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landscape design manual
CITY OF PALM DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN MANUAL
city of palm desert landscape design manual
Table of Contents
I. Introduction B. Water Calculations
(1) Water conservation in design
II. Purpose (2) Irrigation design
III. Organization VI. Part Three: City Approval Process
IV. Part One: Desert Landscape Design Principles A. Landscape plans that require City approval
B. Types of landscape review
A. Design Criteria C. Submittal requirements
(1) Texture D. City Approval Process Flow Chart
(2) Movement
(3) Color VII. Part Four: Appendix
(4) Placement
(5) Inorganics A. Palm Desert Environment
(1) Temperature
B. Plant Materials (2) Soils
(1) Trees (3) Wind
(2) Shrubs (4) Water
(3) Groundcovers
B. Maintenance
V. Part Two: Design Process (1) Pruning
(2) Scalping
A. Site analysis
(1) Topography C. Irrigation
(2) Light / shadow D. Green waste
(3) Wind E. List of City landscape-related ordinances
(4) Subterranean infrastructure (existing and
proposed)VIII. Part Five: Glossary
IX. References and Links
city of palm desert landscape design manual Table of Contents page 1
I. INTRODUCTION
Landscape is a key element in the definition and preservation of a city’s character. The commitment to retain the unique aesthetic standards of
the desert has long been a vision of the City of Palm Desert and progressive environmental programs, many of which are the first of their kind
ever instituted in the region, are firmly established in the City. In order to uphold the distinctive beauty of the city’s scenery, an exceptional
environmental approach is necessary.
To meet this goal, the City has set standards to promote preservation and conservation, as evidenced in its water efficiency programs, energy
conservation and recycling efforts. Promoting and following the principles offered in this Landscape Design Manual will make a lasting aesthetic
and sustainable contribution to the community.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Landscape Design Manual is to supply guidelines for creating appealing, enduring and desert-appropriate landscapes while
remaining mindful of water conservation principles and the effects of microclimate on the environment. The manual is written to assist
landscape architects, irrigation designers, contractors, project planners, and the public in the selection of suitable plant materials that will
successfully grow, be easily maintained, and be efficiently reviewed and permitted by the City’s departments.
The Landscape Design Manual is intended to be applied to Single-Family Master Plan, Multi-Family, Commercial, Mixed Use, and Industrial
developments. The manual is also intended to assist applicants who wish to renovate and retrofit existing landscape on their property.
III. ORGANIZATION
The Landscape Design Manual is organized into three main sections, Desert Landscape Design Principles, Design Process, and the City Approval
Process. The manual also includes a glossary for reference on terminology and an appendix containing an illustrated background of the City’s
environment. Finally, a reference list of landscape-related City ordinances is included.
city of palm desert landscape design manual introduction page 2
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria
Part one of the manual, Desert Landscape Design Principles,
includes a description of five Design Criteria against which all plans
for proposed landscape construction will be evaluated. Meeting the
following Design Criteria provides sufficient basis for a successful
planting design:
(1) Texture
(2) Movement
(3) Color
(4) Placement
(5) Inorganics
Each of the above criteria is described in further detail in the pages
that follow. Examples of how to successfully satisfy the criteria are
offered. To gain approval, a design must use an effective
combination of all design criteria, and must additionally comply
with all aspects of the water usage, parking lot and shade tree
ordinances. A list of applicable City landscape-related ordinances is
Good design employs: a variety of textures; three-dimensional movement;
included in the Appendix.
color; naturalistic placement of plant material; and a variety of inorganic
materials, including cobble and boulders.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
Sketches and photographs are provided to define the five “Design
Criteria” and further illustrate how to successfully incorporate
these criteria into a successful and sustainable landscape. The
Landscape Design Manual recommends that plant material be
specified from, or be similar species in type and water needs to
those listed in the City’s Desert Flora Palette booklet.
Following the “Design Criteria” section, a section to discuss the use
of “Plant Materials” in design is included. Specification of trees,
shrubs and groundcovers are reviewed not only for their success in
meeting the five “Design Criteria”, but also for the way in which
they are designed to fit within the physical limitations of the built
environment.
These limitations are based on below ground, ground level, and
above ground conditions and restrictions. A description of these
typical environments is included with illustrations.
This residential landscape design exhibits a variety of plants and inorganic
materials arranged to provide color, shade, and interest in a front yard.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 4
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(1) Texture
The use of differing textures in outdoor spatial design adds surface
variety. Texture can be used to direct the eye toward bold
punctuations or soft flowing momentum. Following the principles
of coarseness versus fine textures and the principle of loose
clustering can help achieve a balanced use of texture.
Coarse vs. Fine textures:
Coarse and fine qualities in the landscape are created by differences
in leaf size, in the mass and void of foliage, bulk and narrowness of
tree trunks and branches, and strength and size of flowers. Textures
are sometimes perceived differently by the quantity of light as it
changes during the day. Strong structural pieces such as agave are
considered coarse. Bougainvillea, with its contrast of bare bark and
sporadic profusion of colored-bracts, is also considered coarse in
quality.
Rough, coarse textures tend to create an informal mood and are
visually dominant, while fine, smooth textures are associated with
formal, elegant, subdued moods and are visually more passive. Fine-
textured plants are visually translated as being farther away, so fine
textures can be a tool for providing a sense of expanse in a small
garden and making the space appear larger.
The course textures of these agave and the adjacent cobble can be
appreciated by motorists driving quickly past.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(1) Texture continued
The predominance of coarse-textured plants make a garden space
appear smaller. Strong textural contrasts add drama and interest to
a garden. Structural plants such as cactus, yucca, agave, ocotillo
interspersed with fine-foliage plants and inorganic materials are
ways of adding textural interest to any space.
How to achieve an acceptable level of texture in landscape design:
• Combine plants of differing leaf sizes.
The fine texture of these grasses provide contrast to the bold
forms of the building architecture.
• Utilize plants with differing structural patterns.
• Place coarse plants only in larger landscapes where they can be
appreciated from a distance.
• Vary leaf size, growth pattern seasonal color, etc., utilizing a sense
of unplanted ground space to accentuate the plant selection.
Using a variety of textures in plants and inorganic materials creates an
appealing street-scape.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(2) Movement
Movement is measured by the sequence and hierarchy of plant
material or inorganic decorative elements as the eye dances over
the landscape. Movement refers to the rhythms that can develop
when line, form, texture, and color are changed in a consistent way
to lead in a particular direction or to a point of focus. Sequence
helps connect various design elements. It can be achieved through
repetition, being careful to avoid monotony; or by progression or
hierarchy, such as using textures in graded steps from fine to
coarse; or by alternating or repeating two or more contrasting
features; or by highlighting size differences. Topographical changes,
including the use of mounds, berms, or swales, can also create a
sense of movement.
Focal Points:
The application of focal points in a landscape design conveys a
sense of order. It is best achieved by utilizing movement to direct
the eye to a specimen tree or sculpture, fountain or other marker.
Plant material focal points are listed in the City’s booklet Desert
Flora Palette as “Accents.”
The landscaping here leads the eye to the dramatic architecture of the
Henderson Community Building, creating a sense of movement.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(2) Movement continued
Rhythm:
Rhythm implies a recognizable pattern. Whether symmetrical or
not, shapes and volumes should convey movement through a
rhythmic pattern. For example, as the eye moves through the
landscape there should be deliberate reasons for large passages of
space and the deliberate spacing may or may not remain consistent.
Sequencing of vertical and horizontal elements:
In order to create three-dimensional movement a designer should
be familiar with the growth patterns of their plant choices.
Designers should be able to illustrate how a particular proposed
plant community will interact to create a three-dimensional
relationship.
How to achieve an acceptable level of Three-Dimensional
Movement:
• Specify plant material of differing heights and shapes.
• Utilize color to move the eye.
• Propose an accent plant where appropriate.
• Create patterns with repetition of shapes, or volumes of plants in
sequence.
• Artificially enhance soil surface elevations through the use of
mounds, berms or swales.
The strong vertical forms of the Ocotillo and Cereus create a
sense of rhythm in this landscape display.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(3) Color
The most environmentally successful plantings are those that best
align with the existing natural vegetation. Nurseries offer species
that provide a rich color range that would complement the hues
found in the desert’s natural environment. The City’s Desert Flora
Palette booklet can help serve as a guide.
Natural desert color palette:
The natural desert foliage or leaf color ranges from gray, gray green
to olive and bright green. Succulents can be blue gray to purple.
Desert plants bloom typically in red, orange and yellow. Pinks and
purples blooms are not as common. Environmentally, the choices
for color are most suitable when they are capable of withstanding
the climate. Therefore, emulating the desert’s vegetation is the best
choice rather than choosing “annual” color from a different climate
zone.
Dynamic/seasonal:
Designing with the natural flow of the seasons is the most suitable
choice for the desert climate. This means more blooms in the late
winter and early spring and fewer in the summer or fall.
Contrast:
Contrasting colors create balance and interest, whereas a single
color theme results in an atypical desert arrangement. Sites that are
designed with all blooms occurring at the same time are also
discouraged.
Vivid color and varying textures create a lively pocket of landscaping.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(3) Color continued
Light and shade effects:
Some colors have greater impact when placed in the shade while
other colors are more intense in the sunlight. It is recommended
that the designers know their plant materials sufficiently to
underscore color with optimum placement.
How to achieve an acceptable level of color placement
• Color is critical; use it purposefully.
• Consider the source of color of the plants specified, i.e., the bark
of trees, leaves of shrubs, blooms of perennials and stems and
bodies of succulent plants.
• Design by placing strong colors as accents in the landscape.
Colorful plant material adds visual interest to this median landscaping.
• Choose plants for their sequential blooming periods throughout
the year.
• Alternate strong and subtle colors.
• Avoid monochromatic palettes unless they are part of a larger
design scheme.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(4) Placement
Placement of plants and inorganic materials defines the landscape
design character. Placement can be used to create designs that are
formal or informal; symmetrical, asymmetrical or organic; artificial and
contrived or flowing and natural. Elements of placement include plant
spacing, massing, and symmetry.
Landscape designs that are informal, natural, and organic in form are
encouraged. Designs that are formal or highly structured will be
considered on a case-by-case basis, and may be approved where
building architecture or site design warrants this approach.
The City of Palm Desert has a long established tradition of
Consider the natural, organic form of plant placement above,
environmental sustainability. Successful spacing of plants assures ease
compared with the contrived and deliberate patterning shown below.
of maintenance, longevity, and sustainability in your design. When
reviewing landscape plans, the principles of sustainability with respect
to maintenance, green waste, and water conservation are priorities.
City staff will look for over-all consistency with respect to long-term
maintenance of a proposed planting design.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(4) Placement continued
The desert’s natural growth pattern:
The desert’s natural growth pattern is characterized by casual clusters
of living plants grouped with boulders and cobble. These organic and
inorganic clusters can include random large shrubs and mature trees.
In the naturally occurring desert landscape, living plant materials grow
out of wide expanses of rocky soils and sand. Occasionally, boulders
and other groups of rocks gather in lower spots. This pattern emerges
due to gravity’s effect on slopes where water drainage and cobble
erosion settle.
Loose Clustering:
While the City discourages the landscape design technique of mass
planting, or unnatural bulk grouping, (a style more common in
The desert’s natural growth pattern is celebrated in the landscape design
wetter climates), the natural pattern of the desert habitat does
depicted here. Note the expanse of open space punctuated with loose
clusters of a variety of species of drought-tolerant plant material.
include the concept of loose clustering of similar species. This
concept can add texturally to any design, whether using coarse or
fine materials.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(4) Placement continued
When mass planting is acceptable:
Mass planting will be considered if it serves a clear and unique design
purpose that highlights a specific architectural or site feature.
Combined mass planted areas should not comprise a large portion of
the total landscaped area.
How to achieve an acceptable level of placement:
• Design with random patterns that employ a balanced use of
unplanted areas and areas utilizing boulders, living groundcovers,
shrubs and trees.
• Use care when spacing for the use of public art, monument signs,
meandering walks, or other unnatural materials.
• Design to create easily maintained clusters, and consider the
plants’ mature sizes.
• Leave negative or unplanted space sprinkled throughout the
Consideration has been given here to mature plant sizes. These shrubs will
design area.
not encroach on the sidewalk, and will continue to be easy to maintain for
the life of the plant material.
• Hold plant material back from sidewalks and structures so that it
can grow unrestrained to its full size.
• Use unstructured and irregular placement in lieu of creating
artificial or contrived patterns with plants and inorganic materials.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 13
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(5) Inorganics
So much of what characterizes the natural desert landscape is the
rugged contrast of plant life against inert rocks, boulders and sandy
soils. Nature’s placement of these boulders and their natural
decomposition also plays a role in reflecting heat away from plant
roots.
Unlike tropical environments where plant materials completely
cover and smooth out most small topographic features, the natural
designs of the desert leave landforms, surface colors and textures
clearly exposed. Natural features include dry streambeds, dunes,
eroded ridges, and rock outcroppings.
Since most grading plans include drainage swales, they can be
incorporated as dry streambeds. By combining streams and
mounds of varying sizes, landscapes can be divided into three to five
sections where other contrasting elements can focus attention.
Since desert landscapes inherently involve fewer plants (which
initially are very small) and large areas of open unplanted space,
every aspect of the design must contribute interest and diversity to
the overall plan.
Inorganic materials, including cobble, boulders, and pea gravel, are
used here to create a dry streambed that is actually a drainage swale.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(5) Inorganics continued
Natural vs. Artificial Placement
The native desert-scape inherently involves fewer plants and large
areas of open unplanted space. These elements have a random
natural placement that is neither symmetrical nor predictable.
Natural placement is the consequence of natural systems and forces
such as gravity, erosion, and water.
Artificial design follows a deliberate symmetry, a pattern imposed
by human aesthetics. This type of design contradicts the native
desert-scape and forces an artificial order to the landscape.
The natural placement of well chosen inorganic material helps to create s
landscape design that serves as a visual oasis.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 15
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(5) Inorganics
Color enhancement and harmony
The purpose of utilizing cobble and decomposed granite as a
decorative element is to stabilize sandy soils and to assist surface
water to drain rather than evaporate from the soil's surface. Shape
and color choices serve to create contrasts that can be
complementary and further the aesthetic and sustainable intent of
a landscape design.
It is recommended that color choices be made congruent with
natural soil colors. However, there are places in the desert where
darker inorganic materials occur. These darker colors can provide
bright contrast with succulents. Such colors would be considered on
a case by case basis and approved for their aesthetic functionality.
Harmony is achieved when the designer is mindful of stone and
cobble shapes and the source of their formation in nature.
Generally speaking, round stones are river-formed while jagged-
edged rocks are formed by the natural decomposition of fragments
in a dry environment. Utilizing river rock is acceptable when the
design adheres to an arroyo theme, for example.
The colors of cobble and boulders harmonize in this median, and are
consistent with the color of native soils in the area.
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IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
A. Design Criteria (continued)
(5) Inorganics continued
How to achieve acceptable levels of inorganic materials
• A variety of rock sizes, from fine decomposed granite to cobble
and large boulders, adds interest to open unplanted areas
without consuming any water.
• Utilize decomposed granite (DG) to add a variety of colors, texture
and to stabilize fine dusty native soils.
• DG ranges in size from course sand to 3/8” minus with 11% fines.
Colors should incorporate a variety of compatible earth tones.
• Since a goal of all desert design is to minimize heat gain, lighter
shades should predominate. Large gravel (2-3 inches) can be
mixed in to accentuate topographic variety. Rounded gravel and
cobble (2”-12”) are appropriate in streambeds.
• Large sharp edged rocks (8”-24”, or larger depending on size of
garden area) can be grouped on top of mounds to simulate
exposed outcroppings.
• Decomposed granite needs to be wetted and compacted during
installation to properly stabilize native soils. This process should
be specified on submitted plans.
This design uses decomposed granite and a variety of rock sizes. The larger
boulders are partially "sunken" into the soil, which creates the look of a
• Bury the bottom third of boulders below grade so that they
landscape that has evolved over time, rather than one that was artificially
appear to have been pushed up from the desert floor, rather than
imposed.
perched on top of it.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 17
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
B. Plant Materials
Plant material used in landscape design is limited only by the creativity
of a designer. The City does not prescribe a fixed plant palate; instead
each plant material selected is reviewed for appropriateness in its
proposed location.
The City will evaluate the appropriateness of plants selected for use in a
design by considering sustainability and location.
Sustainability: Sustainability refers to how the plant material can and
will be maintained over the course of its life. The selection of a plant
species will be judged based upon the plant’s characteristics of:
The pruning needed for sustained, healthy growth
Susceptibility to pest problems
Invasive root development
Weak limb and stem attachment
Invasive growth and reseeding
Proper design allows adequate space for mature shrub development and
root expansion. There is also space around each shrub to allow a worker to
prune seasonally.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 18
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
B. Plant Materials (continued)
Location: The location of a plant for optimal health and
minimal maintenance is essential to good design. Plant location
should be selected while giving consideration to other
components or conditions on site. The right location will
encourage development of root systems and canopies that will be
visually appealing and will protect both the plant and its
surroundings for years to come. Specifically, plant location should
be responsive to these other components and conditions on site:
Below Grade – Utilities, footings for buildings , walls, and
fences, sidewalks, patios, and drainage structures such as
piping and dry wells.
At Grade – Soil conditions (compaction), hardscape
features such as decorative paving, topography, drainage
ways and catch basins.
Above Grade – Overhead utilities, building canopies and
awnings, structural features, and shade.
Above right: Trees should be located where they have room for the full
canopy to develop without conflicting with buildings, utilities or other plant
material.
Right: Good design accounts for potential conflicts: below ground with the
roots of this shoestring Acacia: with the shrubs at ground level; and with
the building’s architectural canopies above ground.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 19
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
B. Plant Materials (continued)
(1) Trees
Adequate site space must be available for mature tree canopy
and root development. Trees are highly regarded for their
environmental and aesthetic value. The recommended
minimum tree container size for planting is a 24” box. In some
situations, a 15-gallon container may be approved.
(2) Shrubs
Shrubs are used in the landscape as screens, an understory
and foundational planting, as edge materials, and for color
appeal. To work effectively, they must have adequate site
space for mature canopy and root development. Most shrubs
require some form of pruning, which requires that space be
left around them for access.
(3) Groundcover
This use of a variety of types of groundcover prevents soil erosion
Groundcover, by the City of Palm Desert’s definition, is
and blowing sand, while providing color and interest to a long
prostrate (horizontal) plant material, excluding turf grass
embankment.
species. Groundcovers are valued for their ability to provide
color and greening, to mitigate soil erosion, improve water
infiltration, and provide refuge for other species , thus
promoting biodiversity. As with shrubs, groundcover plant
material should be spaced to provide adequate room for
growth without crowding.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 20
IV. Part One: DESERT LANDSCAPE DESIGN PRINCIPLES
B. Plant Materials (continued)
.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 21
V. Part Two: DESIGN PROCESS
A. Site analysis
(1) Topography
The project site topography is the first item to analyze in planting
design. Slopes, natural swales and hillsides must be considered for
successful plant development and even irrigation delivery. The
flatness of a site should be regarded a design feature that might
present challenges. (
2) Light/Shadow
The orientation of a site with respect to the sun and the amount of
light that plantings will receive must be studied prior to plant
material specification. Most local nurseries will be able to assist in
the selection of plants that can sustain exposure to sun and heat
due to the site’s orientation.
(3) Wind
A site’s exposure to high winds should influence design elements
such as screens and windbreaks. Delicate plant material is
discouraged if area winds are too strong to allow plants to flourish.
(See additional information in the Appendix.)
(4) Infrastructure
The project site infrastructure must be shown in the plans.
Allowances for existing and proposed underground and above
ground features will determine what can be planted.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 22
V. Part Two: DESIGN PROCESS
B. Water Calculations
(1) Water Conservation in the design process
The City’s Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requires that water
conservation be the cornerstone of design criteria. The choice of
plant type and number will determine if the design will meet the
ordinance's water conservation criteria. Therefore, any design must
be built around plant water use. If turf is desired, then low and very
low water use shrubs and trees should be used to meet the required
water use criteria. Conversely, if moderate and high water use
shrubs are used in the design, then the use of turf maybe limited or
excluded from the design.
The City has a spreadsheet available on its website that will help
designers calculate the Maximum Allowable Water Use and
Estimated Water Use of a landscape design. This spreadsheet uses
the Coachella Valley Water District’s (CVWD's) Eto Zone Map and
the WUCOLS manual to calculate the two values.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 23
V. Part Two: DESIGN PROCESS
B. Water calculations continued
(2) Irrigation Design
All irrigation designs will be reviewed by City staff for compliance
with the City’s Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. All designs
must account for different water use characteristics of plant
material. Turf, shrubs and trees must be on separate valves.
All shrubs should be irrigated by a drip system. Irrigation controllers
should be able to automatically adjust the irrigation schedule
according to weather changes (“Smart” capability). Soil moisture
sensors can be used to meet the “Smart” capability requirement.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 24
IV. Part Three: CITY APPROVAL PROCESS
A. Landscape plans that require City approval
• New and retrofitted commercial and industrial projects
• Multi-family projects
• The common areas and model home yards of planned
residential developments.
B. Types of Landscape Review
There are two types of review that the City applies to landscape
design projects, ministerial and discretionary.
“Ministerial” review does not require a public hearing, and is
administered internally by City staff through a plan check process.
It is frequently accomplished “over the counter” while the applicant
is present..
The second type, “Discretionary” landscape review, is for larger
projects and requires a public hearing. A flow chart illustrating the
typical sequence of steps is included in the following pages of this
section.
Both review processes require approximately the same level of
information. Plans that are legible and that sufficiently supply the
required information will ensure an easier approval under both
types of review. Submittal requirements are listed on the following
page.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 25
VI Part Three: CITY APPROVAL PROCESS
C. Required Submittals for Both Discretionary and Ministerial
Review (2) Design Sheets
One set of preliminary landscape plans must be submitted to the (A) Site Plan
Public Works Department concurrently with grading plans. Same title block information as cover sheet
Preliminary landscape plans must include, at a minimum, the Scope of work (existing vs. proposed)
following: Building footprints
Walls, fences, retaining walls, monument signs, etc.
(1) Cover sheet Hardscape, pedestrian and vehicular paths
(A) Vicinity map (B) Planting Plan
Sheet location map or sheet “key” if several sheets or phases Same title block information as cover sheet
are involved Plant specifications
Scale Size containers
Quantity
(B) Project Data Species: botanical and common name
Square foot area of project Availability
Zone Symbol legend
Square footage each of: turf, shrubs, and total
(C) Title Block landscape area (distinguish between off-site and
Project name and number on-site)
Date of plan issue and/or submittal date
Address of the project (C) Irrigation Plan
North arrow Sleeving under hardscape
Name of the landscape architect/landscape designer
(D) Grading Plan
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 26
VI Part Three: CITY APPROVAL PROCESS
D. City Approval Process Flow Chart
Discretionary Review
The flow chart at right outlines the steps by which a landscape
design is submitted, reviewed, and approved by the City of Palm
Desert in instances wherein the City has the authority for
discretionary review. In situations where the review is
ministerial (for single family homes, for instance), the review
process is greatly simplified and can often be accomplished over
the counter.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 27
VI Part Three: CITY APPROVAL PROCESS
Discretionary Review (continued)
LEGEND:
APPLICANT ACTIVITIES IN ORANGE
CITY ACTIVITIES IN BLUE
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 28
VII. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment
(1) Temperature:
The City of Palm Desert is located in the Coachella Valley, a region characterized by mild winters and hot summers.
Day to night temperatures can fluctuate about more than 30 degrees. Summer plants can be exposed to
temperatures as high as 122˚ F. Winter temperatures can be as low as 13˚ F, with an average winter low of 42˚ F. The
city is located at elevations that extend from 224 feet above sea level to over 1,000 feet. This extensive range
includes a variety of landforms and conditions, including foothills, sloping alluvial fans, the Cove, sand dunes and a
low plane.
(2) Soils:
There are four basic soil types within the City of Palm Desert. Rocky soils and decomposed granite predominate on
alluvial fans along the slopes of the mountains. In the northern part of the City soils tend to be sandy. These three soil
types are typically fast draining and have limited water holding capacity. In the plane between the sand dunes and
the foothills the soil is generally a tight, silty loam, which is very compact and requires special attention to ensure
proper drainage. All native soils contain very little organic matter.
This sandy soil is typical of the area. It is fast draining and has
very little organic matter.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 29
VII. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(2) Soils Continued
Desert soils are quite different from the loam or clay soils found in
other regions. Because they are fast-draining, people new to the region
must learn different watering cues and habits. Here, the plants
themselves, rather than the water pooled on the soil surface, provide
the best indication of when water is needed.
(3) Precipitation
The City of Palm Desert receives, on average, only 3.5 inches of rain per
year. Much of this rain falls during intense summer thunderstorms,
locally called Chubascos, which can result in gully-washers and flash
floods. Rather than attempting to use this summer rainfall by directing
it to plants in the landscape, it is more prudent to move the torrent
through the site to minimize damage.
With such meager rainfall, supplemental irrigation is a necessity for all
landscapes, even those comprised of native desert plants. This is
especially true of new plantings. However, in some years sufficient
autumn rainfall triggers brilliant displays of spring wildflowers, found in
the Cabazon Pass and throughout the Coachella Valley. In such years, it
is easy to see colorful displays of wildflowers along roadways in
undeveloped areas, carpeting the sand dunes and covering vacant lots.
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IV. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(4) Wind
Winds are most prevalent in Palm Desert during late winter and spring.
They typically come through the San Gorgonio Pass and fluctuate with
the changing pattern of westerly storms and coastal weather
conditions. Winds tend to follow the natural course set by the
Whitewater River Channel and are most pronounced in the northern
part of the City. Thermal low-pressure systems formed in the low
desert by rising hot air draw winds down through the pass. This
condition is most common when desert temperatures are much
warmer than coastal temperatures.
Winds desiccate (dry-out) plants, and can be a real threat to a
landscape’s survival. Winds do more than draw moisture from plants.
Once they reach a velocity of 25 to 30 miles per hour, dust and sand
begin to move. At 30 to 40 miles per hour, a dust storm may develop.
It is not uncommon for winds to top 60 miles per hour, which can
cause severe damage.
Windbreaks can be placed strategically in the landscape to buffer the
effects of wind, blowing sand and dust. The illustration (right) provides
some guidelines for planting to reduce wind velocity. Wind is a
particular concern to landscapes in the northern portion of the City
where soils are sandy and the velocity tends to be the greatest.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 31
IV. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(5) Water
Landscapes in the City of Palm Desert appear lush and green, but with
rainfall averaging 3.5 inches per year, rain alone would support only a
sparse scattering of native plants. With irrigation, however, the desert
springs to life. Water is the essential ingredient to develop and
maintain plant life.
Water is supplied to the City of Palm Desert by the Coachella Valley
Water District (CVWD), a water agency that serves the southern
portion of the Coachella Valley. Farms in the region receive water for
irrigation from a separate source, the Coachella branch of the All
American Canal, a canal system that brings Colorado River water to the
Imperial and Coachella Valleys.
The City's drinking water is supplied by a separate source - a large
aquifer (a natural underground water storage area) deep under the
Coachella Valley. Deep wells tap water of excellent quality for domestic
use, including landscaping.
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IV. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(5) Water continued
The Desert Water Agency (DWA), the water district that serves the
northern portion of the Coachella Valley, and the Coachella Valley
Water District (CVWD) are contractors for the State Water Project. This
entitles each agency to an annual allotment of State Water Project
water.
Because there is no canal or pipeline linking the Coachella Valley to the
State Water Project, the CVWD and DWA trade their allotment of state
water, gallon for gallon, for Colorado River water.
During wet years, Colorado River water is funneled into large, shallow
ponds in the northern Coachella Valley. These ponds filter the water
and allow it to percolate into the underground aquifer. This is known
as recharge. When the Colorado River is running high, the CVWD and
DWA take additional water for future allotments.
During drought years water is not taken. It is through this process that
the underground aquifer is recharged and its depletion is minimized.
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IV. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(5) Water continued
The average five member household in the Coachella Valley uses one acre-
foot of water, or 325,850 gallons, per year. This equals more than 892
gallons per day. Of this water, as much as 70 percent is used to irrigate
lawns and landscape plants.
The CVWD estimates that by adopting a water-efficient landscape, the
average family could cut their water usage (and water bill) in half.
Additionally, reclaimed water is available (at a reduced price) for irrigation
of large landscape projects such as golf courses. Currently, the CVWD
provides reclaimed water to several golf courses and has a goal to reclaim
100% of the wastewater it processes.
As previously mentioned, the Coachella Valley gets most of its water from
an aquifer, the remnant of a prehistoric lake that receded underground as
the climate changed from wet subtropical to arid desert. Local rainfall and
mountain snows were no longer sufficient to maintain the lake and
surrounding lush subtropical environment. An attempt to recreate that
lush environment by pumping or mining the prehistoric underground
reservoir will ultimately drain it entirely, leaving nothing for future
generations.
Residential and commercial landscape design must recognize and accept
both the constraints and unique opportunities present in a hot, dry
environment where every drop of water is precious.
The addition of the a water line connecting Colorado River water with the
CVWD reclamation plant in Palm Desert will allow these two sources to
mix, providing better quality water that will serve more golf courses. This
line will also decrease the aquifer depletion rate.
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IV. Part Four: APPENDIX
A. Palm Desert Environment (continued)
(5) Water continued
California Irrigation Management Information System (C.I.M.I.S.)
Many golf courses, parks and greenbelts maintained by homeowner
associations have their irrigation systems linked by computer to the
California Irrigation Management Information System (C.I.M.I.S.),
managed by the Department of Water Resources in Sacramento.
This computer-operated system calculates and informs the public as
to the day's evapotranspiration (ET) rate for selected regions in
California. Evapotranspiration is the water lost through evaporation
from the soil and transportation from plant tissues.
The ET rate is the amount of moisture a plant needs to survive. By
knowing the ET rate, you can supply plants with the precise amount
of water they require, avoiding wasteful overwatering. The
Coachella Valley has three reporting stations to help ensure
accuracy located at PGA West in La Quinta, in Thermal and at
College of the Desert in Palm Desert. The system is available to
everyone via radio, computer or phone. For more information on
current weather call CVWD’s weather report at (760) 398-7211.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 35
VII. Part Four: Appendix
B. Maintenance
The success of a landscape, whether measured by its beauty or
longevity, is the result of the ease and efficiency of its
maintenance. Thinking ahead regarding maintenance practices
and standards should be part of the design process and will be
evaluated in the first phase of conceptual approvals. Although the
City has created a manual to illustrate procedures that promote
consistent landscape work standards, the following typical
methods are suggested to demonstrate that maintenance has been
considered in the design:
• Allow sufficient space when specifying desert shrubs. Most
desert shrubs grow in a loose wide pattern.
• Do not place plant material in cobble.
• Use lawn only when functional, not decorative.
• When locating trees, be aware of potential building overhangs,
nearness to walls, and how appropriate the planter size is for
likely proposed growth.
• Be mindful of what is planted under trees.
• When specifying palms in clusters, allow room for frond
removal crews.
• Blooming trees can litter on walkways and cars.
• Maintenance schedules will be required on plans.
Refer to the City of Palm Desert Landscape Maintenance
Guide for additional information on landscape maintenance.
city of palm desert landscape design manual 36
VII. Part Four: Appendix
C. Irrigation
A wide variety of irrigation products are available today. In
general, two kinds of irrigation systems are used: drip
irrigation and spray irrigation. In some instances, both types
may be used on a single project. However, spray systems
are only approved for turf. Each type of system has
advantages and proper uses.
When deciding on irrigation systems, select reliable equipment. The
equipment must be able to with-stand the desert environment,
particularly high temperatures. Any parts that are above ground or
open to the sun must be designed to withstand intense solar
radiation. (White PVC pipe degrades in sunlight and should not be
used where it is exposed). The Coachella Valley Water District can
provide you with valuable information, including their publication
“Lush and Efficient.”
city of palm desert landscape design manual 37
VII. Part Four: Appendix
C. Irrigation continued
If you plan to install an emitter system, the filter and pressure
regulator are the critical pieces of equipment. When a filter
becomes clogged with dirt or debris, water is not applied evenly, or
at all. Self-flushing valves are available to help alleviate the problem
of keeping the filter clean. The pressure regulator can be adjustable
or static and should be between 15 to 30 psi of pressure.
Of the many types of emitter systems available, “spaghetti” tubing
is less desirable and not approved in the City, because it rests
directly on the soil surface where animals and foot traffic can easily
damage it.
Rigid PVC pipe is preferred, but in some applications, consideration
will be given to flexible polyethelyne pipe. Only schedule 80 and ¼”
polyflex risers are acceptable
city of palm desert landscape design manual 38
VII. Part Four: Appendix
D. Green waste
• Any organic soil amendments must consist of locally produced
compost recycled from local green waste.
• In turn, all green waste must be recycled to a local compost
facility.
city of palm desert landscape design manual 39
VII. Part Four: Appendix
E. List of landscape-related City ordinances
The following citations represent places where landscape-related provisions, regulations or
requirements appear in the City of Palm Desert Municipal Code.
Title 2 Administration and Personnel
2.68 Art in Public Places Commission
2.68.020 Membership
Title 3 Revenue and Finance
3.40 Parking and Business Improvement Area
3.40.050 Charges
Title 5 Business Taxes, Licenses and Regulations
5.95 Landscape-related business
5.95.010 Landscape-related business
Title 8 Health and Safety
8.20.020 Unlawful property nuisances
8.70 Property maintenance
8.70.190 Vegetation, landscaping
8.70.330 Water management for existing landscapes
Title 9 Public Peace, Morals and Welfare
9.24 Noise Control
9.24.075 Property maintenance activities
Title 12 Street and Sidewalks
12.32 Tree Pruning Regulations
12.32.040 Standards
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VII. Part Four: Appendix
E. List of landscape-related City ordinances (continued)
The following code sections include landscape related requirements that must be met
and should be referenced when submitting plans.
Title 24 Environment and Conservation
24.04 Water-efficient landscape
24.04.010 Purpose and intent
24.04.050 Landscape construction documentation package
24.04.060 Water conservation concept statement
24.04.080 Planting design plan
24.04.090 Irrigation design plan
24.04.100 Irrigation schedules
24.04.110 Maintenance
24.04.120 Landscape irrigation audits
24.04.130 Grading design plan
24.04.140 Soils analysis
24.04.150 Certifications
24.04.160 Public education
24.04.170 Water management for existing landscapes
24.04.190 Fees for initial review and program monitoring
24.04.200 Enforcement and penalties
24.16 Outdoor lighting requirements
24.16.040 Definitions
24.16.060 Light trespass
24.20 Stormwater Management and Discharge control
24.20.050 Discharge of pollutants
24.30 Energy Efficiency Standards
24.30.030 Mandatory requirements
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VII. Part Four: Appendix
E. List of landscape-related City ordinances (continued)
Title 25 Zoning
25.15.010 Purpose
25.15.060 Architectural and landscape design
25.16.120 Private tennis courts and sports courts
25.23.100 Design criteria
25.24.090 Design review of project
25.28.140 Special standards
25.56.195 Standards for walls and fences for single-family residential
lots in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR zone districts
25.58.100 Landscaping requirements
25.58.120 Tree requirements
25.58.123 Parking lot tree maintenance and installation requirements
25.58.122 Parking lot tree irrigation requirements
25.58.370 Definitions
25.58.130 Landscape and irrigation system plan review
25.68.335 Directional signs for courtyard or plaza businesses
25.72.020 Application—Submittal requirements
25.73.013 Approval or rejection considerations
25.104.010 Purpose and intent
25.120.090 Applications for condominium conversions
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 42
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY
Accent Plants: A plant of special interest that is usually part of a larger planting. Accent plants provide interest throughout the seasons
through specific forms, textures, colors, etc.
Annual Gardens: Gardens that need to be replanted each year because the plants do not thrive through all seasons. Annuals are
frequently chosen for their intense flowering and often become focal points in the landscape.
Balance: Balance refers to the relationship between elements in the landscape. Balance can be formal or informal. Formal balance is
usually created by landscape designs with one side a mirror image of the other. Informal balance occurs when plant sizes and numbers
are only relatively similar on both sides.
Base Map: A drawing that incorporates all of the information collected about the landscape and provides the basics to be used in the
landscape design process.
Base Plan: The creation of bubble diagrams, concept plans and draft designs, all of which are eventually used to create a completed
landscape design.
Border Planting: A plant or plant grouping that divides spaces in a landscape or between adjacent properties.
Bubble Diagram: Bubble diagrams consist of a series of circles or rounded shapes drawn on paper to show what the areas in the
landscape will be used for. The areas can represent a turf area, a shrub border, a perennial garden, a dog kennel, etc.
Commercial Grounds: Commercial grounds usually surround a business, townhouse complex or apartment building. Often, there is a
supervisor or committee established by the company to govern decisions about the landscape. Landscape maintenance firms or a
department within the firm maintain the grounds.
Completed Landscape Design: A completed landscape design in plan view (bird's-eye view). This plan has all the information necessary
to install the landscape.
Conceptual Plans: Initial drawings of how the spaces in the landscape will appear. Conceptual designs lack details, water use
calculations, and specifications.
Draft Design: Preliminary designs consisting of key plants, plant and groupings of inorganic materials (boulders, cobble, etc.) shown with
a proposed plan palate.
Easements: An interest in land owned by another that entitles its holder to a specific limited use or enjoyment.
Elements of Design: Criteria used in selecting and organizing plant materials and inorganic materials and organizing them into the
landscape. The designer must consider both primary and secondary elements of design.
Emphasis: Major landscape components are highlighted more than less important ones. Framing, plant quantities, and creating unusual
focal points are examples of using emphasis in the landscape.
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VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
Environmentally Sound: A landscape that does not harm the environment, soil, water and air. An environmentally sound landscape is
less dependent on pesticides, fertilizer and water to maintain the desired appearance.
Form: The outline a plant creates as well as the three dimensional features it produces (columnar, round, vase, weeping, oval, etc.).
Form should be considered early in the design process.
Foundation Plantings: Plantings located in beds surrounding the base of a structure. Foundation plantings can be made continuously or
in segments. They provide transitions adjacent to patio and entry gardens. They frequently contain several key plants.
Freestanding or Group Plantings: Plantings that are apart from a structure or other plantings. Sometimes called an island planting
depending upon location.
Functional: Any part of the landscape with a specific purpose for its location other than aesthetics. Functionality is associated with
landscape uses.
Hardscaping: Manmade features in the landscape. Examples include walks, fences and retaining walls.
Implementation: The process of installing plant materials and hard-goods into the landscape. Landscape implementation is carried out
according to the completed landscape design.
Inorganic Materials or Inorganics: All of the construction materials used to create structure in the landscape. Examples include boulders,
pavers, landscape timbers and fencing.
Key Plants: Landscape plants placed in a highly visible location. Key plants are frequently used individually or in groups of three. They are
often associated with the screening or softening of architectural features, such as building corners, steps, fences, etc.
Landscape: Area where plants, turf, decks, walks, etc., have been used to create an outdoor living area that makes the area functional
and visually pleasing.
Landscape Architect: A State-licensed professional who plans and designs landscapes. Landscape architects are usually schooled in
engineering and architecture and typically work on projects larger than residential properties.
Landscape Designer: A professional without state licensure who plans and develops landscapes, usually at a residential or small
commercial level. Landscape designers are usually skilled in the use of plant materials and other horticultural aspects of landscape
design.
Maintainability: Process of making every individual segment of a landscape as easy to care for as possible. A maintainable landscape
requires less labor, fewer supplies, and is less expensive to care for.
Mass Plantings: Plantings where many plants of the same species are used to fill an area.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 44
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
Perennial Gardens: Herbaceous plantings that can tolerate all seasons and will come back each year. Perennial gardens provide seasonal
interest for a longer period of time than annual gardens and can serve as focal points in the landscape.
Photographic View: The way in which we see a landscape or an area if we are standing and looking at it at ground level. Photographic
view drawings on a plan help the client visualize how the installed landscape will appear.
Plant Groupings: Plant groupings provide a representation of the types of plants that will occupy an area once the landscape design is
completed. A plant grouping might show a shrub border between properties, or it may represent a perennial bed location.
Plan View or Plan View Drawings: Bird's eye view of the area being designed. The completed landscape design is done in plan view.
Principles of Design: Process that defines and ties all individual components together to create unity within a design. Example of
principles of design would be simplicity, variety, balance, emphasis, sequence, and scale.
Scale: Scale is the relative size of one part of a landscape to another. Scale may be the proportion or ratio of size to other components in
the landscape.
Screen Plantings: Plantings used to screen an area to provide privacy, block a poor view, or as a natural boundary or barrier.
Seasonal Interest or Color: Seasonal interest is simply the time of the year that a plant provides a special characteristic such as flowers,
fall color, fruits, etc. Color is the element that is often first noticed about a plant. Color is frequently used in a landscape to provide
interest throughout the entire growing season. This is often referred to as seasonal interest.
Sequence: A gradual transition from one area to another within a landscape. A landscape with sequence has one element changing at a
time rather than several changes at once. A landscape with a coarse textured plant next to a fine textured plant is an example of bad
sequence.
Simplicity: Understanding what is, and is not important in a landscape design. Details that will not have a major impact to the landscape
are omitted to keep it uncluttered.
Site Analysis: Compiling the information found during the site survey and the family or client interview to be used in the development of
the landscape plan.
Site Plan: A drawing that incorporates all of the information collected about the landscape and provides the basic landscape design. A
site plan is usually drawn to scale, showing an entire legal parcel and its connection to the surrounding parcels or public right-of-way
from a bird’s eye view.
Site Survey: Collecting the information that will aid the designer in the development of the completed landscape design. Examples
include soil type, drainage, structures, existing plants and good and bad views.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 45
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
Specimen Plants: Specimen plants can be part of a larger planting, but usually stand alone in the landscape. Specimen plants provide
specific seasonal interests or color through flowers, fruit, or leaves.
Sustainable Landscape: A landscape designed, installed, and maintained in a residential, commercial, or public setting that is functional,
maintainable, environmentally sound, cost effective, and visually pleasing throughout the entire life of that landscape.
Texture: Coarseness or fineness of the plant. Texture should be one of the first design considerations when placing plants in a landscape.
Texture in plants can be created by leaves, branches, bark and other plant parts. It can also be created by rough or smooth looking
surfaces, thin or thick leaf set, and by darkness or lightness.
Trees: A woody plant that usually has one main stem and reaches a height of at least 12 feet. Trees are very important for screening,
framing, and shade, and are considered early in the landscape design program. Trees are usually placed before other plant material
because of their major impact on understory shrubs chosen for the landscape.
Variety: Mixing up the form, texture and color combinations in a landscape to create extra interest without sacrificing the simplicity of
the design.
Visualization Exercise: When a designer pictures in his or her mind what an area will look like before the landscape design process
begins.
Visually Pleasing: A landscape having an overall desirable appearance. A beautiful landscape would also be considered a visually
pleasing landscape.
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 46
IX. References and Links
City of Palm Desert Municipal Code
City of Palm Desert Flora
City of Palm Desert Maintenance
http://myvisionscape.com/resources/Glossary_of_Landscape_Terms
city of palm desert landscape design manual 47
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 48
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 49
VIII. Part Five: GLOSSARY (continued)
city of palm desert landscape design manual page 50