Landscaping Services in Monterey, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds patios, gardens, pergolas, walls and outdoor living spaces in the City of Monterey. From hillside homes above downtown to compact lots near the bay, Monterey yards deal with fog, wind, slopes and year-round outdoor watering rules. We design for all of it, and we check the City's tree rules before anything is cut. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Tree Permits in the City of Monterey

Under the City's tree ordinance, removing a tree on private property that is 6 inches or more in diameter measured four and a half feet above the ground needs a permit, and the City may ask for an ISA-certified arborist's report. Reasonable pruning is allowed without a permit, but excessive pruning is prohibited. Questions go to the City's Parks Division at 831-646-3860. We lay out patios and walls to protect existing trees, and when one has to go we start the permit before design is final.

Monterey Watering Rules

Monterey homes are served by California American Water inside the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, where Rule 162 is always in effect:

• No irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and irrigation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The rule covers sprinklers, drip, smart controllers and hand watering with a hose; a professional gardener or landscaper on site may irrigate on up to two days a week, small containers or buckets are fine any time, and subsurface graywater may run any time
• No irrigating during rain or for 48 hours after measurable rain
• Leaks and broken sprinklers repaired within 72 hours of notice
• No hosing down patios and driveways with drinking water, and hoses need a positive shut-off nozzle
• Fountains and ponds must recirculate
• Outdoor use must follow the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance where it applies

With two watering days a week, design does the heavy lifting: plants grouped by water need, drip under mulch, a smart controller with a rain sensor, and lawn kept only where it is used.

Lawn Removal and Other Rebates

MPWMD's lawn removal rebate pays $1.00 per square foot, up to 2,500 square feet per property (amounts updated April 20, 2026 per the District's rebate table). The lawn must be green, mowed and regularly irrigated; the District must prequalify the project and pre-inspect it before any lawn comes out; replacement can be low-water plants or permeable surfaces such as mulch, decomposed granite or synthetic turf, but concrete and grouted pavers don't qualify; any irrigation in the converted area must be drip; the owner records a deed restriction; and the work must be finished within 120 days of the prequalification letter. Residential rebates also cover smart controllers ($100 for up to four stations plus $10 per added station, up to 20), rain cisterns and smart flow meters, all listed by the District as of October 2026. Check current terms with the District at 831-658-5601 before you start.

Small Lots, Slopes and Fog

Many Monterey lots are small or steep. Retaining walls and steps turn a slope into usable terraces, and a well-placed patio, pergola or patio cover makes a small backyard feel like a room. Fog-tolerant coastal plants, raised vegetable beds and a fire bowl or fire table make the space useful most of the year.

What We Build in Monterey

We can help you with everything from design to the finished build:

• Landscape design and installation, with drought-tolerant planting and drip irrigation
• Hardscape: patios, pavers, walkways, concrete and driveways
• Retaining walls, steps and drainage
• Pergolas, patio covers and decks
• Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and lighting
• Artificial turf, rock, gravel and decomposed granite, and lawn replacement

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Monterey we also work in Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley. See our Monterey County landscaping page, or our home base on the San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Monterey?

Yes, for a private tree 6 inches or more in diameter measured four and a half feet above the ground. The City may ask for an arborist report. Reasonable pruning does not need a permit.

What days can I water in Monterey?

Under MPWMD Rule 162, irrigation is allowed only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, never between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and not during or for 48 hours after measurable rain.

Is there a rebate for replacing my lawn in Monterey?

MPWMD pays $1.00 per square foot up to 2,500 square feet for qualifying conversions to low-water plants or permeable surfaces. The District must prequalify and pre-inspect the lawn first.

Does synthetic turf qualify for the MPWMD rebate?

The District lists synthetic turf among allowed permeable replacements; concrete and grouted pavers do not qualify. Confirm the current terms with the District before you start.

Do you work on steep lots?

Yes. We build retaining walls, steps and drainage to make sloped yards usable.

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