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Vista, CA

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Nature Designs Landscaping

4.2 (47 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Services - Nature Designs Landscaping

Construction or installation

Disease management - shrubs

Greenscape construction

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designs showing 1/5" variance, yet other details like 18 pavers vs 15, fence design not correct
Kevin E.

We hired Nature Designs Landscaping for what was supposed to be a $100K+ backyard project. Unfortunately, what we got instead was a series of mistakes. Here are just the highlights: 1. Paid $6,800 for a 3D design we never actually received. 2. Bids were vague and non-itemized, making cost-cutting impossible - here's your bid that came in $200,000 over your budget with 29 items you wanted but we wont tell you what each item costs...so good luck trimming it... 3. Stepping stone installation didn't match the plans, dismissed with an exact quote from the owner Steve "we are not designing rockets here." 4. A 50' Keystone retaining wall was built 2 feet in the wrong place, costing us 100 sq ft of yard. 5. Patio trellis cover post was moved incorrectly, and workers inexplicably cut off decorative beam tails. 6. Unlicensed electrical work caused two of our home's fuses to blow; I had to fix the spa wiring myself. 7. Crew buried a sewer cleanout under dirt and a paver until I caught it. 8. Bobcat damaged stamped concrete walkway; denied until I showed Ring video proof. 9. Cable rail gate were poorly built and had to be replaced by another company. 10. Workers painted woodwork with random wrong "brown" paint on two different occasions using two different variants of "brown" without even asking us if we had some left over correct brown paint. 11. BBQ tile and window sill tiling had to be redone multiple times because instructions weren't followed. 12. Crew secretly severed our Cat6 security/gate/internet cable, spliced it with the wrong wire, taped it, stuffed it into a conduit, and buried it -- never telling us. 13. "Pass-through window" was a $12 DIY-quality screen that couldn't be removed, opened, or repaired. Each of these issues is explained in detail below for anyone who wants to understand the full scope of how this project went wrong: ________________________________________ Detailed Issues 1. $6,800 design fee The only 3D plan presented was a $250K-$300K design -- nearly 3x our budget. We never received a usable 3D plan reflecting what we settled on. 2. Non-itemized bids Nature Designs does not provide detailed, itemized bids. This meant we had no way of knowing how to reduce costs intelligently. We were left hacking items off blindly, never knowing what impact it had on the final number. To trim the budget even more, we allowed the workers to use the restroom facilities inside our home to avoid paying for a porta-potty for 4 months. However, we are unsure if we even received a credit for the porta-potty. 3. Stepping stones Plans showed 15 pairs; 18 were installed. When questioned, the owner brushed it off with "we are not designing rockets here", so it's not that exact. 4. Retaining wall A 50' Keystone wall was installed two feet closer to the house than designed, costing us ~100 sq ft of usable yard. The owner admitted his project manager sometimes makes changes "without even telling him." 5. Trellis We approved moving a patio deck trellis post 8". Instead, it was moved too far and redone incorrectly. Workers also inexplicably cut off decorative beam tails, permanently ruining symmetry. No fix was offered. 6. Unlicensed electrical They performed electrical work without a licensed electrician. I had to troubleshoot and fix it myself. 7. Sewer cleanout Crew uncovered a sewer cleanout, then buried it under dirt and a paver the next day. Only when I showed photo proof did they admit the mistake and cut an access hole in a paver above the cleanout location. 8. Bobcat damage Their bobcat damaged a stamped concrete walkway. The project manager denied responsibility until I showed Ring camera footage. 9. Cable rail fence/gate They drilled cable holes unevenly and without a template causing delays while they patched the holes. We had to hire a fencing company to replace the gate. 10. Paint mismatch Instead of asking us for the correct paint, the crew twice bought random "brown" paints and applied them -- all mismatched. 11. Tile work The BBQ edges and window sill tile had to be redone multiple times because the tiler ignored instructions. 12. Cat6 cable cover-up One worker (several weeks into the project) severed a Cat6 cable that controlled security, gate, and internet causing multiple unexplained connection issues for weeks. Instead of repairing it properly, they spliced, taped it, stuffed it into a conduit, and buried it -- never saying a word. * Electrical tape around a severed Cat6 line is not a recognized or code-compliant repair, particularly for outdoor use where waterproof connections are required. * The fact that this splice was concealed suggests intent to cover up the damage rather than properly address it. * The CSLB considers concealment of damage and substandard work as grounds for disciplinary action. 13. Pass-through window We asked for a pass-through window. What we got was a $12 DIY-quality screen shoved in a track. It couldn't be removed, cleaned, repaired, or opened.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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Steve J.

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7 months ago

Excellent work. They built a wonderful pool in a challenging location on our sloped yard. Very responsive when additional work was needed.

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1 year ago

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Steve J.

Thank you! We're glad we could revive your yard and keep it thriving!

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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13 years ago

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Ask the Community - Nature Designs Landscaping

Review Highlights - Nature Designs Landscaping

“Steve was always willing to give me as much time as needed while making decisions or answering my many questions.”

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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Nature Designs Landscaping - landscaping - Updated October 2026

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