- Main ZIP
- 90810
- Soil Type
- River Sand
- Clay In Topsoil
- 5%
- Sand In Topsoil
- 80%
- Elevation
- 22 to 28 ft
- Miles To The Shore
- 3.1
- Empty Street Tree Sites
- 1,486
- Typical Home Built
- 1949
The Ground In Upper 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 PR, which means parks or public use.
| 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 3.1 miles inland, this area runs warmer and drier than the shore in summer. Plants here use more water, so good coverage and mulch pay back fast under the same three day watering limit.
Census figures for the tracts here put the typical home at about 1949. 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 79 percent of homes in these tracts are owner occupied and about 94 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 1,486 empty street tree sites in this neighborhood. The typical logged parkway there is about 5 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 Upper Westside
Questions We Hear
What kind of soil does Upper 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 Upper 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 Upper 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.