How it Works: Our Landscape Design Process

Our process combines the convenience of online landscape design with optional on-site collaboration for larger or more complex projects.

Residential Projects Commercial & HOA Projects

Our Landscape Design Process is Trusted & Certified

Palo Alto Online logo Save Our Water logo QWEL certification logo Santa Clara Watershed Watch logo
Partner Valley Water
Membership California Native Plant Society

Residential Clients: Online Yard Design in 4 Easy Steps!

1

Tell Us What You Like

Take the garden style quiz

2

Show Us Your Space

Take some photos and measurements of your yard, and tell us what you want in the design.

3

Review and Finalize Your Design

We will work with you to develop concepts, choose the one you like, and create the final design.

4

Bring Your New Yard to Life

Based on the package selected, you may be connected with a recommended contractor.

GET STARTED
The Residential Design Process Typically Takes 3–10 Weeks

Week 0

Design starts.

Weeks 1-3

Two different design concepts and some initial plant choices will be presented. Pick the concept you like best. There may be several rounds of revisions.

Weeks 3-10

Finalized design plan with full plant list will be delivered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Water Efficient Gardens is an online landscape design service that helps you design beautiful water efficient, eco-friendly landscapes that support biodiversity. We are experts in native and drought-tolerant landscaping design, and have helped numerous homeowners transform their yards into attractive spaces filled with local plants that support wildlife.

Water efficiency, and sustainability are at the core of all our designs. We tend to use native and drought-tolerant plants in our designs, and avoid harmful or unsustainable materials. We integrate modern technology as much as possible to improve the efficiency and accessibility of our services.

Our online design services for water efficient landscaping are available in all 50 states. Deluxe packages with onsite services are also available in California and certain markets.

Clients first select and customize a design package using our online checkout process. Once submitted, clients will receive an email with a link for you to upload photos of your yard and measurements. A designer will then contact you to get a clear sense of your project goals . In approximately three weeks you will receive a conceptual design. We then integrate your feedback into a finalized design package and deliver it as PDF. If our “Online Deluxe” package is purchased, we will work with the nursery to order the plants (plant costs and delivery billed separately), and provide consultation during the installation process.

We work with all kinds of properties. We are HOA-friendly and have experience working with homeowners and Homeowners Associations. From smaller yards to large estates, we can help.

Our designs include most of the common elements in a landscaping project: softscaping (i.e. plants, trees), hardscaping (i.e. pavers), structures (i.e pergola/gazebo), raised beds, lighting, play space, water wise lawn and more.

These are not included in our scope of work: 1) Detailed construction drawings for any site structure or installation specifications; 2)Actual construction or installation of the design.

Yes, every design is customized to the client’s yard's conditions, garden style, plant preferences and other factors. If we use native plants in your design, we will use plants as specific to your locality as possible.

Absolutely! After we come up with the initial conceptual designs, we work with clients to gain feedback. Depending on the package you purchase, we will also have meetings with you to collect your inputs.

With the severe drought conditions in the US West, many cities and water agencies provide rebates for homeowners to remove their lawn and replace it with drought tolerant landscaping. For many cities the rebates range from $2-4/sq ft, so for a 1,000 sq ft lawn you may receive a $2000 - 4000 rebate after the project is complete. Water Efficient Gardens has been helping homeowners apply for and receive Landscape Conversion rebates from day one. If you want to apply for the rebate, for a small cost ($250) we can submit the application for you; we ensure that the plants and overall design are compliant with the rebate requirements and submit all the design information required. After the project is complete, we submit photos and other necessary information for review and approval so that you can receive your rebate.

We will always keep the budget in mind throughout the design process and use it as a guidance when we consider material alternatives. We can also do a phased approach. Some of our clients are interested in “DIY” installation, which we also support, and we can also provide information and guidance if you decide to go the DIY route.

If you have purchased our Deluxe package (available in California and certain markets - ask us for more information), we can recommend contractors for most of the projects we design.

Yes! You can go with a contractor of your choice.

The designs provide a blueprint or vision for the project; the final outcome will depend on plant availability, contractor's installation, etc.

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What Clients Say

We are so happy with our yard! We weren’t sure what we wanted at first, but we were drawn to the designer's unique and colorful designs. She has a great eye for mixing different colors and textures of plants, and she designed a completely California native yard that has something in bloom year-round. We have received so many compliments from neighbors since installing our new yard. Having Water Efficient Gardens manage the reimbursement process with the county was also really wonderful. She knows how the department works and submitted everything they requested very quickly. We received our reimbursement with no issues not too long after our yard was complete.

- Megan S.

It was the best decision to work with Shelkie to have it redone with a rain garden that would attract bees and butterflies. She worked with a few plants I had already in place that I did want to keep, and put in native plants that are low maintenance and water sparing. I told her what was important to me and she made the whole process easy and worked to find the best fit. After she created the design, she arranged for a landscaper to carry out her plans, and oversaw the whole project. She also facilitated the process for getting a water rebate.

It has been 3 years now and I still get comments from people passing by about how well done the yard is. It still makes me happy when I look out at the yard, especially when something is in bloom, which Shelkie staggered plants to do for several months of the year. Very reasonable cost for what was done, especially with the water rebate. Wish I had done it sooner!

- Helen C.

We recently converted our lawn to drought tolerant plants. Working with Water Efficient Gardens was easy. They handled the paperwork for the rebates and brought in a contractor to install the plants and irrigation. They created a low-maintenance design with a rain garden. Highly recommend!

- Nancy L.

Working with Shelkie Tao has been a joy start to finish! She crafted us a beautiful, low-maintenance, water-efficient California natives garden in a palette that reflects our tastes and with plants that fit the precise needs of our soil conditions and space. Throughout the process, she was endlessly responsive -- always willing to answer our questions and to share her deep native plants expertise. Her Lawn Replacement Rebate Assistance program made interfacing with Valley Water so easy and we were delighted to have each step of our project quickly approved. It's been three months since installation, and already -- in the middle of winter! -- our garden is growing and blooming and the lovely rain garden feature handled our recent storms beautifully. We've already had monarch caterpillars munching on our milkweeds! We have gotten so many compliments on our front yard's transformation and we've learned so much from Shelkie. She has a passion for California's wonderful native plant heritage that is absolutely infectious! We recommend her with greatest enthusiasm and can't wait to work with her again!

- Elizabeth J.

Where We Have Been Featured

Memberships & Partnerships

Certifications

Green Gardner
Greywater Installer Certificate
Commercial Clients: How Our Process Works

Commercial landscape projects often involve multiple stakeholders, planning and regulatory considerations, as well as long-term maintenance goals. At Water Efficient Gardens, we use a structured online design process led by a human team of experts.

This process allows organizations to efficiently move from early ideas to a clear landscape plan. Our streamlined approach makes it easier for commercial clients to coordinate planning, budgeting, and installation while incorporating native, water-efficient landscape strategies.

Our Online Design Process in 4 Steps

Step 1
1

Share Your Project Goals

Tell us about your property and the outcomes you want to achieve.

Commercial clients often seek guidance around:

  • water conservation strategies
  • lower maintenance landscapes
  • modernizing outdated landscapes
  • improving drainage or stormwater flow
  • creating outdoor gathering spaces
  • adding native plants or pollinator habitat

Understanding these goals early helps ensure the design reflects both aesthetic and operational priorities.

Step 2
2

Provide Site Photos and Property Details

Next, we gather information about your site.

You’ll provide:

  • photos of the property
  • measurements & layout information
  • existing landscape features
  • areas that may require improvement

Commercial properties often include additional considerations such as:

  • drainage patterns
  • irrigation systems
  • outdoor seating areas
  • walkways & access points

This information helps us understand how the landscape functions today and how it could improve.

Step 3
3

Review and Refine Your Designs

Our design team prepares landscape designs based on your goals and site conditions. These designs may explore different approaches to:

  • planting strategies
  • spatial layout
  • outdoor use areas
  • water-efficient landscape features

You will review the designs and provide your detailed input, and we will make the necessary revisions to ensure the final plan is complete and fully reflects your priorities.

Step 4
4

Use Your Design to Plan Installation

Once your design is finalized, you’ll receive a detailed plan that can be used to guide installation.

The design package may include:

  • planting layouts
  • plant lists
  • spatial planning
  • recommendations for water-efficient landscape strategies

Commercial clients often share the final design with their existing landscape contractors or property management teams. For some projects, we may also connect clients with recommended installation professionals.

Typical Design Timeline

The commercial design process typically takes 4–12 weeks, depending on scope.

Week 0

Project kickoff and site information review.

Weeks 1-4

Initial design concepts and plant selections are presented.

Weeks 4-12

Final design plan and full plant list are delivered. Projects with larger properties or more stakeholders may require additional coordination time.

Organizations We Commonly Work With

Our process is well suited for organizations managing outdoor spaces such as:

  • HOAs & residential communities
  • property managers
  • developers
  • schools & campuses
  • nonprofit organizations
  • hospitality properties
  • corporate campuses
  • municipalities
  • institutions

These projects often require balancing aesthetics, sustainability, and maintenance considerations.

Why Commercial Clients Appreciate this Process

Traditional landscape design can require multiple site meetings and extended timelines.

Our online design workflow allows organizations to move through planning more efficiently while still receiving a thoughtful, site-informed design.

Benefits include:

  • clear design documentation
  • efficient communication
  • flexibility for stakeholder input
  • integration of water-efficient strategies
Ready to Start Planning Your Project?

If your organization is exploring sustainable landscaping improvements to an outdoor space, we can help guide the planning process.

Many organizations begin by reviewing our services to understand what types of landscape improvements are possible for their property. Choose the service category that most closely applies to you:

HOA Landscaping Commercial Landscaping Institutional Landscaping