- Main ZIP
- 90815
- Soil Type
- Low Flats
- Clay In Topsoil
- 20%
- Sand In Topsoil
- 35%
- Elevation
- 15 to 18 ft
- Miles To The Shore
- 2.5
- Empty Street Tree Sites
- 1,926
- Typical Home Built
- 1951
The Ground In Los Altos South
USDA maps this as Biscailuz and drained Hueneme soils, about 15 to 20 percent clay and rated somewhat poorly drained. Most of the points we checked are zoned R-1-N, which means single family.
Parts of Los Altos South map differently too, with Sandy Loam Flats showing up at other points we sampled. One block can differ from the next.
| Soil | Share Of Map Unit | Clay | Sand | pH | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biscailuz | 20% | 20% | 35% | 7.8 | Somewhat poorly drained |
| Hueneme | 15% | 15% | 60% | 8 | Somewhat poorly drained |
What That Means For Your Yard
- Low spots stay wet longer here, so grade the yard away from the house before you plant.
- A rain garden or dry creek bed fits this soil well, and it also meets a Lawn to Garden requirement.
- The soil runs alkaline, so test it before you buy plants that want acid soil.
Plants That Tend To Fit Here
- Deer grass
- Yarrow
- Western redbud
- Coffeeberry
- Monkey flower
- Juncus
Weather And Homes
About 2.5 miles from the shore, the area gets a cool sea breeze most days without the worst of the salt. Most plants that struggle right on the sand do fine here.
Census figures for the tracts here put the typical home at about 1951. Many yards from that era still have their first sprinkler lines and foundation shrubs, and much of that is ready to go. Replacing old lines at the same time you redo a bed saves a second dig.
About 65 percent of homes in these tracts are owner occupied and about 84 percent are houses. For an owner staying put, a yard change that lowers the water bill for years can make sense even with a higher start cost.
Your Parkway And Street Trees
A city tree inventory logged 1,926 empty street tree sites in this neighborhood. The typical logged parkway there is about 7 feet wide. If one is in front of your place, the city runs a free street tree program. Ask for a parkway tree before you plan the rest of the strip.
Your parkway follows the same city rule as the rest of Long Beach. Fake turf is out, and street trees belong to the city, so trimming one takes a Public Works permit. If you still have living lawn there, Long Beach Utilities runs a free native plant parkway kit.
Popular Work In Los Altos South
Questions We Hear
What kind of soil does Los Altos South have?
USDA maps this as Biscailuz and drained Hueneme soils, about 15 to 20 percent clay and rated somewhat poorly drained. It is also rated somewhat poorly drained. Your own yard may differ, especially if soil was brought in, so a test is cheap insurance.
Can I put artificial turf in my Los Altos South parkway?
No. City code limits parkways to living plants plus permeable materials such as mulch, decomposed granite or pavers on sand, and those must cover under half of the strip. Turf is allowed in the front yard itself.
What days can I water in Los Altos South?
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m., for up to 10 minutes per station, under the Level 1 rules from Long Beach Utilities.