GreenScape Landscaping & Design

Growing Beauty, Naturally 🌿

2847 NW Evergreen Boulevard, Portland, OR 97210 | Phone: (503) 555-7290
Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional | Licensed Contractor #LCB-9876OR

LANDSCAPE PROPOSAL FOR: Sam
Chico, CA

Date: November 07, 2025 | Project: Native Plant Garden Installation
Designer: Maria Rodriguez, CSLP

2. YOUR VISION

Dear Sam,

We understand your desire to transform your landscape into a vibrant, low-maintenance, and ecologically friendly space. Imagine stepping into a garden that not only captivates with its natural beauty but also thrives in harmony with the local environment, attracting cheerful birds and busy pollinators. Our proposal outlines a beautiful native plant garden that will offer year-round interest, significantly reduce your water consumption, and provide a peaceful sanctuary for you and for local wildlife. This isn't just about planting; it's about cultivating a resilient ecosystem right in your backyard.

3. SITE ASSESSMENT & ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

While a direct site visit has not yet occurred, this proposal is based on general considerations for a typical Chico, CA property, which often features:
- Site conditions: Expecting full sun to partial sun exposure, with potentially clay-heavy or well-drained soils.
- Existing vegetation and landscape: Anticipating the removal of a traditional lawn and possibly some non-native ornamental plants.
- Microclimate considerations: Acknowledging Chico's hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, favoring drought-tolerant and heat-adapted native species.
- Wildlife habitat potential: High potential for attracting diverse local wildlife with appropriate native plantings.
- Water source and conservation opportunities: Significant opportunity for water conservation by replacing turf with drought-tolerant natives and efficient irrigation.
- Native plant region: Our plant palette will focus on California native plants suitable for the Central Valley region, specifically Chico's climate.

4. DESIGN CONCEPT

Our design concept for your property centers on creating a dynamic, naturalistic native plant garden that evokes the beauty of the California landscape.
- Overall aesthetic and feel: A serene, inviting space with layered plantings, natural pathways, and a sense of belonging to the local environment. It will feel lush and vibrant without being water-intensive.
- How it will look through the seasons:
- Spring: Bursting with wildflowers and fresh green growth, attracting early pollinators.
- Summer: Resilient and vibrant, with heat-tolerant blooms and rich textures, providing shade and cool spots.
- Fall: Showcasing warm autumnal colors, berries for birds, and interesting seed heads.
- Winter: Offering structural interest from evergreens and dormant perennials, providing shelter for wildlife.
- Key focal points and features: Consider a meandering decomposed granite pathway, a grouping of sculptural native shrubs, or a small bird bath to enhance wildlife interaction.
- Color palette and texture variety: A harmonious blend of greens, silvers, and seasonal bursts of blues, purples, yellows, and reds, complemented by diverse leaf shapes and plant forms.
- Long-term maturity vision (3-5 years): A fully established, interconnected ecosystem requiring minimal intervention, where plants have filled in to create a dense, weed-suppressing canopy, and wildlife activity is abundant.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

This native plant garden is an investment in your property and the local ecosystem:
- Water Conservation: Estimated to use 70-80% less water than a traditional lawn, leading to significant savings on your water bill.
- Wildlife Habitat: Provides essential food, shelter, and nesting sites for local pollinators (bees, butterflies), beneficial insects, and a variety of bird species, enhancing biodiversity.
- Carbon Sequestration: Native plants, with their deep root systems, improve soil health and store carbon more effectively than turfgrass, contributing to climate resilience.
- Low Maintenance: After establishment, requires significantly less mowing, fertilizing, and pesticide use compared to a conventional landscape.
- Stormwater Management: Dense plantings and healthy soil improve water infiltration, reducing runoff and protecting local waterways from erosion and pollution.
- Biodiversity: Directly contributes to the health of the local ecosystem by supporting a wide array of native flora and fauna, reversing habitat loss.

6. PLANT PALETTE

All plants are California natives or climate-adapted species selected for low water use and wildlife value.

Canopy/Trees:
- Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) - Qty 1 - 15-gallon - Provides spring flowers for pollinators, small stature, attracts birds.
- Quercus lobata (Valley Oak) - Qty 1 - 15-gallon - Keystone species, provides immense habitat, shade, and carbon sequestration (placed strategically for future growth).

Shrub Layer:
- Arctostaphylos 'Howard McMinn' (Manzanita) - Qty 3 - 5-gallon - Evergreen, attractive bark, winter flowers for hummingbirds, drought-tolerant.
- Ceanothus 'Concha' (California Lilac) - Qty 4 - 5-gallon - Stunning blue spring flowers for pollinators, nitrogen fixer, evergreen.
- Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon) - Qty 2 - 5-gallon - Evergreen, white flowers in summer, red berries for birds in winter.
- Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry) - Qty 3 - 5-gallon - Evergreen, adaptable, attracts birds and butterflies.

Perennials & Grasses:
- Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) - Qty 12 - 1-gallon - White blooms spring-fall, attracts beneficial insects, drought-tolerant.
- Penstemon heterophyllus 'Blue Springs' (Foothill Penstemon) - Qty 8 - 1-gallon - Blue/purple blooms spring-summer, attracts hummingbirds and bees.
- Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' (California Sage) - Qty 6 - 1-gallon - Purple blooms spring-summer, highly attractive to bees, fragrant.
- Festuca californica (California Fescue) - Qty 10 - 1-gallon - Clumping native grass, provides texture and movement, seed for birds.
- Stipa pulchra (Purple Needlegrass) - Qty 8 - 1-gallon - State grass of California, graceful, habitat for insects.

Groundcovers:
- Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Point' (Dwarf Coyote Brush) - Qty 15 - 1-gallon - Fast-growing, excellent for erosion control, suppresses weeds.
- Fragaria vesca californica (California Wild Strawberry) - Qty 20 - 4-inch - Edible berries, spreads to 1-2 feet, good for partial shade.

7. INSTALLATION PROCESS

Phase 1: Site Preparation (3-5 days)
a. Mark out garden beds and features according to the approved design.
b. Remove existing lawn and unwanted vegetation using sheet mulching (cardboard, compost, mulch) to suppress weeds and enrich soil. This is a chemical-free approach.
c. Amend soil with high-quality organic compost to improve structure, drainage, and nutrient content.
d. Assess and improve drainage if any areas show signs of water pooling.

Phase 2: Hardscape & Irrigation (2-3 days)
a. Install permeable pathways (e.g., decomposed granite) and natural stone edging as per design.
b. Install a water-efficient drip irrigation system with a smart controller, zoned for different plant water needs.
c. Prepare planting beds with proper contouring for aesthetic and functional purposes.

Phase 3: Planting (3-4 days)
a. Source all plants from reputable local California native plant nurseries to ensure genetic suitability and health.
b. Carefully plant all species according to the design plan, ensuring the "right plant, right place" principle for optimal growth.
c. Arrange plants by water needs (hydrozoning) to maximize irrigation efficiency.
d. Ensure proper spacing to allow for mature size and reduce future overcrowding.

Phase 4: Finishing & Mulching (1-2 days)
a. Apply 3-4 inches of organic, locally sourced mulch (e.g., shredded redwood bark, wood chips) to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
b. Install plant labels for identification and educational purposes (optional, but recommended).
c. Conduct initial establishment watering.
d. Thorough site cleanup, leaving your property pristine.

Estimated Timeline: 2-3 weeks (best planting season: fall or spring)

8. IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT

Our commitment to water conservation is paramount:
- Drip irrigation with smart controller: We will install a highly efficient drip irrigation system paired with a weather-based smart controller. This system automatically adjusts watering schedules based on local weather conditions, plant types, and soil moisture.
- **Zones based on