• Assess your site and identify your goals and timeline. You can improve your landscape in multiple steps; you don’t need to complete this all in one day.
• Determine the types of plants, mulch, or rock you would like to use and the areas of your yard you want to enhance. Create a basic plot plan and sketch out your landscape design.
• Prep the site by digging out old plants and roots as much as possible. Dig along the edges of sidewalks and driveways, gently sloping up to grade; this keeps bark and soil in the yard instead of on walkways (please be sure to check with your local utility companies to be sure you know where any underground utilities are located).
• Prior to the day of planting, have a water connection in place, including irrigation valves and connections required to install 1/2 inch main drip line. Also confirm the sprinkler timer/controller is available and functioning.
• Order ground cover and schedule delivery for bark or rock in advance of your planting day. A layer of 2 ½ to 3 inches of material will help reduce evaporation of water. Garden stores or bulk material suppliers can help estimate amount you need if you provide the square footage of your yard.
• Spread topsoil by creating mounds which can make a yard more interesting by adding dimension on flat, square yards.
• Arrange the plants in your yard by setting plants in the locations where you would like them, and make adjustments as needed. Remember, plants start small and grow bigger, so give them enough room to mature.
• Pre-dig holes where plants will go. Dig holes twice as wide and as deep as the plant containers they come in. Create a mixture of approximately 50% compost with 50% native soil, and backfill the hole with the loose material. Place a small stake in each filled hole so you remember where they go. Using markers with plant names can help you remember which plant goes where.
• Lay weed fabric over entire yard and cut an “X” in the fabric for each plant hole. Cut the X as wide as the hole is.
• Lay out and stake down the main drip line (1/2 inch line).
• Plant your plants and keep the top of the root-ball at the surface of surrounding ground.
• Drip connections should start from the main water line. Run two or three emitters at the base of each plant and spread around the plant. When installing the emitters, be sure to place them at least six inches away from the stem or crown of the plant to prevent rot.
• Bark or rock should be spread at 2 ½ - 3 inches deep as a layer of ground cover across the yard.
• Clean up the area using a broom or rake to move back any bark or soil from the walkways into the yard.

Because irrigation typically runs in the early morning, you may not witness the system running. Be sure to manually turn the system on seasonally to check for potential problems. Check drip systems to ensure emitters are working.

Over time, as plants mature, drip emitters may need to be adjusted or relocated to the outer edge of the plant canopy. Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and runoff onto sidewalks and driveways.

Artificial turf is an acceptable ground cover material in residential areas. The approval of this material shall be determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure quality design, and a sample must be provided to the Planning Department for review before installation.

Full Provisions and Quality, Materials and Installation Standards

To apply for artificial turf, please contact the city's Planning Department at 916-851-8750.