Landscape Design Assistance

Ready to replace your lawn but not sure where to start? EBMUD's  Pilot Landscape Design Assistance Program rebates a two-hour visit with a landscape designer.

What is it?

A 2-hour session with a professional landscape designer to receive recommendations on plant choice, layout, and/or irrigation ideas for your landscape project. You will pay the designer a $200 fee at the time of service and then be reimbursed by EBMUD upon successful completion of your landscape transformation. 

Eligibility 

Participants must:

  • Receieve EBMUD approval before contacting a landscape designer.
  • Use an EBMUD approved Landscape Designer, listed below.
  • Install a minimum 200 sq. ft. waterwise garden.
    • Projects may not include: artificial turf, plants that need moderate to frequent watering, invasive plants, landscape fabric, non-permeable paths and patios. See application for full requirements.

Process

  1. Submit Design Assistance application to EBMUD, usually in conjunction with lawn or drip conversion rebate application. Wait for approval before contacting an approved designer. ​
  2. Review the list of approved EBMUD Professional Landscape Designers below and choose one that meets your needs.
  3. Schedule a two-hour landscape design consultation. We recommend completing the Landscape Design Questionnaire in advance to get the most out of the consultation. ​
  4. Pay the Landscape Designer the $200 fee at time of service and obtain a receipt. ​
  5. Complete landscape transformation to waterwise garden using low water use plants and ensuring efficient irrigation.
  6. Submit photos of completed project and receipt from consultation to EBMUD.
  7. EBMUD will rebate the $200 design fee as a credit on your water bill. Rebate is contingent upon successful completion of landscape project.

Approved landscape designers

Click here to download list of approved designersSee map for details on area(s). 
Please submit application and wait for approval before contacting a designer.

List of approved professional landscape designers - North area. Click company name to see website.
Landscape Design Company Contact Information Specialties
Backyard Permaculture Guild

Dylan Gearhearth
landrecipe@gmail.com
707-757-3804

• Rain gardens
• Native ecological plants
• Medicinal edible plants

Beauty and the Feast Miri L. Malmquist
mirileore@yahoo.com

• Native plants
• Edible gardens

Bohemian Roots

Martina Ladova
bohemianroots@yahoo.com
510-717-2236

• Low water plantings
• Efficient irrigation
• Site specific design solutions
Etta Studio Danielle Opatovsky
hello@ettastudiosf.com
• Pollinator gardens
• Irrigation
• Hardscaping
Garden Enlightenment Dave Phelps
dave@gardenenlightenment.com
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Hardscape

Golden Gate Palms Nursery

Gary Gragg
info@goldengatepalms.com

• Waterwise subtropical plantings
• Succulents, citrus, avocado
• Creative site planning

Green Thumb Works Sandra Nevala-Lee
greenthumbworks@hey.com
510-502-0992
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Mediterranean gardens
Maple Garden Design Chris Erickson
chris@maplegardendesign.com
925-595-5692
• Low maintenance
• Native plants
• Succulents
Round the Block Landscaping Casey Massman
casey.massman@ roundtheblocklandscaping.com
• Drought tolerant landscapes
• Aesthetic edible gardens
• Native plants
Water Efficient Gardens Shelkie Tao
project@waterefficientgardens.com
669-232-3798
• Native plants
• Rain gardens
• Pollinator gardens
Wild Things Garden Design Laura Kukulski
laura@wildthingsgardendesign.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Rain gardens

 

List of approved professional landscape designers - East area. Click company name to see website.
Landscape Design Company Contact Information Specialties
Bohemian Roots

Martina Ladova bohemianroots@yahoo.com
510-717-2236

• Low water  plantings
• Efficient irrigation
• Site specific design solutions

Cummings Landscape Architecture Ryan Cummings
ryan@buenoluna.com
510-282-3521

• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Fire-safe gardens

Etta Studio Danielle Opatovsky
hello@ettastudiosf.com
• Pollinator gardens
• Irrigation
• Hardscaping
Garden Enlightenment Dave Phelps
dave@gardenenlightenment.com
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Hardscape
Garden Designs by Marlene Deel Marlene Deel
marlenedeel@gmail.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Best practices
Golden Gate Palms Nursery Gary Gragg
info@goldengatepalms.com
• Waterwise subtropical plantings
• Succulents, citrus, avocado
• Creative site planning
Green Thumb Works Sandra Nevala-Lee
greenthumbworks@hey.com
510-502-0992
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Mediterranean gardens
Magnifica Designs Sarah V. Lee
themagnificadesigns@gmail.com
• Succulents
• Low water plants
• Pollinator gardens
Maple Garden Design Chris Erickson
chris@maplegardendesign.com
925-595-5692
• Low maintenance
• Native plants
• Succulents
Muir Creek Design Molly Weden molly@muircreekdesign.com • Pollinator & bird gardens
• Succulents
• Family-friendly gardens
Ruth Bancroft Garden

Ruth Bancroft Garden Designers
landscapedesign@ruthbancroft
garden.org

• Low water lush
• Succulents
• Australian/South African/California natives
Susan Friedman Landscape Architecture Susan Friedman
info@susanfriedmanlandscape.com
925-806-0643
• Native plants
• Wildlife friendly varietals
• Low water use planting
Terralinda Design Linda Middleton linda@terralindadesigns.com • Climate appropriate & CA native plants
• Strong design skills
• Horticultural knowledge
Water Efficient Gardens Shelkie Tao
project@waterefficientgardens.com
669-232-3798
• Native plants
• Rain gardens
• Pollinator gardens
     

 

List of approved professional landscape designers - South area. Click company name to see website.
Landscape Design Company Contact Information Specialties
Backyard Permaculture Guild

Dylan Gearhearth landrecipe@gmail.com
707-757-3804

• Rain gardens
• Native ecological plants
• Medicinal edible plants
Beauty and the Feast Miri L. Malmquist
mirileore@yahoo.com
• Native plants
• Edible gardens
Etta Studio Danielle Opatovsky
hello@ettastudiosf.com
• Pollinator gardens
• Irrigation
• Hardscaping
Garden Enlightenment Dave Phelps
dave@gardenenlightenment.com
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Hardscape
Golden Gate Palms Nursery Gary Gragg
info@goldengatepalms.com
• Waterwise subtropical plantings
• Succulents, citrus, avocado
• Creative site planning
Green Thumb Works Sandra Nevala-Lee
greenthumbworks@hey.com
510-502-0992
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Mediterranean gardens
Magnifica Designs Sarah V. Lee
themagnificadesigns@gmail.com
• Succulents
• Low water plants
• Pollinator gardens
Maple Garden Design Chris Erickson
chris@maplegardendesign.com
925-595-5692
• Low maintenance
• Native plants
• Succulents
Water Efficient Gardens Shelkie Tao
project@waterefficientgardens.com
669-232-3798
• Native plants
• Rain gardens
• Pollinator gardens
Wild Things Garden Design Laura Kukulski
laura@wildthingsgardendesign.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Rain gardens
     

 

List of approved professional landscape designers - West area. Click company name to see website.
Landscape Design Company Contact Information Specialties
Bohemian Roots

Martina Ladova
bohemianroots@yahoo.com
510-717-2236

• Low water plantings
• Efficient irrigation
• Site specific design solutions
Beauty and the Feast Miri L. Malmquist
mirileore@yahoo.com
• Native plants
• Edible gardens
Cummings Landscape Architecture Ryan Cummings
ryan@buenoluna.com
510-282-3521
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Fire-safe gardens
Etta Studio Danielle Opatovsky
hello@ettastudiosf.com
• Pollinator gardens
• Irrigation
• Hardscaping
Field Collective, Inc. Alexandra Harker & Nicki Copley
field-collective.land/contact-us
• Native plants
• Biodiversity enhancement
• Ecologically functional planting
Garden Enlightenment Dave Phelps
dave@gardenenlightenment.com
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Hardscape
Garden Designs by Marlene Deel Marlene Deel
marlenedeel@gmail.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Best practices
Golden Gate Palms Nursery Gary Gragg
info@goldengatepalms.com
• Waterwise subtropical plantings
• Succulents, citrus, avocado
• Creative site planning
Green Thumb Works Sandra Nevala-Lee
greenthumbworks@hey.com
510-502-0992
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Mediterranean gardens
Magnifica Designs Sarah V. Lee
themagnificadesigns@gmail.com
• Succulents
• Low water plants
• Pollinator gardens
Maple Garden Design Chris Erickson
chris@maplegardendesign.com
925-595-5692
• Low maintenance
• Native plants
• Succulents
Round the Block Landscaping Casey Massman
casey.massman@ roundtheblocklandscaping.com
• Drought tolerant landscapes
• Aesthetic edible gardens
• Native plants
Ruth Bancroft Garden Ruth Bancroft Garden Designers
landscapedesign@ruthbancroft
garden.org
• Low water lush
• Succulents
• Australian/South African/California natives
Water Efficient Gardens Shelkie Tao
project@waterefficientgardens.com
669-232-3798
• Native plants
• Rain gardens
• Pollinator gardens
Wild Things Garden Design Laura Kukulski
laura@wildthingsgardendesign.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Rain gardens

 

List of approved professional landscape designers - Central area. Click company name to see website.
Landscape Design Company Contact Information Specialties
Bohemian Roots

Martina Ladova
bohemianroots@yahoo.com
510-717-2236

• Low water  plantings
• Efficient irrigation
• Site specific design solutions
Beauty and the Feast Miri L. Malmquist
mirileore@yahoo.com
• Native plants
• Edible gardens
Cummings Landscape Architecture Ryan Cummings
ryan@buenoluna.com
510-282-3521
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Fire-safe gardens
Etta Studio Danielle Opatovsky
hello@ettastudiosf.com
• Pollinator gardens
• Irrigation
• Hardscaping
Garden Enlightenment Dave Phelps
dave@gardenenlightenment.com
• Planting
• Irrigation
• Hardscape
Garden Designs by Marlene Deel Marlene Deel
marlenedeel@gmail.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Best practices
Golden Gate Palms Nursery Gary Gragg
info@goldengatepalms.com
• Waterwise subtropical plantings
• Succulents, citrus, avocado
• Creative site planning
Green Thumb Works Sandra Nevala-Lee
greenthumbworks@hey.com
510-502-0992
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Mediterranean gardens
Magnifica Designs Sarah V. Lee
themagnificadesigns@gmail.com
• Succulents
• Low water plants
• Pollinator gardens
Maple Garden Design Chris Erickson
chris@maplegardendesign.com
925-595-5692
• Low maintenance
• Native plants
• Succulents
Round the Block Landscaping Casey Massman
casey.massman@ roundtheblocklandscaping.com
• Drought tolerant landscapes
• Aesthetic edible gardens
• Native plants
Ruth Bancroft Garden Ruth Bancroft Garden Designers
landscapedesign@ruthbancroft
garden.org
• Low water lush
• Succulents
• Australian/South African/California natives
Susan Friedman Landscape Architecture Susan Friedman
info@susanfriedmanlandscape.com
925-806-0643
• Native plants
• Wildlife friendly varietals
• Low water use planting
Terralinda Design Linda Middleton linda@terralindadesigns.com • Climate appropriate & CA native plants
• Strong design skills
• Horticultural knowledge
Water Efficient Gardens Shelkie Tao
project@waterefficientgardens.com
669-232-3798
• Native plants
• Rain gardens
• Pollinator gardens
Wild Things Garden Design Laura Kukulski
laura@wildthingsgardendesign.com
• Native plants
• Pollinator gardens
• Rain gardens

 


Frequently asked questions

 

The design assistance visit will likely cover basic recommendations on plant choice, plant layout, and irrigation ideas for your site.

The visit will be tailored to your needs and your site. We cannot guarentee specific deliverables, rather the designer will work with you to provide the best support within the 2-hour time frame.

The designer is not expected to draw a detailed landscape plan, but should give you ideas to get started with your landscape rebate project.

We recommend completing the Landscape Design Questionnaire, found in the “resources” section below and sharing it with your designer.

Your designer may also request that you sketch a base map of your project area (see "how to draw a base map" below for instructions).

At minimum, think about garden styles you like and desired elements for your new garden. Gather images of gardens you like to show your designer. Also, be ready to discuss your budget and how you plan to complete the project (DIY vs. hiring professionals).

No. The design assistance reimbursement is contingent upon the successful completion of the approved landscape transformation project. If you do not complete the project and install a waterwise garden following rebate requirements, you will not receive reimbursement.

Yes. You are welcome to contract additional services with LDAP approved designers beyond the scope of the EBMUD program if mutually agreeable.

However, any services outside of the 2-hour design assistance are wholly seperate from the EBMUD program. Rates, scope, and terms must be decided between you and the designer directly. No reimbursement will be provided for such additional services.

A waterwise garden is a landscape with low-water-use plants that is irrigated efficiently. Low water use plants only need ocassional (max 1x per week) watering, even during the summer.

To be eligible for the Design Assistance rebate, projects must not include the following:

Projects May Not Include Rebate


Resources

 

Interested in joining as a landscape designer?

Please complete the Designer Application and Agreement and submit via email to waterconservation@ebmud.com. We will review new applications on a rolling basis and will add new designers to the approved list periodically. Please reach out with any questions.