Three years after they redid our backyard, an older irrigation line started to fail with a slow leak pooling up on our new pavers. Rafael first recommended we hire a leak detection company to minimize the number of pavers disturbed by the repair. Once it was located, he sent out his team to quickly excavate and address the issue. Turned out to be a cracked coupler, which they repaired within minutes and had it all buttoned back up before noon. GALA proves to us time and again that we can rely on them to get the job done sensibly and quickly. We look forward to our next project with them. read more

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I was told they do good work. unfortunately, I was never able to get a hold of them. I left a few messages and never got a call back. I guess they are too busy and don't need to work. think they would at least return a phone . If you decide to use them, hopefully you have better luck. read more

Rafael was referred by a family member who used to work with him. 4 years ago redid front and back yard l, updated sprinkler system, new sod and it was amazing. Contacted him a post fixing / replacing old pvc piping and re sod. Back and forth texts, finally got quote which was very high compared the the over all job the had done before and we discussed changes. 25 days later and I had to text 3 times before got response they are to busy to take new jobs! I'm very disappointed with the us lack of customer service and followup! Look elsewhere like we have to! read more

We had a really great experience with Rafael and his crew. Rafael is so knowledgeable and a great communicator! We got a design from Yardzen and he helped us tailor it to our budget and preferences. I felt he was really trustworthy and didn't try to upsell us unnecessarily. In fact, he helped us find places where we could cut costs and came up with creative solutions. If I did this project again, I would probably just skip Yardzen altogether and have Rafael do the design as well. read more

This review is a long time coming but I was waiting until we had finished all of our finishing touches. We began preparing for a large front and backyard makeover Fall 2019. We were asking our neighbors for recommendations and they had just used and been happy with Rafael and his team. Rafael came to meet with us in early January after another landscape team stopped responding to our emails. He was always extremely responsive to any texts or emails. He walked our entire home as we described what we envisioned, gave us input when needed and then measured everything. A few days later he brought us samples and helped us with our turf and mulch options. The best part about Rafael and his team was how easily they were able to shift gears and pivot. Our original quote changed multiple times, including adding landscape lights, extra pavers and a pergola. Rafael never delayed or acted stressed when I would throw out a new idea. Instead he was always extremely responsive and would say 'sure! we can do that!" and would email or text me the amount. The crew was always there early and they worked hard all day and cleaned up when they left. I don't think you can ask for much more. Their super, Francisco, was always the first one there and he made Rafael's ideas come to life. In the end we did a full renovation. Our home was built in 1942 but no one had ever landscaped. Rafael and Gala services provided the following: turf, front and back, drainage install, large paver walkway, firepit and social area, landscape lights, mulch, shrubs and succulents, built a covered redwood pergola with siding and created a hanging green wall for us. They finished after 6 weeks of hard work, just in time for stay at home orders. Having the finished yard during this pandemic has been worth every penny. We had parties for ourselves and our bubble for fourth of July, two kids birthdays and Halloween. We bought a playset as well that has been priceless while parks were closed. In November we decided with the market so hot we would put our home on the market. We put the home on the market and 3 days later accepted an offer. We know that Rafael and Gala landscaping gave us a huge boost in curb appeal and backyard envy. The pictures looked great on all the websites and it created a lot of attention to our home. My only criticism if anything is that our landscaping was attacked by sedge even with the multiple layers of sand and weed cloth. I wish they had sprayed underneath better. When I told Rafael, he had a guy come and spray the sedge free of charge so I am not deducting any stars. It's just a pain in the ass weed. If you are looking for a large landscape makeover, I highly recommend. read more

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We recently finished a medium-sized landscape project with Rafael at Gala Services to remove our front lawn and install drought tolerant plants, boulders, gravel, irrigation and lighting. We had previously called several other contractors that quoted us high prices with little backup information. A friend recommended Rafael at Gala Services and, after meeting him, we knew that he was exactly what we were looking for in a contractor - smart, nice and professional. Rafael is also an excellent communicator. He listened to our ideas, gave us feedback and worked those elements into the overall project plan. Within a couple of days, he provided us with a very reasonable quote that included a detailed breakdown of costs that helped us understand the amount of work and materials needed. He told us where we could save money by adjusting the sizes of fast-growing plants and smaller boulders to match our budget. Rafael is very knowledgeable on a large variety of plants (best exposure, watering needs, etc.). He was very clear on what was included, when it would get done and the decisions we would need to make along the way. His crew was courteous, hard-working, fast and kept the job site clean. They even worked through rainy weather to get the job done. The project turned out beautifully. They removed the lawn, re-graded, repaired existing drain lines, installed a drip system, located and repaired existing sprinklers and wiring, added lights to walkways and trees, installed 90+ plants, ground cover, a tree, a palm, boulders, weed cloth and mulch in less than two weeks! Working with Gala Services was a very positive experience from start to finish. We feel lucky to have found them and look forward to using them again in the future. read more

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Rafael and his team were top-notch. They built a large deck with stairs, as well as added many new plants, irrigation, bamboo fencing and pavers. They even built us a medicine wheel. Rafael was knowledgeable, kind, reliable, and so fairly priced. He and his team did excellent work and transformed my yard into the vision I had. I would absolutely use them again for almost any outdoor project. Thank you! read more

We found Rafael and Gala Services after searching HomeAdvisor and looking for landscape companies with consistently high grades supported by many reviews. After meeting him, we knew we were dealing with an honest man. Throughout the job and after it was complete, we knew he was running a professional operation that produced great results. This was extremely important to us because we had asked him to fix an expensive job from a Del Mar Home show vendor who turned out to be a slick operator, but ultimately incompetent and greedy (see my other landscaper review). Not only did we contract with him to repair the botched job from the other contractor, we have utilized Gala Services for two other jobs in the last few months. Rafael and his team are complete professionals, and we highly recommend him to others. read more

Rafael and his crew redesigned the front and back yards. We didn't solicit other bids as our friends had just finished a job with him. He listened to our ideas, worked within our budget and offered his recommendations. They designed a drought tolerant garden that requires minimal maintenance. We went to the nursery where he purchases his plants. Rafael has a great eye for plant selection and placement. The plants are thriving and we've received many compliments. You will be happy if you hire Gala Services. read more

After a few so-so experiences, we were referred to Rafael and his team by a well known landscape architecture firm. Once we met Rafael, I knew that he was different. He was straightforward, detail oriented, and clearly passionate about his business. It's been over 3 years, and the Gala team comes consistently to maintain our property. In this time, I've only reached out once, and that was to compliment his teams kindness and professionalism. Our yard looks great, with healthy plants that withstand both the heat and the crazy rain we got this year. I recommend Gala Services wholeheartedly. read more

We had a great experience with Rafael and his team. He was very responsive and the crew showed up as scheduled. They were friendly and hardworking. We are very happy with the design Rafael created for our new construction home. The lighting is good quality and he went above and beyond to provide great service. I will definitely use them for all my landscaping needs. read more

Rafael is extremely friendly and my husband and I are so thrilled to have hired him. We are very pleased with how our yard looks - it exceeded our expectations! The irrigation system works fabulously and the new grass looks spectacular in our front and side yard. Highly recommend! read more

Rafael & crew were AMAZING at their respective jobs !!! They were all detailed oriented, accomplished, & had great pride in their work........ unusually so. read more

Rafael and his crew were amazing! It was a positive experience from start to finish. Front yard refresh to include irrigation, landscape and paver patio. All the time clear communication, hard work, reliable crew, and wonderful customer service by Rafael. I highly recommend calling Gala Services! read more

Rafael and his crew did an amazing job installing new sod in my front yard! They were efficient and courteous. The price was fair and I would definitely recommend them!! read more

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I would highly recommend Gala Services for any landscaping project. We had plans drawn up in advance and Rafael's team followed them perfectly. Each day his crew left the work site clean and organized. They worked quickly to complete a large detailed project with no delays. They went above and beyond and even cleaned up the leaves in my front yard and street and fixed a piece of my broken fence before they wrapped up the project. read more

What a wonderful company! Rafa (Rafael) is a pleasure to work with! At our initial meeting I was very impressed with his knowledge and professionalism. This was an overwhelming project for me, renters had neglected the property that my late husband and I own in Carlsbad, and the neighbors weren't happy! Rafa had so many great ideas to help me bring my house back to it's former beauty. He trimmed and cut down trees, did sprinklers, fencing and walkways, and put in a lovely patio. He suggested and planted bushes and put in all new grass. I'm delighted and so are the neighbors! read more

We have contracted with this company for years! We chose them about eight years ago because they were locally based in Chula Vista. Unfortunately, their services have gone down hill over time, perhaps because they take us for granted. Now with Coronavirus, they have been disregarding out sign at the front gate that entry requires wearing a mask! They are also breaking with San Diego county requirements for face coverings as well. Our property manager contacted them when they showed up without masks the first time. The company disregarded her request and is allowing their workers to be on our property in close relations to our residents! This situation is prompting us to re-evaluate this company's services! read more

The price was right but it came with some challenges. Rafael made some design decisions without consulting us, his crew showed up inconsistently, and the project fell a short of our expectations. After 6 weeks we leaned on him to finish which resulted in some sloppy work. Our pergola has uneven beams and spacing and our dry creek bed needed more work. I would pass and go for someone who might cost more. read more

Rafael was so professional, responsive, and got the job done quickly and beautifully!

I recently used Gala Services for a project of replanting a large hillside at my condominium complex. Rafael and his team are amazing at what they do! They are prompt, courteous and have always been available for questions and concerns. They are also very competitively priced and offer tremendous value for the quality of work they do. I did also want to mention that Martin has gone above and beyond in offering assistance with our irrigation system. He's came out a couple of times to make adjustments and to help program our ancient control module. Each time I met with him, he showed up with a smile on his face and was more than happy to spend the time to address my questions and concerns. Overall, we are actually so pleased with Gala's work on hillside that we are considering using them for weekly services. Thanks!! read more

Rafa and Gala Services were great. They just finished my front patio (Pavers). Professional, knowledgeable, and, neat!!!

I had Gala services install a paver driveway at my house and they did an incredible job. Rafael is super to work with and did a nice job helping with design options. His team was very polite and competent. I will use them again for a retaining wall. read more

Rafael helped redesign our front yard and his team completed the work as promised, on-time! The guys are extremely hard working, courteous and very experienced. I would highly recommend them for your landscaping job. Thank you Rafael! read more

We solicited bids from lots of companies and Gala Services was by far the most professional. Rafael and his team surpassed all of our expectations. When we had questions or concerns during the job Rafael was quick to respond. Rafael's vast knowledge and eye for design definitely helped bring our landscape vision to fruition. We now know the first and only team to call for our next landscape project. read more

Rafael, the owner of Gonzalez-Arnau Landscape, is a top-notch professional. We had a hard time finding a knowledgeable landscaper in San Diego. We had a couple of people come out, and would not receive communication back. His communication skills are second-to-none. He programmed our irrigation system, and walked me through step-by-step of how it works and why he set it up the way he did. Then, we found Rafael. He is an anomaly, because he is punctual, communicates with us on timeline and budget, and has responded to our urgent, last minute requests. He is excellent at landscape design, and has done an amazing job with our yard. read more

Rafael just finished our job yesterday and we couldn't be happier. We had an architect draw us plans to redo our front yard and it was difficult to find someone who was available within 60 days. We found Rafael through HomeAdvisor and after checking 3 references we got a bid from him and another contractor and scheduled the job. From the 1st day we contacted him, he was a true professional and we felt very comfortable with him. He listens, he's a great communicator and is always available by phone, text or email. His crew showed up every day and obviously knew what they were doing. They were friendly, respectful and knowing that in my "past life" I was a landscape contractor they asked me if I wanted to help in positioning the plants before they started digging holes. We highly recommend him and would give him 6 stars if we could. By the way, they finished the job on time and didn't add on any charges. He also has a separate crew that does maintenance and my guess is they also do a great job. read more

I am very happy with the quality of work and service I received from Rafael and his team. He provided me with a good price, not the cheapest, but I no longer take the cheapest unless they get good Yelp reviews. The job I had was not large, but it was a lot of work. I had a lot of gopher damage and with the drought I decided I did not want grass. Rafael's team had the job completed in several days. I had them take a few inches of dirt out of the backyard, install gopher wire, weed cloth and covered it all with wood chips. My fire pit area is decomposed granite with water activated hardener - turned out great. I will definitely use Gonzaelz-Arnau landscape services in the future. read more

Excellent service. Rafael is a professional landscaper he knows a lot about plants and I love the way my property looks now. He was able to capture my idea and his price was very reasonable. Great job and I definitely recommend G-A landscape ser... read more

Rafael and his team just finished my backyard today...a day earlier than I was quoted, I might add. He did an amazing job!! We are the second homeowners and had nothing but wood chips covering our backyard. Rafael came to our home for a free estimate and consultation. He was very informative and helpful in creating a plan for us. We had to deal with waiting for approval from the HOA in our neighborhood but during that time, Rafael was very responsive in that he would check in with me, answer my many emails, and offer suggestions if we wanted to change anything in our plan. His prices were also completely reasonable. I absolutely love the way our backyard looks now. Finally we can enjoy it, just in time for summer. I would definitely recommend Rafael and his team to anyone looking for a professional landscaper. Thanks Rafael! read more