Last updated: 2026-06-03
Landscape Design and Construction in San Diego
Arcadian Landscape designs and builds custom outdoor spaces across the City of San Diego. C-27 licensed (#978145), bonded and insured. Evan Weisman runs every project from first site walk through final irrigation check, working in Mission Hills, North Park, Point Loma, Kensington and the coastal neighborhoods.
We have worked yards all over the city. A 1920s craftsman in Mission Hills with old clay soil. A flat-lot ranch home in Talmadge that needed full drainage rework before any planting could go in. A canyon-edge property off Adams Avenue where the back third sloped at almost 30 percent. Every San Diego yard has its own quirks. And every one needs a different first move.
Soil and Drainage Across San Diego
Most of the city sits on decomposed granite or clay loam, depending on which mesa you are on. Point Loma soils drain fast. Kensington and Talmadge hold water longer. Both situations change how we set base for pavers, how deep we trench irrigation, and which plants we recommend.
We always test percolation before we propose a planting plan. A 12 inch hole filled with water tells us more than any soil chart. Every time.
What We Build
Our San Diego work covers the full design-build process:
- Custom landscape design with hand-marked plans and revisions
- Hardscape construction including patios, retaining walls and seat walls
- Paver driveways and walkways set on a properly compacted base
- LED landscape lighting laid out for both function and mood
- Drip and rotor irrigation rebuilds with proper pressure regulation
- Drought-tolerant and California-native plant palettes
Neighborhoods We Work In Most
City of San Diego work clusters around Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, Point Loma, North Park, Kensington, Talmadge, South Park, and the coastal stretch from Pacific Beach down through Sunset Cliffs. We also cover the canyon-edge homes off Adams Avenue and the older Spanish revival properties along Park Boulevard.
For projects farther up the coast, see our pages on La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas. For inland North County, see Rancho Santa Fe and North County San Diego.
What a San Diego Project Costs
A full backyard redesign and build in the city typically runs $40,000 to $120,000 depending on hardscape volume, lighting and irrigation scope. Smaller front yard refreshes start around $15,000. Design phase alone is usually four to six weeks. Construction varies by site access, permitting and material lead times.
Evan will walk your yard, measure access and give you an honest number before any contract gets signed. No high-pressure phase, no surprise add-ons after demo.
Why Owner-Led Matters in San Diego
Every Arcadian project goes through Evan personally. Same hands on the design as on the install. That means no surprise change orders from a foreman who never saw the original plan, and no design choices that fall apart when they hit the actual dirt. We are a small, design-first crew, not a volume shop.
If we built or rebuilt your yard in San Diego, we would love a Google review that mentions your neighborhood and the work we did. It helps neighbors find us.
Last updated: June 2026.