We’ve put together this FAQ page to answer some of the most common questions we get about our landscape design process, services, and what it’s like to work together. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to chat about your project.
To make the most of your initial meeting, come prepared with your ideas, needs, and priorities. Consider how you want to use the space, preferred materials, desired wall heights, maintenance level (low-maintenance vs. high-maintenance), and whether permits may be required by your city. Establishing a budget range is also very helpful. Photos of spaces you like are strongly encouraged—visual references help us better understand your style and goals so we can design a landscape tailored to you.
A project dream board is a collection of images that represent your vision. You can gather photos from websites, magazines, or your own pictures of landscapes you admire. Include elements such as patios, plants, lighting, fire features, pools, walls, colors, and materials you like. Organize them in a folder, document, or app (such as Pinterest) and share them with us prior to your consultation. This helps us quickly align with your preferences and design direction.
The consultation fee covers the time spent visiting your property, evaluating site conditions, discussing your goals, providing professional recommendations, and outlining potential design and construction options. This fee also helps ensure dedicated time for your project and may be applied toward your project if you move forward with our services (if applicable).
The initial deposit secures your project in our schedule and covers early project costs, including design development, material research and sourcing, site measurements, administrative planning, and pre-construction preparation. It allows us to begin detailed work and coordination necessary to bring your project to life.
A Landscape Architect is a licensed professional with formal education and certification who can design complex projects involving grading, drainage, structural elements, public spaces, and projects that require permits or stamped plans. A Landscape Designer typically focuses on residential design, plant selection, layout, aesthetics, and functional outdoor living spaces. Designers are ideal for most home landscape projects, while architects are needed for larger or more technically complex work
You may need a Landscape Architect if your project involves major grading, retaining walls over certain heights, drainage engineering, public-facing work, or requires city-approved plans and permits. A Landscape Designer is usually sufficient for typical residential projects such as patios, planting plans, outdoor living areas, irrigation, lighting, and aesthetic improvements. We can help determine which professional is appropriate for your project.
Costs vary depending on project size, complexity, and level of detail required. Landscape Designers typically charge a flat fee or hourly rate for residential plans, while Landscape Architects generally charge higher professional fees due to licensing requirements and technical work. We can provide guidance and referrals based on your project needs and budget. (approximately $300 -500 hourly)
Yes. We can perform work on a time-and-materials basis when appropriate for the project. This means you are billed for the actual labor hours, equipment usage, and materials required to complete the work. This approach is often used for projects with uncertain scope, repairs, or when conditions may change during construction.
Permit timelines vary depending on the scope of work, complexity, and the specific city’s review process. In many California Bay Area cities such as Tiburon, Piedmont, Oakland, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, and Palo Alto, typical timelines are:
Projects involving structural elements, hillside properties, drainage, or design review boards may take longer. We can help guide you through the permitting process once project details are defined. Please be aware that some permits can take months.
We use progress payments. Clients are billed based on the percentage of work completed rather than one lump sum at the end. Depending on the size and pace of the project, invoices may be issued weekly or at key milestones. This ensures transparency and allows clients to see exactly how the project is advancing.
Our business grows through satisfied clients and referrals, and we truly appreciate your feedback. You can leave a review on Google or Yelp to share your experience and help others learn about our services.
We accept several forms of payment, including cash, money order, cashier’s check, Zelle (TrueMagicLandscaping@gmail.com), and personal check. Please note that a $35 fee will be charged for any returned checks due to insufficient funds. In such cases, replacement payment must be made by money order or cashier’s check.
