permeable surfaces

Project SOUND 2015 (c)

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Gardening with California Native Plants in Western L.A. County Project SOUND – 2015 (our 11th year)

1

Let the Rain Sink In: Permeable Pavements, Patios, etc. to Make Your Garden More Sustainable

Kelley Dawdy & C.M. Vadheim

CSUDH/Madrona Marsh Preserve/Gardena Willows Wetland

Madrona Marsh Preserve June 6 & 11, 2015

Hard vs Softscape

Hardscape

• Inorganic things

• Walls

• Benches

• Sidewalks

• Patio

• Driveway

Softscape

• Organic stuff

• Plants

• Trees

• Groundcovers

• Vines

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 3

Hardscape

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 4

Hardscape Surfaces

Permeable aka porous or pervious

• Planting Beds (softscape)

• Mulched Beds (softscape)

• Gravel

• Permeable Pavers

• Stepping Stones

• Turf

Impermeable

• Asphalt

• Concrete

• Concreted brick or stone

• Concrete pavers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 5

Hardscape Surfaces

Permeable aka porous or pervious

• Definition: surface that allows water to infiltrate underlying soil

• “Waters” your garden

• Filters pollutants

• Recharges water table

Impermeable

• Definition: surface that facilitates 100% runoff

• Cheaper

• Less maintenance (?)

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 6

Stream Health vs Impervious Surfaces

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 7

Rainwater Run-off

Groundwater (well water) Los Angeles River

Ballona Creek Gardena Willows

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 8

Stormdrain System

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 9

Stormdrain System

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 10

Santa Monica SMURRF The SMURRF cleans & diverts 500,000 gallons of “nuisance water” to local parks, cemeteries and CalTrans, DAILY!

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 11

The Life of City Water

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 12

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Gravel

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 13

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• River Rock or Mexican Beach Pebbles

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 14

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Rock Gardens

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 15

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Stepping Stones or flagstone

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 16

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Concrete steppers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 17

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Loose lay brick

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 18

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Loose lay stone

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 19

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Permeable Pavers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 20

Types of Permeable Surfaces

• Mixed Materials

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 21

Design

• Eclectic is very hard to do well.

• What style is your house?

• Does your neighborhood have a style?

• What color is your house?

• What style are you drawn to: – English garden

– French country

– Formal

– Modern

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 22

Design = Less is More

How does this make you feel?

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 23

English Cottage Garden

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 24

French Country

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 25

Formal

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 26

Modern

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 27

Asian Gardens

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 28

Sub-base? • In my opinion, a sub-base is unnecessary,

unless you have expansive soil

– Palos Verdes & the “soils area” in Torrance

– Or you are installing a driveway

– Follow the directions for specific products

– Ask the seller of the product

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 29

Levelling/Subbase materials

• DG (decomposed granite). Levelling. Bulk only. Compacts better than sand.

• Sand, plaster. Levelling. Comes in bags or bulk.

• “Pre-mix” is a mixture of sand and gravel. Subbase. Bulk, only. Use as the subbase for expansive soil. Can be rolled or vibrated.

• ¾” crushed gravel. Subbase. Bags & bulk. Needed for driveways. Excellent drainage. Needs to be vibrated.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 30

Rolling/compacting/vibrating/jumping

• Roller, sod. Rent $10/day

• Compacter/tamper. Rent, buy or make. Rent $7/day.

• Vibratory plate compactor. Rent. $72/day.

• Jumping Jack. Rent $90/day. Only use to compact very deep loose soil. Very dangerous.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 31

Installation

• Weed mat? No, thanks.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 32

Drainage

• Make sure that you have “positive drainage” away from your foundation.

• Code: 1” of fall (rise) over 4’ around the foundation. That’s 2% (1:48)≈(1:50)=(2:100).

48” Masonry level ≈ $50-75

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 33

Drainage

• Finished concrete 1 – 2% (1 – 2:48)

• Permeable surfaces 3 – 4% (3 – 4:48)

• ADA ramp 8% (1:12)

• Don’t forget the side to side drainage

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 34

Prepping the area

• At what height do you want the walkway or patio?

• An inch or 2 above the planter beds?

• A “step” down from the door? Use >1” or 4 - 7½” (code). 1-4” is a tripping hazard.

• Make sure that you are not covering a drip edge. As per code, grade must be at least 4” below.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 35

Prepping the area for gravel

• Gravel and Mexican Beach pebbles are easy

– You’ll want 3-4” of depth

– Do you need to dig out (lower) the native soil?

– Does it need to be compacted? (Probably not.)

– Is there sufficient drainage/fall of the native soil?

– Buy gravel or beach pebbles.

– Dump them. Rake. Done!

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 36

Size of Beach Pebbles

Coverage (square feet/ 75 lbs. bag)

½” – 1” 12

1” – 2” 7

2” – 3” 4

3” – 5” 3

The problem

• After several years:

• Easy solution: buy more and “top dress”

• Hard solution: remove all the rock, clean & put them back.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 37

Installing steppers

• Rectangular steppers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 38

Installing steppers • Concrete or cut stone

– Remove enough soil to finish at the desired height

– Rake out 2” of DG (decomposed granite). Roll or vibrate.

– If using rectangular pieces, in a line, set-up masonry line (not string).

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 39

Installing steppers

• Rectangular steppers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 40

Check square

Check the diagonals and/or check 3-4-5

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 41

Installing steppers, continued

– Calculate your spacing. Walk it to make sure it “feels right”. Approx. 30 – 36”

– Start laying out the steppers.

– Confirm that the edge is barely touching the line.

– Check side to side level (1 – 2% fall).

– Not “level”, tip it up, use a trough to add more DG.

– A tiny bit too high? Whack it with a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 42

Tools of the trade

• 48” Masonry level

• Masonry line

• Stakes

• Mallet (deadblow or rubber)

• Trowel, brick

• Sod roller

• Tamper

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 43

Excavating tools

• Mattock/pick

• Shovel

• Wheelbarrow

• Grading rake

• Push broom

• Hose with nozzle

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 44

Working with natural stone?

• Brick hammer/chisel

• 4½” angle grinder with a diamond blade

• 2x4” piece of lumber

• Sledgehammer – For very large pieces of rock that you want to break in

half, lay it over the 2x4”, approx. where you want it to break, lightly hammer it above the 2x4” until it breaks.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 45

Back to the flagstone path

• Everything is the same, but

• Put the masonry string down the middle or off center, or

• Use a long, straight 2x4” to confirm that the tops of the flagstones are all in the same plain.

• Use your 4’ level to double check stone to stone “levelness.”

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 46

Common problems (downfalls)

• Use DG, not sand

• Check level

• No more than 2 (or 3) materials

• Use flagstone that is at least 2 square feet each

• “Work the puzzle”

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 47

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 48

Use flagstone of comparable sizes

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 49

They didn’t “work the puzzle”

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 50

Flagstone patios

Break-up the “grout” lines. Make “T”s.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 51

Brick/paver walkways and patios

• Decide on a pattern

• Decide the type of brick

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 52

Curved bricks and steppers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 53

Steppers

Bricks need borders

• Plastic Bend-a-Board

• Plastic or metal brick edging

• Mortared brick boarder

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 54

Brick/paver walkway and patio

• Prepare the native soil to the right height

• Confirm positive drainage

• Set the borders first

• 2” DG

• Roll the DG

• Start setting bricks/pavers

• Check “level” often

• If there are gaps, fill with DG, silica sand or polymeric sand (not permeable).

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 55

Types of pavers

• Permeable Pavers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 56

Grasscrete-type products BodPave

TERRUM TruckPave Grasscrete Porous Pave

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 57

Final steps Tried and True Steps – done by every professional

• Bricks and brick-sized pavers can be vibrated.

• Water, water, water.

• Sit back and admire your work.

• Next day: check for “dancing flagstone.” Tilt up and add more DG.

• More water.

• Ice tea or beer.

• Sit back and admire your work some more.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 58

South Bay Suppliers

• Thompson Building Materials. www.thompsonbldg.com 2400 Pacific Coast Hwy, Lomita, CA. (310) 326-5160

– Bulk: sand, DG, gravel, pre-mix, tools (all). Bagged concrete.

– Pavers, brick, grasscrete-type pavers, concrete steppers, used brick

• Thompson Building Materials – Rock Yard 1350 W Pacific Coast Hwy, Wilmington, CA. (310) 830-5584

– Bulk: Sand, DG. Bagged concrete. – LARGE flagstone, decretive gravel, & Mex beach pebble

selection

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 59

South Bay Suppliers • Westwood Building Materials

www.westwoodbm.com 15708 Inglewood Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260 (310) 643-9158

– Bulk: sand, pre-mix, ¾” crushed gravel. Bagged concrete. Tools.

– Will deliver. ½ cubic yard minimum.

• Sepulveda Building Materials www.sepulveda.com 359 E Gardena Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 436-1400

– Bulk: sand, gravel. Tools. Bagged concrete. – Nice selection of flagstone and boulders. – Will deliver.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 60

South Bay Suppliers • West Los Angeles Building Materials

www.flagstonespecialist.com 2431 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 478-7276

– Bulk: sand, pre-mix, gravel. Tools. Bagged concrete. – Decretive gravel, flagstone, boulders, cobbles,

pebbles, used brick, used concrete

• Bourget Brothers www.bourgetbros.com Building materials: 1636 11th St., Santa Monica, CA (310) 450-6556.

– DG, decretive gravel, glass, tools Rock yard: 1810 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA (310) 829-4010

– Beautiful flagstone. Huge supply. Expensive!

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 61

South Bay Suppliers • B.D. White

www.bdwhitetopsoil.net 19205 Prairie Ave, Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 370-5511

– Bulk: topsoil, sand, DG, pea gravel, ¾” natural gravel. – Landscape timbers & RR ties – Will deliver. Minimum = 1 cubic yard.

• Ewing Irrigation www.ewing1.com 20526 Gramercy Pl, Torrance, CA 90501 (310) 782-7821

– Bend-a-Board™, brick Snap Edge Pavers™ – Pavers

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 62

South Bay Suppliers • Anthony’s Ready Mix & Building Supplies

www.anthonysreadymix.com 4500 Manhattan Beach Bl., Lawndale, CA 90260 (310) 542-8585

– Brick, flagstone, bagged concrete – Concrete and mortar colors – Concrete stains

• Home Depot

– Bagged gravel and sand. – Tools. – Pavers & brick – Concrete pavers. – Pre-mixed concrete – 60 & 94 lbs bags.

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 63

• My favorite mason: Joaquin Barraza 213/453-7642 “Saturday work” Or his employer: Land Matters 310/372-7604

• My favorite place to see permeable pavement: Mother Nature’s Backyard in Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve

Project SOUND 2015 (c) 64