Frequently Asked Questions

Keep it consistently moist for the first two weeks, watering once or twice a day, ideally early morning. After the roots take hold, water deeper but less often to push them down. We leave you a simple schedule after every install.

Give it space at first. Stay off fresh sod for the first couple of weeks so the shallow roots are not disturbed. You can usually mow around the two-week mark, on the highest setting, once the sod holds firm when tugged.

Grading and drainage come first, then hardscape like patios and walls, followed by irrigation and lighting, and planting last. Building in that sequence keeps water moving correctly and protects everything installed on top of it.

Grading sets the slope that carries water away from your home and keeps it from pooling in the lawn. Skip it and you get soggy spots, drowned plants, and erosion. Proper grading is the foundation every healthy landscape sits on.

Likely yes. Standing water near the foundation or in low spots signals poor drainage. Depending on your yard, we might grade the surface, add a French drain, or route runoff through a dry creek bed to move water safely away.

A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe that collects and redirects water underground. It is one of the most reliable fixes for soggy areas, runoff, and water sitting against a foundation. We size and place it to match your yard.

Both work; it depends on your priorities. Sod gives an instant, established lawn and roots quickly. Seed takes longer to fill in but suits larger areas well. We walk you through which fits your yard, timeline, and how you use the space.

Early spring and fall are best, when cooler temperatures reduce transplant shock and roots can settle before summer heat arrives. We choose trees suited to Central Coast conditions and position them to anchor the landscape as they mature.

Yes. Drip delivers water straight to the roots instead of spraying it into the air, so far less is lost to evaporation and overspray. On our dry Central Coast stretches, that means healthier plants and a lot less water wasted.

Lighting extends how long you can enjoy the yard after dark, adds safety along paths and steps, and highlights trees, water features, and architecture. Low-voltage systems are efficient and subtle, giving you a warm glow without harsh floodlighting.

Yes. We design and install every project ourselves, which is exactly how it should work. The same team that draws your plan builds it, so the finished yard matches the vision and nothing gets miscommunicated between separate contractors.

For anything beyond a small refresh, a design saves you headaches. It maps grading, drainage, sightlines, and plant placement before a shovel moves. We fold design into the makeover, so you see the plan and approve it before we build.

It depends on the material. Pavers usually handle foot traffic within a day or two, while poured concrete needs time to cure before heavy use. We tell you exactly when your patio is ready before we leave the site.

Regular maintenance is what protects the work: seasonal pruning, irrigation checks, weeding, and feeding on the right schedule. We offer ongoing care so your yard keeps looking its best long after the install, without you having to track it all.

Craig, the owner, stays hands-on from consultation through completion on every Cullen Landscaping job. Our owner-operated approach in the Santa Maria area means direct communication and one person accountable for the result, not a rotating cast of subcontractors.