We wanted dry stacked granite stone low retaining walls, a decomposed granite patio and irrigation…read moresystem installed. The work looks great and isn't moving at all in the recent storms snow and rain. Hector communicated well with our landscape architect and the work looks really nice and was at the quoted bid price.

When I first spoke to Hector to get my estimate I know right away he knew what he was talking…read moreabout. He answered all my questions and was able to grasp my vision. Even though he was not the lowest estimate I decided to use him. I did not regret that decision. He was patient when I told him that I needed to raise the additional money. He got the job done it 4 days and it looks great. His team even cleaned the patio and patio furniture after finishing and hauled away all the trash. New lawn New irrigation Create garden areas

I've worked with Daniel a few times now, but I want to write about the first time he worked on our…read morebackyard last summer. We just moved into a new space and the backyard was really out of control and we didn't know where to start. When I say out of control, I mean it all looked like one big bush, you couldn't tell where one plant began and ended. Daniel came in to the rescue and finessed his way through the shrubs to unveil the plants beneath. We had a garden again. I want to point out that there are two ways you can cut, aggressively or thoughtfully. Daniel cuts thoughtfully, tracing through each branch and each vine to ensure the best outcome for every plant. Lastly, I want to mention how easy it was talking with Daniel. He gave us advice on how to maintain the garden, was gracious with his time, and there was no up-selling or pressure. Also, he only uses organic products such as neem oil to help protect freshly cut branches. I highly recommend working with Daniel if you want someone who will not only do a great job, but will work on each plant as its own specialist, only cutting what's needed and pruning at the optimal time for each plant in your garden. If this all sounds good to you, give him a call, see your garden transform and have your flowers blossom like never before.

Update: we no longer work with Daniel. Although his work is of high quality, we ultimately could…read morenot see eye to eye. Most of my previous review is still accurate, but I don't think he is easy to work with or particularly kind. Daniel has a very specific issue with dog waste, and we have a dog - though he has been touchy about other subjects as well. We talked about this matter prior to signing the contract and agreed that we would clean up after our dog before he arrived. This later turned into a nightmare, as we ended up stressing more over whether or not the yard was completely poop free than we did about caring for our plants and garden. One day, he arrived on a day that we had taken pains to clean up prior to his arrival. Unbeknownst to us, our dog had "gone" outside MINUTES before his arrival, and Daniel blundered foot first into fresh doodoo lying in plain sight on the brickwork. He went ballistic, raising his voice and swearing at me, threatening to tear up the contract and lecturing me for this minor transgression. At that point, we apologized and promised to be more careful about cleaning up after our pet prior to his arrival. It was fine for a while, until a second incident many months later. On that other occasion, Daniel arrived on a day when we were not expecting him and had not cleaned up prior to his visit. I later noticed his arrival on the doorbell camera history logs, though I was away for work at the time he showed up. He had taken one look at our backyard and left without saying anything or contacting me in any way. I called him to explain that we didn't know he would be coming that day and to apologize for the presence of excrement in the yard. Daniel berated me over the phone and finally said, and I quote, "I don't want to play with you guys anymore." That was the end of our use of his services. In conclusion, you can work with Daniel at your own risk. I feel compelled to withdraw my recommendation based on the interactions that I have had with him, but I remain impressed, at least, with the quality of his work. The mental energy expended on this business relationship does not seem worth it to me in hindsight, and it's probably for the best that we parted ways.

Nikos and his crew at Terra Bella Landscaping are truly the 'Dream Team!' From the design plans to…read moreimplementation, things went smoothly and the work was even done before my deadline. My vision was of an English Garden and a South of France aesthetic. We met several times and there were at least two design changes until we reached the final design, including the specific plants such as annuals, perennials, fruit trees, roses, aromatic vines, herbs, hydrangeas, ground covers, etc. His crew were on time, polite, and cleaned up after each day's work. In my conversations with Nikos, he mentioned the idea of an 'edible garden,' which could introduce different textures and colors to the yard. I must admit that I was not keen on mixing my lovely garden with vegetables, however, our yard gets the most sunlight in the middle section of the garden so it appealed to me. Nikos mentioned the work of Rosalind Creasy in her book 'Edible Landscaping,' and even gave me the book! Once I saw the ideas in the book and how they could mesh nicely with my English and French garden vibe, I realized I could have it all: a beautiful multicolored and fragrant garden with 'farm to table' capabilities. I couldn't be happier, and I highly recommend Terra Bella Landscaping for your gardening needs!

I've had them complete both my backyard and more recently my front Landscaping done. I love it and…read morenow have full use of my yards all season. Everyone is professional and easy to work with. I will continue to use them in the future. Would recommend them to anyone.

Greg at Harmonic Landscapes has worked for us and for our clients for 20+ years. If it's outside,…read moreGreg's you man. His crew will not only do maintenance of existing landscapes of any size or complexity but will install rock walls and beautiful paving of flagstone, bricks, or natural rocks (he's done it for us and we couldn't be happier). Fair prices, honest and experienced.

After much research for a Santa Cruz property that is filled with mature trees and plants, large…read morerocks, stone walls and paths, and rock rivers grounded in feng shui design...How to find the right gardener to take care of this unique property? much research ensued.. I found Greg's company, aptly named Harmonic Landscapes specializing in creating landscapes with similar elements, retaining walls, sprinkler systems, and lighting for big and small yards. Greg came and walked the property, provided insights and advise, and an initial quote that sounded good. Greg and his crew came out yesterday, spent the day clearing all 4 yards of nature's debris ie; weeds and fallen leaves that had piled up for months, restoring original vitality and splendor. It is fair to say that Greg is passionate about his work, understands and works with nature, and his work shows he takes pride in their work*

L4U have done three large projects for us. Each of them looks as good as they day they were built,…read moreand none of them has moved 1/16". Darrin and co. just completed a fourth project for us: an artificial turf play area for my kids. As always, L4U's work is immaculate, and their team is friendly and attentive to detail. My kids absolutely love the play area. Landscape 4 U delivers craft and value with integrity and kindness.

The job was finally completed, but not without owner, Daren, kicking and screaming. I will never…read morehire Daren again and do not recommend him. Situation: I hired Daren at over twice the bid of others as thought he would do the job right and good timing. Our garage /yard was flooded from an ocean storm surge with several inches of sand and we needed cleanout leaving areas "nice and clean" Reality: the place was a mess when I inspected to give Daren payment. There was still sand/debris of up to 4 inches in multiple areas throughout. You could barely see the red pavement below all the sand still in garage and backyard and entry areas) (see photos). When I requested Daren finish sweeping sand away, he became combative and said he did the best he could and would not do more. He threatened to sue me and put a lien on my house if I did not give him a check immediately. After I refused to pay him till job was finished per our contract, he reluctantly sent his guys to finish job. When I gave Daren his check and said how disappointed I was with his earlier threats, he continued to insult me ( and my neighbor who was with me as well). All I was looking for was a thank you for my business and a sorry he did not do the job right the first time. I have never experienced this lack of professionalism in my 30 plus years working with contractors. That is why a one star even though job was finally completed. Buyer beware.

Santa Cruz Irrigation responded quickly and fixed our irrigation system. We had a limited time to…read moreget the work done and Steve came through! Steve was very professional and knowledgeable.

I had what were, to me, mysterious things going on with my irrigation system. Steve came over same…read moremorning and solved my problem in no time. I am so grateful!

I purchased a house with extremely neglected landscaping. A friend recommended Tierra Madre to me…read moreand I could not be happier with the choice I made to go with them! At every step of the way, Hallie was communicative, easy to work with, and invested in the project. She helped bring my half-formed "lush fairy cottage, but low-maintenance, oh yeah and I want native plants" vision into reality with the perfect plant recommendations and a beautiful design. The process felt like a great collaboration. It was clear she really wanted to get it right for me and wanted my input along the way, and that she has the expertise to know which plants work together well and how to make it all happen. Armando and crew were also fabulous to work with. I was impressed at their efficiency in demoing the yard (we needed to remove the tree as well as the top few inches of soil because there were so many weeds) and the artistry with which they laid out the flag stone path. It was a huge amount of work and they executed quickly and skillfully. We had Hallie back for some winter pruning recently and were thrilled with that too. It's fun to experience the cycles if life in the yard and know we have a pro we can call on when we need her. :) I now have the lovely, low-maintenance yard I dreamed of and I'm proud to pull into my driveway every day!

Tierra Madre operates on an entirely different level than any of the other landscape services I…read morehave worked with. Hallie listens, she cares, she is knowledgable and has such an artistic eye. She and Armando work together seamlessly, price fairly and are a joy to work with. They also treat their employees with kindness and take care to be environmentally friendly -- very important! I wanted to convert my grass front lawn into a grass-free, bird-friendly, drought-tolerant garden, but I don't know much about plants. Hallie listened carefully, taking notes as we walked the neighborhood so I could point out species that I like and she could educate me on what would work to my specifications. Her breadth of knowledge and gentle manner put me at ease immediately. Armando directed the work and planned the irrigation, etc., with Hallie selecting plants and placement. They both communicated with me throughout, and made sure everything was as I wished. The project was completed quickly and looks even better than I had dreamed. What a great experience with truly wonderful people.

We are thrilled with our patio and garden! Thank you to Ken Foster for your care with our plans for…read morethe garden, and to Jillian for making it all work. Milo and Andre were wonderful. Milo is a great manager and also an excellent communicator, and worked with care and a keen design eye.

Loved working with Ken and his Terra Nova Landscaping team!!…read more Ken is easy to work with and a seasoned professional. We had a drainage problem on our property. Terra Nova came out for an estimate, gave us some options for fixing the problem, and ultimately fixed the problem one week ahead of schedule. The team is responsive and professional. I can't say enough great things about our experience with Terra Nova. We were so pleased with our first project, that we have hired them for two additional projects.