I was searching for a designer to help me plan my front and backyard. I came across Diane Conejo of GardenWise Design. Reading all her five star reviews on Yelp, and looking at the pictures, I knew I had found the right person. I was not disappointed when I began the process. Diane is an amazing landscape designer, who's insight, knowledge, and professionalism is so hard to find. She was there at each step of the process, making sure the job was done according to plan. I made a few changes along the way, and Diane was very accommodating with my ideas. I choose to use her installers, Raul and Daniel, and I was very pleased with their professionalism and work ethic. I continue to use them to keep the garden looking great! Diane is excellent and with that you may have to wait to get on her schedule, but trust me it is worth it!!! read more

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Diane and her team were wonderful to work with. From beginning to the end, she was there at each step of the project. Diane is attentive, knowledgeable and dependable. Such a joy to work with! Thank you Diane!! read more

We are very happy at how our backyard turned out. Diane did a wonderful job at plant selection and overseeing the installation with Daniel. They both were very interested in following up as the plants get established. I appreciated there interest in making sure we were happy in the near future as well. They were very communicative and available to answer all of our questions and concerns. read more

Diane has transformed both our front yard and back slope. Working with she and her installation team headed by Daniel has been one of the easiest and satisfying home improvement endeavors we have tackled. Diane has experience with native plants and succulents. She is very environmentally conscious. And her deliverables are amazing and a great value for her cost. She provided a detailed graphic of the plans as well as PlantMaster files. PlantMaster is an amazing program offering huge amounts of data regarding the plants in your plan. Our front yard was dead grass when Diane started and you'll see from the photos how it has been transformed to a water wise design with incredible plant and succulent choices. She followed the requirements needed for the state rebate. Her landscaper Daniel and his crew did an amazing job and continue to stay in touch helping us learn how to care for the new plants. On the day of planting we saw multiple butterflies! That quick! Our back slope is monstrous at 4400 square feet and quite steep. We honestly wanted to keep the design simple to save on costs and Diane honored our wishes. But even her cost-efficient design turned out so beautiful! I cannot wait for the foliage to grow and the seasonal colorful flowers to bloom. Diane recommended gorilla hair mulch for our steep slope to help with weed control. We had never heard of it but it has held steady with our recent rains and wind. We were concerned about using regular mulch because we have a pool and didn't want it blowing into it during winds. I especially loved how she incorporated a succulent rock garden into the plan. Daniel and his team worked tirelessly over a few weekends to do the install. I was so impressed with how quickly they were able to finish such a huge project. We had multiple bids and Diane and Daniel were extremely reasonable. I especially appreciated how Diane offers to select the plants and pebble/stone/boulders and come during installation day to place them. One story about Daniel. We calculated via the internet how much mulch we would need (22 cubic yards). He told us that the calculations are not always correct that that we should start with 9 cubic yards which was one delivery. We had enough! We saved so much money with his expertise in this area. Diane and Daniel were also very patient with me during installation. I would see a plant or boulder in one area and request it to be moved and there was never any hesitation but to honor my wishes. Okay this is a long review but very good people deserve very good reviews with lots of detail! Thank you Diana and Daniel for a job so well done. read more

GardenWise Design - This showcases the rock garden area of the slope that runs the entire length of the slope. - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

Diane is indispensable. She is so knowledgeable and personable. She can come advise you on pretty much any garden design question. It was a pleasure speaking to her about all my garden ideas. Diane had excellent recommendations and countless tips that I so appreciated. She obviously loves gardens and strives to help you create a happy space in your yard. read more

Diane was great from start to finish. Excellent communication, very detailed and easy to work with. Her design for our slope was perfect and results are exactly what we wanted. Her installation crew with Daniel leading was excellent. Excellent communication, explanations and backyard was clean when they were finished. A+++++ all the way around. Would not hesitate to use Diane and her crew again. read more

I can't speak highly enough of Diane at GardenWise Design. She is, indeed, Gardenwise! She took our small, suburban lot with overgrown shrubs and dying grass and turned it into a tranquil paradise. We now have a nature path that winds through the yard, surrounded by plants and flowers that look otherworldly. Diane knows how to balance colors, plant heights, trees, hardscaping and other elements into a virtual painting. The process was so easy and comfortable. She came over, we walked through our existing yards, showed her what we wanted to keep and what we wanted to replace. She asked a lot of questions and offered some ideas. Then she drew up a plan with plant sizes, colors and names identified. She drew in the hardscaping and fences, and since she measured everything, it was all perfectly to scale. Once we created the plan we loved, she went to the nurseries and picked out the plants to make sure we got the best ones. Then on delivery day, she made sure they were all there, and the she placed them where they'd go for her crew to plant them. We just sort of watched as she led her crew and made the landscape come to life. (For the record, you can use your own crew if you want, but we liked that she had been working with hers for years, and they worked seamlessly together.) Diane is lovely, attentive, communicates well, and is very reasonably priced. Before we met her, we were moderately embarrassed of our front yard, and used to completely avoid the back yard. Now, we are back to enjoying the yards, eating outside, and entertaining again. It's like a completely new house! Oh, and we have a new friend too! read more

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Diane is such a talented designer who truly loves what she does, and it shows! She redesigned our front yard using drought tolerant plants and we absolutely love it. She was so easy to work with and very knowledgeable. She listened to what we wanted and created something we couldn't have done on our own. Would highly recommend GardenWise Design to anyone needing to spruce up or completely redo their outdoor space! read more

GardenWise Design - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

What a remarkable treasure - GardenWise! Diane takes genuine care in her design, customer service and installation. We are so grateful for Diane's attention to detail and her remarkable ability to translate our ideas into a stunning visual and sustainable landscaping design. Diane has an incredible knowledge of plants/trees and worked very closely with us to ensure that our vision became a reality. This is a business owner who absolutely loves what she does! After the design phase, we also had the pleasure to work with father and son Team, Raul and Daniel, on the actual installation of our design, including irrigation and other hardscape and landscape details. Daniel has a keen eye for design and ensures that Diane's design comes to life. What a remarkable partnership! Tremendous talent, customer-centric, creative, professional, fair value-oriented pricing. Cannot give enough accolades to Diane & Team! read more

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We found Diane from reading 5 star Yelp reviews. After meeting with Diane, we were more than willing to wait the several months before she could even start our front yard plan. Well worth the wait. Diane has a love of plants, and was extremely thoughtful about a design that complimented our house and addressed our concerns. We couldn't be happier with our new front yard! Thank you Diane and your fantastic installation team. read more

It has been a month since I originally posted my review. Diane made our home a Paradise with her artistry and careful selection of plants. We are enjoying butterflies and hummingbirds. There aren't enough stars to give. It brings me great joy to look out the window, whether it is in the front or the back and enjoy the beauty. read more

I'm a little late to write this review as we used Diane last year to redesign our front yard. This year everything is in bloom and really growing and it all looks AMAZING! I honestly couldn't be happier with the results! Throughout the process, Diane was so helpful, accommodating and such a pleasure to work with. She is thorough and very organized which made the process for us seamless. We also used her team to order all the plants and do all the installation and everyone was amazing to work with! I highly recommend her! read more

If you get to work with Diane and her team on your project, consider yourself lucky! I've never come across anyone as knowledgeable about all plants as Diane! The whole process from initial meeting to design to overseeing the plant delivery and installation was an absolute seamless pleasure. Daniel and his team do beautiful and professional installation work and both he and Diane went above and beyond. We are thrilled with our finished product as Diane understood and executed my vision and preferences. All of the plants she chose are gorgeous and make such an impact. We are taking our landscaping projects in stages and look forward to hopefully working with her again on the rest. A gem all around read more

GardenWise Design - Atrium installation by GardenWise - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

Diane is a garden wizard. It's magic how she can turn ordinary into extraordinary. She is thorough, knowledgeable and dependable. I got much more than I expected. Our neighbors love our front yard. We get visitors come just to take a look. I can't wait for the plants to grow just a bit more to show photos of the magic. She worked so well with my gardener. They had never met before. It has been such a pleasant experience for all of us. read more

After building a large addition onto our home during a very rainy season our backyard and lawn were left in tatters and after several attempts at landscaping myself I finally reached out to Diane and she came to the rescue. That's when I realized just how little I knew about these things and thankfully Diane was a mine of information and knowledge. She takes the time to listen and understand your vision and translates that into reality. She then very precisely measured and drew up plans and showed us pictures and descriptions of each plant and tree. Raul and Daniel did an awesome job of planting with Diane there to oversee everything. Diane is a wonderful lady and overall it was a great experience, we cannot wait for all of our fruit trees to grow in and eventually share our lovely space with friends. Many Thanks Diane read more

Diane Conejo designed my front and back yards from scratch (a decade of neglect and drought turned both areas into dirt lots), into a colorful and charming landscape that makes me smile. Diane is not only extraordinarily knowledgeable about plants and materials; she also listens carefully, and responds in a timely manner to any questions I have. I am thrilled with her work! read more

I can't decide if the front of our home looks a million times better, or ten million times better, since we hired Diane to help us -- it's one of the two. We had overgrown ivy and ugly ice-plant, and it was just depressing. Now I walk outside every morning, and marvel at the transformation. My wife and I like to garden (a little!), but we could never have known which plants to get, and where to put them. Diane is like a fairy godmother (she may have arrived via a bubble, or something) who floats in and just makes things better. If you're reading this review, read no further, pick up the phone. Her fee was so reasonable, and she was as lovely as her choices. We intend to continue working with her. read more

My husband and I feel so fortunate to have found Diane. She is a true gem! She has it all...incredible knowledge of landscaping, an art background, a friendly personality, great work ethic and a true desire to give her clients their vision. Our installation was a few months ago and our garden brings me joy every time I walk into it or catch a glance of it through our windows. Thank you Diane...you're the best! read more

Just finished our landscaping install, and we are thrilled, Diane is knowledgeable, thoughtful, creative, and a great communicator. Would absolutely recommend!! read more

Diane did an outstanding job on my barren front yard. She was easy to work with, everything was done in a timely manner and her and her team took care of everything. My yard is now the showplace of the neighborhood. Thank you Diane & Daniel. read more

GardenWise Design did a beautiful job in landscaping our beach home. We didn't think it was possible to have such a healthy and vibrant landscape less than 200 feet from the ocean with its lethal salt spray and blistering sun. We have found Diane very knowledgeable about plants and highly recommend her. read more

GardenWise Design - Diane, your landscape design and drought tolerant plant selections are absolutely gorgeous. You were so pleasant to work with. - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me

Writing a review feels like the end of a relationship, which is probably why I didn't get to this one in time! The relationship continues! Diane Conejo is incredibly talented, warm and professional. She has an innate ability to gauge and assess exactly what her client needs and is what I would call a therapist for all your gardening needs! It was clear from the moment we first connected over the phone, that Diane was more concerned with my needs than pushing her own agenda. She always listened very carefully and tried her very best to give me exactly what I wanted. My project was fraught with challenges. I had a significant amount of hardscape that needed to be completed first and Diane was an excellent resource in recommending contractors as well as giving me advice on the hardscape, which was not part of her responsibilities. I was also dealing with a new puppy in the household and Diane and her crew worked around my schedule to get the work done. I must add here that based on my research, Diane and her crew are unparalleled in terms of quality for price. Without even being asked, Diane ensured that every element of my landscape was animal-friendly. During the planning process, through the installation and on a regular basis since then, Diane has been a source of information and guidance. She always checks in on the status of the yard and has even come by to address any questions. Her knowledge of flora is astounding and her kindness and wisdom come through in every choice and interaction. She never took our easy camaraderie for granted and was always careful to double-check every business decision - the hallmark of professionalism. Her plans are frame-worthy and she included a detailed printed pictorial guide to every plant in my yard. My puppy is now a "young man" and enjoys the yard as much as I do! I am looking forward to working with Diane in the future on my front and side yard! read more

We recently used Diane at GardenWise Design to redo our front and backyard. It was a project that was long overdue and we needed help. Diane made the process easy - she came over and we talked about what we wanted - and what we didn't want. She came up with a beautiful design, created sketches, and suggested just the right plants that would be drought resistant - and suggested which of our existing plants may fit in with the new design. (She is extremely knowledgeable about all plants, shrubs and trees.) The colors she suggested, the placement of the plants and rocks, and the low-maintenance aspect of her design met all of our requirements. We also used her crew for the hardscape and demo/install. She managed the whole project, but still included us in key decisions that helped ensure we loved the final result. We highly recommend Diane and are extremely happy with our new front and backyard. read more

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Like some of the other reviewers, the drought has taken a toll on our lawn. We wanted to keep some grass, have a pretty garden and reduce our water bill. Diane accomplished all of this. She is very nice and wonderful to work with. She is happy to incorporate your ideas into her design. My family liked our garden so much they asked for her number! We would also recommend Daniel and his father Raul. They did a great job on the installation. Thank you for giving us back a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy. read more

Diane is the best! A true artist in the garden! She knows her plants and knows how to design their placement! It was very difficult to find a designer who knows horticulture but so glad I found her! Her recommendations are spot on with both plants and sub-contractors. We will definitely use GardenWise Design again! Can't wait for our next project with them! Thank you Diane!!! We are so happy and proud of our new landscape!!!! The BEST from beginning to end!!!!! read more

Diane transformed our yard from drought burned lawn and weeds and an outdated patch of roses and plants to a beautiful drought tolerant garden! Our yard feels like a Botanical garden! Diane is easy to work with and has a great reliable crew she works with! It was a pleasure working with everyone involved! read more

My husband and I HIGHLY recommend GardenWise Design for custom home landscaping. Diane is incredibly knowledgeable on plants and trees. She designed beautiful landscaping for the front of our property, using an amazing combination of "waterwise" plants, rocks and mulch. Her design brought color, texture and eye-appeal to our property. In fact, random passerby have been complimenting our landscaping, and it appears that our landscaping has inspired some of our neighbors to consider re-landscaping as well. Diane is extremely pleasant to work with and she provides exceptional customer service. She is professional, personable, thorough, detail-oriented, responsive, and incredibly good at what she does. She really shows that she cares about the quality and sustainability of her designs, and that she cares for her clients. We love turning the corner to enter our driveway now, and feel that the front of our home positively contributes to our neighborhood. We thank Dianne for her exceptional services, and cannot recommend her highly enough! She really deserves far more than 5 Yelp stars. read more

Working with Diane has been a delight. She is knowledgeable about the plants and has an artistic eye which she brings to her designs. She helped us transform our lawn and garden beds into a "waterwise" garden that is aesthetic and environmentally conscious. Diane goes above and beyond with her attention to detail and she was responsive to our desires. She provided us with drawings and pictures of the plants so we could make informed decisions in collaborating on a design. Diane treats the relationship with the client with the same care she devotes to her plans. She has worked with us beyond the initial planning stage and has helped us continue to grow our garden. With Diane, I have a friend and a landscape designer and consultant. read more

Because of the drought, my once lush backyard lawn was reduced to weeds, dirt and rabbit poop. We had to do something! Our neighbors contracted with Diane Conejo of GardenWise Design and we loved what she did to their yard, so we decided to reach out to her. Diane was friendly, knowledgeable, and really listened to what we had in mind. She designed an amazing plan, focused around a fire pit, for our almost 2,000 sq. ft. area, that we couldn't be more pleased with. She used a combination of colorful succulents and other plants as well as decomposed granite pathways, small boulders and decorative rock to create a space that is at once beautiful to look at, inspiring, and user friendly. What's more, I qualified for the California Turf Replacement Rebate Program! Also, her landscapers, Raul and Daniel Melchor, did a fantastic job of installing Diane's plan. Finally, the price for both the plan and the installation were quite reasonable. I highly recommend GardenWise Design and the Melchors for your project! read more

We love our new front yard!! Diane has been such a godsend for us. We had interviewed quite a few landscapers before we found Diane and GardenWise Design. None of the others even came close to her professionalism, plant knowledge, and creativity. She is such a gem and a wonderful person to work with. After having undergone a very stressful year, I was dreading having to figure out what to do with our dead, ugly yard. Diane made the entire process virtually stress-free for me! I told her the general look we were going for and she came up with a spectacular plan that fit our lifestyle and budget. I highly recommend Diane and cannot wait to continue working with her as we complete our backyard plans. read more

Diane Conejo, the owner of GardenWise Design, is just as good as it gets. I really can't say enough about her work ethic, attention to detail, love of gardens and garden design and artistic talent. In an environment where almost everything is rushed, Diane gave me individual attention and care. She listened and gave suggestions and in the end designed a beautiful front yard for me. All of my neighbors stop by to admire it and it is truly waterwise as well. She was so easy to work with and brought a great crew in to do the landscaping, who I also recommend highly. For me, the best part of working with Diane (in addition to the beautiful landscaping, of course) was how thoughtful and pleasant our interaction was. I was really a pleasure to see and talk with her and to learn more about the plants we used. She supplied me with a map of the yard that identifies each plant and also a booklet with pictures and a little information about each plant and how to care for it. She is readily available for consults also. I look forward to starting the backyard with her soon. read more

Diane created a landscape plan for my back yard and now is working with me on my slope and side yard. She is a delight to work with and is extremely knowledgeable. I have learned a great deal about plants from her and continue to learn from her. read more