REDLANDS >> The drought has reached a tipping point, according to several area landscape contractors and designers. More residents are converting some or all of their lawn to drought-tolerant landscapes, while others are mulling it over.

Robin and David Maupin contacted Redlands based Ecotone Landscape Construction last spring for their project. Their old and inefficient irrigation system had created enough frustration, and they wanted to maintain less lawn.

They began by removing the grass near their entryway, and six months later, mulch is being laid over new irrigation on more than 2,000 square feet of former lawn that had sloped down to the street.

A mix of California natives including redberry and mahonia, and other drought-tolerant plants are now taking root.

Others, such as retired horticulturist Paul Bechtel, designed and did his re-landscaping work himself, and continues to modify his yard after being one of the first to convert his front lawn in the late 1980s. After much experimentation, his Cajon Street front yard features aloes, agaves, matilija poppies, evening primrose and freeway daisies (African daisies), which bloom at different times of the year for maximum color.

Jim Gerrard on Mariposa Drive remodeled his home to a Spanish style and wanted to replace the ivy with a more compatible garden. He consulted with the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center and Nursery in Riverside to create a display of succulents and cactuses.

“It was well worth it,” he said. “I’m planning to replace more of my landscape to drought tolerant.”

Finding expert help

Bill Schnetz grew up in the hills of San Bernardino, and for 30 years has run a landscape-contracting business, Schnetz Landscape, Inc. located in Escondido. He also co-wrote the book “Life After Lawns: 8 Steps from Grass to a Water-wise Garden,” with Highland resident Molly Bogh.

Although he’s recommended water-wise landscaping in San Diego County for years, it’s been only recently that many of his longtime customers are seeking advice about removing some lawn.

To find expert help for residential jobs he suggests two organizations, the California Landscape Contractors Association (clca.org) and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (apldca.org for the California chapter). The American Society of Landscape Designers (asla.org) may be helpful for larger projects.

Schnetz suggests getting talking to three to four contractors or designers.

“Doing a garden is a process and can be an enjoyable one or a frustrating one,” he said. “Don’t hire the first person you talk to and don’t take the lowest bid. And make sure you get references and look at prior work.”

Contact local nursery

Nurseries may offer services or suggestions for contractors and designers.

Johnny’s Nursery in San Timoteo Canyon, whose co-owner Tressa Chadwick says drought-tolerant plants make up 99 percent of their selections, offers a design service where customers start with photos and measurements of areas they want to plant.

“We’re licensed contractors, but most people want ideas and to do it themselves,” she said. “We have them walk around, choose the plants they like, and we’ll work out a design that takes into account watering, sunlight and maintenance needs, and how big the plants will grow. We charge $250, which can be applied to plant purchases if done within seven days of the completion of the design.”

Contractors and designers familiar with native plants are harder to find.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, which specializes in native plants, has a list of landscape professionals on its website.

Tips on removing grass

For those needing to remove lawn, the timing of removal may depend on your type of grass.

Schnetz advises people with warm season grasses that spread by rhizomes and stolons, such as Bermuda or St. Augustine’s, to use repeated applications of Roundup herbicide for removal.

“Because the grass needs to be actively growing, there’s a short window of time left through October, otherwise people need to wait until next July for next year’s growing season,” he said. “You also need to fertilize and water it for the Roundup to be effective, since the grass cannot be dormant.”

If you’re lucky to have rye, fescue or a grass without rhizomes, just turn off the water for a couple months, take a sod cutter to remove the dead grass, and watch for any remaining grasses to pull up.

To determine what grass you have, Schnetz suggests pulling out a chunk down to the root level. If you have horizontal stems coming off the sides, you have a warm season grass. The other option is to take a shovelful to a nursery to identify.

Whatever timing your project requires, Schnetz and others said the result is well worth it.