bay-friendly coalition
Bay-Friendly Landscaping
& Gardening Coalition

Tools & Resources for Municipalities and Landscape Professionals

Here are useful tools and resources for municipalities and landscape professionals that make it easier to earn points and meet the requirements on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard to design, build, and maintain Bay-Friendly Rated Landscapes.

Landscape Standards

Training and Policies

Case Studies

Tools (organized by Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard Categories)

  • Site Planning
  • Earthwork and Soil Health
  • Materials
  • Planting
  • Maintenance
  • Innovation

  • Landscape Standards


    Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guidelines: Sustainable Practices for the Landscape Professional

    This 62 page guide is written for the professional landscape industry as a way to provide an integrated approach to environmentally friendly landscaping.

       Download a free PDF

       Order a hard copy of the guide:

             Coalition Member Rate: $8.00 plus tax.
             Non Members: $12.00 plus tax.


    Email quantity and contact information to info@bayfriendlycoalition.org to order hard copies.

    Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard

    The scorecard tracks and scores Bay-Friendly features incorporated into the design and construction of new landscapes. Download as a PDF.

    For civic, commercial & multi-family landscapes

    For new home landscapes

    Bay-Friendly Rating Manuals 


    These manuals are essential tools to achieve a Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape. They are written for landscape design and construction professionals and Bay-Friendly Landscape Raters, as guides in describing and verifying the practices in the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard.


    For new civic, commercial & multi-family landscapes

    For new homes

    Bay-Friendly Gardening Guide: From Your Backyard to the Bay

    This 70+ page guide is written for the home gardener  and provides how-to information , a design survey, profiles of East Bay gardens, and much more.

       Download a free PDF


       Order a hard copy of the guide:

             Coalition Member Rate: $8.00 plus tax.
             Non Members: $12.00 plus tax.


    Email quantity and contact information to info@bayfriendlycoalition.org to order hard copies.


    Trainings and Policies

    Bay-Friendly Landscape Professional Qualification Training
    The Bay-Friendly Landscape Training and Qualification program provides professionals hands-on training in Bay-Friendly practices and tools in addition to recognition as a “Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional” on our agency website and in local ads. 

    Model Bay-Friendly Policies & Ordinances
    Encourage more Bay-Friendly Rated Landscapes in your community with model policies and ordinances addressing public sector and private sector landscape development.

    Case Studies

    Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape Case Studies
    Learn about real projects that were third-party verifi<p>ed and rated as Bay-Friendly Landscapes in Alameda County from civic landscapes at libraries, fire stations and street medians to office parks and affordable housing.


    Tools Organized by Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard Categories

    Site Planning

    Bay-Friendly Landscape Site Analysis (doc)
    The Site Analysis Form is worth 5 points on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard if completed during the design phase of the project. It is designed to: insure a thorough review of existing conditions at a project site; evaluate opportunities to maximize the benefits of incorporating Bay-Friendly Landscaping practices; and document these conditions for the benefit of the property owner and project team.

    Earthwork and Soil Health

    Bay-Friendly Section 329300 Plants (doc)
    Provides a model specification that incorporates several key requirements and points on the Bay-Friendly Landscape scorecard such as soil testing, amending the soil with compost and organic amendments, soil preparation, requiring three inches of recycled mulch, and integrated or organic pest management.
    A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Mulch (pdf)
    An introduction to the use of mulch in the landscape. Includes a breakdown of recycled mulch types and uses, and provides details and specifications for sheet mulching.
         ○ Una Guia Bay-Friendly Landscaping Sobre el Mantillo (pdf)
         A Spanish version of "A Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Mulch"
    A Case Study: Mulch (pdf)
    Provides an example of a local landscaper's success with chipping and reusing plant debris as mulch on the landscapes they maintain.
    Compost and Mulch Sources and Product Information (pdf)
    Provides an example of a local landscaper's success with chipping and reusing plant debris as mulch on the landscapes they maintain.
    Caltrans Compost Blanket Specification (coming soon)

    Materials

    Bay-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Recycled Content and Salvaged Materials (pdf)
    Guide on how to add value, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create attractive landscapes using salvaged and recycled-content materials in the landscape. Includes types and sources of materials as well as a section on using “urbanite”.
    Builders Guide to Reuse and Recycling - Alameda County (pdf)
    A guide to help Alameda County builders, contractors and residents reuse and recycle construction and demolition materials.
    Green Product Directory
    On line tool developed by Build It Green which provides a directory of “green” products for sustainable landscaping and building.
    Recycled Content Park & Recreation Products in Alameda County (pdf)
    Provides an example of a local landscaper's success with chipping and reusing plant debris as mulch on the landscapes they maintain.
    Alameda County Waste Management Authority Section 01505 Construction and Demolition Waste Management (pdf)
    Model specification for waste management and recycling of construction and demolition debris.
    Green Building in Alameda County Debris Recovery Plan Pre-Demolition/Pre-Construction (pdf)
    Table to track and document recycling of waste generated through the project.

    Planting

    Bay-Friendly Landscaping Plant Legend Template (xls)
    Use this template for your plant list to insure that you are meeting the Bay-Friendly requirements for low-water using plants and providing adequate space for plants to reach mature size.
    Bay-Friendly Example of Filled-in Plant Template (xls)
    A guide to help Alameda County builders, contractors and residents reuse and recycle construction and demolition materials.
    Bay-Friendly Plant Lists
    Provides a list of plants for key Bay-Friendly practices such as avoiding sheared hedges, minimizing lawns and stormwater management.
         ○ Natural Hedges (xls)
         ○ Lawn Alternatives & Groundcovers (xls)
         ○ Vegetated Swale (excel spreadsheet)
    • See Bay-Friendly Section 329300 Plants (doc)

    Maintenance

    Model Bay-Friendly Landscape Maintenance Specifications (pdf)
    Model Bay-Friendly Landscape Maintenance Task List (coming)
    A Landscapers Guide to Grasscycling (pdf)
    A how-to for grasscycling that results in healthy, attractive turf, including tips from local landscapers and other Bay-Friendly Lawn care recommendations.
         ○ Una Guia del Jardinero para Reciclar Pasto (pdf)
         A Spanish version of "A Landscaper's Guide to Grasscycling"
    A Case Study: Grasscycling (pdf)
    Provides an example of a local landscaper's success with grasscycling.

    Innovation

    Bay-Friendly Sample RFP Language for a Landscape Design Team (doc)
    Model language to incorporate into a Request For Proposalslfor a landscape design team to design a civic landscape as a Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape.
    Section 01325 Bay-Friendly Landscaping Requirements (pdf)
    Model specification language that requires the landscape to be built as a Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape. Provides a definition of Bay-Friendly and lists submittal requirements. Earns innovation credits.
    Bay-Friendly Signage Directions (pdf)
    Provides samples of education signage on Bay-Friendly practices and specifications that have earned innovation credits in the past.

    Some documents are in PDF format. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view these files. If you do not already have this application, you can click the following icon to download it for free.

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