August 29, 2024 • 22 mins
On this podcast, Janey welcomes Sara Bendrick where they dive into the world of ‘no mow, native lawns,' a fantastic alternative for traditional lawn landscapes. With more people swapping out traditional lawns for artificial turf, Sara talks about this awesome alternative, drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and full of charm, these native lawns can add a touch of whimsy to your outdoor space. Tune in to learn how you can embrace this eco-friendly option and give your yard a sustainable makeover! They also talk about more upcoming trends in the landscape world.
Sara is a landscape designer/contractor, TV host and Author. Sara owns and operates Sarita Landscape Designs which focuses on residential design throughout Southern California. For part of the year Sara travels the country doing talks and often hosts landscape renovation shows that encourage people to value the outdoor spaces they have.
The No Mow Lawn video Janey and Sarah discussed
To check out more from Sara:
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Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat is produced in association with Caloroga Shark Media. Hear other shows from Caloroga Shark along with subscription info and Merch with free shipping here!
Sara is a landscape designer/contractor, TV host and Author. Sara owns and operates Sarita Landscape Designs which focuses on residential design throughout Southern California. For part of the year Sara travels the country doing talks and often hosts landscape renovation shows that encourage people to value the outdoor spaces they have.
The No Mow Lawn video Janey and Sarah discussed
To check out more from Sara:
Youtube
Tiktok
Love what you’re hearing?
Make sure to check out more from Janey:
Store
YouTube
Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat is produced in association with Caloroga Shark Media. Hear other shows from Caloroga Shark along with subscription info and Merch with free shipping here!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:24):
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Speaker 2 (00:36):
Callarogashawk Media.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Hi everyone, Janie here, Welcome back to my garden and
welcome back to the Dig Plant, Water Repeat Podcast. I'm
here with Sarah Bendrick today. Sarah is a landscape designer,
TV host, author All the Things.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Welcome, Sarah, thank you so much for having me. I'm
so looking forward to talking with you. It's so fun.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, I'm so glad we've finally been able to connect
because I know we've been trying for a couple months.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
So at least we got it on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
We did, we yay yay.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So Sarah, you own Serena Landscape Designs, which is a
landscape design company in San Diego area, Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, So it's Sorita Landscapes Incorporated. I switched over a
few years ago to corporation instead of design.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, all right, nice? And do you mainly do like residential?
I know, I watch you on YouTube and Instagram and
all that kind of stuff. Do you mainly do residential stuff?
Is that what it is?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yees? So we like ninety five percent do residential design
and build. So most of our clients follow us for
the whole process. We do a consultation where we meet
them and then we create a design for them, and
then we talked with them about Buddy throughout the design.
So when we get to that phase, we're somewhere within
reason or in a way that we can help phase
out their construction process. So nice. It's nice to be
(02:09):
able to, you know, meet people from the beginning with
their goals and see it turn out. And that's why
I like residential because the timelines are a lot shorter
and there's less rules and regulations on what you can
do versus like a commercial space.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, and the things you do are so fun, so fun.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I love every single every single time you come out
with some piece of content.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I'm like, oh, that's so neat. I love that.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
First, tell me, how how did you get into gardening,
landscape design and all that kind of stuff? How did
you how did you get into this world?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Sure? So my background is in landscape architecture. I went
to Calpoli Sales ABISPO. I absolutely loved it, and then
after college I graduated in our Great Depression, I'm kidding,
when the economy droves, so nobody was hiring anybody in
landscaping because you know, it's it was kind of bottom
of barrel, Like people aren't landscaping when they're you know,
(03:04):
losing their houses, right, So, yeah, it not necessary at
that point. Yeah, there weren't a ton of jobs. But
I actually did find a design build firm that I
could work for, and I worked there for about two years,
really learned like the whole client side, design side construction,
like putting together bids, and that was like super eye
opening for me, and eventually I was like, I can
(03:24):
do this on my own, and so I ended up
I ended up going that route, starting just with design,
and then I got my contractor's license in twenty fifteen.
I'm I'm pretty sure its twenty fifteen. A years ago.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
We won't check it.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So for those of you who don't know Sarah, she
is a landscape designer. Of course wonderful, but she's famous.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I'd like to call it like d lists lem I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I mean, listen for gardeners. Being on HGTV is big time.
It is big tell us, tell us about your I
mean your you're hosting career.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Is that how you say it, Like television career.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, that's been such a fun part. Like I'm so
glad I have the opportunity. It's like really weird to
be part of. Like TV has changed a lot in
the last few years, but when I first got into it,
like it was like the thing that's where people with
eyeballs were, and like it was wild to be a
part of that, like honestly cool.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You were a couple shows, right.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yes, I hosted three. I Hate My Yard was the longest, amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I love it. I love it.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, So I hosted three and they were for DIY
network primarily, but there was some crossover with HGTV and
the DIY network. I know it's gotten kind of absorbed.
That turned into Magnolia kind of like I don't know
if that's officially how they like to say it. But
you know, there's been movements, so Discovery Plus now owns
all the shows and you can still find them on
the Discovery Plus app and some of the channels as well.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
My gosh, are you just so proud of that? Like
it's just that is just the cool thing. But here's
the thing I have to say is, you know, I've
watched you. You're good, like you're you're a wonderful landscape designer,
but you're really good at getting the message across and
kind of teaching people.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Like you're just so good at it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
So thanks. I will say, when I started in TV,
I wasn't that good, but I think I was like
good enough for the job that they actually like trained
me how to do voiceovers and they sent to sent
me to improv classes because that wasn't that good in
the beginning. Oh yeah, oh my god. But nowadays they
don't put the effort like that into people. Nowadays they're like,
you got your fifteen minutes, move on. Yeah, there's two
(05:36):
people find me.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
So I think there is a good fit for the show,
just like we just got to make you a little better.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, So after HGTV, Is that when you started getting
into YouTube and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Sure, So I kind of knew early ish in my
career that I should be doing some sore social media
and I focused mostly like on Instagram, and then the
last like five or six years, I have been doing
YouTube and kind of inconsistently. I've actually had great traction
with the videos that I've done, like high quality production,
and then I drop off it for a year and
a half and so this year.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
But Sarah, come.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
On, it's so true. I hired a gal to help
me consistently post, and it's been bananas the growth. Like
I won't say like it's gangbusters, but like for the
last few years, like I've just been maintaining because I
had good content, but then I wouldn't post for a while. Yeah,
And it's just the post inconsistently has made such a
difference in all these platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's all you have to do. Well, No, I shouldn't
say that you have to have the chops behind it.
You have to know what you're talking about and then
be able to convey that, and you definitely have that,
but literally every video that you come out with on
YouTube I'm.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Like, oh really, oh wait, let me get my notes.
I'm so happy to hear that.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
That's great. I actually love doing it. I just like,
I didn't realize I probably have major add until a
few years ago. And then I stopped waving myself from
not being able to like follow through, and I was like,
I just need to plug the hole with somebody else. Yeah,
I have the ideas. I have the energy, Like I
have so many videos on my phone and computer that
I've just never seen the light of day.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Oh, come on, put them out there.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Just put him out there.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So the reason this is so horrible, the reason why
I wanted you to come on this podcast is because
I watched one of those those videos and you were
taught this was kind of an older one. It was
twenty twenty, and you were talking about the nomo like
native lawns, and I was literally like, oh my gosh,
(07:32):
that's the solution to all my problems because I live
in this big dry you know, I don't want to
cover it with grass because that's going to take so
much water. Can I be selfish and can you tell
us a little bit about the native grass lawns, Like
where did you learn.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
About this one hundred percent, So I think just being
in the trades for a while, but also all of
our clients are like asking the same questions. A lot
of them are pulling out Unfortunately. We have a ton
of people that are like just put artificial terf and
I'm like, oh, it kind of hurts. Yeah, yeah, it's
not my favorite for me, it's just not for me.
It's not And I try not to demonize like one thing,
(08:06):
like you can say like concrete bag, you can say
everything's bad, right yeah, but you know, so it's all
about finding the right balance. And so we have a
lot of people that have use for like a lawn
in their yard, whether it's they have kids or dogs,
or it's just even erosion control like a law can
be good, but they are water hogs generally. So people
are looking for alternatives, and there's like some great alternatives
(08:27):
out there, like the elfin time, like the rushian Nana,
but like nobody wants to walk on rushianna, which is
like kind of like a succulent kind of thing. Oh yeah,
you know it's it looks great to cover and have
a green look, but like you're not playing football on it.
Most of us are probably not playing football, but you
know what I mean, we're not tearing it up.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It's not as good of an alternative as maybe this
nomo grass looks.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yes, Yeah, so I love the nomo grass and we've
done them in a few yards and so it's actually
they are sold as a sod form from a company
called SNS Seed and I think it's Delta Blue. It
was like the parent like I don't know how the
business ends ip it work, but Delta Pooglass is the company.
S an Seed sells it, and they're based out of
like Oxnard, which is in the center of California, and
(09:11):
so that's actually where I got mine. I had it
shipped down, so it was a little bit more expensive
for shipping. They cut it that morning. I got it
probably like ten am that day or so. And with
any saw, you want to get it in the same day.
As soon as you can get in the ground the better.
So getting your yard prepped graded, that should all be
done before you put your order in for your sad
because the longer it's out there in the sun, the
(09:33):
harder it is for it to take. Yeah, so the
prep is important. Do all that ahead of time, Okay,
and then of.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Course taking notes here if you couldn't.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Tell you want to order a little bit.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Actually I love it because I'm so I mean, I'm
so excited because this to me just seems like it's
not a very common solution, but oh my goodness, so
many people could benefit from knowing about this, you know
what s Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
And I guess we should talk about the highlights of
it and why you might want to choose. So I'm
talking about the Nomo blend from SNSC that we use.
There's others. You can make your own custom mix. You
can do whatever you want, but this makes in particular
is Festuca idahoensis Festuca rubro, which does good in part
shade or shadier areas, and then Festuca oxidantellus. So this
(10:17):
sod can take up to fifty percent shade, which is
great if you have like a big tree that's going,
you know, shading part of your yard. It's designed to
grow to about a foot tall or so, and if
you don't mow it, you don't have to mow it.
It'll get about that foot tall and it will shade
the roots. So it's going to help conserve water that way.
But just in general, it needs less water. You can
also mow it, and I would suggest a high mowing
(10:39):
height of around four inches, so it would be a
tall cut and you can mow it regularly if you
don't want it to be twelve inches. But the higher
if you mow it more often, you have more sun
penetrating and it's not shading itself as much, so it
will require a little more water.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Okay, So there's the kind of drawback. I actually kind
of like because it almost looks like a meadow.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
It does.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
The grass like kind of is so soft and so nice.
I kind of liked the look.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah, yeah, I love it. They ended up having a
dog that would like to lay in it, and he
just kind of found his area to lay and I
will say, like it didn't kill the grass, but he
definitely had like his little like area where you go
to Regia. Yes, oh, but I love the look. I
think it's a great like it brings whimsy to the garden.
(11:25):
I think it's like it kind of brings like a
look of prestige in a way. I be like, so
I am elegant. I stayed at a house in We
rented a house in Monticito. Do you know where that is?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
But it's right by Santa Barbara for those of you
who don't know, and it is a very fancy area.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
It is a very nice area.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And that house, now that you're talking about it, I
realized it had it had this lawn and it looked
so beautiful and fancy. So when you say that, you're
totally totally right now. Do you think this is like
an upcoming trend or do you think that this is
kind of like one off, unique type of thing.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I you know what, that's a great question, because I
feel like it's one people need to know about it.
People are very hungry for alternatives to the traditional water
thirsty's rescues. So I don't think it's a trend. I
think it's here to stay. I think people really have
to find out what works for them and their needs.
(12:25):
So I like to think. I like when I talk
to clients, I'm like, Okay, what is the purpose of
this lawn? Is it because you have a dog that
needs to go to the bathroom on it? Or you
have kids that are going to play soccer on it?
Then you might benefit from doing something like a Saint
Augustine's or more of a traditional type lawn. You could
still use like this nor variety, but they don't recover
(12:46):
quite as fast as some of the more traditional types.
So if you're looking to use your lawn as a lawn,
it's going to get a lot of activity. It's going
to be torn up. I might point you to like
a tiff tough turf, which is another lawn alternative that
is tougher, uses less water than your traditional rescue. Yeah. Well,
if it's just a viewing lawn or something you're occasionally
(13:07):
going to walk through and stuff like that, these nomo
lawns are absolutely gorgeous. And then also the other law
alternatives like the Russian Anna in the Health and Time
and the day Landia's and stuff like that are great.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Yeah, Sarah, we got to take a quick break to
hear a message from our sponsor.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
We'll be back in just one second.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Okay, sounds good.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
All right, everyone, we are back on the Dig Plant
Water Repeat podcast and back with Sarah Bendrick. She is
a landscaper, TV host, author, jack or Jill of all trades,
I should say, and I begged her to be on
the podcast because I just had to pick her brain
on this calif Or Native No Mo lawn, which to me,
(13:53):
is just the most interesting thing because it's such a
wonderful alternative for those of us who don't want to
use all our rushes water for watering a lawn. And Sarah,
you're saying that that your clients have been happy when
you've put this in.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yes, definitely, it definitely saves water. You don't need water
is often and it's a lot more low maintenance. If
you decide to let it grow tall. There's a point.
I would definitely recommend cutting at least twice a year,
and that's so that it doesn't just like fold on
itself over time. You want to cut it down to
that four inches, let it kind of sprout back up.
It'll be that twelve inches for you know, two or
three months, and then cut it again.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
So do you hear what you're saying twice a year?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Like, did you?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
She didn't say twice a month, she said twice a
year of cutting the lawn, which I'm just like, yes, awesome,
this is so cool. So did you install sprinklers for
your clients that you did this?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yes, And I would recommend for most people to install sprinklers,
or if you're really old school, we want to pull
the hose out there with one of those Like what
do they call them?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
They're like, I know they also like a windmill thing.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I know, but thanks you to run through as a kid,
you know?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yes, yes, one, I totally love one.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So Sarah and I just before the break, we were
talking about the Nomo being kind of.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Here to stay, a trend that's kind of here to stay.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And I have to ask you, Sarah, because you're so
good at like kind kind of knowing the new cool things.
Uh what what do you think is kind of another
something that we should know about in the landscaping realm?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Sure? So I would say cool new new tools. There's
a lot of things that homeowners can do and use.
And I am a big advocate for battery, and I
know out here in California, like you're kind of mandated
to use it at a certain extent and that puts
a lot, let's put it's a bad taste in some
people's mouth. They're like, I want to choose. I'm like, yes,
I agree, but I would say battery has a lot
(15:52):
of potential battery.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Battery operated tools, Yes, I should be clear, got it?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
So maybe I should start that over the trends. I
think battery lawn, battery lawn, just plugging it into gross.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
That's because so battery operated tools, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Are a great trend in the landscape world, and I
think for many reasons, they're super easy to use. Uh,
there's a ton of different products out there, especially like
some of the smaller ones. I will. I am gonna
say these steel tools I use are pretty awesome. And
I have to say I'm biased because I also, you know,
they spokespersons, but I see there's by the way, I
(16:34):
think they are amazing. I'm not plot.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Sarah is the national spokesperson for steel tools.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Did I say that right? Yeah, you're national spokes which
is what.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
That's huge, that's so big.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
And and when you demonstrate using these tools, you just
because you're like a beautiful woman, like you.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Know what I mean them, I'm like, I could do
it too. I can do it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, totally. And that's what I was gonna say, Like,
I don't want to be plugging it because I'm not.
I'm not required to. I'm doing it because I want to.
You ask the question. And I do think that battery
tools are just so hot right now, and for good reason.
Like they're a lot easier to use. You don't have
to deal with the gas and the emissions. You can
plug it in and get to work, unplug it, maybe
clean the blade, and so I wanted to highlight the
(17:25):
there's a tool called the GTA twenty six and it's
basically I'm not it's like a small it's a hand pruner,
but it looks like a small chainsaw, and it's great
if you're trying to prune branches that are bigger than
a few inches, So it goes up to like four inches,
and it's so useful to have in the yard, whether
you're pruning up like your trees or some branches or
(17:45):
even other things that are just like kind of big.
I've cut two by force with them. I find it
very handy. And then there's the HSA twenty six as well,
which has an interchangeable battery. It's also meant for like
smaller gardeners, and it's great for like pruning or cutting
back your perennial grasses. And I just can't say enough
good stuff about them. When I put them in people's
hands and give them to my clients, they are so
(18:06):
motivated to work in their yard and It's like takes
away the barrier of like where am I going to
store this? And how often am I going to actually
use this when you're dealing with these smaller tools.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah, you know, it's so funny. I have the GTA
twenty six, I wrote. I just I was like, is
that the one I have? And I just looked it
up on my computer. I'm like, yep, that's the one
I have. Yes, You're right, It's totally great. It makes yeah,
the difference in the world.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
You said.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Well, I know the names can get a little confusing
because there's a lot, like you know, just letters and numbers.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
But I know because I don't know the name of it.
I just when you said it was a mini chainsaw,
I was like, wait, I think I have that. So awesome.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Okay, so battery operated tools.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think that that's huge because you know, I think
that it used to be that, like you know, the
husbands would go out and would mow the lawn and
do this and prune this. Not anymore, like we don't
have at this house, we don't have a lawn, but
my last house, like I would mow the lawn all
the time, you know what I mean. And we actually
used a battery operated mower, so and it made a
(19:11):
huge difference.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You know, I don't want to put up you or anything,
but I think I might be starting out with the
IMO for I'm going to put in a small lawn myself.
And are you familiar with the IMO?
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Is that the robotic mower?
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Yes? Oh my god, I'm so excited.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
So I'm so excited for you.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You have to you have to take so many videos
on this, put it on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
I will, I will, for sure, I'll make some content
on it. But basically, you put down like a tracking
wire on the perimeter of your lawn area, and you
program the mower and it moves as often as you
tell it to.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
You do you think it would go up to four
inches for my Nomo lawn or.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
I don't know that, but I will let you know
when I.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Because I need to know. I need to know, Sarah,
I need to know, all.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Right, huge, thank you for being on the podcast today.
You are so much fun. I love talking to you
and I love watching all of your content. And like
I said, this was totally selfish of me. I just
wanted to pick your brain on the mid No native
grass because it really is beautiful and you're the only
one that I saw doing it. So I will put
a link to all of Sarah's stuff in the description
(20:22):
down below, but I will definitely put a link to
that YouTube video because it was just it was really inspiring.
So huge, Thank you, thank you so much. So where
can people find you on Instagram? You'r serta?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Is that it?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
So? It's actually I have my company one, but you
don't need to follow that unless you want to hire
me for landscapes locally but more nationally. I just use
my name Sarah Bendrick, and that's Sarah without an h okay,
and then that's on all the platforms. Yeah, okay, YouTube
is Sarah Bendrick. I have Instagram, TikTok Pinterest. Is there
another one I'm forgetting about. I don't know. No, there's
(20:57):
too many, but whatever her, I'm on it.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
You're good, You're good, all right. Huge, Thank you, Sarah,
and thank you to all of you listening. I hope
you enjoyed this and I hope you all have a
chance to get in your garden today. Thank you so
much to my podcast sponsor, Proven Winners. Visit your local
garden center today and look for the white containers featuring
the Proven Winner's logo. There's a reason they're the number
(21:23):
one plant brand that gardeners like me trust the most.
Visit Proven Winners dot Com for tips, ideas, and.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
So much more.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Dig Plant Water Repeat is produced in association with Calaroga
Shark Media. It was written and hosted by me Janie Santos,
with marketing and production assistants from Courtney Clark.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Please consider subscribing and.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Watch us on YouTube or follow us on your favorite
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Speaker 4 (21:50):
Alerts on all new episodes.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And hey, if you liked the show, give us a
review and hit those five stars on Apple. Executive producers
are Mark Francis, John McDermott, and Janie Santos
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Calaruga Shark Media
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(00:24):
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Speaker 2 (00:36):
Callarogashawk Media.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Hi everyone, Janie here, Welcome back to my garden and
welcome back to the Dig Plant, Water Repeat Podcast. I'm
here with Sarah Bendrick today. Sarah is a landscape designer,
TV host, author All the Things.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Welcome, Sarah, thank you so much for having me. I'm
so looking forward to talking with you. It's so fun.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, I'm so glad we've finally been able to connect
because I know we've been trying for a couple months.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
So at least we got it on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
We did, we yay yay.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So Sarah, you own Serena Landscape Designs, which is a
landscape design company in San Diego area, Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, So it's Sorita Landscapes Incorporated. I switched over a
few years ago to corporation instead of design.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, all right, nice? And do you mainly do like residential?
I know, I watch you on YouTube and Instagram and
all that kind of stuff. Do you mainly do residential stuff?
Is that what it is?
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yees? So we like ninety five percent do residential design
and build. So most of our clients follow us for
the whole process. We do a consultation where we meet
them and then we create a design for them, and
then we talked with them about Buddy throughout the design.
So when we get to that phase, we're somewhere within
reason or in a way that we can help phase
out their construction process. So nice. It's nice to be
(02:09):
able to, you know, meet people from the beginning with
their goals and see it turn out. And that's why
I like residential because the timelines are a lot shorter
and there's less rules and regulations on what you can
do versus like a commercial space.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, and the things you do are so fun, so fun.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I love every single every single time you come out
with some piece of content.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I'm like, oh, that's so neat. I love that.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
First, tell me, how how did you get into gardening,
landscape design and all that kind of stuff? How did
you how did you get into this world?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Sure? So my background is in landscape architecture. I went
to Calpoli Sales ABISPO. I absolutely loved it, and then
after college I graduated in our Great Depression, I'm kidding,
when the economy droves, so nobody was hiring anybody in
landscaping because you know, it's it was kind of bottom
of barrel, Like people aren't landscaping when they're you know,
(03:04):
losing their houses, right, So, yeah, it not necessary at
that point. Yeah, there weren't a ton of jobs. But
I actually did find a design build firm that I
could work for, and I worked there for about two years,
really learned like the whole client side, design side construction,
like putting together bids, and that was like super eye
opening for me, and eventually I was like, I can
(03:24):
do this on my own, and so I ended up
I ended up going that route, starting just with design,
and then I got my contractor's license in twenty fifteen.
I'm I'm pretty sure its twenty fifteen. A years ago.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
We won't check it.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So for those of you who don't know Sarah, she
is a landscape designer. Of course wonderful, but she's famous.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
I'd like to call it like d lists lem I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
I mean, listen for gardeners. Being on HGTV is big time.
It is big tell us, tell us about your I
mean your you're hosting career.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Is that how you say it, Like television career.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, that's been such a fun part. Like I'm so
glad I have the opportunity. It's like really weird to
be part of. Like TV has changed a lot in
the last few years, but when I first got into it,
like it was like the thing that's where people with
eyeballs were, and like it was wild to be a
part of that, like honestly cool.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You were a couple shows, right.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yes, I hosted three. I Hate My Yard was the longest, amazing.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
And I love it. I love it.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Yeah, So I hosted three and they were for DIY
network primarily, but there was some crossover with HGTV and
the DIY network. I know it's gotten kind of absorbed.
That turned into Magnolia kind of like I don't know
if that's officially how they like to say it. But
you know, there's been movements, so Discovery Plus now owns
all the shows and you can still find them on
the Discovery Plus app and some of the channels as well.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
My gosh, are you just so proud of that? Like
it's just that is just the cool thing. But here's
the thing I have to say is, you know, I've
watched you. You're good, like you're you're a wonderful landscape designer,
but you're really good at getting the message across and
kind of teaching people.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Like you're just so good at it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
So thanks. I will say, when I started in TV,
I wasn't that good, but I think I was like
good enough for the job that they actually like trained
me how to do voiceovers and they sent to sent
me to improv classes because that wasn't that good in
the beginning. Oh yeah, oh my god. But nowadays they
don't put the effort like that into people. Nowadays they're like,
you got your fifteen minutes, move on. Yeah, there's two
(05:36):
people find me.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
So I think there is a good fit for the show,
just like we just got to make you a little better.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, So after HGTV, Is that when you started getting
into YouTube and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Sure, So I kind of knew early ish in my
career that I should be doing some sore social media
and I focused mostly like on Instagram, and then the
last like five or six years, I have been doing
YouTube and kind of inconsistently. I've actually had great traction
with the videos that I've done, like high quality production,
and then I drop off it for a year and
a half and so this year.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
But Sarah, come.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
On, it's so true. I hired a gal to help
me consistently post, and it's been bananas the growth. Like
I won't say like it's gangbusters, but like for the
last few years, like I've just been maintaining because I
had good content, but then I wouldn't post for a while. Yeah,
And it's just the post inconsistently has made such a
difference in all these platforms.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's all you have to do. Well, No, I shouldn't
say that you have to have the chops behind it.
You have to know what you're talking about and then
be able to convey that, and you definitely have that,
but literally every video that you come out with on
YouTube I'm.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
Like, oh really, oh wait, let me get my notes.
I'm so happy to hear that.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
That's great. I actually love doing it. I just like,
I didn't realize I probably have major add until a
few years ago. And then I stopped waving myself from
not being able to like follow through, and I was like,
I just need to plug the hole with somebody else. Yeah,
I have the ideas. I have the energy, Like I
have so many videos on my phone and computer that
I've just never seen the light of day.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Oh, come on, put them out there.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Just put him out there.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
So the reason this is so horrible, the reason why
I wanted you to come on this podcast is because
I watched one of those those videos and you were
taught this was kind of an older one. It was
twenty twenty, and you were talking about the nomo like
native lawns, and I was literally like, oh my gosh,
(07:32):
that's the solution to all my problems because I live
in this big dry you know, I don't want to
cover it with grass because that's going to take so
much water. Can I be selfish and can you tell
us a little bit about the native grass lawns, Like
where did you learn.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
About this one hundred percent, So I think just being
in the trades for a while, but also all of
our clients are like asking the same questions. A lot
of them are pulling out Unfortunately. We have a ton
of people that are like just put artificial terf and
I'm like, oh, it kind of hurts. Yeah, yeah, it's
not my favorite for me, it's just not for me.
It's not And I try not to demonize like one thing,
(08:06):
like you can say like concrete bag, you can say
everything's bad, right yeah, but you know, so it's all
about finding the right balance. And so we have a
lot of people that have use for like a lawn
in their yard, whether it's they have kids or dogs,
or it's just even erosion control like a law can
be good, but they are water hogs generally. So people
are looking for alternatives, and there's like some great alternatives
(08:27):
out there, like the elfin time, like the rushian Nana,
but like nobody wants to walk on rushianna, which is
like kind of like a succulent kind of thing. Oh yeah,
you know it's it looks great to cover and have
a green look, but like you're not playing football on it.
Most of us are probably not playing football, but you
know what I mean, we're not tearing it up.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
It's not as good of an alternative as maybe this
nomo grass looks.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yes, Yeah, so I love the nomo grass and we've
done them in a few yards and so it's actually
they are sold as a sod form from a company
called SNS Seed and I think it's Delta Blue. It
was like the parent like I don't know how the
business ends ip it work, but Delta Pooglass is the company.
S an Seed sells it, and they're based out of
like Oxnard, which is in the center of California, and
(09:11):
so that's actually where I got mine. I had it
shipped down, so it was a little bit more expensive
for shipping. They cut it that morning. I got it
probably like ten am that day or so. And with
any saw, you want to get it in the same day.
As soon as you can get in the ground the better.
So getting your yard prepped graded, that should all be
done before you put your order in for your sad
because the longer it's out there in the sun, the
(09:33):
harder it is for it to take. Yeah, so the
prep is important. Do all that ahead of time, Okay,
and then of.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Course taking notes here if you couldn't.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Tell you want to order a little bit.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Actually I love it because I'm so I mean, I'm
so excited because this to me just seems like it's
not a very common solution, but oh my goodness, so
many people could benefit from knowing about this, you know
what s Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
And I guess we should talk about the highlights of
it and why you might want to choose. So I'm
talking about the Nomo blend from SNSC that we use.
There's others. You can make your own custom mix. You
can do whatever you want, but this makes in particular
is Festuca idahoensis Festuca rubro, which does good in part
shade or shadier areas, and then Festuca oxidantellus. So this
(10:17):
sod can take up to fifty percent shade, which is
great if you have like a big tree that's going,
you know, shading part of your yard. It's designed to
grow to about a foot tall or so, and if
you don't mow it, you don't have to mow it.
It'll get about that foot tall and it will shade
the roots. So it's going to help conserve water that way.
But just in general, it needs less water. You can
also mow it, and I would suggest a high mowing
(10:39):
height of around four inches, so it would be a
tall cut and you can mow it regularly if you
don't want it to be twelve inches. But the higher
if you mow it more often, you have more sun
penetrating and it's not shading itself as much, so it
will require a little more water.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Okay, So there's the kind of drawback. I actually kind
of like because it almost looks like a meadow.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
It does.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
The grass like kind of is so soft and so nice.
I kind of liked the look.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah, yeah, I love it. They ended up having a
dog that would like to lay in it, and he
just kind of found his area to lay and I
will say, like it didn't kill the grass, but he
definitely had like his little like area where you go
to Regia. Yes, oh, but I love the look. I
think it's a great like it brings whimsy to the garden.
(11:25):
I think it's like it kind of brings like a
look of prestige in a way. I be like, so
I am elegant. I stayed at a house in We
rented a house in Monticito. Do you know where that is?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
But it's right by Santa Barbara for those of you
who don't know, and it is a very fancy area.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
It is a very nice area.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And that house, now that you're talking about it, I
realized it had it had this lawn and it looked
so beautiful and fancy. So when you say that, you're
totally totally right now. Do you think this is like
an upcoming trend or do you think that this is
kind of like one off, unique type of thing.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I you know what, that's a great question, because I
feel like it's one people need to know about it.
People are very hungry for alternatives to the traditional water
thirsty's rescues. So I don't think it's a trend. I
think it's here to stay. I think people really have
to find out what works for them and their needs.
(12:25):
So I like to think. I like when I talk
to clients, I'm like, Okay, what is the purpose of
this lawn? Is it because you have a dog that
needs to go to the bathroom on it? Or you
have kids that are going to play soccer on it?
Then you might benefit from doing something like a Saint
Augustine's or more of a traditional type lawn. You could
still use like this nor variety, but they don't recover
(12:46):
quite as fast as some of the more traditional types.
So if you're looking to use your lawn as a lawn,
it's going to get a lot of activity. It's going
to be torn up. I might point you to like
a tiff tough turf, which is another lawn alternative that
is tougher, uses less water than your traditional rescue. Yeah. Well,
if it's just a viewing lawn or something you're occasionally
(13:07):
going to walk through and stuff like that, these nomo
lawns are absolutely gorgeous. And then also the other law
alternatives like the Russian Anna in the Health and Time
and the day Landia's and stuff like that are great.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Yeah, Sarah, we got to take a quick break to
hear a message from our sponsor.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
We'll be back in just one second.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Okay, sounds good.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
All right, everyone, we are back on the Dig Plant
Water Repeat podcast and back with Sarah Bendrick. She is
a landscaper, TV host, author, jack or Jill of all trades,
I should say, and I begged her to be on
the podcast because I just had to pick her brain
on this calif Or Native No Mo lawn, which to me,
(13:53):
is just the most interesting thing because it's such a
wonderful alternative for those of us who don't want to
use all our rushes water for watering a lawn. And Sarah,
you're saying that that your clients have been happy when
you've put this in.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yes, definitely, it definitely saves water. You don't need water
is often and it's a lot more low maintenance. If
you decide to let it grow tall. There's a point.
I would definitely recommend cutting at least twice a year,
and that's so that it doesn't just like fold on
itself over time. You want to cut it down to
that four inches, let it kind of sprout back up.
It'll be that twelve inches for you know, two or
three months, and then cut it again.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
So do you hear what you're saying twice a year?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Like, did you?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
She didn't say twice a month, she said twice a
year of cutting the lawn, which I'm just like, yes, awesome,
this is so cool. So did you install sprinklers for
your clients that you did this?
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yes, And I would recommend for most people to install sprinklers,
or if you're really old school, we want to pull
the hose out there with one of those Like what
do they call them?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
They're like, I know they also like a windmill thing.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
I know, but thanks you to run through as a kid,
you know?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yes, yes, one, I totally love one.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So Sarah and I just before the break, we were
talking about the Nomo being kind of.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Here to stay, a trend that's kind of here to stay.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
And I have to ask you, Sarah, because you're so
good at like kind kind of knowing the new cool things.
Uh what what do you think is kind of another
something that we should know about in the landscaping realm?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Sure? So I would say cool new new tools. There's
a lot of things that homeowners can do and use.
And I am a big advocate for battery, and I
know out here in California, like you're kind of mandated
to use it at a certain extent and that puts
a lot, let's put it's a bad taste in some
people's mouth. They're like, I want to choose. I'm like, yes,
I agree, but I would say battery has a lot
(15:52):
of potential battery.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Battery operated tools, Yes, I should be clear, got it?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
So maybe I should start that over the trends. I
think battery lawn, battery lawn, just plugging it into gross.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
That's because so battery operated tools, yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Are a great trend in the landscape world, and I
think for many reasons, they're super easy to use. Uh,
there's a ton of different products out there, especially like
some of the smaller ones. I will. I am gonna
say these steel tools I use are pretty awesome. And
I have to say I'm biased because I also, you know,
they spokespersons, but I see there's by the way, I
(16:34):
think they are amazing. I'm not plot.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Sarah is the national spokesperson for steel tools.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Did I say that right? Yeah, you're national spokes which
is what.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
I mean.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
That's huge, that's so big.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
And and when you demonstrate using these tools, you just
because you're like a beautiful woman, like you.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Know what I mean them, I'm like, I could do
it too. I can do it.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Yeah, totally. And that's what I was gonna say, Like,
I don't want to be plugging it because I'm not.
I'm not required to. I'm doing it because I want to.
You ask the question. And I do think that battery
tools are just so hot right now, and for good reason.
Like they're a lot easier to use. You don't have
to deal with the gas and the emissions. You can
plug it in and get to work, unplug it, maybe
clean the blade, and so I wanted to highlight the
(17:25):
there's a tool called the GTA twenty six and it's
basically I'm not it's like a small it's a hand pruner,
but it looks like a small chainsaw, and it's great
if you're trying to prune branches that are bigger than
a few inches, So it goes up to like four inches,
and it's so useful to have in the yard, whether
you're pruning up like your trees or some branches or
(17:45):
even other things that are just like kind of big.
I've cut two by force with them. I find it
very handy. And then there's the HSA twenty six as well,
which has an interchangeable battery. It's also meant for like
smaller gardeners, and it's great for like pruning or cutting
back your perennial grasses. And I just can't say enough
good stuff about them. When I put them in people's
hands and give them to my clients, they are so
(18:06):
motivated to work in their yard and It's like takes
away the barrier of like where am I going to
store this? And how often am I going to actually
use this when you're dealing with these smaller tools.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Yeah, you know, it's so funny. I have the GTA
twenty six, I wrote. I just I was like, is
that the one I have? And I just looked it
up on my computer. I'm like, yep, that's the one
I have. Yes, You're right, It's totally great. It makes yeah,
the difference in the world.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
You said.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Well, I know the names can get a little confusing
because there's a lot, like you know, just letters and numbers.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
But I know because I don't know the name of it.
I just when you said it was a mini chainsaw,
I was like, wait, I think I have that. So awesome.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Oh I love that.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Okay, so battery operated tools.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think that that's huge because you know, I think
that it used to be that, like you know, the
husbands would go out and would mow the lawn and
do this and prune this. Not anymore, like we don't
have at this house, we don't have a lawn, but
my last house, like I would mow the lawn all
the time, you know what I mean. And we actually
used a battery operated mower, so and it made a
(19:11):
huge difference.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You know, I don't want to put up you or anything,
but I think I might be starting out with the
IMO for I'm going to put in a small lawn myself.
And are you familiar with the IMO?
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Is that the robotic mower?
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Yes? Oh my god, I'm so excited.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
So I'm so excited for you.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You have to you have to take so many videos
on this, put it on YouTube.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
I will, I will, for sure, I'll make some content
on it. But basically, you put down like a tracking
wire on the perimeter of your lawn area, and you
program the mower and it moves as often as you
tell it to.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
You do you think it would go up to four
inches for my Nomo lawn or.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
I don't know that, but I will let you know
when I.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Because I need to know. I need to know, Sarah,
I need to know, all.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Right, huge, thank you for being on the podcast today.
You are so much fun. I love talking to you
and I love watching all of your content. And like
I said, this was totally selfish of me. I just
wanted to pick your brain on the mid No native
grass because it really is beautiful and you're the only
one that I saw doing it. So I will put
a link to all of Sarah's stuff in the description
(20:22):
down below, but I will definitely put a link to
that YouTube video because it was just it was really inspiring.
So huge, Thank you, thank you so much. So where
can people find you on Instagram? You'r serta?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Is that it?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
So? It's actually I have my company one, but you
don't need to follow that unless you want to hire
me for landscapes locally but more nationally. I just use
my name Sarah Bendrick, and that's Sarah without an h okay,
and then that's on all the platforms. Yeah, okay, YouTube
is Sarah Bendrick. I have Instagram, TikTok Pinterest. Is there
another one I'm forgetting about. I don't know. No, there's
(20:57):
too many, but whatever her, I'm on it.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
You're good, You're good, all right. Huge, Thank you, Sarah,
and thank you to all of you listening. I hope
you enjoyed this and I hope you all have a
chance to get in your garden today. Thank you so
much to my podcast sponsor, Proven Winners. Visit your local
garden center today and look for the white containers featuring
the Proven Winner's logo. There's a reason they're the number
(21:23):
one plant brand that gardeners like me trust the most.
Visit Proven Winners dot Com for tips, ideas, and.
Speaker 4 (21:30):
So much more.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Dig Plant Water Repeat is produced in association with Calaroga
Shark Media. It was written and hosted by me Janie Santos,
with marketing and production assistants from Courtney Clark.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Please consider subscribing and.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Watch us on YouTube or follow us on your favorite
podcast app of choice to get.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Alerts on all new episodes.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And hey, if you liked the show, give us a
review and hit those five stars on Apple. Executive producers
are Mark Francis, John McDermott, and Janie Santos
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Calaruga Shark Media
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