It’s been a long journey since the Tubbs Fire of 2017. Santa Rosa residents especially bore the brunt of the damage, with approximately 2,800 of the 5,700 destroyed buildings falling within city limits. However, nearly 2 years later, homeowners have begun to take back their homes and rebuild, often on the same property.

As seen in the Coffey Park neighborhood, construction and general contracting has been in full swing to get people back to where they belong. But now that many have a roof and four walls, what can be done about their yards? We’ve compiled some tips and ideas for how to get started on turning bare lawns into beautiful landscaping and gardening to match your new home.

1. Be Inspired

This is easily the most fun step in the process. For online resources, Pinterest is a treasure trove for design inspiration, ranging from simple gardens to elaborate water features. In real life, take a drive down some local neighborhoods for some local inspiration, as well as reaching out to family and friends who have landscaping you admire. This will also help you see a variety of ideas, as well as better understanding their challenges and any paperwork involved.

2. Check for Permits

After you have a few ideas of what kind of new home landscaping you’d like to do, it’s time to research what permits are needed to turn your backyard dream into a reality. For Santa Rosa residents, both the Sonoma County website and the City government have put together a great list of resources during rebuilding, including what steps must be taken to legally complete lawn projects. As well, partnering with the right landscaper will make the paperwork portion of the process much easier to understand and accomplish.

3. Determine a Budget

How much does landscaping cost for a new home? This is entirely based on your budget, which is why it’s so important to determine up front what you are willing to spend. This great guide by Landscaping Network helps break down how to determine the potential cost for these type of projects, as well as inspiration for what can be achieved at different price points.

4. Choose a Landscape Contractor

Between the sheer number of new houses in need of landscaping and the limited number of contractors, it’s important to do some research to make sure that who you hire offers professional-grade work. There are various ways to find out more information. Start with local references from neighbors and friends, then dig into online reviews on Google, Facebook, and other websites. Reach out to those who pique your interest and compare their quotes. Choosing and working with a quality Santa Rosa landscaper like Northview Landscaping helps make a difficult time less stressful and helps your new house feel more like home.