How We Work
If you’re gathering bids, comparing prices, shopping around, or looking for someone to install finished landscaping plans, Cal-Native is probably not the right fit.
Why?
Because Cal-Native has never - and will never - work from plans.
After more than 40 years of building gardens on the Peninsula, with hundreds of our signs out front, I made a decision about ten years ago: at this point in my career, we only take on projects from people who already know our work and can recognize a Cal-Native garden when they see one - not a copycat.
When that’s the case, which it almost always is, everything goes faster and smoother. No persuading. No explaining. No driving clients around. We get right to shaping the garden and scheduling.
We do both landscaping and hardscaping, including driveways, decks, fences, fire pits, waterfalls, outdoor kitchens, and more.
We build real gardens - spaces you can walk through and use. Meandering pathways, sitting areas - sometimes what people call a “hidden garden.” A garden should be more than just something beautiful to look at.
Also, something to keep in mind - there are a lot of contractors out there who are great at building. Most of them can build just about anything. But every now and then, they present themselves as landscapers. Be careful - building and creating a garden are not the same thing.
And once again, to make things easier for everyone, we only take on clients who already know our work and can recognize a Cal-Native garden.
Minimum: $75,000
To My San Mateo Village Neighbors
I’ve decided that rather than retiring, for the first time in my career I’m lowering my minimum project charge from $75,000 to $20,000 exclusively for San Mateo Village residents and will begin taking on landscaping projects on a smaller scale.
After 42 years of driving all over the Peninsula, I’d rather walk to work.
About Our Name
When I started out as a gardener, I kept hearing the same thing — homeowners often struggled to communicate with the person working in their yard. So I chose a name that made one thing clear right away: I am local — and easy to communicate with.
The name Cal-Native was born — not because we only use native plants, but because it reflects who we are.
And honestly, if we only used native plants, it might put you to sleep.