We hired Ricardo to help with a remodel of the pavers in our backyard and worked closely with Pat,…read morethe project manager. They were both wonderful to work with from start to finish - very communicative, professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with throughout the entire project. Most importantly, the work speaks for itself. Everything turned out beautifully and we absolutely love our new backyard. We're so happy with the finished result and would definitely recommend Ricardo, Pat, and their team!

We purchased a home with a huge backyard and so much potential -- but it was completely overgrown,…read moreand it was hard to envision what could truly be done with the space. From the moment I reached out to Pat, we connected right away. He is incredibly knowledgeable about landscape design, layout, and all things plants. He really helped us see what was possible. Pat then introduced us to Ricardo, who is the expert in hardscape, mechanical work, and overall execution. Ricardo and his team worked tirelessly to demo our backyard. Once it was cleared, we finally saw how much usable space we truly had -- and we even uncovered a view! We were so pleased with the entire process -- from design to execution -- and absolutely love the end result. Working with Pat and Ricardo was seamless, professional, and collaborative. We're already looking forward to having them transform our front yard next. We highly recommend Universal Pavers for anyone looking to reimagine their outdoor space!

We had a great experience NAB Construction! Our pickleball court had broken concrete on one end,…read moreand was too short on the other. NAB removed all the bad concrete and replaced it with pavers, and on the other side of the court, they added 5 feet of concrete where we had lawn, as well as adding to our existing retaining wall. After the pavers were installed, I noticed something not to my preference with the paver layout. I contacted Nick, our site manager from NAB, and he was very responsive, and arranged for Nate (the company president) to come out right away and discuss the matter, which was resolved that same day to my complete satisfaction. Nick also was happy to arrange for a few other small tasks related to bricks and concrete on our property to be taken care of, and they were - at no added cost. NAB construction was not the lowest bid we got for this work, but I have learned the hard way that going with the lowest price is not always a great idea, and I am glad I went with NAB for this project. I'm very satisfied with the results of this project, and would not hesitate to recommend NAB construction to others.

We have done multiple projects with NAB construction. Nate and his crew are fantastic. They do…read moregreat work, are responsive and are very professional. Hoping to plan many more in the future.

We had a great experience with Linda, owner at Sunrise Garden Design. She patiently listened to our…read moredreams and desires, and helped us land on a backyard design that was practical and beautiful. She clearly communicated her expertise and when our questions drifted to the actual execution of the work, she would always say "that is for the contractor to decide". While some may think this response abrupt or uncaring, Linda is clear in what she does (design) and does not do (installation). We did end up tweaking some design elements to lower installation cost but overall followed her plan. Even when we asked for different plants after her main design was completed, she helped us out at no additional cost. It was a good learning experience for us and we are happy with the final result. Thanks Linda for your great service!

My husband and I are so happy we enlisted the services of Sunrise Garden Design and had the…read morewonderful opportunity to work with its owner Linda. Linda's design process from beginning to end is extremely effective! It involved friendly communication and relationship-building to ensure we provided her with our plant interests and overall desired garden outcome that helped her with designing our front yard. Linda's expertise in plant knowledge and garden design resulted in a drafted plan that was very detailed and informative. In addition, Linda's contractor referrals helped to seamlessly complete the project process. About six years ago, we had our front yard transitioned from lawn to drought-tolerant plants, but it hadn't been thriving. With Linda's help, we were able to keep the healthier plants and incorporate their place in the yard into Linda's plan. We appreciated that as well as her suggestion to transplant many of the existing plants that didn't really fit the front yard's plan to the backyard area where they can still be enjoyed. Linda's gardening love and enthusiasm is infectious! With our newly completed front yard and improved backyard, I'm looking forward to increasing my own gardening skills and enjoying the therapeutic benefits it can provide.

We met Susan from Creative Exteriors Landscape Design when we were enjoying the Walnut Creek Garden…read moreTour a few years ago. She was very friendly and engaging when we met her and we subsequently saw a few of the gardens she had designed while on the tour. When we finally made the decision to update our front and back yards from grass to drought tolerant plant, we met with Susan to discuss what we were looking for. I wanted to have a "desert-scape" look, with a gravel mulch or base, in the front yard and my wife, Mary, wanted a colorful backyard filled with all the color and all of the flowers that we could plant! We were also adding a large 15' x 20' covered patio area to our existing covered patio area and adding additional aggregate patio under the new covered area. We also wanted to add a circular brick patio and fire pit to the back yard in an area that was currently lawn. Susan definitely understood the assignment and went right to work! She took photos of the existing front and back yards and produced a beautiful plan that met both of our desires. We tweaked a few things along the way and Susan helped us make our dream backyard a reality. She recommended a couple of landscape companies to bid on the job and we chose, Steve Gardell of Gardelle Construction to do the job. They were great to work with. Their entire team was amazing! Susan remained in contact during the construction and actually was onsite the day that the plants were delivered to make sure they were placed correctly. When we had concerns a few weeks later about a few of the plant choices we had made, she cheerfully guided us in replacing three or four plants with new varieties that she and my wife picked out. It's been a few months now since everything was finished and we could not be happier! I'm attaching some before and after pics for your review. All of the pictures that have lawn/grass in them are the before picks. If you're contemplating a landscape project, we could not recommend Suan any higher. Please contact her. You will not be sorry!

Confessions of a design snob: those strong opinions extend to garden and landscape design. So, in…read more2005, when we had enough of the juniper and pyracantha dominating the landscape of the original ranch home we had purchased a few years earlier, we started searching for a landscape designer. Of course, landscape architects and designers abound in our neck of the woods. Most were uninspiring. Many offered a "signature" design that they rubber-stamped upon every garden. As if gardens can be purchased off-the-rack. I can't quite recall how we found Susan, but I am so glad we did! She was collaborative, listened carefully to the vision of my land plan, and introduced a sophisticated plant palette that not only worked with my preferences but also the unique conditions of our property. The plant palette flowered and peaked throughout the seasons, introducing visual variety all year long. She helped us select a landscape contractor, showed up at important milestones to ensure that our collective vision was implemented, and helped me spend our limited budget wisely (we acquired a few 15-gallon trees, splurged on key 5-gallon anchor shrubs and 1-gallons; but saved money by purchases dozens upon dozens of 4-inch plants that I installed myself ... after after work, in the dark, with a headlamp on). The prior property owners never installed drainage and therefore caused the soil to be a sodden, stinky, clay-ey mess devoid of nutrients. So the new plants took a few years to establish. Five years later, the garden was drop-dead gorgeous and extraordinary - not only to behold but to enjoy. More importantly, Susan and I had such a fantastic time working together that we've kept in touch for the past 14(!) years ... and adapted the garden (through "garden refreshes") as our needs changed. Our continued collaboration allowed us to enjoy the garden as it evolved from the pristine weekend destination of a gardening enthusiast to a relaxed outdoor space that accommodates family gatherings, a play structure, games, and soccer nets. I have and will continue to recommend Susan to any one who will listen!

Alex and his team at Lamorinda Landscaping are the best!!! After painful and expensive dealings…read morewith others, SO glad I was given their contact information. Not only did they help me by working within my budget, Alex has followed up every other week to make sure that everything they installed or fixed is working properly and that the new lawn is growing as it should. He is very knowledgeable and very kind. I would give them 10 stars if I could.

Lamorinda Landscaping has been taking care of my yard for three years and I am so happy with their…read moreservices. We have done a few big projects and they also provide my weekly maintenance. I am very confident in their advice and expertise. They have even helped me with a few emergencies. I highly recommend them!

We had a fantastic experience working with Simon Lee at Black Diamond on our backyard project over…read morethe past month, and we couldn't be happier with the level of service he provided from beginning to end. Our project was fairly extensive -- it included building retaining walls, flattening and creating more usable space in our backyard, and installing paver stones. Simon stood out to us from the very beginning, when we were still meeting with different companies and deciding who to hire. He was never pushy or overly sales-focused. Instead, he took the time to understand what we wanted, walked us through his design proposals, and offered thoughtful recommendations based on his experience. We really liked his ideas and ultimately felt comfortable trusting his expertise and recommendations for the space. That same level of attention continued throughout the entire project. Simon checked in with us every single day and always showed up with a smile and a positive attitude. Whenever he came over to discuss the project or answer questions, he never made us feel rushed. He was always willing to take his time, talk things through, and make sure we were comfortable before moving forward. He was also incredibly flexible and accommodating with our schedules, which we really appreciated. With a project of this size happening in your backyard for several weeks, having a project manager who is accessible, patient, and communicates consistently makes such a huge difference. Simon was quick to respond whenever we had questions and made the whole process feel much easier to navigate. What impressed us most was how he handled the final stretch of the project. During the final inspection, we brought up a few questions and concerns, and there was never any defensiveness or hesitation. Simon listened, took our concerns seriously, and quickly came back with solutions to make sure we were happy with the finished project. That level of accountability and follow-through really reinforced that we had made the right choice. Simon is professional, patient, approachable, responsive, and genuinely seems to care about both his clients and the quality of the finished project. From helping us envision the backyard during the design stage to making sure everything was addressed at the very end, he was there throughout the entire process. We really enjoyed working with Simon and would absolutely recommend asking for Simon Lee if you're considering a project with Black Diamond. Thank you, Simon, for taking such great care of us and helping transform our backyard!

We had Black Diamond design and install pavers for our front and back yards two years ago. A few…read moremonths back, we noticed loose pavers on the stairs leading up to the house and larger-than-normal gaps between the pavers in other locations. I called Black Diamond and Chavalah and Ayla in customer support scheduled repairs within a couple of weeks. Hector came out and not only fixed the pavers we had marked, but also proactively inspected the remaining pavers and fixed them as well. We're glad to have chosen Black Diamond for this project.

Having no idea what to look for in a landscape designer, I asked around at work and got some…read moresuggestions but there was a universal "he's great!" for Tyler from Furuichi Landscapes. Tyler is one of the most knowledgable people I've ever met when it comes to plants. He had suggestions and answers to every question we threw his way. His communication was spot on, understood what we wanted, offered suggestions when we didn't and was super chill through the entire project. He even recommended a fantastic landscaper to boot. His fees and costs for plants were well within budget and he made sure nothing was a surprise. And if he shows up with a fruit tree, just take it. Trust us. Who knew a nectaplum was even a thing? So delicious... We could not be happier with Tyler's work. If you're looking for a designer, or just want to learn the scientific names of every plant in your backyard, Tyler is your guy. A+, 5 stars, would totally have him pick our plants again.

Working with Tyler on the design for my front yard was productive and fruitful from start to…read morefinish. He recommended a variety of plants that fit the layout of my yard and were deer-proof and drought-tolerant. His horticultural expertise is extensive, and he was responsive and a pleasure to work with. I recommend him highly and without hesitation.

My wife and I are in love with our yard again, and we are very happy with the work Aaron and his…read morecrew did. After deciding to remove our pool, we hired Aaron as the installer for our new landscape project, and we are so glad we did. For months, work was moving forward almost every day, from demolition prep and grading to hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting, fencing, pergola installation, pebble work, and the finishing touches. The quality of the work was excellent throughout. The paver patio, carport, and front entry all turned out beautifully, and the plants, irrigation, and lighting were installed with great care. We were especially impressed by the rock and pebble work, particularly the dry creek and front mow strip. The mix of stone sizes gave everything a natural, detailed, and polished look that really elevated the final result. Aaron also has a strong eye for detail. He regularly caught things that needed adjustment, even when we had not noticed them ourselves, and he stayed focused on getting everything right. While there were some issues that delayed finishing the project, Aaron took responsibility and worked with us to make them right, which we truly appreciated. In the end, what matters most is that we are thrilled with the outcome. Our yard feels beautiful, welcoming, and complete, and we look forward to years of enjoying it.

We moved into a new home a few years ago. The backyard was in rough shape and not functional at…read moreall. So, we made it our first priority to get the backyard done so we could really enjoy it. We had everything completely demoed in order to start from scratch. We wanted a more rustic, traditional looking garden with brick pathways and lots of plants. Having never done a project like this before, we hired a landscape designer: Cyn Coulouthros. She put together a design for us and recommended Aaron's team at Landscape Experts due to their experience with softscaping and hardscaping, especially their brick work. And they would be able to deliver the traditional look we were going for. I cannot say enough good things about Aaron and his team. They go above and beyond to make sure you get what you want! Aaron is so easy to work with and always responsive. The lead on our project was Raul who is amazing at what he does! He takes pride in his work and is incredibly talented. If you need any landscaping, I highly recommend Landscape Experts. Some things Aaron's team did for us: Laid a brick pathway, laid a flagstone patio, installed pathway lights, installed much needed drainage, installed a drip system and Rachio controller (to program the sprinklers from your phone), resurfaced an existing raised seating area for us as it was completely deformed (likely from earthquakes), placed mulch, planted all of the trees and plants, etc. An additional note, Aaron doesn't forget about you once the job is done. We had a light go out and he sent someone over immediately to fix it, as an example. If you're having any issues, he wants to help, even if it's unrelated to anything they've worked on. We will 100% be using them when we're ready to do our front yard and for anything else landscape related! Thank you so much Aaron and Landscape Experts for giving us our dream backyard! You guys are amazing!

We had an excellent experience working with Calvin Craig Landscaping…read more From first contact, they were straightforward. After I'd filled out an online form about the project (a small front yard), Ignacio came over. We came up with a high-level plan. Then a bit of back and forth as we got a clearer picture of the design and the price. My husband's priority was a healthy green lawn and my priority was California natives to attract pollinators and a row of roses. I gave a list of natives to Ignacio and he came up with a design that incorporated my choices plus the row of roses along the front. The rendering of the design and the images of the flowers helped us move forward. We signed the contract and the crew came out about ten days later. Jorge was lead for the crew. We worked directly with him, making some alterations about bed borders and plant locations. At the end of each day, the walkways were clear; all the gear was packed into a corner. Also, the crew did some extra things that weren't in the contract. And, they finished a day earlier than expected. We've had some issues with sprinkler timing on the new lawn. But Calvin came out and made adjustments. It's looking good. Calvin, Ignacio, Jorge (and crew) make a great team. Each of them listened to us as we moved through the project, and responded with the changes we requested. And they kept to budget. If we do another landscaping project, we will absolutely be working with Calvin Craig Landscaping.

We worked with Calvin Craig to renovate our front yard, and the experience was fantastic! Calvin…read moregave us a reasonable proposal, which he didn't mind adjusting as I kept changing my mind about certain plants or hardscaping choices. His crew was always on time, really polite, and they made sure to clean up after themselves every day. Calvin is great to work with--friendly, easygoing, and always kept me in the loop if he needed to make a substitution or had a suggestion. With help from our landscape designer, Calvin and his team handled sourcing all the plants, materials, irrigation system, and even helped with building a split-rail fence. He also took care of the lighting and got us a Rachio wifi controller for the irrigation system. Since Calvin knows the Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek area really well, he gave us solid advice on which plants would thrive here and recommended other contractors (such as one for tree trimming). The end result turned out even better than we imagined. I would definitely recommend Calvin and his team, and we're already planning to work with him again in the future.

I was really happy with Bay Area Sprinkler & Landscape. I was having an issue with my sprinkler…read moresystem (leaks, issues with risers, drip lines) and Jeremy came out and fixed the issue. He was professional, a nice guy, and fixed my issues relatively quickly. I would recommend giving them a call if you need work done.

TL;DR --- Work quality = 5; Cost\Value = 2; Availability = 3…read more Started using Bay Area Sprinkler back when the original owner still had the company. They were always booked - which is a good sign - but that meant it was challenging to get them on the schedule. But when available, they did great work at reasonable rates. Eventually, the company was sold and the new owner changed the business model a bit. The initial bids were the same - basically truck roll fee + labor with materials to be billed after job completion. The big difference was they no longer provided itemized material costing and the materials markup was much higher than other irrigation vendors we've used. In addition, this change was not noticed before the job was completed and they refused to itemize despite multiple requests. Again, they've always done great work for us and if not concerned with paying a significant markup for materials, then possibly a good fit for you.