Site analysis and concept plan
Sun, wind, drainage and soil assessed, with a concept plan and planting palette for your site.
Licensed since 2008
Landscapes that survive a New Mexico summer
We design with native and adapted plants, harvested rainwater and real soil work, so the garden looks intentional in year one and better in year five.
17 yrslicensed practice
310projects built
70%average water reduction
2licensed landscape architects
Our services
Design through construction observation
We are a design office. We do not install, which keeps our specifications honest.
Residential garden design
Full planting plan, hardscape layout, lighting and irrigation design ready to bid to contractors.
Construction documents
Dimensioned drawings, grading, details and specifications your contractor can build and permit from.
Water harvesting design
Cisterns, swales and passive catchment sized to your roof area and local rainfall records.
Civic and campus landscapes
Parks, schools and streetscapes, including public meetings and agency coordination.
Construction observation
Site visits during build to check plant placement, grading and that the substitutions are acceptable.
The practice
Designing for a place that gets fourteen inches of rain
Sage Meridian was founded in 2008 by Ana Sandoval, a licensed landscape architect who grew up on an acequia outside Espanola. We design for high desert conditions rather than importing plans that work in Portland. Soil work and water get resolved before anything decorative is drawn.
•Native and adapted plants sourced from regional growers
•Rainwater harvesting designed into every residential project
•Bid ready drawings so you can compare contractors fairly
•Independent of any installation company
Reviews
From clients
“Our water bill dropped by more than half and the garden looks better than the lawn ever did.”
Rebecca L., Residential garden, Santa Fe
“The construction documents were detailed enough that all three bids came back within a few thousand dollars of each other.”
Tomas G., Homeowner, Albuquerque
“They ran our public meetings with real patience. The park got built with the neighbourhood behind it.”
Councilor Dee H., Municipal park project
FAQ
Before you engage us
What is the difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer?
Landscape architects are licensed by the state and can stamp drawings for grading, drainage and public projects. For a simple planting refresh a designer may be all you need, and we will say so rather than take the work.
Do you install the landscape too?
No, deliberately. We produce bid ready drawings and help you compare contractor proposals, then observe construction. Staying out of installation means our plant and material specifications are chosen for your site, not our inventory.
How long does a residential project take?
Design typically runs ten to sixteen weeks from first site visit to permit ready drawings. Construction depends on the contractor and the season, and most clients start planting in early autumn, which is the best establishment window here.
Will a native garden look bare?
Not if it is designed properly. We plant densely, use evergreen structure and seasonal grasses, and specify sizes that read as finished in the first year. The photos in our portfolio are mostly two to four years after planting.
Contact
Tell us about your site
Send your address and a few photos and we will tell you which service level fits and what a realistic budget range looks like.
Phone(505) 555-0146
Address1420 Cerrillos Road, Studio C, Santa Fe, New Mexico
HoursMon to Fri 8:30am to 5pm
AreaSanta Fe, Albuquerque, Taos and northern New Mexico