Mark SkinnerGardens and backyards can be a challenge to design. It isn’t as simple as placing plants in a random order. A variety of plants and non-living structures are required to truly make it stand out.
But don’t worry, hardscaping contractors are here to save the day. While landscapers work with the plants, hardscape designers create beautiful gardens using stones and other materials.
To get you the beautiful garden that you’ve always dreamed of, I’ve handpicked some of the best hardscaping contractors in San Diego. They’ll create the most beautiful gardens without breaking the bank.
How much do hardscaping services cost in San Diego?
Hardscaping services in San Diego typically cost between $15 and $50 per square foot. This cost doesn’t factor in other aspects, like materials and labor, which can easily increase the price. The scope of each project will also affect the final cost.
1. Modern Yardz
Address: 8133 Engineer Rd, CA 92111
Contact Details: +1 619-775-9554
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Modern Yardz promises to bring out your outdoor vision to life. They’re a beloved company in the San Diego community, renowned for their luxurious designs, which are crafted with care and precision.
I love their 4-step landscaping design process, which includes a complimentary design consultation. Included in this process are 2D and 3D renderings of each project, which fully showcase their ability to craft unique hardscape scenes.
For their other services, they can install artificial turf in back gardens and create outdoor kitchens, which are great for barbecues. They can even install pools and fire features, and I found these to be great for maximizing larger backyards.
Many clients praise the landscaping services, which include installing flowerbeds and other plants that add vibrancy to the hardscaping.
Another great aspect is their comprehensive quotations, which I’ve found to be accurate. On the flip side, with their wealth of experience, these can become quite expensive.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with this company
“We worked with Jake he was informative, helpful and patient with a great attitude. The 2 dude’s that did the demo and landscaping were straight hustlers and had great attitudes the whole time. Doug built the deck and pergola and it’s just beautiful, he was also super nice. It was an absolute pleasure to work with this company and the mentioned above I will and would recommend them to family and friends.”
– Erikmisleh82, Google Review
Modern Yardz stood out significantly
“Our backyard has an elevated area of land that was previously unused. We had 6 companies out to review the area and scope the project.
Modern Yardz stood out significantly due to their professionalism and clarity of pricing. Jake was our fantastic sales contact that was able to bring our idea into visuals and a 3D model. We had constant edits to materials and styles but Jake was able to get everything together and keep the project on track.
The results are exactly what we were hoping to accomplish. The workers were all very nice and worked incredibly hard. Thomas came out at the beginning to start the project off and multiple times in the finishing stages to make sure all loose ends were taken care of.
We are excited to spend the summer in our backyard thanks to Modern Yardz!”
– Michael Russell, Google Review
2. Pacific Dreamscapes
Address: 4782 Garfield St D, La Mesa, CA 91941
Contact Details: +1 858-583-4105
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Pacific Dreamscapes doesn’t just offer hardscaping. They offer a great selection of decor that will truly make outdoor living pop.
Their hardscaping services include the standard driveways and walls, but these can be crafted with local stone, which is highly eco-friendly. Additionally, I’ve seen their great patios, and I’ve found that these work well with their flagstones.
A unique offer here is their water features. From small ponds to waterfalls, they’re great at bringing some much-needed life to each hardscape build. I’ve also met a client who had an entire fountain installed, customized to their taste.
Other installations include fences and pergolas, which add a nice wooden element to the stone hardscape. For a blazing finale, I’d suggest a fire feature, like a fire pit, to keep warm at night.
While these are great services, I’ve met clients who encountered rescheduling due to time constraints for their project.
Dreamscapes did an amazing job from start to finish
“Dreamscapes did an amazing job… start to finish. The consult and computer renderings of the project brought to life exactly what we wanted. Through the project the team was communicative and finished the project ahead of schedule! We are thrilled with the results! Before and after pictures tell the story!”
– Keala Kendall, Google Review
Turned our backyard into a dream resort
“Robert and his crew from Pacific Dreamscapes did indeed turn our backyard into a “dream resort” for us! I am in love with my backyard patio and spend many hours out there now as often as possible. The work was done professionally and meticulously and the price was fair. From the BBQ island to the fireplace and the patio structure itself! It was a pleasure to work with Robert and Pacific Dreamscapes! Thank you!”
– Bob Davis, Google Review
3. Designs 4 You Remodeling
Address: 9434 Chesapeake Dr, Suite 1211, CA 92123
Contact Details: +1 619-914-6645
Operating Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Designs 4 You Remodeling keeps things simple. Unlike other hardscape professionals, their designs are minimalist, with simple colors that highlight the garden’s greenery.
Their hardscaping services are created with either concrete or pavers and bricks, both of which are beloved by customers due to these builds being virtually maintenance-free.
Designs 4 You also works in construction, since they can create custom Granny Flats that are best for the elderly. Before any construction, they provide customers with 3D renders that are highly accurate representations of the finished product.
It doesn’t stop there since they also remodel the interior. I’ve spoken to a client who had their kitchen remodeled, and Design 4 You’s work was just as great as their exterior designs.
All of their services include a 3D render of each build, allowing the client to make changes before the start of the building process. However, I’d look somewhere else for more extravagant builds.
The lighting completely transformed the space
“We’re so happy with how our backyard turned out! The lighting completely transformed the space, it feels warm, inviting, and gives the yard a modern, resort-like vibe. The way the lights highlight the plants and cast shadows on the fence looks amazing at night.
Ronie was wonderful to work with, super responsive, kind, and easy to connect with. She really listened to our ideas and loved what we had in mind, which made the whole process feel smooth and collaborative.
The quality of the work is excellent, from the clean tile installation to the thoughtful lighting design. We’ve already had neighbors compliment how great it looks. Overall, we couldn’t be happier and definitely recommend them if you’re looking to upgrade your yard.”
– Gustavo Garcia, Google Review
They met all their goals within the agreed timeframe
“Designs 4 You exceeded our expectations with a complete backyard remodel that transformed our outdoor space beautifully. From start to finish, the team was professional, efficient, and attentive to our needs. Our project managers, Roni and Dorian, were incredibly responsive and knowledgeable and guided us through some stressful complications uncovered along the way. They met all their goals within the agreed timeframe, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail in the final product are truly outstanding. We are thrilled with our new backyard and highly recommend Designs 4 You for anyone looking for expert remodeling with excellent customer service.”
– Adrian Hudak, Google Review
4. Del Mar Landscapes
Address: 6153 Portobelo Ct, CA 92124
Contact Details: +1 619-723-0332
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
With more than 20 years of service, Del Mar Landscapes specializes in both plants and stone to create a thriving ecosystem within any backyard. These custom outdoor spaces have been described as thoughtful with robust construction.
Del Mar Landscapes collaborates with local suppliers to deliver high-quality products made from top-notch materials. They have even worked with builders at Scripps Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe to create incredible designs for homes.
Their hardscaping services are impressive, with clients loving their great patios and driveways. They can also create stairs and stone entryways, which increase the beauty of any backyard.
I’ve noticed that they use local plants rather than exotic ones. Additionally, they can create sustainable rain gardens. Due to San Diego’s weather, many of their customers are opting for xeriscapes and drought-tolerant landscapes.
Still, consultations can be cancelled for a variety of reasons, especially when they’re overbooked, so be sure to ask for updates.
Detail-oriented from start to finish
“Del Mar Landscape did an outstanding job installing a retaining wall in my front yard! Doug and his team were professional, efficient, and detail-oriented from start to finish. The craftsmanship is top-notch, and the entire crew was respectful and tidy throughout the process. If you’re looking for quality work and a company you can trust, I highly recommend Doug and Del Mar Landscape! I will definitely be using them for future projects!”
– Derek Manalo, Google Review
Both our front and backyard have been transformed
“Both our front and backyard have been transformed by work done by Del Mar Landscapes. The owner, Doug, was easy to communicate with and always prompt in responding. The team that worked on our landscaping were exceptional. We really appreciated Ramon’s leadership and expert knowledge and his willingness to answer any question and follow-up on any matter, the excellent suggestions made by Jason and his work with the plants and fence especially, Oscar’s sense of humor, Matt’s friendliness and Jaime’s professionalism, and all their EXCEPTIONAL hard work in the sun! And we are totally grateful that they completed the work ahead of schedule!”
– Betty Samraj, Google Review
5. Stepping Stone Landscape Design
Address: 1455 Frazee Rd, Suite 500, CA 92108
Contact Details: +1 619-762-8988
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Stepping Stone Landscape Design revitalizes old and decrepit backyards into beautiful gardens.
Their 2D drawings of each project are beautiful. I found their 3D renders to be highly accurate representations of the finished product.
Their hardscape services effectively utilize the natural coastal desert climate to their advantage, using rocks in place of grass for a more natural feel. Additionally, when it comes to landscaping, they often utilize cacti to complement the climate.
Aside from these, clients appreciate their wooden fixtures and stone walls for their ability to add depth and personality to each build.
I was greatly impressed by their ability to incorporate modern architectural elements into their builds. I even met a client who had stone arches built for their backyard, which looked rustic and unique compared to their neighbors.
But I wish they offered more services, as these are quite limited compared to others.
Pleasure to work with from the very start
“Erik and team were awesome and a pleasure to work with from the very start. They were super professional and were always responsive and reliable (would come when they said they would). They helped us transform our backyard into exactly what we had envisioned and couldn’t be happier with the result! We would definitely recommend their services if you’re in need of landscape work on your home in the SD area!”
– Maya Gal, Google Review
Could not be happier with my experience
“Could not be happier with my experience working with Erik at Stepping Stone Landscape Design. Erik is a really nice and honest person. I liked how he never made the project or situation stressful and was always reachable and responsive. His bid was also competitive with other companies I received estimates from. He did everything he said he was going to do and the quality of work was excellent. I would definitely recommend Erik to any of my friends and I will certainly be contacting him again for any of my own future projects.”
– Michael, Google Review
