Monterey Landscaping, Residential and Commercial
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- Google 5.0 (8 reviews)
- Fully insured
In brief
Landscape Associates of CA provides residential and commercial landscaping for Monterey's salt air and fog: coastal planting, pavers, irrigation, drainage, retaining walls and lighting. Founded in 1987, we are fully insured with a Monterey mailing address. Our published San Jose paver patio prices range from about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed. On-site estimates are free.
Updated October 2026
Commercial landscaping in Monterey
Monterey hotels, HOA communities, retail properties and offices need accessible entrances as well as planting. We offer residential and commercial landscape construction for Monterey properties and ongoing maintenance. A commercial estimate accounts for entrances that must stay accessible and the grounds you want included.
Paver entries and walkways can connect doors, planted areas and seating. Cal Am's Monterey Main-system schedule and the MPWMD rules below also govern commercial irrigation on that system. Our lighting for Monterey paths and entries carries a 2-year warranty; the areas people use after dark help determine where lighting is needed.
Plants for Monterey's fog, salt air and sandy soil
Monterey planting starts with exposure: salt air, wind and fog matter alongside the soil. The eight plants below come from our drought planting guide, which includes size, sun and soil notes. The final choice depends on the planting site's exposure, whether it is a sheltered courtyard or an open dune-side lot. We plant them through our Monterey plant and tree installation service.
| Plant | Size, sun and soil (from our drought guide) | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Manzanita | Evergreen shrub, 1 to 15 ft by variety, full sun; needs drainage, so it suits sandy lots better than clay | Very low once established |
| Ceanothus | California lilac, 1 to 6+ ft, spring bloom in full sun; poor in clay, needs drainage | Very low |
| Lavender | 2 to 3 ft, summer bloom; wants full sun and free-draining soil | Low |
| Salvia | Sages from 1 to 5 ft, bloom spring to fall; native types handle clay | Low |
| Deer grass | 3 to 4 ft native bunchgrass with summer to fall plumes; good in clay | Low |
| California fuchsia | 1 to 3 ft, late-summer to fall flowers; fair in clay | Very low |
| Yarrow | 1 to 3 ft, spring to summer bloom; good in clay | Low |
| Toyon | 8 to 15 ft evergreen, sun or part shade, winter berries; excellent in clay | Low |
Sandy soil near the dunes and clay further inland call for different planting decisions. Planting plans account for drip irrigation and mulch as well as the plants' tolerance of salt and wind. Our plants carry a warranty of up to 1 year. The drought planting guide for choosing a Monterey palette includes more plant options.
Cal Am watering rules and MPWMD rebates in Monterey
For Cal Am Monterey Main-system customers, outdoor watering is limited to Wednesdays and Saturdays, before 9 AM or after 5 PM, with 15 minutes per station per day. Hose watering follows that schedule and requires a shut-off nozzle. See the Cal Am Monterey watering schedule (checked October 2026) before setting irrigation controls for your Monterey yard.
Monterey lies within the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Its lawn removal program (checked October 2026) pays $1 per sq ft, up to 2,500 sq ft, with a 250 sq ft minimum. Replacement areas use low-water plants or permeable surfaces; irrigation, if installed, must be drip. Accepting the rebate means a 15-year deed restriction against re-installing lawn anywhere on your site. Read that condition before choosing a conversion.
Under the joint MPWMD program, equipment rebates include $100 for a 4-station weather-based controller plus $10 per additional station to 20; rotating nozzles at $4 each, minimum 10; and $25 for a soil-moisture sensor attached to a controller. Cisterns receive $50 per 100 gallons through 500 gallons. Apply within 120 days of purchase; funding is first come, first served while it lasts. Review the MPWMD irrigation rebates (checked October 2026); Cal Am has no separate rebate amount.
For a residential Monterey outdoor kitchen, the sink may not need an MPWMD water permit; we confirm with the District. Under MPWMD Rule 24-A-2 (checked October 2026), residential outdoor sinks are exempt, but the kitchen sink classification needs confirmation. Pools are not exempt, and this rule does not waive building or plumbing permits.
Tree rules and permeable paving in the City of Monterey
The City of Monterey requires a private tree removal permit at 6 inches diameter or larger, measured at 4.5 feet, under Chapter 37. Reasonable pruning needs no permit; excessive pruning is prohibited. Tagged landmark trees need City approval for trimming or removal. Read the Monterey tree ordinance facts (checked October 2026) before planning around an existing tree.
Projects needing a building permit must follow the City's tree-protection guidelines, with protection in place before permit issuance. On-grade patios or paving covering more than one-third of a pine or oak feeder-root zone must be permeable. The City of Monterey tree-protection guidelines (checked October 2026) matter when choosing paving beneath Monterey's tree canopy.
Pavers, walls and drainage on Peninsula lots
Our published San Jose paver patio range for Monterey budgeting is about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed. Pavers have a lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship. Sloped New Monterey lots may need retaining walls for changes in elevation; our published San Jose range is about $50 to $100 per square face foot. Before planning a Monterey wall, ask us about permits.
For winter runoff, our published San Jose drainage correction range for comparison is $1,500 to $8,000. Monterey estimates are site-specific. Artificial and real turf for Monterey yards are available; artificial turf carries a 15-year warranty. Turf selection and drainage planning go together, whether the turf borders a patio or planting beds.
Where we work in Monterey
Downtown and Old Monterey have small lots, historic adobes and walled gardens. Start with the space available for a path, seating and planting.
New Monterey and the slopes above Lighthouse Avenue bring hillside lots, steps, walls and fog into the plan. Consider changes in level before choosing patio dimensions.
Del Monte Beach lots near the dunes face sand, wind and salt. Choose the planting palette around that exposure.
Skyline Forest's oak and pine canopy makes tree protection part of the paving discussion. Check the City rules above before laying out surfaces beneath trees.
Carmel, Carmel Valley and Pebble Beach have their own page, while our South Bay pages cover landscaping in San Jose and Saratoga landscape projects.
Monterey project costs and timelines (San Jose guide figures)
Our published San Jose guide ranges provide budget context, not Monterey-specific prices. Alongside the paving, wall and drainage figures above, planting is about $2,000 to $5,000; irrigation $3,000 to $10,000; lighting $2,000 to $6,000. A full backyard renovation is $25,000 to $75,000+, with a published San Jose timeline of 2 to 6 weeks. An on-site estimate establishes the work and timing for your Monterey project, with project-based, itemized pricing.
How a Monterey project runs
Describe your property and landscaping needs
We start with the property type, residential or commercial, and what you want to change.
Walk the property at the free on-site estimate
During the free on-site estimate, we discuss the property's soil, exposure, trees and access.
Discuss City approvals and any HOA design review
Before deciding the order of work, we discuss Monterey approvals and any HOA design review that applies to your community.
Review the landscaping work and itemized price
We review the price for your project together, including the selected surfaces, irrigation and planting.
Review the finished landscape
We walk through the finished landscape together and discuss ongoing maintenance if you want help caring for it.
Landscape contractor in Monterey, CA: Landscape Associates of CA
Founded by David Muhoberac in 1987, Landscape Associates of CA is fully insured and provides residential and commercial landscaping. Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940. We also offer ongoing maintenance for the landscape after installation.
For a free on-site estimate at your Monterey property, call or text (408) 207-5545, or email david@landscapeassociatesca.com. Tell us what you want to change; we reply within 24 hours.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Reviews from Yelp and Google, with the reviewer's city and date
David and Obed were great from start to finish. They gave us solid advice on design choices and made sure our vision drove the project. They took a backyard full of dirt and turned it into our family's dream outdoor space. Highly recommend!
San Francisco, CA
David's team did a beautiful job transforming my yard into a gorgeous patio. They worked closely with me to bring my design to life and went the extra mile to make sure everything was right. Honest work, no hidden costs, no surprises.
Cupertino, CA
Big job: stump removal, full irrigation replacement, new sod, paver driveway, retaining walls, and lighting. It turned out more beautiful than we imagined. We liked the results so much we had them redo the front yard a few months later.
San Jose, CA
I cannot recommend this company enough. David turned my backyard, basically a giant hill of dirt and weeds, into a gorgeous oasis of fruit trees, plants, flowers, and retaining walls. Working with him was a real pleasure and the pricing was very fair.
San Francisco, CA
This was our second time using Landscape Associates, at a different property. David, Obed, and the crew added new paver stones, a planter, and expanded our irrigation. They even took care of drainage issues the original home builders had left behind.
San Jose, CA
Landscape Associates did a full remodel of my front and back yards. David understood exactly what I had in mind, delivered the yard I hoped for, and somehow made it even better. He kept in touch through every step and his crew was respectful of my property.
San Jose, CA
If I could give more stars I would. Workers showed up every single day at 8:30am sharp. David was always easy to reach and when I had changes mid-project, they accommodated every one without complaint. The customer service really set them apart.
Milpitas, CA
Great communication throughout and they walked us through every step. The paver patio and driveway are flawlessly integrated. We would absolutely hire them again. In fact I was already texting David about redoing the entire front yard.
San Jose, CA
We are very happy with the results. David installed a new front lawn and side yard plantings and the whole project wrapped up in a week. We were impressed that they renewed our entire irrigation system as part of the job. Would recommend to anyone in the area.
San Jose, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Call (408) 207-5545When is the best time to plant in Monterey?
Our published best planting window is October to November, when cooler weather and the first rains help new plants establish before summer. Paving, retaining walls, drainage and irrigation are not tied to that window and go in year-round. See our plant and tree installation page for the plant warranty and palette.
Can I use the San Jose guide prices to budget for landscaping in Monterey?
Our published San Jose guide figures put planting at about $2,000 to $5,000 and a full backyard renovation at $25,000 to $75,000+. These are planning references, not Monterey prices. Your free on-site estimate provides an itemized price for the work at your property.
Do you offer home and commercial landscaping in Monterey?
Yes, Landscape Associates of CA offers residential and commercial landscaping in Monterey, plus ongoing maintenance. The type of property, whether a home garden, HOA grounds, hotel entrance, retail frontage or office landscape, helps determine which areas and services your estimate includes.
Which plants should I consider for a Monterey garden?
Monterey options include manzanita, ceanothus, lavender, salvia, deer grass and coastal succulents. Plant variety and placement depend on salt, wind, fog and soil conditions, which differ between a sheltered bed and a dune-side lot. Drip irrigation and mulch are considered alongside plant selection. Our plant warranty runs up to 1 year.
When can Cal Am customers water outdoors in Monterey?
The Monterey Main-system schedule allows Wednesdays and Saturdays only, before 9 AM or after 5 PM, limited to 15 minutes per station per day. Hoses must have a shut-off nozzle and follow the same schedule. Check the Cal Am Main-system watering rules (checked October 2026) against your water account.
What commitment comes with the Monterey lawn removal rebate?
MPWMD offers $1 per sq ft for 250 to 2,500 sq ft of lawn removal, with replacement by low-water plants or permeable surfaces, with drip required if the replacement area is irrigated. The 15-year deed restriction bars re-installing lawn anywhere on the site. Applications are due within 120 days of purchase, subject to remaining funds. See MPWMD conversion terms for Monterey customers (checked October 2026).
Does removing a private tree in Monterey require permission?
Under Chapter 37, the City of Monterey requires a removal permit for private trees measuring at least 6 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet. Tagged landmark trees also require City approval before trimming or removal. Consult the City's private-tree rules (checked October 2026) before including tree removal in your landscape plans.
When does paving near a Monterey tree have to be permeable?
The City of Monterey requires permeable construction for on-grade patios or paving covering more than one-third of a pine or oak feeder-root zone. That scope matters when placing a patio beneath the canopy. Review the City's paving and tree-protection guidance (checked October 2026) before selecting the surface and layout.
Is artificial turf available for a yard in Monterey?
Yes, we install artificial turf in Monterey with a 15-year warranty. MPWMD lists synthetic turf as an acceptable lawn-conversion surface in its rebate program (checked October 2026). Carmel-by-the-Sea prohibits new installation, repair and replacement of artificial turf; see the separate Carmel area page for that city restriction and its source (checked October 2026).
How should I approach winter flooding in my Monterey yard?
The on-site estimate starts with where water enters your property and collects. Fixes usually combine regrading away from the house, French or channel drains where water collects, downspout extensions and swales; see our drainage page. Our published San Jose drainage correction range is $1,500 to $8,000, but determining the work needed at your Monterey property requires a site visit. Drainage work carries a 2-year warranty.
How do I arrange an estimate for my Monterey property?
Call or text (408) 207-5545 to request a free on-site estimate in Monterey; we reply within 24 hours. You can also email david@landscapeassociatesca.com. Include the property address, whether it is residential or commercial, and the changes you have in mind; a few photos, your rough budget and any deadline help us prepare for the visit.
Get a Free Quote
Call us, send the estimate form, or email us. We reply within 24 hours to book a free site visit. Call or text (408) 207-5545.
- (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends