Landscape Design in Los Gatos, CA

Once home to the Ohlone people, Los Gatos has since gone through eras of being a mill town, a key stop for loggers, an agricultural community, an art colony, and now a suburb in Silicon Valley that is home to Victorian-era homes and buildings, distinguished schools, ample outdoor recreation, and its largest employer: Netflix.

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos is teeming with outdoor recreation, including family-friendly hiking on Los Gatos Creek Trail, kayaking at Vasona Lake, picnicking at Vasona Lake Park, and mountain bike trails leading into the mountains.

With its location in Silicon Valley and the abundance of recreational opportunities available to the professionals and families who live here, Los Gatos residents need functional outdoor living areas that require minimal maintenance and provide upscale spaces for entertaining guests and hosting family gatherings.

Sequoia Outdoor is a landscape design company here to help you create low-maintenance outdoor areas that are functional, attractive, and suitable to your lifestyle.

What Locations Does Sequoia Outdoor Serve?

Our experienced landscape design and installation team serves all neighborhoods within and around Los Gatos, including Lost Gatos Estates, Los Gatos Woods, Wedgewood Manor, Rio Rinconada, Saratoga Highlands, Rinconada Hills, Arroyo Rinconada, Cameo Park West, Bachman Park, Glenridge, Almond Grove, Fairview Plaza, Broadway, Edelen, Downtown, Belwood of Los Gatos, Heritage Grove, Alta Vista, Strathmore, Los Gatos Village, Blossom Manor, Surrey Farms, Vista Del Monte, Harwood Hills, Shannon Valley Ranch, Kennedy Estates, Santa Rosa, and the Granada Way area.

Sequoia Outdoor also serves communities throughout Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, and the Bay Area, including Cupertino, Milpitas, Campbell, Monte Sereno, Atherton, Mountain View, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, Emerald Hills, Burlingame, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Portola Valley, Saratoga, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Redwood City.

Building Your Dream Landscape

Before homeowners here seek out Los Gatos landscape designers, they usually begin the process of creating their dream landscape by coming up with a list of features and functions for their backyard and front yard. Often, they will come up with some goals, such as improving curb appeal, improving their short game with a backyard putting green, creating a park-like dog run for their furry family members, or having the perfect outdoor entertaining area.

After they have an idea of their goals and dream features, they often start to think about their budget and how soon they would like to start enjoying their new outdoor living spaces. This is when it is time to find a landscape designer who understands your needs and can help you bring your dreams to fruition.

A professional landscape designer can help you maximize your space and budget, finish your project on time, and make sure you are considering all of the important aspects of design, including how different styles of landscape look with different architectural styles, your property’s infrastructure needs, safety and privacy considerations, and your property’s unique terrain.

What Services Does Sequoia Outdoor Provide?

Sequoia Outdoor provides Los Gatos landscape design and landscape construction, including:

Landscape design
Paver Installation, sealing, and cleaning
Artificial grass installation
Retaining walls
Outdoor Lighting
Fire pits and fireplaces
Outdoor kitchens and BBQ islands
Pergolas
Water features

Where in Los Gatos Can I Get Inspiration for My Landscape Project?

One of the best ways to get landscape project inspiration is by taking a stroll or a drive around your neighborhood and other neighborhoods nearby. You will see which landscape design trends are most popular in your area, which plants thrive there, and how different landscaping styles look with houses that have similar architectural styles to yours. For even more ideas, check out our inspiration page and take a look at some of our previous projects.

Why Should I Hire a Los Gatos-Based Landscape Designer?

Local landscape designers in Los Gatos are accustomed to working in this area and have local knowledge that will help make sure your project is a success. Their connections, resources, and experience can also help to ensure that your new landscaping installation or backyard remodel is finished on budget and within the given timeline.

Microclimate Understanding

Only a local landscape designer will truly understand the microclimate in your area and how that climate will affect the choice of landscaping features and how they are installed.

Hillside and canyon experience

Los Gatos is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which means there are hillsides, canyons, and other uneven terrain that need to be considered during the landscape design process. Working with a local designer means having a landscape professional on your side who has experience designing for these conditions.

Access to local resources

Los Gatos landscape designers are the most familiar with local permit processes and building regulations. They also know other local contractors and vendors, which can help make your project a success.

Does Sequoia Outdoor Landscape with Plants, Succulents, or Gravel?

Yes! Sequoia Outdoor’s team of designers and landscape contractors has years of experience working with succulents, native plants, tropical plants, gravel, and other low-water grass alternatives.

What Landscape Design Styles Are Common in Los Gatos?

Los Gatos is in Silicon Valley and is known for having good schools. This means that there is a blend of professionals with and without families living here. Folks here tend to be busy, care about the environment, and lead active, outdoor lifestyles. We also do not get much rain here, and it gets pretty warm in the summer.

All of this comes together to create landscaping trends that center on low-water, low-maintenance yards that are attractive and functional with flexible spaces. Artificial grass lawns are popular for play areas and outdoor entertaining areas, which often also include either a fire pit or patio fireplace, custom outdoor kitchens or built-in barbecue grills, and paver patios with pergolas or canopies.

Does Sequoia Outdoor Design for Earthquakes, Wildfires, or Mudslides?

The Sequoia Outdoor team is made up of designers and installers who are well-versed in landscaping for natural disasters. For folks living in areas where there is risk of wildfire, we can help you create a defensible space around your home using hardscapes and fire-resistant plants. For folks concerned about mudslides, we will work with you to see if grading for proper drainage, swales, or retaining walls might help reduce the risk of damage to your property. In the case of earthquake landscaping, we can suggest materials that can better withstand movement and are easier and more affordable to repair if earthquake damage does occur.

What Does the Process of Hiring Sequoia Outdoor Entail?

The first step is contacting us for a free, on-site consultation. One of our designers will meet you at the property to discuss the project and assess the site. They will then take the information they have gathered about your budget, timeline, desired features, and property and will create a 3D rendering of the design. Upon your approval, the designer will then move forward with the installation and will oversee the project.

What Questions Should I Ask Sequoia Outdoor?

Before you begin working with us or any contractor, here are some good questions to ask:

Are you licensed with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB)?

Do you have worker’s comp and general liability insurance?

Are your contractors licensed, bonded, and insured?

Do you offer eco-friendly landscape design?

Do you have the correct licenses for the type of services I am requesting?

How long have you been in business and providing the type of services I need?

Do you have a list of completed projects in the area that I can look at in person?

FAQ for Landscaping Services

How much does it cost to consult a landscape architect?

This depends on whether they charge by the hour or a set consultation rate. For those who charge per hour, the rate is typically between about $30 and $80 per hour.

Sequoia Outdoor offers free, on-site consultations.

What is the difference between a landscaper and a landscape designer?

Landscape designers work with homeowners to make their landscaping dreams reality. They work with you to understand your wants and needs, as well as your budget, timeline, and the space with which you are working. They will also point out infrastructure, safety, or privacy issues to consider, which might include retaining walls, privacy landscaping, or particular hardscape materials. They will then create a design plan, give you a 3D rendering, answer your questions, and manage the landscape construction.

Landscapers sometimes offer basic construction services, like installing walkways or sod, but they generally come in after landscaping is complete and provide yard care services to maintain the landscaping on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Their services generally include pruning, raking or blowing leaves, yard cleanups, mowing and other lawn care, and maintaining irrigation systems.

How much do landscapers charge per hour in Los Gatos?

Landscapers in Los Gatos usually charge from $25 to $50 per hour per person.

How much should I budget for a landscape project?

Landscape project budgets vary greatly, depending on location, size of the project, features and materials included, and the experience and skill level of your landscape contractor. Some projects cost as little as $2,000, while others can cost more than $50,000.

If you are installing new landscaping, it is common to set aside 10% of the value of your home for your landscaping design and installation.

Reach Out to Sequoia Outdoor for Landscape Design in Los Gatos

When you are ready to take the next step towards having the front yard or backyard of your dreams, we are here to help. Whether you need a putting green, outdoor kitchen, patio fireplace, pergola, a paver driveway, or a complete backyard remodel, our team is here to help you design it and construct it. Call us today at (650) 554-0182 or email us at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation.