Over a 6-month period we searched for the perfect contractor and finally hit the jackpot. Don't waste time interviewing pretenders and engage the best. Fr0om our initial on-site interview we knew there would be on need for another interview. Mathew arrived on time and shared a vision for our project. We were only looking for a backyard transformation but once we knew this was our guy, we added a front yard upgrade. Started and completed as agreed. No cost over-runs. Clean-up daily and when completed. monthly maintenance reasonable. Bottom line this experience has changed our world. We are out every day experiencing the transformation of our wonderful back-yard to a life-changing experience. Thank you Farallon Gardens. You are the BEST!!! read more

Wanted to show how incredible the garden has become in the last 3 years. It is so gorgeous and we get compliments on it all the time. Farallon Gardens have been serving it monthly and I am very happy with their service and attention to detail. read more

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Our experience with Farallon has been outstanding from the start. Unlike many home-service contractors, Matthew has been responsive and professional at every turn. We had the initial garden installation work done two years ago, and it included planting the front yard and installing a new irrigation system. But what has impressed us even more than our original experience has been Matthew's incredible service ever since. This has included replacing plants that did not take at no charge and most recently, responding in under an hour (and showing up at our house within another hour) when a portion of pipe broke off connecting the irrigation system to a pipe leading to the house. Despite having done the original work over two years ago, and the issue having more to do with the pre-existing pipes than with the work done by Farallon, Matthew capped the pipe on the spot, and was back within a week to completely rebuild the connection with new brass fittings that he would not take any money for. This level of service is simply not something we've experienced with any other home-service contractors in thirty years of home ownership (which included a major remodel, and many, many small projects and maintenance over the years). Cannot recommend Farallon highly enough! read more

We hired Mathew to redo our front yard last year, when it was just a collection of english ivy and 40 year old juniper. Mathew was always responsive, worked with my wife and I to incorporate our design ideas, and came through within the time and budget that he promised and the results were way beyond our expectations. Mathew told us that the yard would looks its best several years after planting when all the plants grew in; so far its only been a year and it looks amazing. We get compliments on a weekly basis from complete strangers. Best of all, its all native plants, and Mathew and his team still come by on a monthly basis to maintain it, adjust the water settings and make sure everything is looking tip top. read more

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A year after Matt redid our garden, we're sill getting compliments on it -- and the neighbors are trying keeping up. ;-) The process of working with Matt was great. I showed him photos of gardens I liked, and we talked about what we wanted. Based on that, he created a wonderful garden oasis that took advantage of the neighboring trees and used plants that blended well with those. Even our aesthetic tree pruner friend, who's very critical of gardens, was so impressed that she recommends Matt to all her clients now. Under his continued maintenance, the garden is growing in beautifully. I'm so glad we found Matt and Farallon Gardens! read more

Farallon Gardens - Part of the back garden - Landscaping Near Me

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We're writing to share the amazing experience we've had with Farallon Gardens! We hired Mathew approximately one year ago to do a couple landscaping projects for our home in the Berkeley Hills. The projects involved replacing several areas of old, overgrown plants with grasses and succulents to give those areas a clean, fresh appearance. When we engaged Mathew for these projects, he came up with an excellent vision and a cohesive plan for re-designing our landscape. As he shared his vision with us, he was also careful to listen to our ideas and aesthetics and fold them into the overall plan. We live on a quiet street in the hills where many people bike or walk. We are always receiving compliments about our yard from people walking by when we happen to be outside enjoying our yard. We have several more projects planned for other parts of our property and are looking forward to having Mathew redesign those areas. If you are looking for an outstanding, artistic landscape design, we most enthusiastically recommend Mathew and Farallon Gardens for your project! read more

Farallon Gardens - Succulents, and potted plants along driveway. - Landscaping Near Me

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The garden Matthew made for us is helping us get through the pandemic. Everyday we observe something new we hadn't noticed before and every change brings joy. A green thumb? No, all of Matthew's fingers must be green, judging from the way our garden has thrived and prospered. Add to his technical merits a design sense that makes a large variety of plants harmonize and (dare I say) rhyme together. Matthew is a pro when it comes to business: spot-on estimates of cost and time, healthy plants, and a reliable maintenance schedule. We welcome you to take a look at our garden. Matthew will tell you where to go to see this little piece of Eden in Berkeley. read more

Farallon Gardens created a gorgeous front yard for us in February 2020. We were able to sit back and let Matt take the lead - we trusted his vision completely. We appreciated that Matt was completely upfront about his style of working, his passions, as well as his boundaries. Better yet, Matt keeps up with our annual watering schedule, and anytime we have a question or concern about a plant in the garden he's happy to answer it. One day he even stopped by to plant a few clippings from another yard that he thought would look nice in ours. We're so grateful to have chosen to work with Matt / Farallon Gardens - and to watch our beautiful yard grow in and explode with colors as we were trapped at home during the quarantine. Our yard's all the rage on the block. Matt's good people - we've already recommended Farallon Gardens to inquiring neighbors. read more

I had such high hopes for Farallon Gardens - especially after reading all the glowing reviews. Meeting Matt I thought he was great and I loved his ideas. I am still please with the plants he planted which is why I'm giving him the 1 star. However, his completion, maintenance, and customer service was really disappointing. We paid him to landscape the side yard by adding 2 horse troughs filled with plants. They look great but they were placed at the front of the side yard and behind them he left my old planters - without any plants so it looks like a storage area. When we asked about adding another trough he said it would be an additional $800 when we said we weren't happy that it looked incomplete his answer was that it looked fine to him. In addition, he put bark on the front yard, which we shared our concern that our dog would kick it off and sure enough we now have to sweep the front of the house and the front yard every day. We signed up for maintenance which was a joke as we couldn't tell any difference when he supposedly came. He didn't even sweep the side of the house - tons of leaves were left on the ground. Now the yard looks awful, there are weeds, the bark is dirty, we have to sweep daily, and the side looks incomplete. When we shared our disappointment and asked for some ideas as to how to resolve it he said the side looked fine to him, his maintence guy spent an hour, and the only thing he could do is remove some bark. I am so upset and disappointed I am now looking for a new gardener to clean and finish the project (which I paid $6000 for). I DO NOT recommend him! read more

Everything has filled in beautifully and I get compliments from literally everyone who visits. I couldn't be happier with the outcome and ongoing support and service! read more

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Mat is a leader in making full use of the Bay's unique plant range to make beautiful art with gardens. He is the Agave Master and his gardens look so awesome. A true horticulturist and inspired dreamer of colors and textures his gardens will blow your mind read more

I have read the stellar reviews already published on YELP for Farallon Gardens. I concur with every single posting which describes Mat McGrath and his experienced team as responsible, creative and professional. Mat is a visionary who listens well and describes his vision in a clear and descriptive way. We found Mat to be a creative problem solver and a man of his word. Additionally, Mat treats his team with respect and trust. We love returning home every evening to delight in our growing garden which, in these tumultuous times, brings joy and serenity to ourselves and our neighbors. Sheila & Terry Holmes read more

Quality experience with Mathew and Farallon. Gave really good advice on how we can gain some quick privacy from our neighbors, fast install, and they cleaned up when they were done! Who could ask for more? Also, replaced on plant that mysteriously withered after a couple weeks with another that has been thriving since. read more

This review is long overdue - I hired Mathew in summer of 2017 to help me figure out how to make my small front yard and backyard look more like my style - sparser and cleaner, with succulents and native plants, and low maintenance. He came up with ideas immediately, and offered suggestions so that I could do more targeted research on what plants and terrain would work. We had a few email exchanges until we landed on a precise order. He even convinced me that I could have the citrus tree that I always wanted but assumed wouldn't do well with limited sun. He was able to make what I wanted work within my budget. The installation went very smoothly and on time, he explained follow up and care in detail, and he even offered to come back if I had any issues with the automated drip irrigation he installed. I have received compliments from people who walk by my front yard and I now use my backyard more! I would highly recommend Mathew for an honest and creative assessment of what you can do with your yard and with timely execution. He is very dedicated to the style and plants that he loves and that will come through when you are figuring out what will work together. read more

This is a great company with great people. We asked Mat for his vision prior to our contractor completing major retaining wall work at the front of our home. Mat offered some smart advice on how to plan for future irrigation needs before concrete was poured. Later, Mat listened to what we were envisioning for the gardens and gave us a plant list that was spot on. From the drip irrigation system, to the plants and mulch - he nailed it. Most importantly, about a 9 months after the initial install, we noticed a small issue with the irrigation system (a valve broke) and he came out on a Saturday to fix it - free of charge. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Mat and love the results! read more

I met with Mat regarding my thoughts on relandscaping the front yard, a yard that had been converted to a yard of astro turf. He came up with a general plan of adding a set of steps to the yard and leveling off the steep incline, reattaching the sprinkler system, an interesting list of dry summer plants and a layer of organic mulch to break up the compacted gravel. I asked him to make sure that the new project would not become an eye sore for the neighbors and select plants that were unusual as well as non palatable to deer and friendly to hummingbirds. He did not fail me, but came through for me. I hope to use his team for additional yard projects. read more

My landscape contractor recommended Mat McGrath five years ago. Mat has been exceptional as our landscape maintainer/designer since then. He has consistently recommended and replaced areas of our garden that were not doing well and his recommendations are always backed up with totally positive results. I never have to worry about anything.... Mat is totally reliable, responsive, cost-effective and knowledgeable. He is truly one of a kind and you will be so lucky to have found him. read more

I can't recommend Farallon Gardens enough! Mathew and his team created a beautiful front yard for my family. Neighbors, I've never met are stopping to tell me how beautiful our yard is. Mathew was great at responding to all my questions and dealing with my indecisiveness. read more

Mat has been great, we had relandscaped our front and had no idea how to make it look nice. Matt designed and implemented a beautiful garden with succulents and put in a high tech irrigation system. Highly recommend. read more

Mathew is a talented and creative landscape designer who has deep knowledge and expertise with our microclimates and what grows best where. Our yard looks fantastic and his crew installed our plant material and drip system through out. Very professional in every way. read more

I highly recommend Farallon Gardens. They just completed re working both my front and backyard and it was a great experience. Mathew was great to work with and easy to trust. Thank you for work you did and I look forward to spending more time in my backyard now! read more

Farallon Gardens brought great design ideas and a solid knowledge of plant and tree choices to our landscaping project. They have been thoughtful and punctual throughout the project, and after with ongoing maintenance. The quality of their work is consistently high, and they are easy to communicate with and a pleasure to collaborate with. read more

We were lucky enough to find Mathew and Farallon Gardens and luckier to be able to work with them. Mathew and his team transformed our overgrown bamboo laden front yard forest into a beautifully landscaped and tranquil garden with drought resistant plants. He used many of the rocks and boulders that were already in the yard and placed them in strategic places making them look like they had always been there. We are glad to say our home now has "curb appeal" and plenty of it! Afterward we also learned that a few of our neighbors also used Farallon Gardens so it seems the secret is out! read more

This review is written with great anticipation followed by complete disappointment. We found Matthew and his company on yelp and decided to call him based on his great reviews. Unfortunately, I did not get the same 5 star experience like the other yelp reviewers that I was hoping for. I called Matthew about doing some clean up in our front and back yard. We also talked about designing and planting a new drought tolerant garden. The clean up consisted of taking out a portion of lawn, clearing out ivy and getting rid of weeds that had taken over. When he came by for a consultation, he was very late and seemed disheveled which was not ideal for a first impression. After doing a walk through, we started talking about the design. We got the overwhelming feeling that any of our suggestions or requests weren't being listened to. He came across being very stuck on his own design vision and plants he was wanting to use. We felt that he was not wanting to compromise much or was even able to listen to our ideas when we weren't really on board with his. We decided to give him a chance to see what his design would be like. He wrote us an estimate for the cleanup work and the price was DOUBLE of what the other landscapers we consulted with quoted us. When it came to the design, his design was nice but he did not listen to any of our suggestions, so we felt that as his clients we weren't being heard or respected. On top of that, the price he quoted for the new garden was outrageous! After consulting with a few other companies that did the same kind of landscaping design, it was at least double the price. I asked if he was insured or had a license for operating his business and he said, "No". I couldn't believe it. There is no way that we would pay that much money for a professional garden service from a company that is not licensed or insured. This, along with his attitude towards our suggestions and prices made us feel very uncomfortable to which we decided to pass on his services. In the end, it was a waste of time and we ended up getting a beautiful garden with a company that was licensed and insured for almost half the price with less opposition towards our ideas. read more

Did not do business, but Yelp recommended I include this business in a quote I was trying to get for gardening work. Owner was professional and let me know he was not in the business I was requesting a quote for, but gave me a good recommendation. read more

Mathew is a master landscape designer. He transformed what was a boring patch of grass in front of our house into a beautiful lush mound with palms and succulents that use a fraction of the water. When we recently had half the landscaping dug up by contractors putting in an EV charging station at the curb, he promptly came over and put the drip system and the plantings back in a very artistic way. Many of my neighbors stop to admire the landscaping as they walk by as it is so unique! I highly recommend Mathew and Farallon Gardens! read more

Love my Alameda garden. Mathew has great knowledge of plants, a vision about your space... AND he listens to you. His easy going but responsible personality makes working with him a low stress event. Did a great job on my drought resistant garden - plants and trees. Two+ years in, things are looking good. Does a fine job on maintenance as well. read more

Mathew and his team worked magic on our garden. They completely reimagined, landscaped, irrigated, and are maintaining our front and back gardens, and they went from looking like the surface of the moon (dead grass and dry dirt) to a lush and whimsical little paradise. He took the time to listen to what we were hoping for, and he inspired so much confidence with his thoughtful manner and clear knowledge about plants that we decided to give him the green light to make whatever choices he felt were best. We couldn't be happier and it has been such a joy watching it fill in over the past few months--I can't wait to see how it grows over the years! read more

Mathew is a true artist. He did a wonderful job transforming my unattended backyard into a landscape deserving of display in Sunset Magazine. I was very impressed with his combination of a superb aesthetic and a vast knowledge of plants, shrubs and hard scape. Since our first meeting, Mathew has taken on the project as his own and has continued to work at transforming our small garden into a paradise of color and shape with areas for dining and entertaining as well as other areas for reading, working and quiet thought. In addition, he is very sensitive not only to his clients ideas but also on their pocketbook. He has translated my thoughts into a real experience. I could not be happier this Mathew and his terrific work! read more

Mat is an artist, a technician, and a very dependable resource! He has designed, modified, and maintained our yard (on three different levels, accessible only through the house) for over 10 years. A super trustworthy man who does what he says, when he says, and does it well. Sad to say goodbye but we're selling our house and moving out of the area. If we come back to the Bay Area he will be the first person we call... read more

What first attracted me to Mathew was his amazing responsiveness, even during the pandemic. I had reached out to other landscapers who never responded, so this was immediately appreciated. He replied to my frequent emails asking him endless questions with patience. Once we decided to work with him, everything moved along more quickly than he had anticipated. He removed our dying front lawn and sent us loads of photos of plants under consideration to replace it. He installed a drip system and an interesting selection of plants for a low-water garden. Our garden was installed in the fall and I'm enjoying watching it change with the seasons. Twice we've had plants that were not thriving; I emailed Mat and within a day he came by, replacing one on the spot! I have no doubt that the other will be replaced as soon as he locates one that will fit the space. Our garden attracts butterflies, bees, and neighbors walking past. It brings me pleasure every day! read more

Just want to add to the chorus of praise for Mat. He completely redesigned and replanted our front yard, and 6 months later, it is looking even better all the time as the plants grow in. He is great to work with, super professional, and cost-conscious. Highly recommended! read more

Mathew did a wonderful job landscaping our front and back yards. We started out with the front and he was able to recommend some beautiful plants that were required less water. He did such a good job with design and installation that we decided to hire him again to complete our back yard. Mathew stuck to his (reasonable) estimates and delivered as promised, and the maintenance that he and his team did has been great so far. One thing that we particularly appreciated was that he took into account the color of our house/doors with the initial design, so everything flows well. We receive lots of compliments from family and friends on how gorgeous our front and back yards are, and would recommend him in a heartbeat! read more

I met with Mat for a garden consultation and I was impressed by his knowledge and amazing suggestions as to what I could do in my small space. I love to garden myself, but really need help reworking several areas. I can't wait to see the finished job! Thanks Mat read more

Mathew McCrath has an impressive knowledge of plant materials, is consistently prompt and reliable, has a strong design sense, as well as being practical and reasonably priced. It has been a pleasure to work with him, and I can highly recommend him. read more

Mathew did a modern minimalist cactus/succulent redesign of our front landscaping. Great vision. Affordable, professional. Very happy.

We met with Mathew on several occasions to discuss the type of vision we wanted for our garden--one that was drought tolerant, with flowering plants, grasses, and succulents. Mathew was very open to our ideas and very pleasant to work. Mathew would often send pictures of plants to make sure we liked his choices. His knowledge of plants and best placement for them in our garden was so helpful. Mathew and his friendly team of workers completed our front and backyard in a short period of time. They were very efficient. Mathew also hand-picked​ six boulders that really enhanced the beauty of our garden. We are so in love with our garden and are so happy about the way it all came together. read more

Matthew and the Farallon team is great, and they are a top notch focus on service and support. We have had our landscaping for about six months and it has really grown in beautifully. They were very good at evaluating our home and designing a garden that fits well with the neighborhood and does not require too much work. They were great about listening to what we wanted, and making suggestions about what we can do. They made us feel like we were part of the process, and helped us learn a lot without making us feel dumb. Not only was the initial work great, but they have been really good about follow-up and additional consultation. Matthew has been great about responding to our questions, and helping us learn a lot about our plants, and how to take good care of them. We are looking forward to working with them on our next project in the backyard. Its been a truly great experience and they are highly recommended. read more

Called Mat for an estimate and had an attitude for no reason. Was looking for landscaping estimate and he hung up on me before I was even done explaining what the job was concerning. He's rude and not very friendly. read more

I called Matthew a week ago and haven't heard a peep back from him. He was recommended by a friend but apparently he doesn't have the professional courtesy to call back and tell me he's not interested or that he's busy. read more