THE LEARNING CENTER
Practical starting points for identifying plants, documenting your yard, and planning maintenance.
Begin with a whole-plant view. Then photograph the leaf arrangement, stems, flowers, and seed structures without disturbing the plant.
Record the city, date, approximate height, habitat, and light conditions. A photograph of one leaf is often not enough.
Submit a plant requestA plant may be a valued native, a desired garden plant, or unwanted growth depending on the site. Begin with its identity and your landscape goals.
Use botanical names when possible. Common names can refer to more than one species.
Compare plant profilesTake wide photographs before work begins. Return to similar viewpoints afterward, then capture details that show the scope of the work.
Keep exact addresses, customer details, and unrelated private belongings out of photographs intended for a public portfolio.
View field examplesDiscuss where growth returns, which plants to retain, how debris will be handled, and what maintenance frequency fits the property.
For defensible-space requirements, confirm the applicable guidance with your local fire authority; a tidy yard alone does not establish compliance.
Explore property careUC IPM Weed Identification Gallery · Cal-IPC Inventory · Calflora
These organizations are independent references, not sponsors or endorsers of CCWP.