An outdoor spatial design company
A guide for landscape design projects in Berkeley, California
Learn about landscape architecture, residential garden design, financial project planning, and local native plants for Berkeley
Designing landscapes that are site specific and deepen your relationship with the natural world, while utilizing an open creative process and design system. Our work is the intersection of native plant palettes and modern built environments for people to gather.
- 1-4 year engagements
- Renovations and new builds
- Residential and commercial
- Start to finish with project management
- 2-12 month construction phase
- 1k square feet up to 5 acres
- Deep client collaboration
- Starting construction budgets of $125k
- 1-month long design sprint
- Ideal for first time homeowners
- Flexible commitments
- Option to morph into full-service project
- Low risk, high value
- Concept development, spatial plan options, investment outline, and visual directions
- Flat design fee at $10k
- Site discovery, project scope, opportunities/risks analysis, and phasing plan deliverables
- Budget check
- Pre-purchase property due diligence
- Guidance for DIY-ers
- Landscape perspectives for other trades
- Video call or site-visit depending on geography
- Offered at $2k
Programming
Learn from the space that surrounds you in your existing site conditions to gain a deep understanding of the unique vision and desired outcomes.
Schematic
Explore multiple conceptual directions to establish guiding themes for the landscape that inform and set the tone for the story moving forward.
Development
Layer planting and material palettes together with selections that align with the project goals and meets the needs of the local ecosystem.
Documentation
Communicate the design intent thoughtfully through a set of organized plans to guide the installation of the future outdoor space.
Seamless project delivery with our network of suppliers for plant material, lighting fixtures, and outdoor furniture. Ensuring the original design intent is brought to life.
Partnering with landscape contractors, we stay involved through the installation with multiple site visits during the project lifecycle. Often engaging with arborists, electricians, permitting specialists, and plumbers in Berkeley, California.
You can never really finish a garden. On-going maintenance services through our community of gardeners. For those who would like to care for their garden themselves, we are happy to provide guidance and resources.
Berkeley Local California Native Plants
Berkeley Climate for Gardening
Marine‑tempered with strong west–east gradient. Cooler, foggier near the flats and warmer, drier in the hills—good for combining coastal perennials with heat‑loving edibles upslope.
25–26 in/year
Average Lowest Temperature
44°F
Average Highest Temperature
75°F
Heatwave Days
0–2 days/yr near the flats
Hills may see a few more during hot spells
17 along the flats and bayside
16–17 transition in exposed hills
USDA Zone
10a–10b near the flats and bayside
9b–10a in higher/colder hills
Terrain Notes
Bayfront flats with heavier clay give way to steeper, rockier hills with thinner soils.Plan for drainage and erosion control on slopes, and maintain ember‑resistant defensible space and clearances in WUI areas.
Sharing as much information as possible about landscape design costs, we hope to empower everyone to better strategize and prioritize their investments, creating a more balanced approach to budgeting for your home projects. We understand that the cost of landscape projects can sometimes be surprising and create challenges when it comes to budgeting. That's why we believe being transparent about our process and fees is the natural path forward for each project.
Balancing Priorities
Budgeting can be challenging, especially when there are tangential priorities such as the home buying process itself, interior design projects, kitchen and bathroom remodels, backyard ADUs, and other home renovations that can often take priority over the garden.
You're mainly investing in two things.
- The creative experience of design, which comes to life through the Design Process that we’ll go through together in a collaborative nature.
- The end result of the garden, which currently is represented in the Scope of Work that manifests into the landscape and outdoor living space that you’ll inhabit on a daily basis.
Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that this is a substantial investment. Talking about money can be tricky for a variety of reasons, but we believe that having an open dialog is the best practice. By gaining clarity into what landscape projects can require financially, you’ll be better prepared for putting together a cohesive financial plan.
When should I start my landscape project with the seasons and climate of Berkeley?
How much does it cost to do a landscape design project in Berkeley?
Do I need a permit for landscape projects in Berkeley?
Can I renovate my landscape in Berkeley?
Does Berkeley require using California native plants?
Do you need to use drought tolerant plants in Berkeley?
What landscape design styles are popular with Berkeley homeowners?
What are common features of Berkeley landscapes?
Do you only work in Berkeley?
How much does it cost to do a landscape design project in Berkeley?
Do I need a permit for landscape projects in Berkeley?
Can I renovate my landscape in Berkeley?
Does Berkeley require using California native plants?
Do you need to use drought tolerant plants in Berkeley?
What landscape design styles are popular with Berkeley homeowners?
What are common features of Berkeley landscapes?
Do you only work in Berkeley?