• 10 year land management plan

We discuss your goals, timeline, site, budget range, and whether Backyard Abundance is the right fit for your project.

• Includes analysis of site’s climate, topography, sun exposure, soil type and more

• Each design will consider the client’s preference for aesthetics, access, food production, pollinator habitat, and upkeep

• Hand sketched, painted, and digital designs available

• Plant selections and sourcing, as well as landscaper coordination for install

• Ongoing support & troubleshooting as needed

Includes:

• Custom planting plan with species selection & placement focused on color, texture, and function to create a cohesive palette

• This service refines and enhances your existing landscape through thoughtful plant choices and layout only; it does not include grading, hardscape changes, or major reconfiguration of existing beds.

• Site assessment & drainage mapping – Evaluate how water moves across roofs, hardscape, and soil to identify flooding, erosion, and infiltration opportunities, turning problem areas into functional water-harvesting features (barrel, pond, garden, etc).

• Rain garden / basin layout – The use of shallow planted basins, swales, and berms to slow, spread, and sink stormwater away from structures, reducing runoff, protecting foundations, and easing pressure on storm drains.

• Roof runoff & catchment integration – Connects downspouts, rain chains, and/or rain barrels to rain gardens or infiltration areas to make better use of free rainwater and reduce dependence on municipal water.

• Soil and overflow planning – Designs for soil type, infiltration rate, and safe overflow paths so water drains within 24–48 hours, preventing standing water, property damage, and mosquito issues.

• Install-ready concept plan – Provides a clear, scaled concept drawing and maintenance guidance for installation or contractor bidding.

Includes:

• Sourcing of plants specified in your design from trusted local nurseries and growers.

• Confirmation of quantities, sizes, availability, and pricing for all selected plants.

• Proposal of appropriate substitutions when specific varieties are unavailable.

• Coordination of delivery or pickup timing so plants arrive on site when needed.

• Communication with your chosen installer to align on timing and logistics.

For land & lawns that have been polluted, require fertilizer, or can’t sustain plant life (other than “weeds”)

• Soil assessment & history review – Evaluates soil texture, structure, organic matter, and visible symptoms, along with site use history, to understand why the ground feels infertile, compacted, or “dead.”

• Diagnostic soil testing – Uses targeted soil tests (pH, nutrients, salts, contaminants where relevant) to pinpoint imbalances and stressors that are limiting plant growth and microbial life.

• Soil recovery strategy – Outlines practical steps such as aeration, organic amendments, mulching, and cover cropping to rebuild soil structure, increase organic matter, and invite beneficial microbes back in.

• Water & compaction management – Addresses drainage, irrigation, and traffic patterns to reduce compaction and water stress so soil organisms can thrive and hold more moisture naturally.

• Synthetic fertilizer phase-out plan – Provides a transition plan from chemical dependence to biologically active, self-feeding soil, helping gardens become more resilient, productive, and less prone to failure over time.

• Site walk & pattern assessment – Reviews where and how weeds and pests are showing up, along with watering, mowing, soil, and plant health patterns to identify the root causes instead of just the symptoms for long-lasting solutions.

• Weed & pest ID – Identifies key weed and pest species present and groups them by type (annual, perennial, insect, disease, etc.) to clarify which strategies will actually work long term.

• Soil and plant health support – Connects weed and pest issues to underlying soil and plant stress, then recommends practices that strengthen desired plants so they outcompete weeds and are less vulnerable to damage.

• Ecological management plan – Outlines non-toxic, ecosystem-based approaches such as mulching, improving habitat of pest predators, beneficial insects, plant-derived non-toxic insecticides, and more to improve conditions.

• Targeted, minimal-intervention tools – Recommends the least-disruptive control methods first, with clear guidance on when and how to use them, helping reduce reliance on broad-spectrum chemicals and repeated emergency treatments.