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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

Nature Designs Landscaping Photos

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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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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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2 years 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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5 years ago

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13 years ago

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7 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

Read more highlights

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This project was expertly managed from start to finish. Matt and Wade brainstormed with me and my…read morehusband and kept tweaking the plans until we were all happy. As issues came up (permit delays, grumpy neighbor, too tall chair ordered on my part), they helped us navigate it all and offered support even when they didn't need to The subcontractors they used to dig, build a large retaining wall, install turf, build the patio, install the pergola, and lay lots and lots of rocks were wonderful--nice, patient, and hard-working. The whole team even took an old playhouse and redesigned it safely for our kids on the hill. Matt's design, attention to detail, and the time he took with our project was above and beyond. He answered every call and text quickly. I couldn't have asked for more. I've already recommended SD3D to all of my neighbors, and recommend them for small or large projects.

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I can't say enough good things about Ronnie and his entire team. From start to finish, they…read moreabsolutely knocked our driveway project out of the park. The finished product is genuinely a 10/10, the design, layout, attention to detail, and overall quality of the work exceeded our expectations. What impressed us just as much as the final result was the entire experience getting there. Ronnie met with me numerous times to walk through details, answer questions, make sure everything was exactly how we wanted it, and accommodate plenty of little changes along the way without ever making it feel like a burden. His communication and flexibility were incredible. His crew was equally impressive, professional, respectful, hardworking, and clearly takes a ton of pride in what they do. They were even able to start earlier than originally planned and finished ahead of schedule, which was a huge help for us during an already hectic home build. Ronnie also went above and beyond in ways he absolutely did not have to, including a very thoughtful gift for my wife and me at the end of the project. That kind of personal touch says a lot about the way he runs his business and treats his customers. We've worked with a lot of different contractors throughout our build, and Ronnie and his team truly stand out. The craftsmanship is outstanding, the service was exceptional, and the entire process could not have gone better. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone considering pavers or a driveway project. Thank you Ronnie and the entire crew, you guys absolutely crushed it!

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Nature Designs Landscaping - landscaping - Updated October 2026

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