How long does a full landscape installation take?

Most residential front and back yard builds run two to four weeks depending on the size of the yard, how much concrete and hardscape is involved, and whether permits or inspections are required. We give you a realistic schedule with the estimate.

Do we need design plans to get started?

No. We can work from plans you have or help you figure out what the space needs. We will walk the property with you, talk through the layout, and put together a written scope before any work starts.

Retaining walls over certain heights, some drainage work, and covered structures may require permits depending on the city. We pull what is required and factor that into the schedule.

Do you haul off demolition material?

Yes. Demo and haul-off are included in the estimate. You do not have to arrange a dumpster or figure out what to do with the debris.

Full Landscape Installation in Roseville, CA

A full landscape installation means starting with bare dirt, rough grade, or a cleared lot and finishing with a complete outdoor space. That covers everything from grading and drainage through irrigation, hardscape, planting, and finish materials. It is the largest scope of work we do and the one where sequence matters the most.

Starting From Scratch vs Starting From Neglect

New construction lots in Roseville and Placer County often come with rough grade, a gas stub, and nothing else. The builder does not landscape, and the homeowner is left to figure out what a finished yard actually takes. That is the most straightforward version of a full installation because we are not working around anything.

Re-landscaping from a neglected or failed yard is a different project. There is usually demo involved: old irrigation to tear out, dead turf to strip, plants that have outgrown their space, cracked concrete to break up. The end result is the same, but the work to get there starts with removal rather than a blank slate.

How the Sequence Works

Sequence is what separates a landscape that holds up from one that creates problems in year three. Every crew has its own philosophy, and ours is simple: underground before overground, drainage before hardscape, hardscape before planting.

The correct order is rough grade and drainage first, then irrigation main lines and lateral sleeves, then concrete and paver work, then soil preparation and planting, then final grade and finish mulch. Get that order wrong and you are jackhammering a patio to run a pipe that should have gone under it on day one.

Grading and Drainage First

Sacramento Valley clay does not percolate. Water that lands on it either runs off or pools. Getting the grade right from the start is what determines whether water moves away from the structure or toward it.

Depending on the property, this includes surface grading for positive drainage, French drains to collect subsurface water along problem areas, catch basins at low points, and downspout tie-ins so roof water goes somewhere useful instead of against the foundation.

Irrigation Before Hardscape

Irrigation main lines and lateral sleeves go in before any concrete or pavers are poured or set. The sleeves create pathways for future lateral runs under paved surfaces. Skip this and any future irrigation work that needs to cross a patio requires breaking it up.

Head selection and zoning happen at this stage too. Plants get grouped by water requirement and sun exposure. Lawn zones, shrub zones, and drip zones run at different rates and frequencies. Putting a thirsty lawn valve on the same zone as an established drought-tolerant planting bed means something is always wrong.

Hardscape Before Planting

Concrete and paver work requires equipment access. Running a plate compactor, a saw, or a mini skid-steer through a finished planting area destroys it. Hardscape goes in first, soil prep and planting happen after the flatwork is done and cured.

Plant Selection for Sacramento Valley

This climate runs hot and dry from May through October and cool and wet from November through March. Not everything sold at a nursery survives here without serious irrigation inputs, and a lot of what does survive in the valley struggles on clay without proper amendment and drainage.

We plant for the conditions, not the look on the tag. California native and Mediterranean-adapted material performs well here with minimal inputs once established. Ornamental grasses, salvias, lavender, rosemary, toyon, and drought-tolerant groundcovers give a landscape visual interest without a year-round irrigation dependency.

What Finishes It

After planting comes finish grade, top dress mulch at a depth that suppresses weeds and retains moisture, edging between lawn and planting areas, and a final walk to confirm heads are adjusted, zones are running correctly, and everything is cleaned up. You get a finished yard, not a pile of debris with some plants.

Areas We Serve for Full Landscape Installation

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a full landscape installation take?: Most residential front and back yard builds run two to four weeks depending on the size of the yard, how much concrete and hardscape is involved, and whether permits or inspections are required. We give you a realistic schedule with the estimate.
Do we need design plans to get started?: No. We can work from plans you have or help you figure out what the space needs. We will walk the property with you, talk through the layout, and put together a written scope before any work starts.
What about permits?: Retaining walls over certain heights, some drainage work, and covered structures may require permits depending on the city. We pull what is required and factor that into the schedule.
Do you haul off demolition material?: Yes. Demo and haul-off are included in the estimate. You do not have to arrange a dumpster or figure out what to do with the debris.

Free Landscape Installation Estimates in Roseville

We serve Placer and Sacramento County. Call or fill out the form for a free written estimate.

Get a Free Estimate (916) 778-7007