Lawn to Garden Conversion in Long Beach, California: Fast Turnaround on a Sustainable Front Yard
In this project spotlight, a young family in Long Beach, CA traded in their water-thirsty front lawn for a vibrant California native plant garden. This lawn to garden conversion in Long Beach, CA wasn’t just a landscaping upgrade—it was a move toward sustainability, pollinator support, and water conservation.
Completed in April 2025, the 323 square-foot transformation proves that even small spaces can make a big ecological impact when designed by an experienced native garden landscaper.
Why this Lawn Replacement in Long Beach, CA Made Sense for a Growing Family
For this new dad, the goal was clear: create a yard that aligned with the values of conservation and ecological restoration. Although their green lawn “looked nice,” it demanded constant watering and produced yard waste they no longer wanted to deal with—especially with a new baby in the family.
That ongoing water use adds up, especially in Southern California.
→ See how smart landscape design can reduce your water bill in California.
This lawn replacement in Long Beach, CA tapped into the city’s powerful rebate stack: the Lawn‑to‑Garden Program ($3/sq ft) and the Native Plants Parkway Program. And with California’s AB1572 legislation discouraging non-functional turf, there’s never been a better time to replace lawn with native, drought-tolerant landscaping.
Before: a conventional, patchy lawn that required regular watering and mowing
After: a native garden that uses significantly less water
=> Use our Water Savings Calculator to learn how much water you could save with one of our designs.
About the Lawn-to-Garden Rebate Program in Long Beach, CA
Before we dive into this front yard’s transformation, let’s break down the Long Beach Lawn-to-Garden (L2G) Rebate Program and how homeowners can qualify.
What are the Incentives for the Long Beach Lawn-to-Garden (L2G) Rebate Program?
The Long Beach Utilities Department (LBUD) offers the following incentives for replacing your lawn with native landscaping:
$3.00 per square foot for lawn removed (up to 5,000 sq ft)
Up to $1,500 reimbursed for the cost of a professional landscape design
$100 per tree installed as part of the Lawn to Garden Program project, with a maximum of five trees ($500 per application per year).
How to Qualify for the Lawn-to-Garden (L2G) Rebate Program in Long Beach
To qualify for the lawn conversion rebate in Long beach, new projects must include:
- The use of low-water California native and/or California-friendly plants
- At least 65% plant coverage in the re-landscaped area (at plant maturity)
- A stormwater retention feature such as a dry riverbed, swale, rain garden, or berm
- Habitat development that supports pollinators and local wildlife
- An efficient irrigation system, such as drip, bubblers, or microspray (no spray heads)
- Mulch or natural groundcover materials to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Important to note:
Synthetic turf is not allowed and will disqualify your project from rebate eligibility.
To receive the rebate, you must apply and receive pre-approval before beginning any work.
Your project must pass a final inspection once completed to receive funding.
→ Start your project with a native landscape designer who understands Long Beach’s rebate program, to ensure you qualify for the rebate.
How to Get Free Native Plants in Long Beach
Native Plant Parkway Program
The Native Plant Parkway Program helps Long Beach residents replant their parkways (the strip between sidewalk and street) with California native plants, and includes:
- Free native plants and a planting plan tailored to your site
- No-cost support with plant selection and layout
- Guidance on removing existing turf in the parkway area
How Water Efficient Gardens Helps Long Beach Homeowners to Qualify for the L2G Rebate
In this project, our client utilized both of the above programs to maximize their impact and savings. We designed a small front yard with 100% native plants, met all rebate requirements, and even worked under a compressed 2-week installation deadline.
If you want to ensure you qualify for the rebate, too, contact Water Efficient Gardens.
We can provide you with the following services to give you peace of mind that you’ll qualify for the Long Beach L2G rebate:
Rebate application assistance
Custom native garden designs by experts
Installation assistance
Designing a Pollinator-Friendly Native Garden with Long Beach Turf Rebates
When it comes to drought-tolerant landscaping, small yards can still deliver big ecological value. It all comes down to strategic plant choices and smart design.
→ Learn more in our guide to water-wise gardening in California.
As a trusted native garden landscaper in Long Beach, CA, our team at Water Efficient Gardens designed a modern, 100% native plant palette that supports biodiversity and works with Long Beach’s rebate programs.
Key Native Plants for Long Beach Gardens
Below is are two native California plants we installed in our client’s Long Beach native garden:
California Fuchsia — a hummingbird favorite with vivid red blooms through late summer to winter.
- Common Yarrow — soft foliage with white flowers that attract a wide range of pollinators.
After: A dry riverbed weaves through California native plants in a Long Beach, CA yard
→ Take Our Garden Design Style Quiz to see what pollinator-friendly garden design suits you!
Solving Tree + Privacy Challenges in a Small Long Beach Front Yard
This lawn-to-garden conversion in Long Beach, CA came with a design puzzle: four existing olive trees along the fence.
Their Problem:
One was thriving but outgrowing its spot; two were scraggly yet offered unique character and privacy.
Our Solution:
Relocate the healthiest olive tree to the center of the yard to frame views.
Retain the others to maintain privacy and add sculptural interest.
The Result
The homeowners loved the outcome—proof that strategic edits can elevate a small-space design.
After: Creative reuse of existing olive trees + new natives improves the view and privacy
Two Weeks to Finish: Navigating Life Events and Long Beach Landscape Rebate Deadlines
Life happened—fast. The clients welcomed a new baby, then a family member lost their home in the Altadena fires.
→ Learn about the elements of firescaping in California.
The project paused, and they requested an extension from the City of Long Beach—granted generously. Once they were ready, they gave us just two weeks to finish plant sourcing, contractor coordination, and installation.
Because of our experience with Long Beach’s turf replacement programs and our reliable contractor network, we delivered on time. We also reduced our installation assistance fee by 29% to support the family during a tough period.
⏱️ Tight deadline? Schedule a Free Consultation — we can help you hit rebate timelines.
Result: a 100% Native, Drought-Tolerant Front Yard the Family Loves
The final landscape is a low-water, low-maintenance, 100% native front yard with year-round habitat value for birds, bees, and butterflies. No more mowing. No more wasted water. Just a thriving, resilient space that reflects Long Beach’s shift toward sustainable, AB1572-aligned landscaping.
Lawn Conversion Testimonial from the Long Beach Homeowners:
The Long Beach homeowners were thrilled, sharing this review on our Google Business Profile:
“Shelkie was wonderful, I would highly recommend if you are considering converting your lawn to a drought tolerant garden and trying to follow the city of Long Beach's strict guidelines. She was super easy to work with, reasonable pricing, fast turn around for the designs and gave us a nice polished packet to submit to the city. She also helped connect us with a landscaper who installed all the plants, drip system and dry river bed/rocks. Overall we were very pleased and would recommend working with her!”
➡️ Meet Shelkie Tao, Founder & CEO of Water Efficient Gardens.
Ready for Your Own Lawn-to-Garden Conversion in Long Beach, CA?
If you’re thinking about replacing your Long Beach lawn with a drought-tolerant, native garden, Water Efficient Gardens makes the process easy.
From custom garden design to rebate assistance and installation, we handle everything so you can enjoy a beautiful, water-wise landscape without the hassle.
We specialize in lawn-to-garden conversions in Long Beach, California, and throughout the Los Angeles area. See how much you can save and how effortlessly your yard can be transformed into a sustainable oasis: