Landscape Design and Construction in Los Gatos
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- Google 5.0 (8 reviews)
- Fully insured
In brief
Landscape Associates of CA provides landscape construction in Los Gatos: full yard builds, retaining walls, pavers, turf and sod, drainage, irrigation, planting and lighting. Founded in 1987, we are fully insured and offer a free on-site estimate. Our published San Jose guide range for a full renovation is $25,000 to $75,000+, with a guide timeline of 2 to 6 weeks.
Updated October 2026
Landscape construction in Los Gatos: what a full yard build includes
| Stage | What happens | Typical on a Los Gatos lot |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away | Remove the surfaces being replaced | Plan access through narrow side yards |
| Grading and drainage | Set levels and water routes | Account for winter runoff on clay lots |
| Walls and steps | Connect changes in elevation | Consider terraces on hillside parcels |
| Base and pavers | Prepare support and lay paving | Connect driveways, doors and patio space |
| Irrigation and planting | Lay out watering and beds | Plan around mature trees |
| Turf or sod | Prepare and install the lawn area | Choose the surface before finalizing irrigation |
| Lighting | Place lights along outdoor routes | Include steps and long driveway approaches |
| Walkthrough | Review the finished scope | Discuss care for paving and planted areas |
Our published full-backyard renovation range is $25,000 to $75,000+, with a guide duration of 2 to 6 weeks. A Los Gatos estimate is project-based and itemized. See what goes into a Los Gatos landscape construction project and our San Jose cost guide for full-yard budgeting.
Hillside lots in Los Gatos: walls, terraces and the Town guidelines
For hillside lots, the Town of Los Gatos Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines say retaining walls should not exceed 5 ft and terraces should be at least 3 ft apart. The document says "should": these are guidelines, not code limits. The document also says walls shall not create large flat yards; street-visible walls shall have natural stone, stained concrete or textured veneer. Read the Town hillside document (checked October 2026).
Our published Saratoga hillside wall range is $60 to $120 per square face foot. For illustration, 3 ft high x 30 ft long = 90 square face feet; 90 x $60 to $120 = $5,400 to $10,800. Compare the Saratoga hillside cost figures for a Los Gatos budget before choosing the wall layout.
Consider terraced retaining walls for a sloping Los Gatos yard instead of one tall wall. Include drainage behind Los Gatos hillside walls in that discussion. Ask us about permits before you plan the wall; next-door Monte Sereno landscape projects have their own city rules.
Where we work in Los Gatos
Downtown and Almond Grove have flat lots, older homes and mature trees. Narrow side yards belong in the access discussion before choosing a backyard layout.
In the Glenridge area, older homes and established trees call for a layout that considers what stays. Bring the locations of existing trees into the patio and planting conversation.
Above Highway 9 and off Blossom Hill Road and Kennedy Road, slopes, cut pads and long driveways shape the work. Plan the connection between each level before choosing paving finishes.
Belgatos and the east-side foothills bring slopes into the yard plan. Our Saratoga landscaping page and Los Altos landscaping page explain those separate service areas.
Around Vasona Lake and the Monte Sereno border west of Highway 17, clay and winter runoff deserve attention before new surfaces go down. We also serve homes across the border in Monte Sereno and landscaping clients in San Jose.
Hardscaping and landscape design for flat Los Gatos lots
For a paver patio on a flat Los Gatos lot, our published San Jose patio guide range is about $15 to $30 per sq ft. Pavers carry a lifetime warranty covering materials and workmanship. Patio area is only part of the discussion; include access and drainage in the estimate.
Choose artificial turf or sod for your Los Gatos lawn area according to how you want to use it. Artificial turf carries a 15-year warranty. If a Valley Water rebate matters, consider qualifying planting instead of replacement sod or artificial turf; artificial turf is not rebated. See Valley Water lawn-conversion eligibility (checked October 2026).
For Los Gatos planting and tree installation, plants carry a warranty of up to 1 year. Use our drought-tolerant planting guide for Los Gatos planning to start the discussion. We offer ongoing maintenance in Los Gatos after installation.
Protected trees and watering rules in Los Gatos
The Town protects trees at 12 in diameter on developed residential lots and 8 in on developed hillside residential lots. Blue oak, black oak, California buckeye and Pacific madrone are protected at 8 in on developed residential lots; the threshold is 4 in on vacant or non-residential lots or in development review. Measure at 4.5 ft above average natural grade. See the Los Gatos tree FAQ (checked October 2026).
Under the Town tree rules (checked October 2026), fruit and nut trees under 18 in and listed nuisance species under 24 in are exempt. Removing protected trees or pruning more than 25% within 3 years needs a permit. Replacements are required except for dead or high-risk removals. On hillside lots, protected trees removed 30 ft or more from the house require HDS&G Appendix A native replacements. Permit fees and turnaround are set by the Town.
For Los Gatos properties on Valley Water-supplied potable water, Valley Water Ordinance 23-02 (checked October 2026) prohibits overhead irrigation from 9 AM to 6 PM, more than incidental runoff, and watering during or within 48 hours after 0.25 in of rain.
Valley Water lawn conversion (checked October 2026) offers $2 per sq ft, subject to eligibility (at least 75 sq ft converted, 50% coverage by qualifying plants, the lawn still in place at the pre-inspection) and a combined lifetime cap of $3,000 per residential site across rebate types, funded through June 30, 2027, or until funds run out. Apply and receive the Notice to Proceed before any work or equipment purchase. Keep the existing lawn for pre-inspection; qualifying plants must provide 50% coverage.
How a Los Gatos build runs
Walk the yard and identify what stays
Start with a free on-site estimate in Los Gatos, including the slope, access and existing trees.
Set the scope and compare the figures
Use our itemized pricing to plan your Los Gatos full-yard build. Our published San Jose guide ranges are $1,500 to $8,000 for drainage corrections and $3,000 to $10,000 for an irrigation system.
Resolve the tree and hillside questions
Use the Los Gatos tree FAQ and hillside guidelines above while planning the layout. Ask us about permits before settling on the wall.
Build from ground preparation to finishes
Coordinate walls, paving, irrigation and lighting for Los Gatos paths and steps. Irrigation, drainage and lighting each carry a 2-year warranty.
Walk through the completed yard
Review the Los Gatos project against its itemized scope, including the paving, lawn areas, planting and lighting.
Landscape contractor in Los Gatos: who does the work
David Muhoberac founded Landscape Associates of CA in 1987. We are fully insured and take on residential and commercial landscape work in Los Gatos. These photographs show our crew and a driveway with a retaining wall.
Tell us what you want to change in your Los Gatos yard: call or send a text to (408) 207-5545 for a free on-site estimate. We reply within 24 hours.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Reviews from Yelp and Google, with the reviewer's city and date
David and Obed were great from start to finish. They gave us solid advice on design choices and made sure our vision drove the project. They took a backyard full of dirt and turned it into our family's dream outdoor space. Highly recommend!
San Francisco, CA
David's team did a beautiful job transforming my yard into a gorgeous patio. They worked closely with me to bring my design to life and went the extra mile to make sure everything was right. Honest work, no hidden costs, no surprises.
Cupertino, CA
Big job: stump removal, full irrigation replacement, new sod, paver driveway, retaining walls, and lighting. It turned out more beautiful than we imagined. We liked the results so much we had them redo the front yard a few months later.
San Jose, CA
I cannot recommend this company enough. David turned my backyard, basically a giant hill of dirt and weeds, into a gorgeous oasis of fruit trees, plants, flowers, and retaining walls. Working with him was a real pleasure and the pricing was very fair.
San Francisco, CA
This was our second time using Landscape Associates, at a different property. David, Obed, and the crew added new paver stones, a planter, and expanded our irrigation. They even took care of drainage issues the original home builders had left behind.
San Jose, CA
Landscape Associates did a full remodel of my front and back yards. David understood exactly what I had in mind, delivered the yard I hoped for, and somehow made it even better. He kept in touch through every step and his crew was respectful of my property.
San Jose, CA
If I could give more stars I would. Workers showed up every single day at 8:30am sharp. David was always easy to reach and when I had changes mid-project, they accommodated every one without complaint. The customer service really set them apart.
Milpitas, CA
Great communication throughout and they walked us through every step. The paver patio and driveway are flawlessly integrated. We would absolutely hire them again. In fact I was already texting David about redoing the entire front yard.
San Jose, CA
We are very happy with the results. David installed a new front lawn and side yard plantings and the whole project wrapped up in a week. We were impressed that they renewed our entire irrigation system as part of the job. Would recommend to anyone in the area.
San Jose, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
Call (408) 207-5545What does landscape construction cost in Los Gatos?
For a full backyard renovation, our published San Jose guide range is $25,000 to $75,000+. Landscape Associates of CA prices Los Gatos work by the project with an itemized estimate. Use that range to begin budgeting, then compare the proposed walls, paving, lawn, planting and lighting in your own scope.
How long should I allow for a full Los Gatos yard build?
Our published San Jose guide gives 2 to 6 weeks. Treat that as a planning range for a Los Gatos yard, with the actual scope discussed at the free on-site estimate. A complete build can include demolition, grading, drainage, walls, paving, irrigation, planting, lawn installation and lighting.
What wall guidelines apply on Los Gatos hillside lots?
The Town of Los Gatos hillside guidelines (checked October 2026) say walls should be no higher than 5 ft, with terraced walls at least 3 ft apart. Walls shall not create large flat yards. A wall visible from a public street shall have natural stone, stained concrete or textured veneer.
Do I need permission to remove a protected tree in Los Gatos?
Yes, the Los Gatos Town tree FAQ (checked October 2026) requires a permit for protected-tree removal. Diameter thresholds include 12 in on developed residential lots and 8 in on developed hillside residential lots. Species, site status and exemptions also matter, so use the full FAQ when checking a particular tree.
What would a paver patio cost for my Los Gatos home?
Our published San Jose patio guide lists about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed. An illustrative 300 sq ft Los Gatos patio works out as 300 x $15 = $4,500 to 300 x $30 = $9,000. Your itemized estimate establishes the project price; the calculation is a budgeting example.
How should I budget drainage on a Los Gatos hillside?
Our published drainage-correction guide range is $1,500 to $8,000. For a Los Gatos hillside, discuss drainage with the retaining-wall and grading scope at the site visit. The drainage figure is a guide, not a separate allowance that automatically covers every wall or slope. Drainage work carries a 2-year warranty.
Can replacing a Los Gatos lawn qualify for a Valley Water rebate?
Valley Water (checked October 2026) offers eligible lawn conversions $2 per sq ft, with a combined lifetime residential-site cap of $3,000 across rebate types. Los Gatos applicants must receive the Notice to Proceed before work or equipment purchases. Artificial turf is excluded; retain the existing lawn for the pre-inspection.
Is maintenance available after a Los Gatos landscape build?
Yes, Landscape Associates of CA offers ongoing maintenance as well as installation in Los Gatos. Mention maintenance when discussing the finished yard so it is part of the conversation alongside paving, lawn and planting choices. Call or text (408) 207-5545 to discuss what you need after the build.
Get a Free Quote
Call us, send the estimate form, or email us. We reply within 24 hours to book a free site visit. Call or text (408) 207-5545.
- (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends