Landscaping in Bluff Park, Long Beach. Call (562) 551-8873

Main ZIP: 90803
Soil Type: Terrace Loam
Clay In Topsoil: 18%
Sand In Topsoil: 38%
Elevation: 4 to 52 ft
Miles To The Shore: 0.2
Empty Street Tree Sites: 507
Typical Home Built: 1954

Bluff Park on the city neighborhood map

The Ground In Bluff Park

Dark crumbly loam on a spade with fine roots

USDA maps this as Windfetch and Typic Haploxerolls, well drained loam with about 10 to 18 percent clay. Most of the points we checked are zoned P, which means parks or public use.

Parts of Bluff Park map differently too, with Beach Sand showing up at other points we sampled. One block can differ from the next.

USDA soil parts mapped here, surface layer
Soil	Share Of Map Unit	Clay	Sand	pH	Drainage
Windfetch	25%	18%	38%	7.2	Well drained
Typic Haploxerolls	15%	10%	45%	7.8	Well drained

What That Means For Your Yard

Well drained loam suits most plants, so plant choice is wide open.
USDA shows some salt in the surface layer, so a soil test is smart before you plant anything sensitive.
Most yards here have decades of old roots, so hand dig near mature trees.

The city flood map shows FEMA zone AE at points we sampled here, which marks ground with mapped flood risk. Plan drainage around that, and check your own parcel before you regrade.

Weather And Homes

At about 0.2 miles from the open shore, this area gets the steady salt air and marine layer. Foggy mornings cut how much water plants use, so a schedule copied from inland yards will overwater here.

Census figures for the tracts here put the typical home at about 1954. 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.

Only about 28 percent of homes in these tracts are houses, and about 32 percent are owner occupied. That points to shared courtyards, parkways and building fronts, where a steady route and a clear scope often beat a big one time job.

Historic District Rules Here

Bluff Park Historic District

About 68 percent of the neighborhood map falls inside this district. Lots are large, front yards are large and the planting strip is wide. The guideline says front yard fencing should not be installed because so few homes have it. Rear fences are fine. Keep the driveway size and spot, and repair old walkways before you replace them. Read the city guideline.

The city says plantings are typically not reviewed, but fences and site changes need a Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit. See how that works.

Your Parkway And Street Trees

A city tree inventory logged 507 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 Bluff Park

Questions We Hear

What kind of soil does Bluff Park have?

USDA maps this as Windfetch and Typic Haploxerolls, well drained loam with about 10 to 18 percent clay. It is also rated well 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 Bluff Park 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 Bluff Park?

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.

Next Door To Bluff Park

Where These Facts Come From

Landscaping In Bluff Park