The goal of our first conversation is to learn more about you, make sure Modified Landscape Design is a good fit for your project, and schedule a job walk on your property.

We'll conduct a landscape design consultation together on-site to walk through your property and discuss your needs, project goals, and budget.

Our team will show up on time and in uniform, so you'll always know who's on your property. Any hazard areas will be covered and properly marked throughout the process in order to maintain your family and pet’s safety.

Stay on top of your landscape's progress with daily check-ins from the project manager. You'll also have regular on-site visits from Modified Landscape Design owner Austin to ensure your needs are being met at every stage.

From cleaning up yard debris to power washing your driveway, you can depend on us to leave your property better than we found it once the installation is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: 3. Designing the Landscape

Our team will prepare a few design sketches based on your goals, and we'll communicate with you regarding the best products and plants for your unique landscape.

Q: 4. Design Review Meeting

We'll present you with design options for you to choose from and discuss your budget for the project moving forward. We'll then make any necessary changes to the landscape design based on your feedback and will begin the 3D process.

Q: 5. Signing Off on the Plan

With everyone on the same page, you'll sign off on the final project plan. We'll set an installation date that works for both you and our team to begin the physical work on your landscape.

Who do we serve?

We are a lawn and landscape company serving residential and commercial properties throughout Redwood City, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park. We work with property owners, project managers, and developers interested in modifying their landscape, reducing their environmental impact, and valuing thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship. We serve a clientele ready to prioritize the time, money, and decision-making needed to transform their landscape into a place that excites them!

How do I get started?

How long does the process typically take?

From start to finish we try to complete the design within 30 days of the start date. In order to complete this, we will need full transparency and availability to meet to review the design. Any additional review meetings above and beyond the allotted review meetings in the package may require more time and will be completed at an additional charge due at time of design approval with final payment. Installation timelines can be anywhere from a few days to a few months determined by the project. The start date will be determined by our current availability, weather, and material availability. It is typical that we are booked out for installation about 2-3 months most of the year, so please note we are not available if your desired project needs to be completed urgently.

How long is the proposal quote valid for?

What is the installation process?

After we have an agreed upon design, we will move forward with the proposal phase. Once the proposal is reviewed and approved, we will send out a confirmation of the start date within 48 hours upon payment of the installation deposit. About 1-2 weeks prior to your start date, we will again confirm the start date and send over the anticipated timeline for installation and include the progress payment schedule per the approved proposal. The week prior to your start date, Austin will be on site with our installation foreman to introduce him and discuss the project with him. During installation when our crew will be on-site, our foreman is the lead while on-site or you can reach out the Austin or Crystal directly with any updates or concerns. Austin will be in and out periodically to review installation and assist where needed. He will also complete job site walks with clients and crew, as needed to review the project. Upon completion, Austin will complete the final walk-through before sending out our final invoice.

Do you have a warranty?

We do not offer a warranty on design, as we can make edits and modifications easily. Our design process was created to smooth out the kinks and get down to what the client is really wanting. So it is important that you be on board with our process should you want the best results for a design you will really be happy with now and long term.

We offer 90 day post-maintenance for installation, where we will come on-site to review installations and make minor repairs as needed. It will take a few weeks for your landscape to settle in and sometimes will need some adjusting for lights or replacement of plants within our contract agreement. Landscapes are living things and will continue to grow and change. It is important should you be investing in your property enhancement you have a maintenance plan set up to maintain the quality.

Do I have to use MLDs portal system?

The portal system was created to help simplify the process and organization of projects for our clients. We have had great success with clients who currently use the system giving them easy access to their MLD accounts. We will still keep track of services in our system, but technically you don’t have to set up your own portal account should you prefer not to. Please note, it will create delays in your process as we will need to wait for signed proposals and payment made via check by mail to get you on the calendar. It is much easier to utilize the portal system as you can see proposals (approved, old, rejected, updated, etc.), make payment via credit card or ACH, create a service notice to any items you’d like reviewed, etc. We are also working towards making the portal more up-to-date while the crew is onsite by including jobsite images and project updates. We will however also still be using email directly and this is how you are also notified by the portal of any updates.

Are we the best fit for you?

In order to provide each of our clientele the detailed attention they deserve, we also have expectations for our clientele. As part of our process we communicate clearly expectations up front, so details can be worked out in advance. We also actively use email for correspondence and a customer portal system in which your proposal information will be held for your records and where you will be able to accept, decline or request changes. However, we will not be the best choice for you if:

Your project has a limited focus, such as repairing irrigation or replanting beds.
Your landscaping must be completed immediately within the same month or next.
You have a clear and specific vision and primarily want help executing your ideas, with no agreed upon design.
You want to install some or all of the new landscaping yourself, or with unlicensed contractors.
You intend on purchasing or providing materials for project.
Your project budget is $40,000 or less, or does not include a design budget.
You won’t be hiring expert garden maintenance to preserve your investment over time.

What are your Hours of Operation?

What is your Consultation Policy?

We will ask all clientele to complete our design questionnaire within 48 hours of your consultation booking as confirmation of our consultation meeting. Should we not receive your questionnaire, we will send one reminder before removing you from the calendar. Should you want to reschedule, we will ask that you please reach out to our office directly as we will not assuming you’ve decided not to move forward with us. In order to continue providing this as a free consultation, we will require full transparency upfront to help determine if we are the right from the start as to be mindful of both our time. Should we not be the right fit, our office will reach out within 24 hours of receipt to provide you with any updates.

Who does what?

Our office will available to assist with all administrative logistics, questions, and follow-up. Austin will complete your design and proposal, and work directly with our project foreman to complete the installation. Most project or billing-related questions can be sent directly to Crystal@modifiedlandscapedesign.com. Anything else like scheduling or general questions, feel free to contact us atinfo@modifiedlandscapedesign.com.

Why inspiration photos?

We need your help to maximize our time together during the design process. Prior to the meeting, it’s helpful to know what landscapes inspired you to make the change. What did you dream your landscape to look like? Often times this will give our designer a clearer vision of the desired style. It is not so we can copy the design exactly as shown, so please do not expect the exact landscape. We will need to create something that will work for your specific space and desired budget.

What are the Payment Terms?

Deposit, Progress Payment and Change Order

Deposit is due at the time of signing for installation to hold space on our calendar and to get materials properly set up for the anticipated start date. Upon payment of the deposit, you will receive a confirmed start date within 48 hours. Once all orders have been set up, you will receive an anticipated timeline for installation, deliveries, and progress payment schedule. Should any delays arise, we will update due dates accordingly.

Any approved change order completed during the project will be paid separately upon completion of an approved change order, not the initial project. Any overtime hours required to complete installation due to change orders or delays created by the client will be passed on to the client above the final invoice upon completion. To respect the time of all our clients and keep in mind our ongoing deliveries, we will need to make arrangements to our calendar should any delays be created. You will be notified of this during the project, so you will be made aware of this should it be needed.

What are your Terms of Service?

Company terms of service are located on the bottom of every proposal that is signed with all current contractors licensing and insurance required. To comply with our contractor license, our employees and contractors are all covered and paid according to CA state requirements. Active licensing can be found on the contractor state licensing board website for your reference. Our terms are as stated and will not be updated to your specific needs. Should this be a requirement, we would suggest working with another contractor.

What Is Your Process?

We have developed a fail-proof process for providing you with consistent, high-quality results. This process has been working well for all our Palo Alto customers. Through excellent customer communication, we make it easy to get the landscape of your dreams.

1. Initial Call

2. Job Walk

3. Designing the Landscape

4. Design Review Meeting

5. Signing Off on the Plan

6. Work Begins

7. Daily Check-Ins

8. Final Job Walk

Begin Your Journey to a Luxury Landscape Redesign Today

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