Design-build landscaping tailored to San Francisco’s unique microclimates and topography, with an emphasis on practical detailing, durable materials, and plant palettes suited to the site.
Site-responsive designs for San Francisco microclimates, clear collaboration on scope and plant palettes, integrated design-build delivery, and careful detailing on sloped or constrained city lots.
San Francisco city neighborhoods and nearby areas within the county.
Landscape design, planting plans, native and drought-tolerant gardens, irrigation and lighting systems, deck and fence construction, retaining walls and terracing, garden paths and stairs, pond and water feature design, sidewalk basin and street-tree planting, backyard makeovers and regrades.
Recent reviews highlight responsive communication, thoughtful design that suits San Francisco microclimates, and smooth coordination from concept through installation. Customers frequently mention successful transformations of paved or overgrown yards into functional gardens with irrigation, lighting, and durable hardscaping. Several note careful attention to details on sloped sites, including terracing and retaining walls. Homeowners also appreciated flexibility with scope and plant selections.
We had a great experience with Madrono. Geoff designed and his team installed plants for our front yard and trees for our sidewalk basin, taking into account San Francisco microclimates and our personal preferences. Knowledgeable, flexible with scope changes, and willing to take on our smaller project when many landscapers wouldn’t. Generally responsive and easy to work with—our yard looks great!
Madroño took a backyard that was fully paved over and turned it into a lifesaving refuge for us. They did the technical work installing irrigation and lighting, the creative work of designing the new space, and then worked with us on a plant list. We ended up with a perfect blend of plants that we wanted (vegetable garden area, purple Ceanothus, a few fruit trees, a California native meadow area) and new-to-us suggestions. They thought through details we wouldn't have considered, like having plants with different flowering times and flowers with different scents so there's always something happening in the garden. It takes a while to establish plants in a yard, and from concrete breakup to several years later Geoffrey and team were careful, considerate, and responsive. I'd highly recommend them for any landscaping, garden or yard project, from design to maintenance.
We were so pleased with Madroño’s 2022 design and installation of a waterfall, koi pond, landscaping, and lighting in our small down-sloping front yard that we had them come back to do a very big job in our large, ugly, neglected down-sloping back yard. They replaced multiple old crumbing retaining walls with engineered, permitted walls and installed beautiful perimeter fencing, paths, landscaping, and lighting. We are delighted with the result in terms of both the design and the execution. Madroño has its own crew of extremely hard-working employees with impressive integrity, honesty, and expertise. The quality of their work was outstanding and everyone was great to work with. We highly recommend Madroño Landscape Design Studio.
Geoff and his team at Madroño transformed our overgrown backyard, once dominated by invasive blackberries and vines, into a beautifully landscaped, terraced garden. The project included building a hardwood deck, stairs, and fences, as well as terracing the sloping garden into distinct areas connected by meandering paths. They also constructed retaining walls to create a flat, functional space.From the outset, Geoff’s meticulous attention to detail stood out. He ensured a surveyor marked the property lines, designed the landscaping to harmonize naturally with the slope, and carefully considered our concerns, including cost.We wanted a low-maintenance garden, and Geoff’s expertise in local flora proved invaluable. He recommended drought-tolerant native plants, including a local grass variety that thrives without watering. When unexpected issues arose—such as aligning the deck with the house—Geoff resolved them efficiently, even pouring cement to achieve a seamless result.Geoff also thoughtfully incorporated spaces for our children, designing areas for a sandbox and a playhouse. Throughout the project, he remained highly accessible and committed to delivering his best work.The transformation has dramatically enhanced our garden’s aesthetics, usability, and even the resale value of our home. Beyond his exceptional skills, Geoff is one of the kindest people we’ve had the pleasure of working with. His knowledge of Bay Area flora is remarkable—he once owned a nursery specializing in native plants and has even published on the subject.Madroño is truly one of a kind. You simply cannot go wrong with them!
When we needed to replace leaky roof decks, Madroño delivered. We're thoroughly delighted with the end result.Geoffrey and his team, including Daniel and Tomas, were exceptional to work with. Beyond fixing the structural problems, we wanted to enhance our outdoor space. We had a few ideas before we started, but Geoff’s very practical recommendations and design additions really elevated the end result from usable space to “show stopper.”Geoff was respectful of our budget. He provided an array of cost-conscious options, helped us understand tradeoffs, and was a supportive thought partner throughout the design process.The renovation has significantly increased our usable space, and it's now a favorite spot for our family and friends to hang out.Thanks to Madroño for a fantastic experience and outstanding results!
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