Landscape design and installation in San Diego starts with water: plans group plants by water need, use drip irrigation, and favor Mediterranean and California native plants that handle about 10 inches of rain a year. Fall is generally the best time to plant. Larger permitted projects may need to meet California's water-efficient landscape rules.
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In San Diego, a landscape plan has to start with water. The region averages roughly 10 inches of rain a year, most of it between November and March, so nearly every planted yard depends on irrigation for at least part of the year. A good designer looks at how much sun and wind the yard gets, whether you are near the coast or in a hotter inland valley, how the soil drains, and whether your lot borders a canyon or open space where fire rules apply.
What a design and installation project usually includes
- Site visit and conversation. Your goals, budget, how much upkeep you want, and problem areas such as a dead lawn, a bare slope or runoff onto the sidewalk.
- Plan or sketch. Anything from a marked-up photo to a scaled drawing with a plant list and irrigation layout. Ask what is included before you agree.
- Removal and soil prep. Taking out old turf or weeds, loosening compacted soil, and adding compost to planting areas where it is needed.
- Hardscape, grading and irrigation first. Walls, paths, drainage and drip lines go in before plants so they aren't damaged.
- Planting and mulching. Plants set at the right depth and a layer of mulch to hold moisture, keeping in mind fire rules close to the house.
- Establishment watering. Even drought-tolerant plants need regular water for their first year or so until roots spread.
Plants that suit San Diego
Much of coastal San Diego falls in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, while inland valleys and canyons get colder nights and occasional frost. Mediterranean-climate plants and California natives handle the long dry season well once established. Examples many local designers use include toyon, lemonadeberry, Cleveland sage, deer grass and coffeeberry. Group plants by water need so each irrigation zone can be scheduled to match.
Avoid plants that spread into canyons and wildlands. The California Invasive Plant Council lists pampasgrass, crimson fountain grass, giant reed (Arundo), Carpobrotus iceplant and Mexican fan palm among the problem plants for Southern California, and suggests alternatives for each.
State and local rules that can apply
- Water efficiency rules. California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), as adopted by your city, generally applies to new landscapes of 500 square feet or more and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more when the project needs a permit, plan check or design review. Ask your designer whether your project triggers it.
- Fire zones. Homes in very high fire hazard areas have defensible space rules, and the City of San Diego now calls for a mostly noncombustible area within five feet of structures. See our fire-safe landscaping guide.
- Contractor licensing. In California, landscape installation of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit, requires a contractor license. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) issues the C-27 Landscaping classification.
Timing
Fall is generally the best time to plant in San Diego. Soil is still warm, days are cooler, and winter rains help new roots grow before the hot, dry months. Spring planting works but needs closer watering through summer. Design work can happen any time, and late summer is a good time to plan so you're on a schedule for fall.
Questions to ask a landscape company
- What is your CSLB license number and classification? (Check it on the CSLB website.)
- Is design included, or is it a separate fee?
- Will the plan qualify for any rebate my water agency offers, and who handles the paperwork?
- Do you guarantee plants, and for how long?
- Can you provide a certificate of insurance and photos of similar projects?
When you're ready, request a landscaping company and describe the area you want to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does my landscaper need a license in California?
Yes, for most installation work. CSLB requires a contractor license for landscaping jobs of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit. The C-27 Landscaping classification is the common one. Check the license number on the CSLB website.
What are good low-water plants for San Diego yards?
Many California natives and Mediterranean-climate plants work well once established, such as toyon, lemonadeberry, Cleveland sage, deer grass and coffeeberry. Match each plant to your sun and to whether you are coastal or inland, and avoid invasive plants listed by the California Invasive Plant Council.
Does California's water-efficient landscape ordinance apply to my yard?
It generally applies to new landscapes of 500 square feet or more, and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more, when the project needs a permit, plan check or design review. Your city enforces its own version, so ask your city or designer.
Sources and further reading
- City of San Diego Public Utilities: water use restrictions
- City of San Diego: cross-connection control and backflow prevention
- City of San Diego: guide to brush management for property owners
- City of San Diego Development Services: retaining wall information bulletin
- Contractors State License Board: choosing a landscape contractor
- Contractors State License Board: minor work exemption increase (AB 2622)
- California Department of Water Resources: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
- California Department of Pesticide Regulation: is your landscaper licensed?
- San Diego County Water Authority: rebates
- County of San Diego: Waterscape rebate program
- UC IPM Guide to Healthy Lawns
- California Invasive Plant Council: Don't Plant a Pest (Southern California)
- National Weather Service San Diego: climate of San Diego
- SDG&E: call 811 before you dig
- EPA WaterSense