Rivers Landscape Construction was recommended to me by my next door neighbor, who used the company immediately after moving into his house. His daughter and son-in-law had previously used them for their house and recommended the company for their high quality work and reasonable pricing. We were already in the process of gathering bids from four different companies (a couple of paver-specific companies and a couple of general landscape companies). Although I'd already paid $300 for a basic design drawing from one of the companies, I figured I'd give Rivers a shot since they came so highly recommended. I'm glad I did! I called and made an appointment with Gabriel, who is one of the brothers/owners of the company that his father founded several years ago. Gabriel came to the house, listened to what my wife and I described, and took some measurements of the yard and house. He told us he would be back in a few days with a computer generated rendering of our dream yard. Three days later we met with Gabriel again and he presented an absolutely gorgeous plan for an outdoor kitchen, waterfall, firewall, fire pit, artificial lawn, plants, trees, patio pavers, driveway pavers, etc. We had already received a couple of bids from other companies, so we knew going in that we may not be able to afford this massive of a project. We were correct...but Gabriel worked with us to pare the project down to a more financially manageable figure that we felt comfortable with and we set a start date. They started at 7:30 AM on the day they said they would and worked 5 or 6 days per week as needed until completion of the project. As is normal for a large project, we came up with changes along the way that were quickly and inexpensively worked into the plan. Never did we feel that we were being nickel and dimed with the addition of this or that. We were especially pleased that when we exhausted our initial budget for plants and shrubs, we simply went out and bought some more...placed them where we wanted them in the yard...and came back at the end of the day to see they were planted and had drip lines run to them. So, at the end of the day (or project), what did we end up with? Nearly everything we wanted! We have a beautiful outdoor kitchen made out of cement block, rock veneer facing, and polished concrete tops that are extremely durable. We have an incredible waterfall that recreates the tropical feel we were looking for in our backyard. We have a fire wall, a fire pit, and fire bowls that create separate areas to congregate around. We have an aluma-wood type patio cover with a huge stamped concrete patio, a completely re-done zero-scaped front yard to save water...complete with a really cool dry stream bed. Finally, we also put in a dog run area complete with artificial grass for our two large dogs. The dogs LOVE their new living space and we love to watch them playing and wrestling around while staying completely clean. We couldn't be more happy with the final outcome of this project! Being able to work with a single company to get all of these things integrated into our living area was a huge plus!!! I highly recommend Rivers Landscaping for any size project, large or small, because of the high quality workmanship and ease of working with Gabriel to get the most for our budget! read more

I usually do not write reviews but will make an exception here. We have just finished our Landscaping project for our new home. It was quite a long process but the results are great and I have a few people at Rivers to thank for it. From the beginning Gabriel (one of the owners) has been very professional with taking my designs, converting them to something that would work practically and then being receptive to minor changes as we executed. Gus Rios was the guy! - He was the project Manager for my job and he has been a great partner and executed this project on time while taking a lot of my feedback and ideas into account throughout. Tony who focuses on plants too care of that part of the project similarly! The team of workers/crew are also unique it this type of setup where everyone always came on time, were really experts in their focused area and you had a few like Jose, Adrian who were all rounders. I was quite involved in the project and this must have been tough for them given I can be quite demanding! .. but they took it in stride and delivered. This is not your lowest cost provider but I would argue best value for money spent. They know what needs to be done and deliver even going over and beyond sometimes. I would highly recommend them for any landscaping job! Obviously only time will tell how the landscape hold up but for now I am happy and excited to have this to enjoy with our family and friends. Thanks Gabriel, Gus and team! read more

We are just finishing up our back/side/front yard landscape project with Rivers Landscape and we could not be happier with what they've delivered! They've helped us create a beautiful outdoor living space for us - paver patio & walkway, outdoor kitchen, turf & landscaping including drainage, irrigation & lighting. From the start Gabriel understood our vision which he provided in a 3D design with some great suggestions based on his experience on building out outdoor living space. He also understood and respected our budget. Gus was assigned as our project manager and he & his team did a wonderful job. They were all knowledgeable and professional while working on our property. You could tell that they all take pride in their work and ensure that all aspects of work are done correctly. They were patient with us, offering us options & time to make decisions as they came along (e.g. where plantings were placed, lighting placement, etc.) Tony & Olivia were great on the planting/landscaping - taking time to walk the nursery multiple times with us to pick out the proper plants and even going on their own to other nurseries to find the plants/right size plants we wanted. Rivers also took care of everything from our HOA approvals to the permits and inspections. We highly recommend Rivers Landscape if you are looking for a beautiful outdoor living space! read more

Let me start by saying I am not the easiest person to work with. I am very meticulous and obsessed with details (big and small). For 4 months (leading up to the job and during the job) Gabriel and his team dealt with my persistent questions, requests and changes....many of which included late night text exchanges. Never once did Gabriel or Orlando complain or fight me on my changes or show annoyance with my petty questions. They definitely live by the motto that the customer is always right and they aim to please. And for those reasons alone (nevermind that I LOVE our backyard and the quality of their work), I give them 5 stars. They worked hard and ultimately, the yard is exactly what I had hoped it to be. That said, I was highly involved with every little detail...as I stated, I'm very particular. The little details aren't necessarily their 'forte', and yet to me, the little details can often make the project. Fortunately, I was able to work from home during this time and was able to ensure everything (BBQ placement/shape, concrete shape, height/width of patio covers, fence work, color selections, etc) were exactly as I wanted it before they got too far in the process. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Rivers. Their pricing is fair and the customer service is remarkable. Our backyard is everything we had hoped it to be!!! read more

I recently hired Rivers Landscape and worked with Gabriel to do my project. I had no idea who to call and frankly, I called 5 companies, 2 no showed, 2 met and didn't follow up. Gabriel followed up, produced a design on his computer and scoped the project with costs. Another gripe I would have is all of the other companies wanted money up front to sell me their "design" most of which you can formulate yourself on the web. Gabriel provided the design as a part of his sales to get my business. Good move!! Not only did he not hound me for money (I've used other contractors for other projects), he also got the proper permits, helped with the HOA submittals and, although not 100% finished yet, completed the majority of this project 3 weeks early and within budget (no gouging for extras). His crew was very considerate and cooperative, worked hard and overall impressed me. Gabriel knows what he's doing and I relied on him to make the majority of the decisions (as I wasn't living here full time.) The BBQ, stone walls, flagstone, fire place, water wall and overall landscaping is gorgeous. In fact, the home builder here is escorting potential clients through my landscaping as a selling tool. Great job!! By the way the job was in Encinitas California. read more

From beginning to end Gabriel and his team did an amazing job. We had searched and interviewed companies for over a year - had multiple folks out for bids but time and time again I was less than impressed with the level of engagement and creative direction provided. I was looking for someone that could translate what we wanted out of our yard as far as use and space and come back to us with a creative vision of how we could achieve this not just put down in a CAD drawing line by line what I had suggested. Gabriel did just that, really blowing us away with how well he translated our vision down on paper and with that he immediately won the job. From the first meeting he was engaged and was quickly able to grasp what we wanted and translated that into an amazing back yard. In particular he addressed my desire to maximize the space that we have - laying things out in a way that not only flows nicely but also makes the most of the space that we have. He and his team did a great job throughout the project - respectful, courteous, clean and responsive - and finished on time. The final result is amazing. I smile and feel super happy every time I walk out into my new backyard oasis. I would highly recommend them read more

I have nothing but great things to say about Rivers Landscaping. From their design, to their team of workers, and to their management, they are a very solid company. From past experiences, I feel contractors promise the world, but once you sign the contract, the battle is on. Not with Rivers. They are very professional, show up every morning before 8:00, finish promptly by 4:00, and most importantly their goal is to make the customer happy. Aside from their skilled team of workers and craftsmen, the quality of the final product was in large part a result of exceptional management -- Ricardo and Orlando were exceptional project managers. If you are lucky enough to have them on your project, you are sure to be impressed. Ricardo has a great design sense, was always available for questions and concerns, and was easily able to overcome obstacles with creative solutions. Orlando, the on-site project manager, kept the job on schedule, assured the quality of construction and materials were top-notch, and was always willing to work with us when we made changes. All in all, we are very pleased with our backyard, and would highly recommend Rivers Landscaping to anyone looking for a landscape contractor. read more

Rivers Landscape Construction set a completely different standard for what working with a contractor should feel like. Gus, our project manager, is on another level. There are no words--he is relentlessly solutions-oriented and genuinely unshakable. No matter what came up, he didn't hesitate, didn't make excuses--he just figured it out. His flexibility is unmatched, and from start to finish it felt like a true partnership, not a typical contractor relationship. Gabriel and Tony, the owners, have built something special. What sets this company apart is how deeply they care--about the quality of their work and about their clients being genuinely happy. That level of pride and accountability shows up in every single detail. The quality of their exterior work was so exceptional that we trusted them to redo our entire interior bathroom and kitchen as well--and they delivered at the same level across the board. That's rare. Most companies are strong in one area; Rivers executes at a high level everywhere. If you want a team that is collaborative, responsive, flexible, and truly invested in the end result, this is it. I would recommend them without hesitation. read more

Rivers Landscape transformed our backyard from a seldom used area into an amazing mini-resort to be enjoyed by our family and friends! Gabriel was able to assess our needs and design preferences and came up with a 3D design concept that was beautiful and right on the mark. He worked with us to make a few small changes, and the final product was a well-integrated design for our pool, patio and BBQ areas. Rivers was referred to us by Majestic Pools, and they worked well together throughout the project. The construction team, led by Gus, was great! Gus was very cooperative, easy to work with, communicated closely with us throughout the project to make sure our expectations were being met. His crew was meticulous and attentive to detail, which was showed throughout the project and in the finished product. Gabriel came with an amazing vision for our backyard, and Gus along the the rest of the Rivers team brought it to life. We would recommend Rivers Landscape without hesitation for a backyard project, large or small. We've attached a couple of photos to give you and idea of quality of their design and construction work. read more

I had Rivers Landscape come out on 9/24 to look at a grill island project in our backyard. The man who came was very professional. We talked at length about the details for the project. He took many measurements and pictures. I thanked him for his time, and he stated that he would be working up a quote, including a rendering. He said it would take a few days to provide the quote, which we could expect Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week. I called on Wednesday and he said he did not have the quote ready, but would like to meet with us to go over the quote that Friday (10/2) at 4 pm, which we agreed to. Friday 4pm came and went, no call, no show. I called him at 5:30, but he did not answer. He sent at text at 5:45 telling us he couldn't make it, because his truck broke down. A picture of his broken down truck was included in the text for verification, I guess. In the text, he asked for my email, and stated he would send the quote and drawing when he got home that night. Didn't happen. It's now 10/6, and I have called a few times, and sent a text to ask if he had sent anything, but no response. read more

2 years later, we are still so happy with the landscape design and custom fountain fire pit and BBQ built-in that were completed by Rivers Landscape Const. Inc. The entire team, Gabriel, Tony, Orlando and many others are experts in what they do. I can't sing their praises enough.--- Rivers Landscape did an OUTSTANDING job on our home in San Marcos- San Elijo Hills. They designed the back and front yard to fit all our needs. Our yard is small but they designed a fire pit, water feature, BBQ and jacuzzi and do in a way that looks like a high-end resort. They were extremely flexible with design changes along the way as we saw the entire yard come together. I am a very detailed oriented person and their team of workers are too... from the detailed stonework on the water feature to the concrete scoring pattern. The quality was superb. The owner and his team were a pleasure to work with during the project. My husband and I couldn't be happier with the result. read more

Rivers Landscape Construction created an extraordinary customer experience for our family. Gabriel (the company's President) was able to create a perfect 3D vision of our project before it commenced, and understood we had demanding requests and a strict budget. The team worked tirelessly to realize our dream. They created exquisite travertine walkways/entryways, a serene interior front courtyard, and an impressive outdoor patio. They installed a captivating limestone outdoor fireplace and a number of large stained-wood pergolas. They installed complete irrigation and impressive outdoor lighting throughout the property. They also built and installed all of our wood gates and planted over 20 very mature olive, podocarpus and citrus trees. The team's attention to detail was nothing-less than impressive. Rivers' was very dedicated to our project and the achievement of our vision, and I would strongly recommend their services to anyone. read more

Just like with any contractor now days you need to be persistent if you want to have the work done, everyone is so busy. Be persistent with Gabriel! Rivers Landscape is amazing from the bottom up. They truly stand by their work and everyone is so accommodating, fair and easy to work with. You will only work with Gabriel at the beginning and the end and occasionally in the middle. When your project starts he will hand you off to Gus and Tony. It just doesn't get any better than these two guys. I'm extremely difficult and demanding and they had all the patience in the world for me and made everything perfect. Landscapers can be some of the shadiest contractors there are, so be careful! Do pay upfront and visit/call references. Most landscapers will work a few days and split for several, not these guys. There were at least a few people on my job site everyday from start to finish. Save a lot of headache and hire Rivers ! read more

Before hiring Rivers, we had a landscape plan drawn up by a very prominent landscape architect and bid out by a top-end landscape company. Their bid was exorbitantly expensive, not to mention the cost we paid for the plans. Then we had the good fortune of finding Gabriel and Rivers Landscape on the recommendation of a neighbor. Gabriel put together a 3-D plan for us on the computer (at no additional charge) that looked amazing. His bid came in substantially lower than our previous bid and it included much more! I was a bit worried that perhaps because the bid was substantially less, that this might equal less quality. However, it was just the opposite. The job was of the highest quality and the final product came out looking better than we had anticipated. If we had to do it all over again, we would choose Rivers and their team without hesitation. They were professional, polite and a joy to work with. We highly recommend them! read more

Our backyard project began with a pool and we soon discovered we were going to need a professional landscaper to complete our dream backyard. Gabriel was referred to us by Majestic Pool and Spa and we couldn't have been happier. We interviewed several companies, but felt that Gabriel's input on what we should do matched our visions and pocketbook as well. Gabriel, his brothers and crew were very hard workers, considerate and kept to schedule. Gabriel was quick to respond when our dog gained access to our backyard shortly after the concrete had been poured and sent someone out to re-finish the concrete within the hour. Gabriel stopped by and checked in frequently to keep up updated on what was going on and to look forward to. His crew kept to the time schedule and although we had a rain delay, the project was still finished on time. We couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you Gabriel and Rivers Landscaping team. read more

We learned of Rivers Landscaping by word of mouth. This is a family run business and they all care about their clients and the finished product. Gabriel is the company's landscape architect. He has great vision for designing any space and his design drawings are professional looking, beautiful, and easy to understand. He knows how to communicate with HOA's and all the neighbors in a professional manner. Tony is a caring and patient project manager. Many times he and Orlando were able to help my husband and me make decisions in a design world that's unfamiliar to us. Together they kept everything running smoothly and in a timely manner. Most importantly to me, was the crew hired by this company. What an incredibly wonderful and hardworking bunch of people. They were all kind, polite, and respectful. Andres and his family, in particular, became like family to us. Thank you to Rivers Landscaping! Well done!!! read more

We recently finished our frontyard landscaping project with Rivers and are absolutely delighted with the finished product. Our frontyard - rock/brick gate columns, rock work on our home, brick courtyard, flagstone walkways and steps, lighting and plantings came out absolutely beautiful. This project was a total transformation and we could not be more pleased. We worked with Gabriel who designed the project (very insightful with ideas and able to project my ideas out in his designs) and made changes and updates as needed, very accommodating. All workers on the project were all great, hardworking, and the supervisor very accommodating and professional, the project flowed well. The work was done on time. Our neighbors, family and friends are amazed at the finished project also, some have stated it is "the most beautiful home landscaping they have seen". We believe so also. read more

We purchased a newly constructed home and decided to choose Rivers Landscape to perform our landscaping. Gabriel with Rivers Landscape was referred to me by a few of my friends that had used them. Gabriel was very friendly and professional throughout our entire landscape project. I was extremely happy with the landscape process from start to finish with Rivers. Both Gabriel and the landscape crew were GREAT to work with! Rivers and his crew have the experience that I had hoped for on my project. The crew did a lot of items I wouldn't have thought of needing to be done. The extra details the Rivers crew did on their own made the project run smooth all the way to the end. Tony and Gus were great to work with throughout! A fun group to have around the house for a few months :) I would definitely recommend these guys to my friends! read more

Rivers recently completed a significant upgrade to our 25+ year old backyard involving multiple elements: trex deck, flagstone, multiple types of masonry walls, brick work, new bbq, synthetic turf, concrete demo, rock removal and placement, drainage, irrigation, planting, etc, etc. They have a large crew with expertise in all these areas. As with any complex job there were several changes along the way and we found them very willing and able to offer suggestions and make the adjustments we requested. Five years ago we had a different company redo our front yard and it was a completely different experience - wish we had known about Rivers back then. Our backyard looks great and we highly recommend them! read more