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Landscape Design in Los Gatos
- Since 1987
- Yelp 4.6 (46 reviews)
- 5 on Google
- Fully insured
In brief
When planning a landscape in Los Gatos, consider the property before choosing finishes. This is especially important on hillside lots. David Muhoberac lays out your yard with you during a free on-site estimate. You then receive an itemized quote, and our own crew handles construction. Landscape Associates of CA also builds from your architect's or designer's plans.
Updated November 2026
Landscape design in Los Gatos: let the hillside shape the layout
If your yard slopes, begin with the places you want to use and how they connect. Discuss where a seating area, a path and planted terraces could go. Choosing a wall finish comes later. The Town has specific hillside guidance that can affect the shape of the yard before you select materials.
The Los Gatos Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines (checked October 2026) say retaining walls should be no higher than 5 ft, and terraced walls should be at least 3 ft apart. Those provisions use the word "should" because they are guidelines. The same document says walls shall not be used to create large flat yards. Keep these differences in mind when planning changes to a sloped yard.
Visibility also affects the material choice. Under the Town hillside site-element standards (checked October 2026), walls visible from a public street shall have a natural stone, stained concrete or textured veneer. Discuss the exposed wall face while laying out the terraces, rather than treating the finish as an unrelated choice at the end.
What to consider when planning hillside retaining walls and terraces
- Wall height: review the Town guidance before basing the layout on one tall retaining wall.
- Terrace spacing: discuss how far apart the walls will be and where you want space for planting or other uses.
- Outdoor space: work with the slope instead of making the design depend on a large flat yard created by walls.
- Street view: consider which wall faces are visible and choose finishes with the cited hillside standard in mind.
These choices connect retaining-wall work with drainage planning. At the site visit, discuss where the proposed walls meet paved and planted areas. The hillside document can guide your design, but it does not mean your proposed wall is approved. Confirm project requirements with the Town before construction.
Check whether trees are protected before expanding your patio
Checking which trees are protected can change where you put a path or patio. The Town tree-removal and pruning FAQ (checked October 2026) sets protection thresholds at 12 in diameter on developed residential lots and 8 in on developed hillside residential lots. Measurements are taken 4.5 ft above average natural grade. Check which lot category applies to your property before using these size limits.
The same Los Gatos tree FAQ (checked October 2026) protects blue oak, black oak, California buckeye and Pacific madrone at 8 in on developed residential lots. The threshold is 4 in on vacant or non-residential lots or in development review. Exemptions include fruit and nut trees under 18 in and listed nuisance species under 24 in.
Even if you keep a tree, you may still need a permit to prune it. The Town pruning requirements (checked October 2026) require a permit to remove a protected tree or to prune more than 25% of one within 3 years. Cutting any branch or root over 4 in on a Large Protected or Heritage tree also requires a permit.
In that Town FAQ (checked October 2026), Large Protected means 48 in diameter, or 24 in for oaks, buckeye and madrone. Replacement trees are required unless the removed tree was dead or high-risk. A payment instead of planting may be possible. On hillside lots, a removed protected tree that stood 30 ft or more from the house must be replaced with native trees listed in HDS&G Appendix A.
How your Los Gatos yard plan becomes a detailed quote
David Muhoberac, who started Landscape Associates of CA in 1987, works through the yard layout with you at the free on-site estimate. Point out any parts of the yard that are difficult to use. The discussion covers access and existing ground conditions, along with the proposed patio, walls, planted areas and paths between them.
The design is included in the estimate and itemized quote. Our own crew builds the agreed project, and we can also work from your architect's or designer's plans. Read about working with us on a landscape design if you are deciding whether to start with an existing plan or develop the layout with David.
The same discussion is useful even if your Los Gatos property is not on a hillside. You may be comparing paving for a patio and connecting paths, deciding what stays or changing the balance of lawn and beds. Our Los Gatos landscaping page describes the wider installation services, and ongoing maintenance is available after the build.
Check watering rules and lawn replacement rebate deadlines
For properties on Valley Water-supplied potable water, Valley Water Ordinance 23-02 (checked October 2026) bars overhead irrigation from 9 AM to 6 PM and more than incidental runoff. It also bars watering during or within 48 hours after 0.25 in of rain. Include the irrigation layout when deciding which areas will remain lawn and which will become beds.
If lawn conversion is part of the proposal, Valley Water rebate conditions (checked October 2026) require at least 75 sq ft converted and 50% coverage with qualifying plants. Keep the lawn in place for pre-inspection, then obtain the Notice to Proceed before work or equipment purchases. Artificial turf does not qualify, so settle that choice before counting on a rebate.
The base rate in the Valley Water program (checked October 2026) is $2 per sq ft, subject to a combined lifetime cap of $3,000 per residential site across rebate types. Funding continues through June 30, 2027, or until funds run out. Check eligibility and available funding before including a rebate in your budget.
Plan your Los Gatos landscaping budget using San Jose cost examples
Our published San Jose ranges include retaining walls at about $50 to $100 per square face foot, drainage corrections at $1,500 to $8,000 and paver patios at about $15 to $30 per sq ft installed. These are San Jose reference figures. A Los Gatos hillside project needs its own itemized quote after the property visit.
The published San Jose range for a full backyard renovation with pavers, walls, turf and lighting is $25,000 to $75,000+. Use this range to start discussing your budget. Then review the work proposed for your yard. Call or text (408) 207-5545 to arrange the free estimate and talk through the layout with David.
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) 207-5545Does Los Gatos limit all hillside retaining walls to 5 feet tall?
The hillside document says retaining walls should not exceed 5 ft. That wording is guidance, not a universal code maximum or a permit exemption. Review the Town hillside document (checked October 2026) for your proposed layout.
Can I use retaining walls to create a large flat backyard on a Los Gatos hillside?
The Town says walls shall not create large flat yards. Its guidance also calls for at least 3 ft between terraced walls. Both points belong in the initial design discussion: Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines (checked October 2026).
What materials can I use on a hillside retaining wall visible from the street in Los Gatos?
The Town site-element standards (checked October 2026) specify natural stone, stained concrete or textured veneer for street-visible walls. Consider that requirement when comparing wall materials.
When do I need a permit to prune a tree in Los Gatos?
For a protected tree, pruning more than 25% within 3 years requires a permit. Cutting a branch or root over 4 in on a Large Protected or Heritage tree also requires one under the Town tree FAQ (checked October 2026).
If I remove a tree on a Los Gatos hillside, does its distance from my house affect what I must plant to replace it?
Yes. Replacement trees are required unless the removed tree was dead or high-risk, and a payment instead of planting may be possible. When replacement is required on a hillside lot and the protected tree stood 30 ft or more from the house, the replacements must be natives listed in HDS&G Appendix A. See the Los Gatos replacement-tree requirements (checked October 2026).
Who works out my Los Gatos yard layout if I have no drawings?
David lays out the yard with you at the free on-site estimate. You then receive an itemized project quote, and our own crew completes the agreed work. An existing set of drawings is not needed to begin.
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
- Text (408) 207-5545
- david@landscapeassociatesca.com
- Mailing address: 125 Surf Way #443, Monterey, CA 93940
- Mon - Fri: 8:00-5:00 · Closed on weekends