- Main ZIP
- 90810
- Soil Type
- River Sand
- Clay In Topsoil
- 5%
- Sand In Topsoil
- 80%
- Elevation
- 9 to 15 ft
- Miles To The Shore
- 2.1
- Empty Street Tree Sites
- 157
- Typical Home Built
- 1977
The Ground In Lower Westside
USDA maps this as Metz and Pico soils, laid down by rivers. Metz runs about 80 percent sand. Most of the points we checked are zoned R-2-N, which means duplex style housing.
| Soil | Share Of Map Unit | Clay | Sand | pH | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metz | 20% | 5% | 80% | 7.6 | Somewhat excessively drained |
| Pico | 15% | 8% | 50% | 7.6 | Well drained |
What That Means For Your Yard
- Sandy river soil drains fast, so lawns dry out at the edges first. Check sprinkler overlap before you add more water.
- Compost pays off here because this soil holds little water or food.
- It digs easily, which makes planting and trenching cheaper than on clay.
Plants That Tend To Fit Here
- Salvia
- Buckwheat
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Yarrow
- Palo verde
Weather And Homes
About 2.1 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 1977. Newer tracts often have builder soil, tight side yards and shared rules. Check any HOA papers before you pick plants, though California law limits how far an HOA can go against low water yards.
About 33 percent of homes in these tracts are owner occupied and about 36 percent are houses. With a mix like that, low care plantings are often the better buy on a rental, while an owner may want more.
Your Parkway And Street Trees
A city tree inventory logged 157 empty street tree sites in this neighborhood. The typical logged parkway there is about 6 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 Lower Westside
Questions We Hear
What kind of soil does Lower Westside have?
USDA maps this as Metz and Pico soils, laid down by rivers. Metz runs about 80 percent sand. It is also rated somewhat excessively 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 Lower Westside 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 Lower Westside?
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.