Landscapers in Oakland

“Root Volume was fantastic to work with. TL;DR: this is the team you want for your landscape project!

We were nervous about hiring a contractor; this is the biggest project we've done on our house, and it was hard to admit that what we wanted was beyond our DIY abilities. We needed a better way to use our backyard that balanced daily toddler use, entertaining, my love of cottage gardens, and my desire to reduce waste/impact. Kyle was responsive to our feedback and budget on the design work, and the build team was a great group that were responsible and respectful. We liked that the pricing was straightforward and clear and related to scope. We were especially impressed that it was an employee-only crew (no subcontractors) and our designer was onsite everyday, working on the project team himself. It was important to us to try to reuse materials (both for cost and environmental reasons), and the team was creative with how to use materials in a way that turned out really nice. There is always a surprise or two during a big project, and they were clear about what needed to be done, the cost, and the timing. We never felt like we were nickel-and-dimed (something we've felt with other contractors on smaller projects), and overall the pricing was in line with the value - not the lowest bid, but we are thrilled with the quality of the work. The attention to detail especially impressed us - it felt like they were working on a project for their own house. For example, they used a new type of deck screw system so the screws on the top boards are hidden. We hadn't discussed this specifically, but it's a nice premium detail that we love with our little toddler feet running around the yard. We added a complicated brickwork design for our patio, with lots of brick cutting, and it would have been easy for them to push back for a simpler design. Instead, the team took an incredible amount of care in bringing the vision to life. We love our new backyard and our only regret is not doing the project sooner. We have some other work to do in a different part of the yard, and we will be back with Root Volume again for those projects.

Of note - the photos are to show off the hardscaping and deck and are pre-plants.“

“We hired Build Group to take our dirt yard and build corten metal pathways and to build a concrete slab. Fidel walked through with me and gave me a bid after crunching the numbers. I got two other bids from existing crews I have used and hired Build the next day. They got to work immediately, and they were the most professional team we have had working here. We were so impressed with their attention to detail and smart solutions and diligent labor every single day they were here. So happy so far with their work. I will update with photo of the final, compacted DG. Thank you so much Fidel and team!“

“We are so SO happy with our garden! Lara was perceptive to our ideas and synthesizing them into what will actually work for our ability and the climate. Besides that, her communication and organizational skills are excellent, and she's a gosh darn delight, besides. Shout out to her crew, too, they were wonderful. I highly recommend Bountiful Botanicals.“

“We hired Ingrid to help us tackle some major yard improvements and provide ongoing maintenance, and working with her has been an absolute gift. She approached our original improvement project with so much care, knowledge, and creativity, helping us reimagine the front yard while also respecting what was already there.

Over time, she’s truly brought our garden back to full health. She added beautiful flowering plants throughout the yard, helped support and maintain our edible garden so everything stays healthy and productive, and has been consistently proactive about identifying issues before they become bigger problems. The whole space feels more vibrant, balanced, and alive because of her care.

We’ve also had some setbacks along the way — including established plants being uprooted during storms — and Ingrid was thoughtful and resourceful in helping us reassess the yard afterward. She helped us rethink parts of the landscape, sourced and acquired new plants for us, and guided the space back into shape with patience and expertise.

Beyond her gardening knowledge, Ingrid is deeply collaborative. She listens closely, offers thoughtful ideas, and makes the process feel like a genuine partnership rather than just a service. We’ve learned so much from her, and our yard has been completely transformed because of her work. We couldn’t recommend her more highly.“

“Absolutely excellent native nursery with a wealth of rare, endangered plants that are hard/impossible to find elsewhere. Pete is a wealth of knowledge with a near encyclopedic knowledge of natives and his passion is clear to see. He's also just a lovely laid back person to chat with. The rest of the staff are just as kind, informative, and knowledgeable. Also, they have an extremely cute little dog that is super friendly.

I would suspect that a lot of the negative reviews are from people that did not do their proper research. Every plant I've bought here has flourished despite my lack of natural gardening abilities. Do your research, consult the staff, and don't fuss too much over them as they establish and you'll be just fine.

Bring some cash to spend, research your soil type on Calscape, and take home some plants from here. Our endangered native pollinators will thank you! My photo attached is of my stunningly beautiful Napa false indigo that I never would have gotten without a direct recommendation from Pete. Thanks, Pete and friends!“

“We hired Garcia Landscape and Painting Service for outdoor landscaping and exterior painting, and the results were excellent. The team was professional, hardworking, and completely refreshed the look of our property.“

“What a great experience working with David Thorne Landscape Architects. David Thorne was attentive throughout the project's life, and Kristina Kessel's professionalism and attention to detail through design and implementation were stellar. As a firm, their passion for their craft is exceptional, and their ability to listen and address a client's wants/needs is greatly appreciated. We couldn't be more pleased.“

“Found them on Thumbtack, great quality of work and very easy to schedule. They really cleaned everything up and it looks great!“

“A man with a vision! Hiring Keith Stover, (Nature's Design), to beautify the front area of my house was an amazing experience. He already works on my mom's garden, which is breathtakingly beautiful, and for my birthday she split the cost with me to have him work his magic at my house. I know very little about such things so I really trusted him and his vision, and I am so grateful. He was very attentive to my tastes and listen to my ideas. He often gave me options to choose which I liked best. Very quickly we were on the same page about all of the little things that would make me happy.
When the first estimate was a little higher than my budget, he pared it down and we focused on the most important areas - and he was still able to make it totally beautiful.
Keith was a pleasure. He has a quiet demeanor. He and his assistant were super respectful and it was clear right away that they really care about doing everything right. He stuck to the schedule, he worked super hard and it was immediately evident that he is someone who is very proud of his work, regardless of the size of the project.
I'm actually saving money so I can hire him again to add some of the things that were outside the scope of last year's project.
They installed an irrigation system and showed me how to program the timer, but honestly I haven't had to touch it. It just works. Everything grew. Everything still looks healthy and gorgeous. It's really the gift that keeps on giving. I'm really proud of my garden, and it really is the result of Keith's vision, Keith's design and Keith's implementation. He's SO GOOD! You should call him and get on his schedule because I imagine he's pretty busy making magic happen :-)“

“We worked with Lazar on an extensive backyard remodeling project that took approximately 4 1/2 months. Lazar is a design build shop and they did a great job in the design phase and in the build phase. The most impressive aspect was the quality of workmanship and that fact that I had four guys on the job every day!!!! I would highly recommend Lazar for your next backyard project!!!“

“Tonight at Lincoln Center I meet , I believe his name was PaulI'm very pleased to say that he enjoyed hearing my views and opinions on the water features for Damroush parkGood luck Hood Design can't wait to see how you guys transform NYC“

“We are so happy we found Four Dimensions Landscape Company and that they were willing to take on our very steep and challenging hillside project. Shout out to Chris Garcia who worked closely with us through every step in the process - an extremely knowledgeable, professional, reliable, and considerate project manager. The three-man crew was great and remained positive throughout the difficult steep hill work. We wanted all native plantings, especially those that would attract birds. Four Dimensions fully knows our native plants and bird-friendly ones as well, and delivered big time and within our budget. We are very grateful for 4D! Highest possible recommendation.“

“Matt Lucas is awesome! Great teacher and human being. The lessons are challenging and rewarding. Matt can modify the work outs based on your needs.“