Phases of a
Landscaped Site
Longevity of horticultural assets is dependent upon informed decision making and industry standard practices in each phase.
This is a simplified representation of the life cycle of a landscaped site, from an idea to eventual replacement. Landscape maintenance and management is the longest phase, hopefully decades! Costs of annual landscape maintenance will outpace design and construction costs in a matter of years.
Project in the planning, design, construction or warranty phase?
Explore landscape services for developing sites including WUCOLS plant selection, MWELO audits, project monitoring, and maintenance impact statements.
Project in the maintenance and long term management phase?
Explore landscape services for existing sites including contractor QA management, irrigation tuning, plant diagnostics, and asset inventory.
Landscape Services for Developing Sites
Landscaping for long-term benefits. Rest assured your site's living assets will bring lasting value through informed oversight across all initial phases.
Planning Phase
Protect your investment by utilizing a long term maintenance and sustainability perspective before breaking ground.
Installation Phase
On-site owner's representative to be your eyes in the field when landscape construction and planting projects are underway.
Warranty Phase
Ensure your landscape is what you have paid for before turnover is completed and your contractor warranty expires.
Plant Selection
Horticultural expertise to guide plant choices
Using the right plant in the right place the first time is the cornerstone of a thriving site. Plants selected in this phase determine the sustainability of the landscape for decades to come. We choose planting palettes that are appropriate for our clients' sites, are water wise and less maintenance intensive than traditional landscapes. We also conduct Landscape Architectural reviews for communities to comply with CC&R's.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Plant selection using research based WUCOLS
- Allow for phased renovation projects by developing community wide planting lists
- Slash water consumption with waterwise plants hydrozoned together
- Reduce hedging and redundant tasks with low maintenance plants
- Placement for size at plant maturity reduces yearly maintenance costs
- Create year round interest with foliage, texture, fruit and flowers
- Get rebate cash swapping out your small, unused turf areas with sustainable plantings
Turnover Inspections
Phasing from landscape installation to warranty and maintenance
Get what you have paid for and make certain your site is acceptable for ongoing maintenance. Botanicon represents owners, managers and landscape architects on newly installed landscapes or where site maintenance contractors are being changed. Prior to warranty or contract expiration, we conduct a detailed inspection and address measures for correction prior to site turnover for maintenance.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Take an inventory of your site's living and irrigation assets
- Inspect for plant health and establish baseline conditions
- Audit the irrigation system to ensure uniform coverage
- Provide punch lists and follow up to guarantee completion
- Provide a site specific Landscape Maintenance Manual
Irrigation Auditing
Comply with MWELO and Use Water Efficiently
Verify your irrigation system operates in accordance with architectural plans and the Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) as required for occupancy permits. Existing landscapes can also make informed retrofits and upgrades based on actual operation and data from an irrigation audit. Our independent auditing service documents the performance of your irrigation delivery system to allow for maximum conservation of water resources.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Verify landscape project operates under the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA)
- Save on water bills with optimized controller runtime schedules
- Receive a customized checklist for System Maintenance and BMPs
- Account for site specific soil type, slopes, exposure and plant microclimates
- Direct strategic irrigation upgrades with water use data
Project Monitoring
Peace of mind knowing your project is going according to plan
Save time in the field by receiving reports on installation progress. Botanicon is a licensed C-27 landscape contractor providing third party oversight on behalf of our clients. We inspect and report back to project owners, managers and landscape architects to ensure sites are being installed according to approved plans, construction specifications and accepted industry standards during every step of the process.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Schedule inspection checkpoints at designated milestones
- Inspect container nursery stock for quality, root bound conditions & pests
- Protect native soils from over compaction and contamination
- Verify irrigation controller setup and baseline runtimes
- Receive regular photographic field progress reports
- Punch lists, timelines and completion follow up
LEED and SITES Projects
Horticultural consulting for sustainable projects
Sustainable landscapes provide ecosystem benefits and economic advantages in part because they use less resources for long term management. Design for good maintenance by having seasoned experts in landscape maintenance on your team. Botanicon works with project teams seeking LEED and SITES certification, or those who just want to implement sustainable landscape strategies. Our consultation services as a LEED Green Associate are rendered on behalf of owners and project team members.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Water budget calculation and MWELO compliance documentation
- Planting density and spacing tailored for long term maintenance
- Tree protection zones and soil preservation oversight
- Emphasis on native and climate adapted biodiversity
- Maintenance workforce education and written guidelines
- Integration of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles
Maintenance Impact Statement
Generate estimated future maintenance costs
Long term site maintenance costs are directly correlated to the design. Botanicon develops maintenance impact statements from landscape plans and specifications for maintenance prior to design completion and site construction. Knowing how much annual landscape maintenance services will impact our clients' budget before the site is installed is a powerful planning tool.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Be prepared with a maintenance budget to carry your site into the future
- Flexibility to adjust landscape design to fit your maintenance budget
- Support your maintenance budget requests with cost data and solutions for savings
- Explore alternatives such as different container stock and decreased planting density
- Convey proper care costs with our site-specific Landscape Maintenance Manual and written specifications
Want In-Depth Details On Developing Sites?
Explore full inspection checklists, MWELO auditing details, and species selection specifications.
Landscape Services for Existing Sites
Protect landscape assets. Rest easy enjoying the benefits of a well managed site through objective vendor oversight, water efficiency, and customized management roadmaps.
Schedule a Site Visit
A walk through of your site to learn your goals and determine what services would benefit your property.
Collaborate to Develop a Plan
Review findings and explore services that would be most advantageous for your site and budget.
Sit Back & Relax
Rest easy enjoying the benefits of a well managed site while we work on your behalf.
Landscape Vendor Management
Third party oversight on your behalf
Save time and money by having an objective third party evaluate contractor performance, review invoices, and facilitate clear communication between property managers and service providers. Botanicon represents owners, HOA boards, and commercial property managers to verify work is performed according to contract specifications, budget allocations, and accepted industry standards.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Quality assurance inspections on your properties
- Verify extra billing proposals, contract specifications and work completed
- Draft requests for proposal (RFP) for landscape maintenance bidding
- Establish landscape specifications for maintenance
- Hold regular walk throughs with landscape maintenance contractor
- Objective reports on contractor performance and punch lists
Irrigation System Efficiency
Conserve water and reduce operational costs
As water costs continue to escalate across California, efficient irrigation is critical for both sustainability and budget management. Botanicon delivers detailed irrigation audits, distribution uniformity tests, and precision controller programming to eliminate wasted water and maintain optimal plant health across all turf and shrub zones.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Irrigation audits with custom controller schedules
- Identify water saving opportunities and prioritize upgrades
- Annual water budgets to assist with fiscal planning
- Water budget tracking to ensure site is operating efficiently
- Water use analysis to justify retrofits
- Take advantage of local water rebates
Horticultural Consultation
Guiding plant health and site vitality
Botanicon provides expert diagnosis and recommendations for difficult site conditions, declining plants, and pest infestations. Our certified arborists and horticultural consultants offer actionable, science-based advice to protect, revitalize, and sustain valuable landscape plantings without reliance on harmful chemicals.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Diagnosis of pest, disease, soil and environmental disorders
- Holistic plant health care recommendations focusing on cultural solutions
- Preserve living assets and reduce premature plant replacements
- Soil testing interpretation, soil amendments and fertility plans
- Plant replacement recommendations for tough growing zones
- Ongoing horticultural advice and contractor coaching
Landscape Management Plans
A strategic roadmap for site success
A comprehensive Landscape Management Plan establishes clear performance standards, seasonal maintenance schedules, and long-term capital improvement forecasts. We bridge the gap between property ownership goals and daily contractor operations, ensuring consistent aesthetic quality, asset longevity, and predictable budgeting year after year.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Detailed multi-year plan for managing your landscape assets
- Forecast annual maintenance costs and capital improvement projects
- Establish care standards to protect plant investments
- Custom Landscape Maintenance Manual for your site
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for maintenance crews
- Ensure consistent aesthetic quality and curb appeal year round
Landscape Inventory & Assessment
How can you manage what you don't measure?
Knowing what needs long-term management assists with planning, scheduling and budgeting. Botanicon inventories trees, shrubs, turf areas, planting beds, ground covers, hardscape features, amenities and irrigation systems on your properties. This enables industry standard specifications for maintenance to be written and allows contractors to bid the same items. We provide photos and site maps for your sites with a database of assets and their condition.
Key Benefits & Outcomes:
- Build consistency with count of on site plants, trees, turf and hardscape areas to be maintained
- Inform stakeholders on condition of landscape with plant health assessments & irrigation performance data
- Valuable decision making information when creating a master plan for improvements
- Allows for fair bid comparison when soliciting contractor services
- Enables drafting of accurate landscape maintenance specifications and scope of work
Need Dedicated Management For Established Grounds?
Explore HOA vendor oversight, living asset GPS mapping, and irrigation audit protocols.
Schedule a Site Walk-Through
Botanicon saves time and money for clients in each phase by providing horticultural expertise, quality assurance, and independent management working solely on your behalf.
Phone Contact
1-805-732-7476Email Inquiries
tiffany@botaniconsd.comStudio Location
8150 Santa Rosa Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
California State Licensed Landscape Contractor C-27 #1051100