When I decided to redo my backyard, I consulted with several contractors. My primary goals were to…read morereplace an aging deck and to cover the yard in pavers reducing the weed potential, which had been an ongoing problem for years. I chose pavers because they have a better track record for longevity than concrete. When I got back the proposals, I appreciated that the one from Forever Green Cali reflected everything I had mentioned in our initial meeting and had the best price. It was clear that attention had been paid during the meeting. Once selected as the contractor, the work began pretty quickly, nailing down details, making selections, identifying the things to stay, etc. The demolition of the existing deck and cleanup of the weeds went fairly quickly. And there were a lot of weeds. The rest of the work of preparing the foundation and sand and then laying the pavers went very quickly as well. Their employees worked very hard and with precision. I had an existing orange tree that was remaining and I really liked the outline that was made around it, including the darker accent pavers. I wanted a tree on the other side of the yard and I had failed to emphasize where I wanted it. When I asked about making a change to pavers already laid out in order to adjust for the tree, Firas was quick to accommodate me, and his employee made the change in no time. This cut out mimics the cut out for the orange tree and really complements it. As a novice at this sort of thing, I appreciated the good suggestions Firas made throughout the process. He and his team were very easy to work with. Part of this process included using their landscape designer to design the planting beds that were around the perimeter. She really took into consideration the kinds of plants I liked and the color scheme that I wanted. After our trip to the nursery, she provided a schematic so that I could anticipate what it would look like and also serve as a guide for the planting of the yard. I absolutely love the result. It is precisely what I wanted. I love the patio that replaced the deck. The edge is trimmed in a darker bullnose paver that makes it visually clear that there is a step down and the lights under the step emphasize this transition. Having broken my arm in the yard five months ago, this is a safety feature that I really appreciate. My backyard is now a much safer place to be which was a primary incentive for this entire project. Did I mention that I love my backyard? It's now a calm and tranquil place to relax. I cannot recommend Forever Green Cali highly enough. If I were to ever have another yard that needed assistance, I would definitely use them again.

I started a project on Yelp and Forever Green Cali is one of the companies that reached out to do a…read morefree quote for my backyard project. The consultation was quick and easy, I just told them what I wanted, they got the measurements, and sent me a quote via email by the end of the day. Everyone was very quick to respond to my questions and they were able to get the project started the following week after I decided to continue with them. The price was comparable to the other quote I for the same project, but Forever Green's quote included the rocks around the edges, so I went with them. The landscaping crew were clean and efficient and were able to get the job done in less than three work days.

Loved Gwen and the whole Garden Artistry team! They were very safe and respectful of our Covid…read moreprecautions, everyone was very friendly and their work was very efficient! I loved that they arrived every day at 9:30am and left at around 2:30, so I didn't have someone in my backyard at random times of the afternoon/night. Gwen was very responsive and was very open/excited to try new things! She seemed genuinely interested in how our yard will grow and mature. She even offered to come by every once in a while to make sure it's flourishing! Great team, love my yard!

I can't say enough about Gwen and her incredible team. From start the start she was very open and…read moretransparent about costs and communicative throughout. I loved everything about her design and I loved that she had her own crew to do the install. The crew was great and was super organized. I sit and admire my front yard everyday. I love it so much!

Our experience with Justin's Professional Landscaping was very disappointing. We encountered…read moreserious workmanship and installation issues that could not be resolved directly with the contractor. We contracted for landscaping work, a redwood pergola, patio cover and a cement patio for just under 30k. We ended up having to file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and after an independent inspection and mandatory arbitration, we were awarded $18,140 for the cost of repairs. The contractor ultimately paid the award in full to avoid loosing their Contractor's License and possibly their bond. Unfortunately, the arbitration process took almost a year and required significant time and effort. We would never use this contractor again but if you do, we would highly recommend that you perform thorough due diligence, make sure the contract spells everything out in detail to include specific dimensions, types of materials, etc., keep detailed records throughout the project and if any issues arise do not make any additional payments until all identified issues are resolved.

TLDR; My project suffered from poor planning, inadequate oversight, and unacceptable workmanship. I…read morewould advise others -- especially first-time homeowners -- to proceed with caution and consider other contractors. It took me over a year to emotionally recover from the trauma of working with this business as a first major renovation project. --- Long story below As a first major home improvement project (front yard and driveway remodel), I hired a separate professional designer, had 3D renderings made, selected materials in advance, and clearly communicated the desired aesthetic and expected quality to all bidding contractors. Justin's Professional Landscaping had strong early reviews and was responsive at first. I agreed to a contract requiring over 25% upfront payment (which I now regret). Key issues I experienced: - Repeated requests for payment before corresponding work was completed - An uncomfortable incident where the foreman (Justin's father) came to my home on an off-day claiming he hadn't been paid, despite my having already paid Justin. - Poor daily cleanup, resulting in my HOA issuing a notice - Minimal on-site supervision by Justin - Workmanship issues (photos available), including: A unleveled wall that started leaning forward shortly after installation, uneven capstones and a section creating a tripping hazard, poorly graded and uneven pavers, joint sand not installed promptly, and walkway that was not correctly aligned with my front door. By the time these issues surfaced, I had paid about 90% of the project cost, yet the work was incomplete and did not meet reasonable expectations. A revised scope was attempted for the wall only (against my better judgment), but supervision and execution problems continued. After observing additional mistakes, poor practices and lack of control over the crew, I terminated the contract.

My front yard needed help desperately. I am super glad I chose Black Diamond to handle my project…read more My point of contact Matthew was super professional and gave me expert advice every step of the way. I really appreciated that he was always available to answer my questions. Matthew also went out of his way to ensure the materials we liked were acquired for the project. He ensured that everything was to our liking and was meticulous in his walk-throughs and made sure everything was completed perfectly. Leo and his team worked super hard and diligently. He paid close attention to detail and didn't rush any part of the remodel. During demolition he was super careful not to damage my property and always asked for our opinion/permission before installing or completing a part of the remodel. Overall I have more projects in mind for my house and will be enlisting Matthew and his team in the future. My wife and I are super happy with our new landscape. Thank you Matthew and Leo!

Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc. did work for us six years ago to our walkway entrance…read moreof our home. What initially sold us was the 26 year warranty. So, we decided to reach out to them since we loved the pavers they did already, but this time with a MUCH bigger job. They sent Matt M. to our home, who ended up being our Project Manager. What was super important to us was to find someone that could translate our vision to his team and bring it to life. This is exactly what Matt did. His crew Sergio Sr, Sergio Jr and Marco and the rest of the crew were absolutely amazing! They paid attention to detail. They never rushed the process. They were always kind and understanding. They worked endless hours in brutal weather and poured love into our home. Super humans is what we called them! Master Masonry at its finest. If you are ever thinking about any hardscaping, landscaping or draining system for your home it would be in your best interest to reach out to Black Diamond. And ask for Matt and his All Star Team. They will not disappoint. Thank you Black Diamond!

I contacted Alex for a French Drain project. He was able to quickly come by to assess the area and…read moregive a quote. Very friendly, professional and honest. He has a hard-working crew that got my project done in 2 days. They were accommodating with my requests and polite as well. I also asked to do a follow up on some things and they were able to address it as well. I recommend them for any landscaping project and have plans to work them in the future again.

I would not recommend. I followed their instructions and made an appointment over a week ago and…read moretook time off work to meet with them, but nobody showed or even called. We even called to get an update and only got a voicemail with no call back. If they are this unreliable with their consultations, I can only imagine the issues that may arise during the work portion of the job. No thanks!!

I can't say enough about my positive experience working with Phil Gray Landscaping and Construction…read morein providing my family the backyard we always wanted. From start to finish, Phil and his crew were a delight to work with. He was referred to me by a friend who recently had her backyard done and funded through the HERO program. I had been on the lookout for a Ygrene energy fund approved contractor and Phil happened to be an approved contractor for both. Score!! His attention to detail took my vision for my backyard and amplified it. He and his crew were even kind enough to take down our storage shed since my husband was unavailable. The best part of the entire experience is that his bid came in at half the price of the other two contractors I previously contacted. What I love the most about Phil Gray Landscaping and Construction is that they do good, honest work for an honest and fair price! Thanks again Phil. I refer you to all my friends/family members who are looking to landscape their yards. Maria Perez, Vacaville resident

Phil Gray is a creative, innovative landscape architect who created a lush tropical backyard…read moreretreat from nothing. The photos speak for themselves. From design to finish he sought our input and collaborated with us, even meeting us at a nursery to select trees and plants together. He sketched out a design plan by hand, later produced architectural drawings with measurements. We had a blank slate with a newly built home and he did it all. In the center of our backyard he installed a wood bridge over large koi pond with a filtered waterfall. On either side, he placed two stamped concrete patios with electricity, one for our future hot tub and the other for outdoor dining. His soil amendments and sprinkler system put in at the start have kept this yard flourishing for 18 years and counting. He and his crew are truly talented in a diverse array of skills.

We moved to our new house a few months ago and had a good amount of apprehension submitting our…read moreplans to the HOA approval committee - you hear the horror stories often. After interviewing three designers, we chose Ian and I'm happy to report that our plans were approved within 48 hours of sending them to the board. One neighbor, who used to serve on that committee, said "these are the most detailed plans I've ever seen". Ian's attention to detail had to have been a major factor in their decision-making process. What we liked about Ian was: he was able to easily and quickly share examples of other designs he had created; he told us that his fee would include revisions, he wouldn't nickel-and-dime us; and he has established relationships with many/all contractors that we'll need to complete the work. I'll update this review as we go through the process...we're only at the approval stage now. We need to have a good portion of the backyard demo'd before the work can begin. But so far, so good. Ian has delivered what was advertised.

Ian Hall and his team at Hall Landscape Design were fantastic! Ian was a very good listener,…read morequickly drafting an accurate layout based on our input. He put us in touch with very knowledgeable contractors and was always very responsive to our needs. Highly recommend! ~ Christine

Owen is a great communicator and problem solver. He put together an excellent plan based on our…read moreinitial Yardzen design, keeping in mind budget and practicality. His team is top notch and they work quickly and efficiently. He coordinated seamlessly with our pool contractor as well. No surprise costs or expenses. Highly recommend.

I HIGHLY recommend Owen and his team at Keystone Landscaping!! They did an incredible job…read moredesigning (thank you Kelly Crandell!) and landscaping both my front and backyard. I was working with a separate pool contractor at the same time, and they coordinated around that seamlessly. They were efficient, professional, and impressively clean throughout the entire process. Jose, the foreman, was fantastic to work with. He communicated clearly, was extremely kind, and made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. The work turned out beautifully and am getting compliments from friends and neighbors. If you are planning to get to landscape your yard, do yourself a favor and have Owen and his team at Keystone Yards do it for you!!

Steve and his crew performed excellent services. I would and have already recommended them to…read moreneighbors and friends as an excellent landscape company with fair pricing. They did not skimp on quality of effort nor quality of work. Like every homeowner project the need for good communication is key to a happy outcome. Steve outshines in this area. He listened to me describe mine and my yard's individual need. I had a nightmare situation of invasive tree roots growing from under the fence from adjoining neighbors excessively thorny trees. The consequence were thorny tree shoots growing throughout my backyard and its sucker branches popping up on every 2-3 inches along the way. It eventually took over my lawn area by 25ft + in every direction. And it was growing longer! This made it impossible to walk on the lawn and enjoy without being stabbed and bloodied by long sharp thorns. I needed these tree roots traced and dug out completely all the way to the fence line before applying new landscaping. Gaspar and Henry did an excellent job of removing each one of these multiple roots by hand digging. Very laborious and yet they handled it well in the hot summer sun and doing a complete and excellent job. They did it quickly and I thank them tremendously. I had to make the hard but wise choice of not re-sodding and no longer having a lawn. Steve was very patient and guided me to the right choices of landscape material that would help me eliminate this problem from reoccurring on my yard. Steve and his crew (Gaspar and Henry) were a blessing and gave me back my yard. Thank you, sincerely. It was a great experience to work with Awaken Landscapes. I would use them again.

Steve and his crew were so easy to work with. They were very communicative, on schedule, and on…read morebudget! I highly recommend!

I'm happy with the landscaping work they did. They listened to what I wanted, took the time to…read morereview my plans, and did exactly what I asked for. Everyone was professional, and the finished project turned out well. My only hesitation and the reason for three stars is the cost. I felt the project was quite overpriced for the amount of work and materials involved. In retrospect, I should have gotten a few quotes.

10/10 experience with Living Elements! :) Our backyard was essentially a pile of dirt with a…read moregradient slope towards the fence. Matt, Carlos and their entire team helped transform our backyard and side-yard into a functional backyard that exceeded our expectations! We love the concrete to grass ratio, freestanding wall since it helps break up the gradient, and the concrete pathway around the house. They were not only efficient and knowledgeable, but also willing to work with our budget and super easy to communicate with! We highly recommend