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Understanding the San Diego Landscape
San Diego's Unique Climate
Understanding the San Diego landscape begins with an appreciation of its unique climate. Coastal Landscaping San Diego Ocean Breeze Approved . Known for its Mediterranean-like weather, San Diego experiences mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. This climatic condition significantly influences the types of plants that can thrive in this region.
The Indigenous Flora
Native plants play a pivotal role in the San Diego landscape. These include the Coast Live Oak, Toyon, Lemonade Berry, and California Sagebrush. Using native plants in landscaping not only supports local biodiversity but also proves more water-efficient - a critical consideration given San Diego’s semi-arid climate.
Water Conservation Efforts
Water conservation is a crucial factor shaping landscaping choices in San Diego.
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Drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and cacti are popular options for residential and commercial properties alike. Incorporating xeriscaping techniques - designing landscapes to minimize water use - is another common practice.
Influence of Spanish Architecture
San Diego's landscape is also influenced by its rich cultural history, particularly Spanish architecture. Landscapes often feature vibrant tiles, ornate fountains, and courtyard gardens reminiscent of traditional Spanish homes. This aesthetic lends itself beautifully to the city’s sun-drenched setting while preserving its historical roots.
Essential Factors to Consider in San Diego Landscaping
When planning a landscaping project in San Diego, it's vital to consider several key factors.
Climate and Native Plants
First and foremost, San Diego's unique climate plays a significant role in dictating what plants will thrive. The region is known for its Mediterranean-like weather, characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Therefore, choosing native or drought-tolerant plants can help ensure the success of your landscape design as these species are adapted to the local conditions.
Water Conservation
Another crucial aspect is water conservation. Given California's frequent droughts, implementing water-efficient solutions such as drip irrigation systems or xeriscaping – landscaping with slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water – could be beneficial.
Soil Type
Lastly, understanding the type of soil in your yard is essential since different plants require different soil conditions to flourish. Whether you have sandy or clay soil will influence plant selection and care practices like watering and fertilizing schedules.
Choosing the Right Plants for San Diego Climate
Understanding San Diego's Climate
San Diego, known for its Mediterranean climate, offers warm, dry summers and mild winters. With more than 200 days of sunshine a year and average temperatures ranging from 57 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, it creates a unique environment for plant growth. Selecting the right plants for such a climate requires understanding their needs and adaptability.
Native Plants
When landscaping in San Diego, consider utilizing native plants. These species have evolved over time to thrive in the local climate and soil conditions. They're generally more drought-resistant and require less maintenance compared to non-native plants. Some popular choices include Toyon, Coast Live Oak, and California Poppy.
Drought-Tolerant Plants
Given that San Diego experiences periods of drought due to its Mediterranean climate, incorporating drought-tolerant plants is essential. Succulents like Agave, Aloe Vera and Cacti are excellent choices as they store water in their leaves or roots which helps them survive dry spells. These also add texture and depth to your landscape design.
Maintaining Your Landscape
Finally, maintaining your landscape is crucial regardless of the plant types you choose. Regular watering (considering restrictions during drought), pruning at appropriate times and applying fertilizers can greatly enhance plant health. Additionally, mulching can help retain moisture in the soil while suppressing weed growth.
Importance of Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in San Diego
San Diego's Mediterranean climate, with its dry summers and minimal rainfall, makes drought-tolerant landscaping a necessity. This type of landscaping not only preserves the natural beauty of the area but also conserves water resources.
Water Conservation
Drought-tolerant landscaping significantly reduces water usage. Plants that are native to San Diego or other arid climates require less water than traditional greenery, helping to conserve this precious resource in an area where it is often scarce.
Economic Benefit
By implementing drought-tolerant landscapes, homeowners and businesses can significantly reduce their water bills. The cost savings can be substantial over time, especially considering San Diego's high water rates.
Maintaining Local Biodiversity
Choosing plants that are native to the region helps maintain local biodiversity. These species have evolved to thrive in San Diego’s specific climatic conditions and support local wildlife such as birds and insects – playing a crucial role in preserving the area’s ecosystem.
Reducing Maintenance Effort
Drought-tolerant plants typically require less maintenance than their more thirsty counterparts. They need less pruning, fertilizing, and pest control - making them an ideal choice for busy homeowners or those who prefer a low-maintenance garden.
Aesthetic Appeal
Finally, drought-tolerant landscaping doesn't mean sacrificing aesthetics. With proper planning and design, these landscapes can be just as beautiful as traditional ones - offering a unique appeal with their variety of textures, colors, and shapes that reflect the beauty of our natural environment.
Top Landscaping Styles for San Diego Homes
California Native Landscaping
One of the top landscaping styles in San Diego is California native landscaping. Embracing the natural flora and fauna of the region, this style minimizes water usage while enhancing local biodiversity. Homeowners often choose plants like manzanita, toyon, and sage for their hardiness and natural beauty.
Mediterranean Style
San Diego's climate lends itself well to Mediterranean-style landscaping. This design emphasizes drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, rosemary, and olive trees paired with stone pathways or terracotta tiles. The result is a garden that exudes an Old World charm while being environmentally friendly.
Xeriscaping
As water conservation continues to be a significant concern in San Diego, xeriscaping has become increasingly popular among homeowners.
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This style incorporates drought-resistant plants and efficient irrigation systems to reduce water use drastically. Succulents are frequently used in xeriscapes due to their low-maintenance nature.
Tropical Oasis
Despite its arid climate, many San Diego homeowners opt for a tropical oasis look in their landscapes. By using plants like palms, birds of paradise, and hibiscus coupled with elements like water features or tiki torches, these gardens can transport guests directly into a beachside paradise without leaving home.
The Role of Native Plants in San Diego Landscaping
Native plants play a crucial role in landscape design in San Diego. They not only add aesthetic appeal but also contribute to the local ecosystem. As these plants are adapted to the region's climate and soil conditions, they require less water and maintenance than non-native species. This makes them an eco-friendly choice for homeowners who wish to conserve resources while enhancing their landscapes. Furthermore, native plants attract local wildlife such as birds and butterflies, thereby promoting biodiversity. The use of native plants like the California Poppy, Manzanita, or Toyon can add a sense of place and authenticity to San Diego landscapes.
Benefits of Using Native Plants in Landscaping
Incorporating Hardscape Elements in Your San Diego Garden
Importance of Hardscape Elements
In the context of landscaping in San Diego, hardscape elements serve an essential purpose. These non-living features including patios, walkways, and retaining walls can significantly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden while also providing functional benefits. They can help define different areas within the garden and create a sense of structure. Moreover, due to San Diego's climatic conditions, these elements are often more sustainable and require less maintenance than their softer counterparts.
Selecting Appropriate Hardscape Elements
Selecting suitable hardscape elements for your San Diego garden involves considering factors such as local weather patterns and soil type. You'll need materials that can withstand the city's warm climate and occasional dry spells. Natural stones or concrete are commonly used due to their durability and versatility in design applications. Including water features like fountains or ponds not only adds beauty but also introduces a cooling effect during hotter months. Finally, remember to balance these hard elements with softscaping to maintain an inviting outdoor space.
Sustainable Gardening Practices for San Diego Landscapes
Drought-Tolerant Plants
In San Diego's semi-arid climate, sustainable landscaping often means choosing drought-tolerant plants. Native species such as Manzanita or Coast Live Oak are not only adapted to local conditions but also provide habitat for native wildlife.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is a critical aspect of sustainable gardening in San Diego. Techniques such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and the use of mulch can significantly reduce water usage while still maintaining a lush and vibrant landscape.
Composting
Composting household waste provides nutrient-rich soil for your garden while reducing the amount of waste that goes to the landfill. This practice not only enriches your garden but also reduces your carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly Pest Control
Sustainable gardening also involves eco-friendly pest control measures. Instead of resorting to harsh chemical pesticides, consider using biological controls like beneficial insects or homemade organic sprays.
Edible Landscaping
Finally, edible landscaping is a wonderful way to make your garden more sustainable. Planting fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs not only provides fresh produce but also reduces the 'food miles' associated with transported goods.
How to Choose a Professional Landscaper in San Diego
Identifying Your Landscaping Needs
Before you can choose a professional landscaper in San Diego, it's crucial to identify your specific landscaping needs. Think about the type of work you want done - whether it's simple lawn maintenance or a complete redesign of your outdoor space. Consider aspects such as the size of your property, your budget, and the timeframe for completion. Having a clear idea of what you need will help you narrow down potential candidates and ensure that they have the necessary skills and experience.
Evaluating Potential Landscapers
Once you've identified your needs, it's time to evaluate potential landscapers in San Diego. Look at their portfolios to see examples of their previous work and determine if their style matches what you're looking for. Research their reputation online through reviews or testimonials from previous clients. It's also important to check if they are licensed and insured according to California state regulations. You should also consider meeting with them personally to discuss your project and gauge their professionalism, creativity, and communication skills before making a decision.
Case Study: Successful Landscaping Projects in San Diego
Highlighting Success in San Diego Landscaping
San Diego, renowned for its diverse flora and sunshine-filled days, has consistently been a fertile ground for exceptional landscaping projects. One notable success story is the transformation of a barren residential property into a lush Mediterranean-inspired garden. Guided by an expert landscaping team, native plants were strategically placed to conserve water while maintaining visual appeal.
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Drip irrigation systems were installed and hardscapes designed to complement the natural environment seamlessly. Another remarkable project tackled the challenge of an urban commercial space, transforming it into a green oasis filled with sustainable plant life and innovative water features. These projects exemplify how San Diego’s unique climate can be leveraged to create stunning outdoor spaces that champion ecological responsibility alongside aesthetic beauty.
Maintaining Your Landscape in Different Seasons of San Diego
Spring and Summer Landscape Maintenance
In San Diego, spring and summer are the best times to focus on planting and fertilizing. The region experiences mild weather during these seasons, making it ideal for plants to grow. Regular watering is essential since the climate can be dry. In addition, regular trimming of shrubs and trees is also necessary to maintain a healthy landscape.
Fall Landscape Maintenance
Fall in San Diego brings cooler temperatures and less rainfall. It's an optimal time to prepare your landscape for winter by trimming trees and shrubs, cleaning up fallen leaves, and applying mulch. This season also provides a window of opportunity for overseeing any areas of grass that may have been damaged during the hot summer months.
Winter Landscape Maintenance
San Diego winters are mild compared to other regions, but landscapes still require attention during this season. Watering needs decrease due to lower evaporation rates; however, one should be mindful of any frost as it can damage certain plant species. Regular inspections should be done to assess plant health, looking out especially for pests or diseases that can take advantage during this dormant period.
Top Public Gardens and Parks as Inspiration for Your Landscape Design
Balboa Park
Balboa Park, with its diverse collection of landscapes, gardens, and architectural structures, provides a rich source of inspiration for your own landscape design. The park's Alcazar Garden, modeled after the gardens in Spain's Alhambra Palace, is a stunning example of geometric landscaping that could be reflected in a sophisticated backyard or courtyard.
Japanese Friendship Garden
The Japanese Friendship Garden provides ideas for those seeking tranquility and simplicity in their home landscapes. This park showcases traditional Japanese garden aesthetics like koi ponds, stone paths, and meticulously pruned trees. Incorporating elements from this serene space can create an oasis of calm in your own yard.
San Diego Botanic Garden
With its vast array of plant species from around the world, the San Diego Botanic Garden offers inspiration for those interested in creating a varied and vibrant garden. Its numerous themed gardens - including tropical rainforest, desert garden, and native plants areas - present many options for choosing suitable plants for your San Diego landscape.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
If you're looking to incorporate natural elements into your landscaping design, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park serves as an excellent inspiration with its sprawling grassy areas overlooking Pacific Ocean views. The park's seamless blend of open grassland with rugged coastal features could inspire an open plan layout that embraces the beauty of San Diego's unique coastal environment.
Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is perfect for those who want to reflect San Diego's wilder side in their landscaping designs. With its rugged hillsides covered in chaparral and sagebrush contrasted by peaceful valleys dotted with sycamore trees and wildflowers, it provides plenty of ideas on how to utilize native vegetation to create a sustainable yet striking landscape.
Popular Trees and Shrubs for a Stunning Southern California Landscape
Trees for Southern California Landscape
In the sun-soaked city of San Diego, certain trees have proven to be popular among landscapers for their adaptability and appeal. The Coast Live Oak, an evergreen tree native to California, provides generous shade with its broad canopy and is admired for its resilience. The Coral tree, another favorite, creates a stunning spectacle with its vibrant red flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring. For those looking for year-round greenery, the Blue Palo Verde is a great choice. This desert native exhibits a beautiful display of bright yellow flowers in the spring.
Shrubs for Southern California Landscape
Shrubs are integral to any SoCal landscape design due to their versatility and low maintenance requirements. Among them, Lavender is a common pick; it's not only visually pleasing with its purple blooms but also aromatic which adds another dimension to your garden. Manzanita shrubs offer a unique aesthetic with their twisted branches and small bell-shaped flowers - they're also drought-tolerant which makes them ideal for the dry climate. Equally impressive are Sage shrubs; characterized by their grey-green foliage and brilliantly colored flowers, they attract hummingbirds and bees making your garden a lively ecosystem.
Creating Wildlife-Friendly Gardens: The New Trend in San Diego Landscaping
The Trend
In the realm of San Diego landscaping, a new trend is burgeoning: creating wildlife-friendly gardens. This change in approach reflects a growing awareness of the importance of sustaining local fauna and flora, as well as the desire for more natural and environmentally friendly landscapes.
Integration of Native Plants
A key aspect of these wildlife-friendly landscapes involves integrating native plants into garden designs. These plants have coexisted with local wildlife for generations and provide them with a familiar habitat, food sources, and materials for nest-building. Utilizing indigenous vegetation also contributes to water conservation — an essential consideration given San Diego's arid climate.
Inclusion of Water Features
Another component central to this landscaping trend is the inclusion of water features. Ponds or birdbaths not only add an aesthetic appeal but also serve as hydration spots for birds, insects, and small mammals. The sound of running water can also attract a variety of species adding to the biodiversity within your yard.
Use Of Organic Practices
The practice of creating wildlife-friendly gardens in San Diego goes hand-in-hand with organic gardening practices. Avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizers helps protect visiting creatures from harm and keeps soil healthy for plant growth. Composting is another favored method that adds nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil while reducing waste.
Benefit To Homeowners
For homeowners, this landscaping trend offers multiple benefits beyond aesthetics. A well-designed wildlife-friendly garden brings life into what might otherwise be static spaces while contributing positively towards local ecosystems. Plus, it allows residents to engage with nature on a personal level without leaving their property.
Utilizing Vertical Spaces: Unique Ideas for Small Yard Landscaping
In the bustling city of San Diego, homeowners often face the challenge of landscaping smaller yards. One innovative solution is to utilize vertical spaces. Vertical gardens, also known as living walls, are a trendy and space-efficient way to incorporate greenery. They involve growing plants on a vertically suspended panel, which can be either freestanding or attached to a wall. Another idea is to use tiered planters or shelves for potted plants, allowing you to display a variety of species without taking up much ground space. Trellises can also be used for climbing plants like vines or roses, adding height and interest to your yard. For those who prefer something low maintenance, hanging baskets or wall-mounted pots are perfect choices. Not only do these techniques maximize space, but they also add an artistic touch that transforms your small yard into an urban oasis in the heart of San Diego.
Irrigation Systems: Best Practices for Water Conservation
Choosing the Right Irrigation System
For landscaping in San Diego, choosing an efficient irrigation system is crucial. Drip irrigation systems are recommended for their water-saving capabilities. They deliver water directly to the plant's roots, reducing evaporation and runoff.
Smart Water Controllers
Using smart controllers can further enhance water conservation. These devices regulate watering based on local weather conditions and soil moisture levels, ensuring plants get only the water they need.
Maintaining Your Irrigation System
Regular maintenance of your irrigation system is key to conserving water. Check for leaks regularly, adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks or driveways, and replace broken parts promptly.
Native Plant Landscaping
Incorporating native San Diego plants into your landscape design can also save water as these species are adapted to local climate conditions and typically require less supplemental watering than non-native species.
Watering Schedule
Finally, set a sensible watering schedule. Early morning or late evening watering reduces evaporation rates. In cooler months, reduce the frequency of watering schedules as plants require less water.
Fire-Resistant Landscaping: A Must-Have In Dry Climates Like San Diego
Understanding Fire-Resistant Landscaping
Fire-resistant landscaping, also known as firescaping, is a method of designing and arranging plants to minimize the risk of fire spreading. In dry climates like San Diego, where wildfires are common, this type of landscaping becomes essential. It involves choosing fire-resistant plants and carefully planning out the landscape to create defensible spaces against wildfires.
The Importance in San Diego
San Diego has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters - conditions that are conducive to frequent wildfires. With its dense vegetation, the region faces high risks during wildfire season. Hence, adopting fire-resistant landscaping not only protects individual homes but also contributes to overall wildfire mitigation efforts in the community.
Choosing Fire-Resistant Plants
The right choice of plants plays a crucial role in fire-resistant landscaping. Some plants are naturally more resistant to fire due to their high moisture content or low oil or resin content. For instance, succulents make an excellent choice for San Diego homes due to their high water retention capacity.
Designing Defensible Spaces
Creating defensible spaces is another vital aspect of fire-resistant landscaping. This involves arranging your landscape into zones based on distance from your home - each zone having different landscaping requirements aimed at slowing down or stopping the spread of wildfire.
Maintenance Practices
Regular maintenance is key in ensuring that your landscape remains fire-resistant year-round. This includes regularly removing dead plants and overgrown vegetation, properly spacing trees and shrubs, maintaining irrigation systems, and promptly removing fallen leaves and other debris which can act as fuel for fires.
Xeriscaping: A Water-Saving Approach to Home Gardening in Southern California
Understanding Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is an innovative landscaping method that utilizes drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation systems to conserve water. This approach is particularly beneficial for homeowners in San Diego, a region of Southern California where water scarcity is a common issue. Xeriscaping not only aids in preserving the environment but it also reduces maintenance efforts and costs.
Benefits of Xeriscaping
Adopting xeriscape principles can bring about significant advantages for homeowners in San Diego. Firstly, it leads to substantial water savings as the plants used require minimal watering. Secondly, these landscapes are low-maintenance, eliminating the need for regular pruning or mowing. Lastly, with a rich variety of indigenous and drought-tolerant species available, xeriscaped gardens can be just as vibrant and appealing as traditional ones.
Xeriscape Implementation in San Diego
With its Mediterranean-like climate, San Diego makes an ideal location for xeriscape gardening. Local nurseries offer an array of native plants such as Sagebrush Butterweed and California Fuchsia which thrive with minimal water usage. Several landscaping companies specialize in creating beautiful xeriscape designs that are tailored to each homeowner's preferences while maximizing ecological benefits.
19.Tips on Budgeting For Your Garden Remodel Project
Planning Your Garden Remodel
In the scenic city of San Diego, a well-designed garden can significantly enhance your property's appeal. When embarking on a garden remodel project, it is essential to plan your budget carefully. Begin by identifying your landscaping goals and the necessary elements to achieve them such as plants, hardscape materials, irrigation system or outdoor furniture. Research the costs involved in purchasing these items and hiring professional landscapers if necessary. It may be beneficial to consult with local San Diego landscapers for accurate estimates.
Saving Costs and Maximising Resources
To save costs during your garden remodeling project in San Diego, consider using native plants that require less water and maintenance. You can also recycle or repurpose existing materials like wood planks or stones for new structures or paths. Timing also plays a crucial role in budgeting - buying plants off-season can lead to substantial savings. Lastly, investing in quality materials might cost more upfront but will save you from frequent replacements in the long run. Remember that a beautiful garden increases not just your home’s aesthetic value but its monetary worth as well.
20.Tropical vs Desert Themed Backyard Designs : What's More Popular In The Region?
San Diego's Landscaping Preferences
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The landscaping preference in San Diego is influenced by its unique climate and geographical location. Being a coastal city with an arid environment, homeowners often find themselves torn between tropical and desert-themed backyard designs.
Tropical Themed Backyards
Tropical themed backyards are popular among residents who prefer a lush, green oasis that mimics the feel of a beach paradise. These designs typically include plants like palm trees, ferns, and orchids to create an exotic ambiance. The addition of water features like ponds or waterfalls enhances the tropical feel.
Desert Themed Backyards
On the other hand, desert-themed backyards resonate more with the natural environment of San Diego. They feature drought-tolerant plants such as cacti and succulents, along with rocks and sand for an authentic desert look. This design also has the advantage of being low-maintenance and environmentally friendly due to less water usage.
Popularity in The Region
While both themes have their admirers, current trends suggest that desert-themed backyards are gaining popularity over tropical designs. This could be attributed to increasing awareness about water conservation amidst California’s recurring drought conditions.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, the choice between a tropical or desert-themed backyard depends on personal preferences and lifestyle considerations. However, given San Diego's arid climate and growing ecological consciousness, it seems that more homeowners are leaning towards sustainable desert landscaping options.
Abstract elements, such as the weather and lighting conditions.
Landscaping requires a certain understanding of horticulture and artistic design, but is not limited to plants and horticulture. Sculpting land to enhance usability (patio, walkways, ponds, water features) are also examples of landscaping being used. When intended as purely an aesthetic change, the term Ornamental Landscaping is used.[1]
Often, designers refer to landscaping as an extension of rooms in your house (each one has a function). Outdoor spaces have a vast amount of flexibility as far as materials and function. It is often said the only limitation to outdoor space is one's imagination.
Landscaping is not only a design practice but also a multi-billion dollar industry that supports hundreds of thousands of small businesses and contractors in the United States. In 2023 alone, the landscaping services industry generated over $129 billion in revenue, with more than 600,000 businesses operating nationwide. [2] The industry spans residential lawn care, hardscaping, tree services, and landscape architecture. Many landscaping companies also offer snow removal, irrigation, pest control, and seasonal planting to diversify revenue streams. [3] With low barriers to entry, landscaping remains one of the most popular service-based businesses for new entrepreneurs, especially in suburban and rural markets. [4]
Construction requires both study and observation, and the process varies in different parts of the world. Landscaping varies according to different regions.[5] Therefore, normally local natural experts are recommended if it is done for the first time. Understanding of the site is one of the chief essentials for successful landscaping.[6] Different natural features and phenomena, like the position of the sun, terrain, topography, soil qualities, prevailing winds, depth of the frost line, and the system of native flora and fauna must be taken into account.[7] Sometimes the land is not fit for landscaping. In order to landscape it, the land must be reshaped to direct water for appropriate drainage. This reshaping of land is called grading.[7] Sometimes in large landscaping projects like, parks, sports fields and reserves soil may need to be improved by adding nutrients for growth of plants or turf, this process is called soil amelioration.[8]
Removal of earth from the land is called cutting while when earth is added to the slope, it is called filling. Sometimes the grading process may involve removal of excessive waste (landfills), soil and rocks, so designers should take into account while in the planning stage.[9][10]
At the start, the landscaping contractor issues a statement which is a rough design and layout of what could be done with the land in order to achieve the desired outcome.[7] Different pencils are required to make graphics of the picture. Landscaping has become more technological than natural, as few projects begin without bulldozers, lawnmowers, or chainsaws.[5] Different areas have different qualities of plants. When growing new grass, it should ideally be done in the spring and the fall seasons to maximize growth and to minimize the spread of weeds. It is generally agreed that organic or chemical fertilizers are required for good plant growth. Some landscapers prefer to use mix gravel with rocks of varying sizes to add interest in large areas.[11]
A sustainable garden is designed to be both attractive and in balance with the local climate and environment and it should require minimal resource inputs. Thus, the design must be “functional, cost-efficient, visually pleasing, environmentally friendly and maintainable".[2] As part of sustainable development, it pays close attention to preserving limited resources, reducing waste, and preventing air, water and soil pollution. Compost, fertilization, integrated pest management, using the right plant in the right place, appropriate use of turf and xeriscaping (water-wise gardening) are all components of sustainable landscaping.
Sustainability can help urban commercial landscaping companies save money.[3] In California, gardens often do not outweigh the cost of inputs like water and labor. However, using appropriately selected and properly sited plants may help to ensure that maintenance costs are lower because of reduced inputs.
Creating and enhancing wildlife habitat in urban environments[14]
Energy-efficient garden design in the form of proper placement and selection of shade trees and creation of wind breaks [15][16]
Permeable paving materials to reduce stormwater run-off and allow rain water to infiltrate into the ground and replenish groundwater rather than run into surface water[17][18]
Use of sustainably harvested wood, composite wood products for decking and other garden uses, as well as use of plastic lumber[19]
One step to garden design is to do a "sustainability audit". This is similar to a landscape site analysis that is typically performed by landscape designers at the beginning of the design process. Factors such as lot size, house size, local covenants and budgets should be considered. The steps to design include a base plan, site inventory and analysis, construction documents, implementation and maintenance.[2] Of great importance is considerations related to the growing conditions of the site. These include orientation to the sun, soil type, wind flow, slopes, shade and climate, the goal of reducing irrigation and use of toxic substances, and requires proper plant selection for the specific site.
Sustainable landscaping is not only important because it saves money, it also limits the human impact on the surrounding ecosystem. However, planting species not native to the landscape may introduce invasive plant species as well as new wildlife that was not in the ecosystem before. Altering the ecosystem is a major problem and meeting with an expert with experience with the wildlife and agriculture in the area will help avoid this.[26]
Mulch may be used to reduce water loss due to evaporation, reduce weeds, minimize erosion, dust and mud problems. Mulch can also add nutrients to the soil when it decomposes. However, mulch is most often used for weed suppression. Overuse of mulch can result in harm to the selected plantings. Care must be taken in the source of the mulch, for instance, black walnut trees result in a toxic mulch product. Grasscycling turf areas (using mulching mowers that leave grass clippings on the lawn) will also decrease the amount of fertilizer needed, reduce landfill waste and reduce costs of disposal.[27]
A common recommendation is to add 2-4 inches of mulch in flower beds and under trees away from the trunk. Mulch should be applied under trees to the dripline (extension of the branches) in lieu of flowers, hostas, turf or other plants that are often planted there. This practice of planting under trees is detrimental to tree roots, especially when such plants are irrigated to an excessive level that harms the tree. One must be careful not to apply mulch to the bark of the tree. It can result in smothering, mould and insect depredation.
The practice of xeriscaping or water-wise gardening suggests that placing plants with similar water demands together will save time and low-water or drought-tolerant plants would be a smart initial consideration.
A homeowner may consider consulting an accredited irrigation technician/auditor and obtain a water audit of current systems. Drip or sub-surface irrigation may be useful. Using evapotranspiration controllers, soil sensors and refined control panels will reduce water loss. Irrigation heads may need readjustment to avoid sprinkling on sidewalks or streets. Business owners may consider developing watering schedules based on historical or actual weather data and soil probes to monitor soil moisture prior to watering.[2]
An example of sustainable irrigation (Drip Irrigation)
When deciding what kind of building materials to put on a site it is important to recycle as often as possible, such as for example by reusing old bricks.
It is also important to be careful about what materials you use, especially if you plan to grow food crops. Old telephone poles and railroad ties have usually been treated with a toxic substance called creosote that can leach into the soils.
Sustainably harvested lumber is available, in which ecological, economic and social factors are integrated into the management of trees used for lumber.[28]
One important part of sustainable landscaping is plant selection. Most of what makes a landscape unsustainable is the amount of inputs required to grow a non-native plant on it. What this means is that a local plant, which has adapted to local climate conditions will require less work to flourish. Instead, drought-tolerant plants like succulents and cacti are better suited to survive.
Plants used as windbreaks can save up to 30% on heating costs in winter. They also help with shading a residence or commercial building in summer, create cool air through evapotranspiration and can cool hardscape areas such as driveways and sidewalks.[29]
Irrigation is an excellent end-use option in greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting systems, and a composting toilet can cover (at least) some of the nutrient requirements.[30] Not all fruit trees are suitable for greywater irrigation, as reclaimed greywater is typically of high pH and acidophile plants don't do well in alkaline environments.
Energy conservation may be achieved by placing broadleaf deciduous trees near the east, west and optionally north-facing walls of the house. Such selection provides shading in the summer while permitting large amounts of heat-carrying solar radiation to strike the house in the winter. The trees are to be placed as closely as possible to the house walls. As the efficiency of photovoltaic panels and passive solar heating is sensitive to shading, experts suggest the complete absence of trees near the south side.
Another choice would be that of a dense vegetative fence composed of evergreens (e.g. conifers) near that side from which cold continental winds blow and also that side from which the prevailing winds blow. Such a choice creates a winter windbreak that prevents low temperatures outside the house and reduces air infiltration towards the inside. Calculations show that placing the windbreak at a distance twice the height of the trees can reduce the wind velocity by 75%.[31]
The above vegetative arrangements come with two disadvantages. Firstly, they minimize air circulation in summer although in many climates heating is more important and costly than cooling, and, secondly, they may affect the efficiency of photovoltaic panels. However, it has been estimated that if both arrangements are applied properly, they can reduce the overall house energy usage by up to 22%.[31]
Lawns are often used as the center point of a landscape. While there are many different species of grass, only a limited amount are considered sustainable. Knowing the climate around the landscape is ideal for saving water and being sustainable. For example, in southern California having a grass lawn of tall fescue will typically need upwards of 1,365 cubic metres (360,500 US gal) of water. A lawn in the same place made up of mixed beds with various trees, shrubs, and ground cover will normally need 202 cubic metres (53,300 US gal) of water.[32] Having gravel, wood chips or bark, mulch, rubber mulch, artificial grass, patio, wood or composite deck, rock garden, or a succulent garden are all considered sustainable landscape techniques. Other species of plants other than grass that can take up a lawn are lantana, clover, creeping ivy, creeping thyme, oregano, rosemary hedges, silver pony foot, moneywort, chamomile, yarrow, creeping lily turf, ice plant, and stonecrop.[citation needed]
It is best to start with pest-free plant materials and supplies and close inspection of the plant upon purchase is recommended. Establishing diversity within the area of plant species will encourage populations of beneficial organisms (e.g. birds, insects), which feed on potential plant pests. Attracting a wide variety of organisms with a variety of host plants has shown to be effective in increasing pollinator presence in agriculture.[33] Because plant pests vary from plant to plant, assessing the problem correctly is half the battle. The owner must consider whether the plant can tolerate the damage caused by the pest. If not, then does the plant justify some sort of treatment? Physical barriers may help.[2] Landscape managers should make use of Integrated Pest Management to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Proper pruning will increase air circulation and may decrease the likelihood of plant diseases. However, improper pruning is detrimental to shrubs and trees.[2]
There are several programs in place that are open to participation by various groups. For example, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses,[34] the Audubon Green Neighborhoods Program,[35] and the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat Program,[36] to name a few.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, began in 2005, provides a points-based certification for landscapes, similar to the LEED program for buildings operated by the Green Building Council. It has guidelines and performance benchmarks.[37]
^
Loehrlein, Marietta (26 September 2013). Sustainable Landscaping: Principles and Practices. CRC Press. ISBN9781466593206. Editor note: info in Wikipedia taken in November 2009 from her now defunct personal website and a class she gave on her former university webspace
^Cole, Lorna J.; Brocklehurst, Sarah; Robertson, Duncan; Harrison, William; McCracken, David I. (December 2015). "Riparian buffer strips: Their role in the conservation of insect pollinators in intensive grassland systems". Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 211: 207–220. Bibcode:2015AgEE..211..207C. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2015.06.012. ISSN0167-8809.
San Diego's name can be traced back to the 17th century when Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno bestowed it upon the area in 1602. He named the bay and the surrounding area "San Diego de Alcalá" in honor of Saint Didacus of Alcalá.[21]
Prior to the Spanish establishment of San Diego, the Kumeyaay town was called Kosa'aay, meaning "drying out place" in the Kumeyaay language.[22] After the establishment of San Diego, the Kumeyaay called town and city Tepacul Watai, meaning "Stacked Big".[23]Luiseño speakers in the North County region called it Pushuyi.[24]
The Kumeyaay, referred to by the Spanish as Diegueños, have inhabited the area for thousands of years.
What has been referred to as the San Dieguito complex was established in the area at least 9,000 years ago.[25] The Kumeyaay may have culturally evolved from this complex or migrated into the area around 1000 C.E.[26] Archaeologist Malcolm Rogers hypothesized that the early cultures of San Diego were separate from the Kumeyaay, but this claim is disputed.[27] Rogers later reevaluated his claims, yet they were influential in shaping historical tellings of early San Diego history.[27]
The Kumeyaay established villages scattered across the region, including the village of Kosa'aay which was the Kumeyaay village that the future settlement of San Diego would stem from in today's Old Town.[22][28] The village of Kosa'aay was made up of thirty to forty families living in pyramid-shaped housing structures and was supported by a freshwater spring from the hillsides.[22]
The permanent European colonization of both California and San Diego began in 1769 with the arrival of four contingents of Spaniards from New Spain and the Baja California peninsula. Two seaborne parties reached San Diego Bay: the San Carlos, under Vicente Vila and including as notable members the engineer and cartographer Miguel Costansó and the soldier and future governor Pedro Fages, and the San Antonio, under Juan Pérez. An initial overland expedition to San Diego from the south was led by the soldier Fernando Rivera and included the Franciscan missionary, explorer, and chronicler Juan Crespí, followed by a second party led by the designated governor Gaspar de Portolá and including the mission president Junípero Serra.[30]
In May 1769, Portolà established the Presidio of San Diego on a hill near the San Diego River above the Kumeyaay village of Cosoy,[22] which would later become incorporated into the Spanish settlement,[28] making it the first settlement by Europeans in what is now the state of California. In July of the same year, Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Franciscan friars under Serra.[31][32] The mission became a site for a Kumeyaay revolt in 1775, which forced the mission to relocate six miles (10 km) up the San Diego River.[33] By 1797, the mission boasted the largest native population in Alta California, with over 1,400 neophytes living in and around the mission proper.[34] Mission San Diego was the southern anchor in Alta California of the historic mission trail El Camino Real. Both the Presidio and the Mission are National Historic Landmarks.[35][36]
In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain, and San Diego became part of the Mexican territory of Alta California. In 1822, Mexico began its attempt to extend its authority over the coastal territory of Alta California. The fort on Presidio Hill was gradually abandoned, while the town of San Diego grew up on the level land below Presidio Hill. The Mission was secularized by the Mexican government in 1834, and most of the Mission lands were granted to former soldiers. The 432 residents of the town petitioned the governor to form a pueblo, and Juan María Osuna was elected the first alcalde ("municipal magistrate"). Beyond the town, Mexican land grants expanded the number of California ranchos that modestly added to the local economy.
However, San Diego had been losing population throughout the 1830s, due to increasing tension between the settlers and the indigenous Kumeyaay and in 1838 the town lost its pueblo status because its size dropped to an estimated 100 to 150 residents.[37] The ranchos in the San Diego region faced Kumeyaay raids in the late 1830s and the town itself faced raids in the 1840s.[38]
Americans gained an increased awareness of California, and its commercial possibilities, from the writings of two countrymen involved in the often officially forbidden, to foreigners, but economically significant hide and tallow trade, where San Diego was a major port and the only one with an adequate harbor: William Shaler's "Journal of a Voyage Between China and the North-Western Coast of America, Made in 1804" and Richard Henry Dana's more substantial and convincing account, of his 1834–36 voyage, Two Years Before the Mast.[39]
In 1846, the United States went to war against Mexico and sent a naval and land expedition to conquer Alta California. At first, they had an easy time of it, capturing the major ports including San Diego, but the Californios in southern Alta California struck back. Following the successful revolt in Los Angeles, the American garrison at San Diego was driven out without firing a shot in early October 1846. Mexican partisans held San Diego for three weeks until October 24, 1846, when the Americans recaptured it. For the next several months the Americans were blockaded inside the pueblo. Skirmishes occurred daily and snipers shot into the town every night. The Californios drove cattle away from the pueblo hoping to starve the Americans and their Californio supporters out. On December 1, the American garrison learned that the dragoons of General Stephen W. Kearney were at Warner's Ranch. Commodore Robert F. Stockton sent a mounted force of fifty under Captain Archibald Gillespie to march north to meet him. Their joint command of 150 men, returning to San Diego, encountered about 93 Californios under Andrés Pico.
In the ensuing Battle of San Pasqual, fought in the San Pasqual Valley which is now part of the city of San Diego, the Americans suffered their worst losses in the campaign. Subsequently, a column led by Lieutenant Gray arrived from San Diego, rescuing Kearny's command.[40] Stockton and Kearny went on to recover Los Angeles and force the capitulation of Alta California with the "Treaty of Cahuenga" on January 13, 1847. As a result of the Mexican–American War of 1846–48, the territory of Alta California, including San Diego, was ceded to the United States by Mexico, under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The Mexican negotiators of that treaty tried to retain San Diego as part of Mexico, but the Americans insisted that San Diego was "for every commercial purpose of nearly equal importance to us with that of San Francisco", and the Mexican–American border was eventually established to be one league south of the southernmost point of San Diego Bay.[41]
The state of California was admitted to the United States in 1850. That same year San Diego was designated the seat of the newly established County of San Diego and was incorporated as a city. Joshua H. Bean, the last alcalde of San Diego, was elected the first mayor. Two years later the city was bankrupt;[42] the California legislature revoked the city's charter and placed it under control of a board of trustees, where it remained until 1889. A city charter was reestablished in 1889, and today's city charter was adopted in 1931.[43]
The original town of San Diego was located at the foot of Presidio Hill, in the area which is now Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. The location was not ideal, being several miles away from navigable water at its port at La Playa. In 1850, William Heath Davis promoted a new development by the bay shore called "New San Diego", several miles south of the original settlement; however, for several decades the new development consisted only of a pier, a few houses and an Army depot for the support of Fort Yuma. After 1854, the fort became supplied by sea and by steamboats on the Colorado River and the depot fell into disuse. From 1857 to 1860, San Diego became the western terminus of the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, the earliest overland stagecoach and mail operation from the Eastern United States to California, coming from Texas through New Mexico Territory in less than 30 days.[44]
In the late 1860s, Alonzo Horton promoted a move to the bayside area, which he called "New Town" and which became downtown San Diego. Horton promoted the area heavily, and people and businesses began to relocate to New Town because its location on San Diego Bay was convenient to shipping. New Town soon eclipsed the original settlement, known to this day as Old Town, and became the economic and governmental heart of the city.[45] Still, San Diego remained a relative backwater town until the arrival of a railroad connection in 1878.
In 1916, the neighborhood of Stingaree, the original home of San Diego's first Chinatown and "Soapbox Row", was demolished by anti-vice campaigners to make way for the Gaslamp Quarter.[49]
In the early part of the 20th century, San Diego hosted the World's Fair twice: the Panama–California Exposition in 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935. Both expositions were held in Balboa Park, and many of the Spanish/Baroque-style buildings that were built for those expositions remain to this day as central features of the park.[50] The menagerie of exotic animals featured at the 1915 exposition provided the basis for the San Diego Zoo.[51] During the 1950s there was a citywide festival called Fiesta del Pacifico highlighting the area's Spanish and Mexican past.[52]
During World War II, San Diego became a major hub of military and defense activity, due to the presence of so many military installations and defense manufacturers. The city's population grew rapidly during and after World War II, more than doubling between 1930 (147,995) and 1950 (333,865).[57] During the final months of the war, the Japanese had a plan to target multiple U.S. cities for biological attack, starting with San Diego. The plan was called "Operation Cherry Blossoms at Night" and called for kamikaze planes filled with fleas infected with plague (Yersinia pestis) to crash into civilian population centers in the city, hoping to spread plague in the city and effectively kill tens of thousands of civilians. The plan was scheduled to launch on September 22, 1945, but was not carried out because Japan surrendered five weeks earlier.[58][59][60]
After World War II, the military continued to play a major role in the local economy, but post–Cold War cutbacks took a heavy toll on the local defense and aerospace industries. The resulting downturn led San Diego leaders to seek to diversify the city's economy by focusing on research and science, as well as tourism.[61]
In the early 1960s, Tom Hom would become the first Asian American member of the San Diego City Council.[62] He would be succeeded by Leon Williams, the first Black member of the city council.[63]
From the start of the 20th century through the 1970s, the American tuna fishing fleet and tuna canning industry were based in San Diego, "the tuna capital of the world".[64] San Diego's first tuna cannery was founded in 1911, and by the mid-1930s the canneries employed more than 1,000 people. A large fishing fleet supported the canneries, mostly staffed by immigrant fishermen from Japan, and later from the Azores and Italy whose influence is still felt in neighborhoods like Little Italy and Point Loma.[65][66] Due to rising costs and foreign competition, the last of the canneries closed in the early 1980s.[67]
Downtown San Diego was in decline in the 1960s and 1970s, but experienced some urban renewal since the early 1980s, including the opening of Horton Plaza, the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, and the construction of the San Diego Convention Center; Petco Park opened in 2004.[68] Outside of downtown, San Diego annexed large swaths of land and for suburban expansion to the north and control of the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
As the Cold War ended, the military shrank and so did defense spending. San Diego has since become a center of the emerging biotech industry and is home to telecommunications giant Qualcomm. San Diego had also grown in the tourism industry with the popularity of attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and Legoland California in Carlsbad.[69]
The city lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its mesas, creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography.[71] Traditionally, San Diegans have built their homes and businesses on the mesas, while leaving the urban canyons relatively wild.[72] Thus, the canyons give parts of the city a segmented feel, creating gaps between otherwise proximate neighborhoods and contributing to a low-density, car-centered environment. The San Diego River runs through the middle of San Diego from east to west, creating a river valley that serves to divide the city into northern and southern segments. Several reservoirs and Mission Trails Regional Park also lie between and separate developed areas of the city.
Notable peaks within the city limits include Cowles Mountain, the highest point in the city at 1,591 feet (485 m);[9]Black Mountain at 1,558 feet (475 m); and Mount Soledad at 824 feet (251 m). The Cuyamaca Mountains and Laguna Mountains rise to the east of the city, and beyond the mountains are desert areas. Cleveland National Forest is a half-hour drive from downtown San Diego. Numerous farms are found in the valleys northeast and southeast of the city.
Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system, the San Diego area has been variously categorized as having either a hot semi-arid climate (BSh in the original classification[74] and BSkn in modified Köppen classification with the n denoting summer fog)[75] or a hot-summer Mediterranean climate[76] (Csa).[77] San Diego's climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters, with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March. The city has a mild climate year-round,[78] with an average of 201 days above 70 °F (21 °C) and low rainfall (9–13 inches [230–330 mm] annually).
The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in microclimates. In San Diego, this is mostly because of the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May gray/June gloom" period, a thick "marine layer" cloud cover keeps the air cool and damp within a few miles of the coast, but yields to bright cloudless sunshine approximately 5–10 miles (8–16 km) inland.[79] Sometimes the June gloom lasts into July, causing cloudy skies over most of San Diego for the entire day.[80][81] Even in the absence of June gloom, inland areas experience much more significant temperature variations than coastal areas, where the ocean serves as a moderating influence. Thus, for example, downtown San Diego averages January lows of 50 °F (10 °C) and August highs of 78 °F (26 °C). The city of El Cajon, just 12 miles (19 km) inland from downtown San Diego, averages January lows of 42 °F (6 °C) and August highs of 88 °F (31 °C).
The average surface temperature of the water at Scripps Pier in the California Current has increased by almost 3 °F (1.7 °C) since 1950, according to scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.[82] Additionally, the mean minimum is now above 40 °F (4 °C), putting San Diego in hardiness zone 11, with the last freeze having occurred many decades ago.
Annual rainfall along the coast averages 10.65 inches (271 mm) and the median is 9.6 inches (240 mm).[83] The months of December through March supply most of the rain, with February the only month averaging 2 inches (51 mm) or more. The months of May through September tend to be almost completely dry. Although there are few wet days per month during the rainy period, rainfall can be heavy when it does fall. Rainfall is usually greater in the higher elevations of San Diego; some of the higher areas can receive 11–15 inches (280–380 mm) per year. Variability from year to year can be dramatic: in the wettest years of 1883/1884 and 1940/1941, more than 24 inches (610 mm) fell, whilst in the driest years there was as little as 3.2 inches (80 mm). The wettest month on record is December 1921 with 9.21 inches (234 mm).
Snow in the city is rare, having been observed only six times in the century and a half that records have been kept.[84] On February 21, 2019, snow fell and accumulated in residential areas of the city, but none fell in the downtown area.[85]
Source: NOAA (sun, relative humidity, and dew point 1961–1990)[87][88][89]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official precipitation records for San Diego were kept at the Weather Bureau Office in downtown from October 1850 to December 1859 at the Mission San Diego and from November 1871 to June 1939 and a variety of buildings at downtown, and at San Diego Int'l (Lindbergh Field) since July 1939.[86] Temperature records, however, only date from October 1874. For more information on data coverage, see ThreadEx
Like much of Southern California, the majority of San Diego's current area was originally occupied on the west by coastal sage scrub and on the east by chaparral, plant communities made up mostly of drought-resistant shrubs.[90] The steep and varied topography and proximity to the ocean create a number of different habitats within the city limits, including tidal marsh and canyons. The chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats in low elevations along the coast are prone to wildfire, and the rates of fire increased in the 20th century, due primarily to fires starting near the borders of urban and wild areas.[91]
San Diego's broad city limits encompass a number of large nature preserves, including Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, and Mission Trails Regional Park. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and a coastal strip continuing to the north constitute one of only two locations where the rare species of Torrey Pine, Pinus torreyana, is found.[92] Due to the steep topography that prevents or discourages building, along with some efforts for preservation, there are also a large number of canyons within the city limits that serve as nature preserves, including Switzer Canyon, Tecolote Canyon Natural Park,[93] and Marian Bear Memorial Park in San Clemente Canyon,[94] as well as a number of small parks and preserves.
San Diego County has one of the highest counts of animal and plant species that appear on the endangered list of counties in the United States.[95] Because of its diversity of habitat and its position on the Pacific Flyway, San Diego County has recorded 492 different bird species, more than any other region in the country.[96] San Diego always scores high in the number of bird species observed in the annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the Audubon Society, and it is known as one of the "birdiest" areas in the United States.[97][98]
San Diego and its backcountry suffer from periodic wildfires. In October 2003, San Diego was the site of the Cedar Fire, at that time the largest wildfire in California over the past century.[99] The fire burned 280,000 acres (1,100 km2), killed 15 people, and destroyed more than 2,200 homes.[100] In addition to damage caused by the fire, smoke resulted in a significant increase in emergency room visits; the poor air quality caused San Diego County schools to close for a week.[101] The October 2007 California wildfires destroyed some areas, particularly within Rancho Bernardo, as well as the nearby communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Ramona.[95]
The City of San Diego recognizes 52 individual areas as Community Planning Areas.[102] Within a given planning area there may be several distinct neighborhoods. Altogether the city contains more than 100 identified neighborhoods.
For the most part, San Diego neighborhood boundaries tend to be understood by its residents based on geographical boundaries like canyons and street patterns.[104] The city recognized the importance of its neighborhoods when it organized its 2008 General Plan around the concept of a "City of Villages".[105]
San Diego was originally centered on the Old Town district, but by the late 1860s the focus had shifted to the bayfront, in the belief that this new location would increase trade. As the "New Town" – present-day Downtown – waterfront location quickly developed, it eclipsed Old Town as the center of San Diego.[45]
The first skyscraper over 300 feet (91 m) in San Diego was the El Cortez Hotel, built in 1927; it was the tallest building in the city until 1963.[106] As time went on, multiple buildings claimed the title of San Diego's tallest skyscraper, including the 530 B Street and Symphony Towers. Currently the tallest building in San Diego is One America Plaza, standing 500 feet (150 m) tall, which was completed in 1991.[107] The downtown skyline contains no supertall buildings due to a regulation put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the 1970s, which set a 500 feet (152 m) limit on the height of buildings within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of San Diego International Airport.[108] An iconic description of the skyline includes its skyscrapers being compared to the tools of a toolbox.[109]
San Diego, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The city had a population of 1,307,402 according to the 2010 census, distributed over a land area of 372.1 square miles (963.7 km2).[117] The urban area of San Diego had a total population of 2,956,746, making it the third-largest in the state, after those of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The 2010 population represented an increase of just under 7% from the 1,223,400 people reported in 2000.[112] The population density was 3,771.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,456.3/km2). The racial makeup of San Diego was 58.9% White, 6.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 15.9% Asian (5.9% Filipino, 2.7% Chinese, 2.5% Vietnamese, 1.3% Indian, 1.0% Korean, 0.7% Japanese, 0.4% Laotian, 0.3% Cambodian, 0.1% Thai). 0.5% Pacific Islander (0.2% Guamanian, 0.1% Samoan, 0.1% Native Hawaiian), 12.3% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. 28.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino (of any race);[112][118] 24.9% of the total population was of Mexican heritage, 1.4% Spanish and 0.6% Puerto Rican. The median age of Hispanic residents was 27.5 years, compared to 35.1 years overall and 41.6 years among non-Hispanic whites; Hispanic San Diegans were the largest group under the age of 18, while non-Hispanic whites constituted 63.1% of population 55 and older.
Map of racial distribution in San Diego, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people:
⬤ Non-Hispanic White
⬤ Black
⬤ Asian
⬤ Hispanic
⬤ Other
As of January 2019[update], the San Diego City and County had the fifth-largest homeless population among major cities in the United States, with 8,102 people experiencing homelessness.[119] In the city of San Diego, 4,887 individuals were experiencing homelessness according to the 2020 count.[120] A December 11, 2023, article in The San Diego Union-Tribune by Blake Nelson reports a notable decline in the homeless population in downtown San Diego, specifically in the urban core. According to data from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the number of individuals living outside or in vehicles has reached a two-year low, standing at approximately 1,200 as of last month. The decrease is attributed to the implementation of the city's camping ban and the concerted efforts to establish new shelters. While enforcement has led to relatively few individuals being punished, the threat of legal consequences appears to have played a role in the reduction.[121]
In 2000 there were 451,126 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. Households made up of individuals account for 28.0%, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.30.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2000, 24.0% of San Diego residents were under 18, and 10.5% were 65 and over.[112] As of 2011[update] the median age was 35.6; more than a quarter of residents were under age 20 and 11% were over age 65.[122]Millennials (ages 26 through 42) constitute 27.1% of San Diego's population, the second-highest percentage in a major U.S. city.[123] The San Diego County regional planning agency, SANDAG, provides tables and graphs breaking down the city population into five-year age groups.[124]
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $45,733, and the median income for a family was $53,060. Males had a median income of $36,984 versus $31,076 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,199.[125] According to Forbes in 2005, San Diego was the fifth wealthiest U.S. city,[126] but about 10.6% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[125] As of January 1, 2008, estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments revealed that the household median income for San Diego rose to $66,715, up from $45,733 in 2000.[127]
San Diego was named the ninth-most LGBT-friendly city in the U.S. in 2013.[128] The city also has the seventh-highest population of gay residents in the U.S. Additionally in 2013, San Diego State University (SDSU), one of the city's prominent universities, was named one of the top LGBT-friendly campuses in the nation.[129]
San Diego hosts the largest naval fleet in the world:[140] In 2008 it was home to 53 ships, over 120 tenant commands, and more than 35,000 sailors, marines, Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors.[141] About 5 percent of all civilian jobs in the county are military-related, and 15,000 businesses in San Diego County rely on Department of Defense contracts.[141]
Military bases in San Diego include US Navy facilities, Marine Corps bases, and Coast Guard stations. The city is "home to the majority of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's surface combatants, all of the Navy's West Coast amphibious ships and a variety of Coast Guard and Military Sealift Command vessels".[141][142]
The military infrastructure in San Diego is still growing and developing, with numerous military personnel stationed there, numbers of which are expected to rise. This plays a significant role in the city's economy, as of 2020[update], it provides roughly 25% of the GDP and provides 23% of the total jobs in San Diego.[143][144][145]
San Diego County hosted more than 32 million visitors in 2012; collectively they spent an estimated $8 billion. The visitor industry provides employment for more than 160,000 people.[150]
San Diego's cruise ship industry used to be the second-largest in California. Numerous cruise lines operate out of San Diego. However, cruise ship business has been in decline since 2008, when the Port hosted over 250 ship calls and more than 900,000 passengers. By 2016–2017, the number of ship calls had fallen to 90.[151]
Local sightseeing cruises are offered in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, as well as whale-watching cruises to observe the migration of gray whales, peaking in mid-January.[152]Sport fishing is another popular tourist attraction; San Diego is home to southern California's biggest sport fishing fleet.[153]
San Diego's commercial port and its location on the United States–Mexico border make international trade an important factor in the city's economy. The city is authorized by the United States government to operate as a foreign-trade zone.[154]
The city shares a 15-mile (24 km) border with Mexico that includes two border crossings. San Diego hosts the busiest international border crossing in the world, in the San Ysidro neighborhood at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.[155] A second, primarily commercial border crossing operates in the Otay Mesa area; it is the largest commercial crossing on the California–Baja California border and handles the third-highest volume of trucks and dollar value of trade among all United States-Mexico land crossings.[156]
The Port of San Diego is the third-busiest port in California and one of the busiest on the West Coast. One of the Port of San Diego's two cargo facilities is located in downtown San Diego at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. This terminal has facilities for containers, bulk cargo, and refrigerated and frozen storage, so that it can handle the import and export of many commodities.[157] In 2009 the Port of San Diego handled 1,137,054 short tons of total trade; foreign trade accounted for 956,637 short tons while domestic trade amounted to 180,417 short tons.[158]
Historically tuna fishing and canning was one of San Diego's major industries,[159] although the American tuna fishing fleet is no longer based in San Diego. Seafood company Bumble Bee Foods is headquartered in San Diego, as was Chicken of the Sea until 2018.[160][161]
San Diego hosts several major producers of wireless cellular technology. Qualcomm was founded and is headquartered in San Diego, and is one of the largest private-sector employers in San Diego.[162] Other wireless industry manufacturers headquartered here include Nokia, LG Electronics,[163]Kyocera International,[164]Cricket Communications and Novatel Wireless.[165] San Diego also has the U.S. headquarters for the Slovakian security company ESET.[166] San Diego has been designated as an iHub Innovation Center for potential collaboration between wireless and the life sciences.[167]
The University of California, San Diego and other research institutions have helped to fuel the growth of biotechnology.[168] In 2013, San Diego had the second-largest biotech cluster in the United States, below Greater Boston and above the San Francisco Bay Area.[169] There are more than 400 biotechnology companies in the area.[170] In particular, the La Jolla and nearby Sorrento Valley areas are home to offices and research facilities for numerous biotechnology companies.[171] Major biotechnology companies like Illumina and Neurocrine Biosciences are headquartered in San Diego, while many other biotech and pharmaceutical companies have offices or research facilities in San Diego. San Diego is also home to more than 140 contract research organizations (CROs) that provide contract services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.[172]
San Diego has high real estate prices. San Diego home prices peaked in 2005, and then declined along with the national trend. As of December 2010, prices were down 36 percent from the peak,[173]median price of homes having declined by more than $200,000 between 2005 and 2010.[174] As of May 2015, the median price of a house was $520,000.[175] In November 2018 the median home price was $558,000. The San Diego metropolitan area had one of the worst housing affordability rankings of all metropolitan areas in the United States in 2009.[176] The San Diego Housing Market experienced a decline in the median sold price of existing single-family homes between December 2022 and January 2023, with a 2.9% decrease from $850,000 to $824,950.[177] As of 2023, the majority of homes (nearly 60%) in San Diego are listed above $1 million, with the city's median home price at $910,000, ranking it fourth highest among the 30 largest U.S. cities.[178][179]
Consequently, San Diego has experienced negative net migration since 2004. A significant number of people have moved to adjacent Riverside County, commuting daily to jobs in San Diego, while others are leaving the area altogether and moving to more affordable regions.[180]
The city is governed by a mayor and a nine-member city council. In 2006, its government changed from a council–manager government to a strong mayor government, as decided by a citywide vote in 2004. The mayor is in effect the chief executive officer of the city, while the council is the legislative body.[181] The City of San Diego is responsible for police, public safety, streets, water and sewer service, planning and zoning, and similar services within its borders. San Diego is a sanctuary city,[182] however, San Diego County is a participant of the Secure Communities program.[183][184] As of 2011[update], the city had one employee for every 137 residents, with a payroll greater than $733 million.[185]
The members of the city council are each elected from single-member districts within the city. The mayor and city attorney are elected directly by the voters of the entire city. The mayor, city attorney, and council members are elected to four-year terms, with a two-term limit.[186] Elections are held on a non-partisan basis per California state law; nevertheless, most officeholders do identify themselves as either Democrats or Republicans. In 2007, registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by about 7 to 6 in the city,[187] and Democrats currently (as of 2025[update]) hold all nine seats on the city council. The current mayor, Todd Gloria, is a member of the Democratic Party.
Areas of the city immediately adjacent to San Diego Bay ("tidelands") are administered by the Port of San Diego, a quasi-governmental agency which owns all the property in the tidelands and is responsible for its land use planning, policing, and similar functions. San Diego is a member of the regional planning agency San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). Public schools within the city are managed and funded by independent school districts (see below).
After narrowly supporting Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, San Diego provided majorities to all six Republican presidential candidates from 1968 to 1988. However, in more recent decades, San Diego has trended in favor of Democratic presidential candidates for president. George H. W. Bush in 1988 is the last Republican candidate to carry San Diego in a presidential election.
Then-mayor Roger Hedgecock was forced to resign his post in 1985, after he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 12 counts of perjury, related to the alleged failure to report all campaign contributions.[193][194] After a series of appeals, the 12 perjury counts were dismissed in 1990 based on claims of juror misconduct; the remaining conspiracy count was reduced to a misdemeanor and then dismissed.[195]
A 2002 scheme to underfund pensions for city employees led to the San Diego pension scandal. This resulted in the resignation of newly re-elected Mayor Dick Murphy[196] and the criminal indictment of six pension board members.[197] Those charges were finally dismissed by a federal judge in 2010.[198]
On November 28, 2005, U.S. Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned after being convicted on federal bribery charges. He had represented California's 50th congressional district, which includes much of the northern portion of the city of San Diego. In 2006, Cunningham was sentenced to a 100-month prison sentence.[199]
In 2005 two city council members, Ralph Inzunza and Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet, were convicted of extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for taking campaign contributions from a strip club owner and his associates, allegedly in exchange for trying to repeal the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs.[200] Both subsequently resigned. Inzunza was sentenced to 21 months in prison.[201] In 2009, a judge acquitted Zucchet on seven out of the nine counts against him, and granted his petition for a new trial on the other two charges;[202] the remaining charges were eventually dropped.[203]
In July 2013, three former supporters of Mayor Bob Filner asked him to resign because of allegations of repeated sexual harassment.[204] Over the ensuing six weeks, 18 women came forward to publicly claim that Filner had sexually harassed them,[205] and multiple individuals and groups called for him to resign. Filner agreed to resign effective August 30, 2013, subsequently pleading guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor battery charges.[206][207]
Like most major cities, San Diego had a declining crime rate from 1990 to 2000. 1991 would mark the city's deadliest year, registering 179 homicides[208] within city limits (while the region as a whole peaked at 278 homicides),[209] capping off an unabated, eight-year climb in murders, rapes, robberies, and assault dating back to 1983. At the time, the city was ranked last among the 10 most populous U.S. cities in homicides per 1,000 population, and ninth in crimes per 1,000.[210] From 1980 to 1994, San Diego surpassed 100 murders ten times before tapering off to 91 homicides in 1995. That number would not exceed 79 for the next 15 years.[211] Crime in San Diego increased in the early 2000s.[212][213][214] In 2004, San Diego had the sixth lowest crime rate of any U.S. city with over half a million residents.[214] From 2002 to 2006, the crime rate overall dropped 0.8%, though not evenly by category. While violent crime decreased 12.4% during this period, property crime increased 1.1%. Total property crimes per 100,000 people were lower than the national average in 2008.[215]
According to Uniform Crime Report statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2010, there were 5,616 violent crimes and 30,753 property crimes. Of these, the violent crimes consisted of forcible rapes, 73 robberies and 170 aggravated assaults, while 6,387 burglaries, 17,977 larceny-thefts, 6,389 motor vehicle thefts and 155 acts of arson defined the property offenses.[216] In 2013, San Diego had the lowest murder rate of the ten largest cities in the United States.[217]
Public schools in San Diego are operated by independent school districts. The majority of the public schools in the city are served by San Diego Unified School District, the second-largest school district in California, which includes 11 K–8 schools, 107 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 13 atypical and alternative schools, 28 high schools, and 45 charter schools.[218]
According to education rankings released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2017, 44.4% of San Diegans (city, not county) ages 25 and older hold bachelor's degrees, compared to 30.9% in the United States as a whole. Wallethub ranks San Diego as the 23rd-most educated city in the United States, based on these figures.[219]
The largest university in the area is the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego). The university is the southernmost campus of the University of California system and is the second largest employer in the city. It has the seventh largest research expenditure in the country.[220]
The city-run San Diego Public Library system is headquartered downtown and has 36 branches throughout the city.[221] The newest location is in Skyline Hills, which broke ground in 2015.[222] The libraries have had reduced operating hours since 2003 due to the city's financial problems. In 2006 the city increased spending on libraries by $2.1 million.[223] A new nine-story Central Library on Park Boulevard at J Street opened on September 30, 2013.[224]
The San Diego Symphony at Symphony Towers performs on a regular basis; from 2004 to 2017, its director was Jahja Ling. The San Diego Opera at Civic Center Plaza, directed by David Bennett. Old Globe Theatre at Balboa Park produces about 15 plays and musicals annually. La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diego is directed by Christopher Ashley. Both the Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse have produced the world premieres of plays and musicals that have gone on to win Tony Awards[226] or nominations[227] on Broadway. The Joan B. Kroc Theatre at Kroc Center's Performing Arts Center is a 600-seat state-of-the-art theater that hosts music, dance, and theater performances. Hundreds of movies and a dozen TV shows have been filmed in San Diego, a tradition going back as far as 1898.[228]
Currently, there is no NBA, NFL, or NHL team in the city. San Diego is the largest American city not to have won a championship in a "Big Four"[a] major professional league. The city does have one major league title to its name: the 1963 American Football League (AFL) Championship won by the San Diego Chargers, when the AFL was an independent entity prior to the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. Some San Diego sports fans believe there is a curse on professional sports in the city.
Published within the city are the daily newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune and its online portal of the same name,[230] and the alternative newsweeklies, San Diego CityBeat and the San Diego Reader. The Times of San Diego is a free online newspaper covering news in the metropolitan area. Voice of San Diego is a non-profit online news outlet covering government, politics, education, neighborhoods, and the arts. The San Diego Daily Transcript is a business-oriented online newspaper. San Diego is also the headquarters of the national far-right cable TV channel One America News Network (OANN).
San Diego led U.S. local markets with 69.6 percent broadband penetration in 2004 according to Nielsen//NetRatings.[231]
Due to the ratio of U.S. and Mexican-licensed stations, San Diego is the largest media market in the United States that is legally unable to support a television station duopoly between two full-power stations under FCC regulations, which disallow duopolies in metropolitan areas with fewer than nine full-power television stations and require that there would be eight unique station owners that remain once a duopoly is formed (there are only seven full-power stations on the California side of the San Diego-Tijuana market).[234] As a whole, the Mexico side of the San Diego-Tijuana market has two duopolies and one triopoly (Entravision Communications owns XHDTV-TV, Azteca owns XHJK-TV and XHTIT-TV, and Grupo Televisa owns XETV-TV, XHUAA-TV and XEWT-TV.
San Diego's television market is limited to only San Diego County. As a result, San Diego is the largest single-county media market in the United States.
The stretch of SR 163 that passes through Balboa Park is San Diego's oldest freeway, dating back to 1948 when it was part of US 80 and US 395. It has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways.[235]
San Diego's roadway system provides an extensive network of cycle routes. Its dry and mild climate makes cycling a convenient year-round option; however, the city's hilly terrain and long average trip distances make cycling less practicable. Older and denser neighborhoods around the downtown tend to be oriented to utility cycling. This is partly because the grid street patterns are now absent in newer developments farther from the urban core, where suburban-style arterial roads are much more common. As a result, the majority of cycling is recreational.
San Diego is served by the San Diego Trolley light rail system,[236] by the MTS bus system,[237] the bus rapid transit system Rapid, private jitneys in some neighborhoods,[238] and by Coaster[239] and Pacific Surfliner[240] commuter rail; northern San Diego County is also served by the Sprinter hybrid rail service.[241] The trolley primarily serves downtown and surrounding urban communities, Mission Valley, east county, and coastal south bay. A mid-coast extension of the trolley operates from Old Town to University City and the University of California, San Diego along Interstate 5 since November 2021. The Amtrak and Coaster trains currently run along the coastline and connect San Diego with Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura via Metrolink and the Pacific Surfliner. There are two Amtrak stations in San Diego, in Old Town and Santa Fe Depot downtown. San Diego transit information about public transportation and commuting is available on the Web and by dialing "511" from any phone in the area.[242]
Recent regional transportation projects have sought to mitigate congestion, including improvements to local freeways, expansion of San Diego Airport, and doubling the capacity of the cruise ship terminal. Freeway projects included expansion of Interstates 5 and 805 around "The Merge" where these two freeways meet, as well as expansion of Interstate 15 through North County, which includes new HOV "managed lanes". A tollway (the southern portion of SR 125, known as the South Bay Expressway) connects SR 54 and Otay Mesa, near the Mexican border. According to an assessment in 2007, 37 percent of city streets were in acceptable condition. However, the proposed budget fell $84.6 million short of bringing streets up to an acceptable level.[247] Expansion at the port has included a second cruise terminal on Broadway Pier, opened in 2010. Airport projects include the expansion of Terminal Two.[248]
Water is supplied to residents by the Water Department of the City of San Diego. The city receives most of its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which brings water to the region from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, via the state project and the Colorado River, via the Colorado Aqueduct.[249] 80-90% of the water supply is imported.[250]
Gas and electric utilities are provided by San Diego Gas & Electric, a division of Sempra Energy.[further explanation needed] The company provides energy service to 3.7 million people through 1.5 million electric meters and 900,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.[251]
In the mid-20th century the city had mercury vapor street lamps. In 1978, the city decided to replace them with more efficient sodium vapor lamps. This triggered an outcry from astronomers at Palomar Observatory 60 miles (100 km) north of the city, concerned that the new lamps would increase light pollution and hinder astronomical observation.[252] The city altered its lighting regulations to limit light pollution within 30 miles (50 km) of Palomar.[253]
In 2011, the city announced plans to upgrade 80% of its street lighting to new energy-efficient lights that use induction technology, a modified form of fluorescent lamp producing a broader spectrum than sodium vapor lamps. The new system is predicted to save $2.2 million per year in energy and maintenance.[254] In 2014, San Diego announced plans to become the first U.S. city to install cyber-controlled street lighting.[255]
^Catalysts to complexity: late Holocene societies of the California coast. Los Angeles: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. 2002. p. 30. ISBN978-1-938770-67-8. OCLC745176510.
^ abLoveless, R.; Linton, B. (2020). "Culturally Sensitive and Scientifically Sound". Ethical approaches to human remains: a global challenge in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Kirsty Squires, David Errickson, Nicholas Márquez-Grant. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. pp. 419–420. ISBN978-3-030-32926-6. OCLC1135205590. He created a sequence of cultural periods... the San Dieguito Complex and La Jolla Complex... suggested that... [they were] mutually exclusive and not associated with the ancestral populations of the contemporary Kumeyaay. The problem with Rogers' hypothesis is that it did not account for cultural evolution... Rogers' theories were, and continue to be, a popular paradigm... At the end of his career, Rogers re-evaluated his original conclusions regarding the cultural groups he had established...
^ ab"Kosa'aay (Cosoy) History". www.cosoy.org. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
^Felando, August & Medina, Harold (Winter–Spring 2012). "The Origins of California's High-Seas Tuna Fleet". The Journal of San Diego History. 58 (1 & 2): 5–8, 18. ISSN0022-4383.
^Erie, Steven P.; Kogan, Vladimir; MacKenzi, Scott A. (May 2010). "Redevelopment, San Diego Style: The Limits of Public–Private Partnerships". Urban Affairs Review. 45 (5): 644–678. doi:10.1177/1078087409359760. ISSN1078-0874. S2CID154024558.
^Pryde, Philip R. 2014. "The Nature of the County: San Diego's Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife". In: San Diego: An Introduction to the Region, by Philip R. Pryde, pp. 29–45. 5th ed. Sunbelt Publications, San Diego.
^Wells, Michael L.; O'Leary, John F.; Franklin, Janet; Michaelsen, Joel; McKinsey, David E. (November 2, 2004). "Variations in a regional fire regime related to vegetation type in San Diego County, California (USA)". Landscape Ecology. 19 (2): 139–152. Bibcode:2004LaEco..19..139W. doi:10.1023/B:LAND.0000021713.81489.a7. S2CID40769609. 1572-9761.
^Strömberg, Nicklas; Hogan, Michael (November 29, 2008). "Torrey Pine: Pinus torreyana". GlobalTwitcher. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
^Goldstein, Bruce Evan (September 2007). "The Futility of Reason: Incommensurable Differences Between Sustainability Narratives in the Aftermath of the 2003 San Diego Cedar Fire". Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 9 (3 & 4): 227–244. Bibcode:2007JEPP....9..227E. doi:10.1080/15239080701622766. S2CID216142119.
^"San Diego"(PDF). San Diego Convention Center Corporation. City of San Diego. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 5, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012. Several major defense contractors are also headquartered in San Diego, including General Atomics, Cubic and NASSCO.
^Tierney Plumb (August 24, 2012). "San Diego companies lead state in '11 defense contracts". San Diego Daily Transcript. Retrieved September 1, 2012. San Diego houses the largest concentration of military in the world; it is the homeport to more than 60 percent of the ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and more than one-third of the combat power of the U.S. Marine Corps.
^"iHub San Diego"(PDF). California Governor's Office of Economic Development. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
^Grant Martin (April 10, 2011). "A close look at 'sanctuary cities'". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 13, 2013. These communities – called "sanctuary cities" by both critics and defenders – are home to many of the estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and include Austin, New York City, San Diego and Minneapolis.
^John Coté (May 18, 2010). "Sheriff asks to opt out of federal immigration program". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013. The program is already in place for numerous counties in California that have sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Alameda.
^Jenkins, Garry (2005). The Wizard of Sun City: The Strange True Story of Charles Hatfield, the Rainmaker Who Drowned a City's Dreams. Thunder's Mouth Press via Amazon Look Inside. p. Front flap. ISBN978-1-56025-675-5.
^Moran, Greg & Thornton, Kelly (July 19, 2005). "Councilmen Guilty". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
TL;DR It was a bumpy road to get to the finish line but when we got there, it was sooooo worth it. Go with Rock-n-Block, you won't regret it.
Their initial backyard renovation didn't end up how we hoped it would. The team came back multiple times to do repairs but couldn't get it right. *ENTER Greg Zamora*. He comes over, walks into the backyard, looks around and says "we'll fix it". Dude wasn't joking. Rock-n-Block bought all new blocks, capstones, lights, etc and sent a huge crew to the house. They demoed everything and rebuilt it all. They even let us make a few minor changes to the initial design for free (changed shape of the retaining wall and added more lights under the capstones). Three and a half days later we got the backyard we had dreamed of. Everything is perfect. Shout-out to Gus and Miguel and their crew, they killed it! Guys were here early, worked hard, were meticulous, and cleaned up at the end of each day. Watching how much time they put into the grouting and how exact the stone cuts were, we new it was going to end well this time. Greg checked in multiple times to make sure we were happy with the progress and that we had no questions/concerns. Open communication, excellent quality of work, and ACTUALLY meaning it when they say "we aren't done until you are happy". To be honest, we were really surprised our backyard renovation story ended this way after the initial install. Had someone asked us a month ago if we would recommend Rock-n-Block we would have shook our head but NOW....not only would we recommend them, if we do any other yard renovations, they will be the first people we call.
From Omar's initial consultation to Andrew's design expertise, Rock N Block made the entire process easy. The patio looks amazing! I love the turf, rock decorations, and everything else they did. The key was their attention to details, me and my family are very happy with their work!
I interviewed a number of contractors and decided to use Rock N Block for my backyard project. Andrew was the project manager who came to my house to make an initial estimate, and he followed up with me every step of the way. Although I had to wait 3 weeks for my project to begin, there was no further delay from that point on. The crew showed up punctually at 7am every morning, and did the work exactly as described. The were able to finish the project from concrete demolition to final cleanup within 4 days. I would happily recommend this business to my neighbors.
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