Vince Scheidt’s San Diego Garden

CNPS Garden Ambassador:  Vince Scheidt

CNPS San Diego Chapter
Garden Location: Front and back yard
Garden Size: 4,300 sqft.
Year Planted: 2000

 

 

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By using some tough-as-nails pioneer natives, I have been able to establish vegetation on otherwise barren slope areas without any soil amendments. This has been a huge challenge, but it has been super rewarding to see the habitat develop.

Vince has been an active member CNPS since 1980. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and is the designated expert for San Diego chapter’s annual plant sale. He lives in San Diego, where he owns a small private environmental consulting firm specializing in biological studies and endangered species surveys.

He enjoys growing hundreds of native plant species, most from seed. Vince’s botanist friend and his own field experience in wild California helped to inspire his garden. His garden is filled with diverse and uncommon native plants, which are both beautiful and require less irrigation and upkeep. Vince’s favorite moments in the garden are watching the summer sunset from his shaded gazebo and the early mornings in the spring.

Vince’s favorite California native plants

About the garden

Garden Location: Front and back yard

Garden Size: 4,300 sqft.

Year Planted: 2000

Lawn Removal: No lawn existed

Design and Installation:  I did both myself

Style Inspiration: Wild California

Go-to Native Plant Nurseries: CNPS Chapter plant sales. Most of my plants a grew from seeds or cuttings.

Irrigation: I only need to hand water on occasion. I do this when I want to spruce things up a bit — wash off foliage. I avoid watering in the hottest days of summer.

Maintenance: On an as-needed basis

Wildlife Spotted: Local birds, butterflies, lizards, and occasional snakes.

Favorite Element: Gazebo

Biggest Challenge:  I have had to deal with difficult soils, including a concrete-like hard pan and ancient marine conglomerates that are basically impossible to grow much on. By using some tough-as-nails pioneer natives, I have been able to establish vegetation on otherwise barren slope areas without any soil amendments. This has been a huge challenge, but it has been super rewarding to see the habitat develop.

Advice: How you plant your native plants is critical. The first thorough ground soaking your new plant receives is the most important watering the plant will ever receive.

California native plants in Vince’s garden

 

Gardening

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