At a Glance
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| USDA Zone | 10b |
| Annual Rainfall | 13 inches |
| Summer High | 79°F |
| Best Planting | October–March |
| Upfront Cost | $13,000 / $30,000 / $68,000 |
| Annual Saving | $500–900 |
What No-Grass Actually Means in Long Beach
Long Beach replaces traditional turf with lawn-free alternatives suited to the site’s water, soil, and aesthetic constraints. With only 13 inches of annual rainfall and tiered water billing that escalates sharply above baseline, keeping a 1,000-square-foot lawn green costs $800–1,200 per year in irrigation alone. Sandy loam drains fast, forcing weekly deep watering during the June–October dry season. HOAs in newer developments along the coastal corridor often mandate a “landscaped frontage” but rarely specify turf—many now explicitly encourage Mediterranean or succulent palettes. LADWP’s turf-replacement rebate pays $3 per square foot removed, covering 20–40 percent of material and installation for most projects. The marine layer moderates summer heat, so you gain year-round outdoor living space without the irrigation burden. Salt air within a mile of the coast prunes plant choices but opens the door to coastal sage scrub and salt-tolerant ground covers that thrive in decomposed granite and gravel mulch.
Design Principles for No-Grass in Long Beach
1. Layer ground planes by water need Group low-water succulents and native shrubs near the property line; cluster moderate-water perennials around seating areas where you can justify drip irrigation. This zoning cuts total water use by 60–70 percent compared to uniform turf.
2. Use permeable hardscape as the primary circulation surface Decomposed granite pathways, flagstone steppers on crushed rock, and permeable pavers eliminate runoff while meeting Long Beach’s landscaping codes. Avoid solid concrete patios larger than 300 square feet—they trap heat and require stormwater mitigation in new construction.
3. Anchor corners with sculptural specimens A ‘Little Ollie’ dwarf olive or a clumping ‘Giant Timber’ bamboo draws the eye and signals intentional design, preventing neighbors from reading the space as “dead lawn.” Place one specimen per 500 square feet of former turf.
4. Mulch everything except foot traffic zones Two inches of crushed rock or decomposed granite over landscape fabric suppresses weeds and reflects heat into plant canopies. Skip shredded bark—it rots in Long Beach’s humidity and attracts termites within 18 months.
5. Install drip irrigation on smart controllers Even drought-tolerant plants need establishment water. A weather-based controller (Rain Bird ESP-TM2 or Hunter Pro-C) adjusts run times daily based on evapotranspiration data, cutting water use another 30 percent once plants root in.
Cost and ROI in Long Beach
$13,000 tier: 800-square-foot front yard conversion Remove turf, install decomposed granite pathways and crushed rock mulch, plant 25 one-gallon natives and succulents, add a single 15-gallon specimen tree. No irrigation retrofit. This tier qualifies for $2,400 in LADWP rebates. Break-even at year 3 when you factor in $750 annual water savings plus eliminated mower maintenance.
$30,000 tier: 1,500-square-foot full front and side yard All of the above plus flagstone steppers, a permeable paver patio, drip irrigation with smart controller, 60 plants in mixed sizes, and three 24-inch box specimens. LADWP rebate covers $4,500. Break-even at year 4; by year 10 you’ve saved $9,000 in water and $2,000 in mowing service.
$68,000 tier: 3,000-square-foot front, side, and partial backyard transformation Full hardscape redesign, built-in seating, dry streambed, lighting, automated irrigation across three zones, 150+ plants including mature palms and citrus. Rebate tops out at $9,000. This tier delivers a 12–15 percent home value lift in coastal neighborhoods where water-wise landscaping is a buyer expectation, but break-even on operating cost alone takes 8–9 years.
What Looks No-Grass But Isn’t
Synthetic turf Many Long Beach HOAs now prohibit it due to heat-island effect and microplastic shedding. The surface reaches 140°F on July afternoons, making adjacent outdoor spaces unusable. Warranties void if salt air penetrates the backing—common within a mile of the coast.
‘Marathon’ tall fescue or other “low-water” turf cultivars Still require 1.5 inches of water per week in summer, delivering only 20 percent savings over Kentucky bluegrass. Sandy loam here demands twice-weekly irrigation to prevent dieback, negating any efficiency gain.
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) as lawn replacement This ornamental bunch grass reads as textural accent, not a walkable surface. It browns out in Long Beach’s dry season without supplemental water and leaves bare soil between clumps, inviting weeds.
Clover monoculture Microclover and white clover need consistent moisture and turn to dust by August without irrigation. Long Beach’s soil pH (7.2–7.8) also limits nodulation, forcing you to fertilize as often as you would turf.
Bark mulch over everything Rots in 10–14 months due to coastal humidity, compacts into an impermeable mat, and attracts subterranean termites. Three documented cases in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood resulted in foundation repair bills exceeding $18,000.
Hardscape Choices That Reinforce the Constraint
Decomposed granite (1/4-inch minus) Compacts firm enough for foot traffic, drains instantly, and costs $3–5 per square foot installed. Choose a buff or tan tone to avoid glare. Edge with steel or aluminum to prevent spillover onto adjacent beds.
Flagstone on crushed rock base Colorado sandstone or Arizona flagstone set 1–2 inches apart on a 3-inch crushed rock base creates permeable pathways that handle Long Beach’s rare but intense winter rains. Cost: $18–24 per square foot.
Permeable pavers (Belgard or Unilock) Interlocking concrete pavers with 1/4-inch gaps filled with coarse sand meet city stormwater codes and support vehicle traffic. Ideal for side yards and driveways. Cost: $22–30 per square foot installed.
Avoid solid concrete patios over 300 square feet Long Beach’s 2021 development code requires on-site infiltration for impervious surfaces exceeding 300 square feet. Retrofit mitigation—trenches, French drains, or bioswales—adds $4,000–7,000 to patio projects.
Avoid river rock larger than 2 inches Large cobbles shift underfoot, trap heat, and look sterile in flat yards. They also require twice the depth of smaller aggregate to prevent soil show-through, raising material cost 40 percent.
For additional design strategies that pair well with no-grass approaches, see Long Beach Ca Low Maintenance Landscaping and Long Beach Ca Drought Tolerant Landscaping.
Plant Palette
| Plant | Zones | Sun | Water | Height | Why here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Powis Castle’ Artemisia (Artemisia × ‘Powis Castle’) | 6–10 | Full | Low | 2–3 ft | Silver foliage tolerates Long Beach salt air; requires no summer water once established in Zone 10b |
| ‘Blue Glow’ Agave (Agave ‘Blue Glow’) | 9–11 | Full | Low | 18 in | Compact rosette suits small Long Beach yards; zero supplemental irrigation after year one |
| ‘Angelina’ Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’) | 5–11 | Full | Low | 6 in | Golden ground cover spreads 2 ft/year in Zone 10b sandy loam; foot-traffic tolerant on decomposed granite pathways |
| ‘Foxtail’ Agave (Agave attenuata) | 9–11 | Partial | Low | 4 ft | Soft-spine form safe near walkways; thrives in Long Beach’s marine layer without summer water |
| ‘Distans’ Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’) | 7–11 | Full | Low | 1–2 ft | Native Long Beach ground cover; 3–4 ft spread in 2 years; salt-tolerant to 1 mile inland |
| ‘Berkeley’ Sedge (Carex divulsa) | 7–11 | Partial | Low | 12 in | Clumping California native; green year-round in Zone 10b with monthly deep watering May–September |
| ‘Tuscan Blue’ Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’) | 7–11 | Full | Low | 5–6 ft | Upright form for vertical structure; Long Beach’s 13 inches annual rainfall suffices after establishment |
| ‘Little Ollie’ Dwarf Olive (Olea europaea ‘Little Ollie’) | 8–11 | Full | Low | 6 ft | Non-fruiting; salt-tolerant; Zone 10b winter keeps it evergreen; specimen anchor for corner plantings |
| ‘Huntington Carpet’ Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Huntington Carpet’) | 7–11 | Full | Low | 1–2 ft | Prostrate ground cover spreads 4–6 ft in Long Beach’s moderate heat; no mowing required |
| ‘Moonlight’ Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae) | 9–11 | Full | Low | 2 in | Flat green carpet; foot-traffic tolerant; Zone 10b coastal conditions ideal; flowers year-round |
| ‘Canyon Prince’ Giant Rye (Leymus condensatus ‘Canyon Prince’) | 7–11 | Full | Low | 3 ft | Native Long Beach bunch grass; blue-gray foliage; clumps 3 ft wide; salt-tolerant; self-seeding in sandy loam |
| ‘Majestic Beauty’ Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis × ‘Majestic Beauty’) | 8–11 | Full | Low | 4–6 ft | Salt-tolerant shrub for Long Beach coastal zone; spring flowers; dense enough to block foot traffic |
| ‘Coppertone’ Stonecrop (Sedum nussbaumerianum) | 9–11 | Full | Low | 8 in | Orange-copper succulent; Zone 10b frost-free; spreads 18 in/year; zero summer water |
| ‘Sea Green’ Juniper (Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Sea Green’) | 4–11 | Full | Low | 4 ft | Arching evergreen; 6 ft spread; salt air tolerant; Long Beach sandy loam drainage prevents root rot |
| ‘Pride of Madeira’ (Echium candicans) | 9–11 | Full | Low | 5–6 ft | Coastal California native; Zone 10b perennial; purple spikes April–June; reseeds freely in Long Beach |
Try it on your yard Upload a photo of your Long Beach property to Hadaa and see exactly which no-grass ground covers, succulents, and pathways fit your soil, sun exposure, and HOA requirements—no guesswork, no generic templates. See what no-grass landscaping looks like for your yard →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing grass really save $500–900 per year in Long Beach? Yes. A 1,000-square-foot lawn requires 40,000–60,000 gallons annually to stay green through summer. Long Beach Water’s tiered billing charges $5.97 per hundred cubic feet (748 gallons) in tier one, escalating to $13.66 in tier three. Most single-family homes with turf land in tier two or three, paying $8–10 per hundred cubic feet. Eliminating the lawn drops you into tier one, saving $650–850 in water cost alone. Add $120–180 in avoided mower fuel, blade sharpening, and edge trimming to reach the $770–900 total.
Will my HOA approve a no-grass front yard in Long Beach? Most Long Beach HOAs written after 2010 permit drought-tolerant landscaping and explicitly prohibit boards from requiring turf. California Civil Code §4735 forbids HOAs from banning low-water plants or artificial turf (though many associations have separately voted to restrict synthetic grass on aesthetic grounds). Submit a one-page site plan showing hardscape layout, plant species, and mulch type. Include photos of comparable projects in your neighborhood. Boards approve 80–90 percent of no-grass proposals that demonstrate intentional design rather than barren dirt.
How long does it take for plants to fill in after turf removal? Ground covers like ‘Angelina’ stonecrop and dymondia spread 1–2 feet per year in Long Beach’s Zone 10b climate, reaching 70 percent coverage by month 18. Shrubs planted from five-gallon containers achieve visual mass in 12–16 months with monthly deep watering. Full maturity—where individual plants merge into a cohesive canopy—takes 3–4 years. Mulch with 2 inches of crushed rock immediately after planting to suppress weeds and create a finished look while plants establish.
Can I walk on any of the no-grass alternatives? Dymondia and prostrate rosemary tolerate moderate foot traffic—crossing paths to a mailbox or stepping into a planting bed to prune. They will not withstand daily use or children’s play. For true circulation routes, use decomposed granite, flagstone steppers, or permeable pavers. Attempting to make succulents or bunch grasses serve as a “lawn” results in crushed foliage, bare patches, and frustrated homeowners within six months.
What does Long Beach’s LADWP turf rebate actually cover? The Metropolitan Water District’s turf-replacement program reimburses $3 per square foot of removed grass, up to 5,000 square feet per property. You must replace turf with WUCOLS-listed low-water plants (most California natives and Mediterranean species qualify) or permeable hardscape. The rebate pays only for landscape material and labor—not irrigation upgrades, soil amendment, or design fees. Application requires pre-inspection, post-installation verification, and 60–90 days for payment. Budget the full project cost upfront and treat the rebate as reimbursement, not a discount at purchase.
Do I need a permit to remove grass and install ground covers? Long Beach does not require a permit for simple turf replacement if you maintain existing grades and do not alter drainage. Projects that add retaining walls over 18 inches, electric lighting, or automated irrigation valves need a building permit. If you remove more than 300 square feet of pervious surface and replace it with solid concrete or asphalt, you must submit a stormwater management plan. Most no-grass conversions using mulch, pavers, and plants proceed without permits. Check with the Development Services counter at 333 West Ocean Boulevard if your project includes grading or walls.
Which no-grass ground cover spreads fastest in Long Beach? ‘Angelina’ stonecrop and trailing rosemary both spread 18–24 inches per year in Zone 10b. Dymondia is slower—12–16 inches annually—but tolerates foot traffic better. Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) spreads 3–4 feet in 24 months but grows 18–24 inches tall, so it reads as shrub rather than lawn alternative. For fastest coverage, plant on 12-inch centers in October and water weekly through the first spring. By the following summer, gaps shrink to 6 inches or less.
How do I prevent weeds in a no-grass landscape? Install commercial-grade landscape fabric (4-ounce minimum) under all mulch areas before planting. Cut X-shaped slits for each plant, tuck fabric edges under the root ball, then cover with 2 inches of crushed rock or decomposed granite. This blocks 95 percent of annual weeds. The remaining 5 percent—wind-borne seeds that germinate in the mulch layer—hand-pull every 4–6 weeks during the first year. By year two, ground covers shade the soil surface and weed pressure drops to near zero. Never use pre-emergent herbicides on new plantings—they prevent ground covers from rooting and spreading.
What’s the biggest mistake people make switching to no-grass in Long Beach? Underwatering during establishment. Even drought-tolerant natives and succulents need weekly irrigation for the first 8–12 months while roots grow. Many Long Beach homeowners remove turf, plant a succulent palette, run the drip system once, then assume “low-water” means “no water.” By June, half the plants are dead. The solution: install a smart controller, set weekly run times from planting through the first summer, then taper to biweekly in fall and monthly in year two. Once roots reach 18 inches deep—typically month 14—most plants survive on Long Beach’s 13 inches of annual rainfall with zero supplemental irrigation.
Can I combine no-grass ground covers with edible plants? Yes, but separate them by irrigation zone. Succulents and California natives thrive on monthly deep watering after establishment; edibles like citrus, berries, and culinary herbs need consistent moisture spring through fall. Group edibles in raised beds or a dedicated zone with its own drip circuit, then surround them with low-water ornamentals. This approach works well in Long Beach’s climate—you gain year-round citrus production and a 60–70 percent water reduction compared to a uniform turf lawn. For small-yard strategies that integrate edibles, see Small Yard Landscaping Ideas Long Beach CA (2025).}
