SERVICES

The Design Process

• The process begins when you provide basic information about your project including scope, goals, and aesthetic preferences. We provide a design questionnaire, which helps facilitate the organization and communication of your ideas.
• At our free initial consultation meeting (one hour), we will discuss project details, review your budget, and perform a site assessment. This process includes noting site conditions such as elevation, exposure, drainage, irrigation systems, soil type, and pre-existing plants and features.  Additionally, photos and measurements are taken.
• We follow up by providing a written summary of the scope of the design and an estimate of design costs. Following your approval of these costs, a contract is signed and a deposit is sent so that we can get started.
• At our preliminary design meeting, we present a hand drawn plan along with a plant schedule with photos, recommended materials list with photos or samples, and ballpark estimate for installation of this design. At this time you have an opportunity to review everything and give us your feedback.
• We use this information to make modifications and develop a final design which includes a full-color drawing plan to scale, final plant and materials lists, and revised estimate for installation. This is all presented at the final design meeting.

We are also happy to offer consultation services where full design drawings may not be necessary such as for simpler planting projects.

Installation

We build projects of our own design, those produced by an architect, or your own creations.  The range of landscape elements we construct include:

Hardscapes features

• Custom landscape carpentry
  • Fences and decks
  • Pergolas/arbors/trellises
  • Stairs and railing
  • Raised beds and planter boxes
• Masonry & Concrete
  • Structural concrete
  • Retaining walls
  • Patios
  • Terraces
  • Paths, walkways, driveways
  • Sitting areas
• Electrical / Plumbing
  • Lighting systems
  • Irrigation systems – drip, sprinklers
  • Fire pits

Softscape elements

Includes all horticultural elements of a landscape such as:

• Trees & shrubs
• Flowerbeds
• Container gardens
• Potted plants, and hanging baskets.
• Lawn alternatives: using California native flowers and grasses

Our planting approach covers a wide variety of styles but we emphasize the creation of plant communities in which plants are chosen based both on your aesthetic and functional needs along with what is appropriate to the site.  We are most passionate about reviving the use of California natives and the establishment of “Bay-friendly” spaces which feature the use of native and/or Mediterranean low-maintenance, low-water plants that are regionally appropriate and environmentally conscious.

Mazingira’s ecological philosophy guides us to incorporate existing land contours and flora when possible.  Our staff brings many years of landscaping and gardening experience with significant plant and soil expertise in addition to strengths in carpentry, irrigation systems, and stone work.

Maintenance

Our fine gardening approach to maintenance ensures ongoing plant health, a thriving ecosystem, and a well-kept outdoor living space.  Services include

• Pruning and trimming trees, hedges, shrubs, grasses, and vines.
• Dead heading, grooming, and trimming plants to encourage health. Our crew has expert knowledge in the unique needs of specific plant types such as succulents and cacti, roses, and acidic-loving plants (fruit trees, camellias, hydrangeas).
• Integrated Pest Management techniques including analysis and treatment of plant diseases and pests utilizing exclusively natural and organic methods.
• Lawn and site care using soil amendment and nutrient boosting with organic and natural fertilizers (Veganic options available).
• Irrigation maintenance, troubleshooting, and small scale repairs.
• Clean up services such as mowing, weeding, raking, sweeping, and generally making sure everything looks neat and clean.

Mazingira also considers the environment in our maintenance services.  In addition to the above, we emphasize hand tools and use only electric mowers and other machines.  No blowers or other gas-guzzling equipment is used.

We offer weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly visits depending on site need and client preferences.  Maintenance service areas include Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, Albany, El Cerrito, Emeryville, San Francisco, Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, and Walnut Creek.

Other Services:

• Spring cleaning (or any time of year!)—large scale, comprehensive clean up services that include maintenance tasks described above and additional work including:
  • Intensive weeding
  • Cutting back or removing overgrown grasses and other plants
  • Hauling of plant and other debris
• Staging – getting your home ready for sale
  • Clean up work
  • Additional planting
  • Addition of mulch
  • Soil treatments
  • Hardscape repairs
  • Irrigation rehabilitation
• Drainage resolution
  • Troubleshooting drainage issues such as soggy areas, presence of standing water, and consistently dry areas
  • Installation of French drains and other drainage systems
  • Re-grading to create proper drainage and divert run-off