Our Full Landscape Design and Installation Process
Every project begins with a thorough on-site consultation. We visit the property, walk the full space with the homeowner or property manager, and ask the questions that determine what the landscape actually needs to deliver, how the space gets used, what the maintenance expectations are, what design styles resonate, what the budget looks like, and what the existing conditions present in terms of soil type, drainage, sun exposure, and irrigation. That conversation shapes everything that follows, and we don't skip it regardless of how simple a project looks on the surface.
From the site visit we build a complete landscape design plan mapping the entire space, plant placement, groundcover, hardscape elements, irrigation zones, grading, and any drainage solutions the site requires. Seattle properties frequently present grading and drainage challenges given our wet winters, and we factor those into the design plan rather than treating them as separate problems handled after the fact. Water-wise landscape design works best when the entire site is considered as one integrated system rather than a collection of individual elements installed in sequence.
Material sourcing is handled by our team through established relationships with regional nurseries that carry drought-tolerant and native plants, mulch, and hardscape materials proven to perform in our specific climate. We source xeriscape grasses, waterwise shrubs, and xeric garden specimens that establish reliably here and arrive at your property healthy and ready to grow.
Grading, soil preparation, and amendment work happen before planting on every project we install. Seattle's clay-heavy soils require specific preparation that directly affects how well plants establish and how efficiently irrigation reaches root zones. According to Seattle Public Utilities, outdoor watering can represent a significant share of residential water use during peak summer months, a figure that drops measurably once a property is converted to properly designed water-wise landscaping.
Installation proceeds according to the design plan with our own crew handling every phase, from hardscape placement through final planting and irrigation calibration. The project concludes with a thorough walkthrough where we review care requirements for every plant installed and confirm the finished landscape matches what was designed. The Washington State Department of Ecology has noted that summer water demand across the Puget Sound region continues rising as the population grows, making thoughtful landscape design an increasingly practical long-term investment.
