Entry No. 2: The Ice Plant Dilemma - Going Slow to Go Safe
THE PROBLEM: ICE PLANT LOOKS GOOD, DOES HARM
When we first visited Sibee in the Garden in January, the west-facing incline was covered in ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) - that bright green succulent ground cover with purple flowers you see all over San Diego slopes.
What property owners see:
Pretty (those purple blooms are showy)
Erosion control (thick mat holds soil on steep slopes)
Low maintenance (no watering, no care needed)
Established (it's been there for years)
What we see:
Invasive species from South Africa that chokes out native plants
Zero value for native pollinators (bees can't even access the nectar)
Blocks ground-nesting bees (the thick mat makes it impossible for bees to dig nest tunnels)
Actively killing the only 2 native buckwheat shrubs on the property
That last one is the urgent issue.
FIRST PRIORITY: SAVE THE BUCKWHEATS
We found two California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs on the incline - survivors that had been there before the ice plant invasion. They were being strangled.
The rescue (completed early March):
Carefully hand-pulled ice plant in a 6 ft radius around each shrub
Worked when soil was moist (ice plant pulls easier, less root damage)
Mulched the cleared areas to prevent ice plant regrowth
Gave each shrub one deep watering
Why this matters: These buckwheat shrubs bloom June-October (observed longer blooms in valley and desert areas) and feed specialist bees that ONLY visit buckwheat. They're also the only established native plants on the property. If we lose them, we start from zero.
Current status: Both shrubs showing new green growth at tips. They'll recover.
THE BIGGER CHALLENGE: 4,000 SQUARE FEET OF ICE PLANT ON A STEEP SLOPE
Here's the tension: We need to remove the ice plant to create habitat for ground-nesting bees and restore native plants. But we can't just rip it all out at once.
The constraints:
Erosion risk: The slope is STEEP (west-facing, approximately 30-35 degrees in places). Remove too much ice plant at once = exposed soil = potential landslide with heavy rain.
Unpredictable rain: San Diego's been getting inconsistent rainfall patterns. One week dry, next week atmospheric river warnings. Hard to plan removal when weather keeps changing.
Time and cost: Charles has to replace the ice plant with something. Native ground covers cost money ($8-15 per plant, we need 90+ plants). Installation takes time. And plants need to establish roots BEFORE the removed ice plant area gets hit with heavy rain.
Fear factor: Charles knows ice plant is invasive, but it's also WORKING as erosion control right now. Removing it feels risky. What if the replacement plants don't establish fast enough? What if we get a big storm?
OUR APPROACH: SLOW AND PHASED
The plan: Remove ice plant in sections, with immediate replanting of native ground covers that provide BOTH erosion control AND pollinator value.
March progress:
Top 1/3 of incline only (~1,300 sq ft)
Remove ice plant in 3-4 ft wide strips running ACROSS the slope (not down it - that prevents water channeling)
Plant erosion-control natives IMMEDIATELY (within 24-48 hours)
Wait and observe through April rains
If slope stays stable and plants establish well, continue to middle section
The native replacements:
We're using California natives that match or exceed ice plant for erosion control while providing food for pollinators:
Primary ground covers:
Ceanothus maritimus (Carmel creeper ceanothus) - Aggressive roots stabilize slopes, white flowers March-May feed mason bees and mining bees
Baccharis pilularis (Dwarf coyote brush) - 6-8 ft spread, blooms September-November (critical fall forage when little else is blooming)
Eriogonum fasciculatum (Prostrate buckwheat) - Flowers June-October, specialist bees depend on it
Key difference from ice plant: These natives provide erosion control PLUS they feed native bees, support ground-nesting (once established, we can create bare soil patches between plants), and create actual ecosystem value instead of just covering dirt.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Completed: ✓ 2 buckwheat shrubs rescued (ice plant cleared, mulched)
✓ Emergency erosion supplies on hand (jute fabric, sandbags, extra mulch)
In progress: → Watching weather forecasts (atmospheric river predicted late March)
→ Beginning top section ice plant removal (very carefully)
→ Charles learning the technique (clear small sections, plant immediately, create mini-berms below each plant to catch water)
Recommend - 40 native plants ordered and staged
Timeline adjustment: We originally planned to clear the full incline by end of April. Now we're saying: Let's get the top third done by end of March, observe through April rains, then reassess.
Better to go slow and maintain slope stability than rush and create erosion problems.
THE EDUCATION PIECE: CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
This project isn't just about removing ice plant. It's about helping property owners see that:
"Pretty" doesn't mean "good" - Ice plant looks nice but provides zero ecological value
Native alternatives exist that do the SAME job (erosion control) while also feeding pollinators
Going slow is okay - Ecological restoration takes time, especially when safety (slope stability) is a factor
Fear is understandable - Removing something that's "working" (even if invasive) feels risky
Charles is experiencing all of this. He WANTS to create native bee habitat. He also doesn't want his slope to slide into his neighbor's yard during a rainstorm.
We're showing him it's possible to do both - but it requires patience, phased approach, and monitoring.
NEXT CHECK-IN: MID-APRIL
By mid-April, we should have:
Top 1/3 of incline cleared and replanted
At least one significant rain event (to test slope stability)
Native ground covers planting
Clear data on whether we can continue to middle section or need to pause
We'll update then with photos, observations, and lessons learned.
For now, the message is: Slow progress is still progress. And keeping the slope stable while transitioning from invasive to native is the right way to do this.
