolerant trees.
The key to success is proper planning and establishment. Most plants will need regular water in their first year to get established, but once mature, they’ll require minimal irrigation to thrive.
Financial Incentives and Support
Santa Clara County residents don’t have to tackle this transition alone. The Santa Clara Valley Water District has a number of conservation programs that offer rebates for converting residential or commercial high-water use landscapes to drought-friendly ones. These programs can help offset the costs of tree removal and landscape conversion.
Looking Forward: A Sustainable Future
Making water conservation a way of life is critical to the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of Santa Clara County, as California has experienced two multi-year droughts in the past decade. By removing water-intensive trees and replacing them with drought-tolerant alternatives, homeowners are investing in a landscape that will remain beautiful and functional regardless of future water restrictions.
The transition from water-hungry landscapes to drought-resistant ones represents more than just conservation – it’s an adaptation to the new climate reality of California. With proper planning, professional tree removal services, and thoughtful plant selection, Santa Clara County homeowners can create landscapes that are both environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing for generations to come.