Swapping out the lawn or fixing the yard?Get matched with a local pro.
Tell us what your yard needs and we'll pass it to an independent, insured San Diego County landscaping company that does that kind of work. It's free, and you're never obligated to hire anyone.
Request help
Takes about 60 seconds.
Landscaping, lawn and hardscape services
From replacing a thirsty lawn to building a patio on a sloped lot, choose the kind of help you need. We'll route your request to an independent company that handles that work in your part of San Diego County.
Landscape Design & Installation
Planting plans, beds, and full front- or backyard makeovers.
02Lawn Care & Maintenance
Mowing, fertilization, weed control, and seasonal lawn programs.
03Sod Installation
New lawns, bare-spot repair, and grass-type conversions with sod.
04Hardscaping: Patios, Walls & Walkways
Patios, retaining walls, walkways, steps, and fire features.
05Yard Drainage & Erosion Control
Standing water, soggy lawns, washouts, and eroding slopes.
06Irrigation & Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler and drip installation, repair, and smart controllers.
07Tree & Shrub Planting and Care
Planting, pruning, mulching, and shrub replacement.
Why San Diego yards behave the way they do
Most landscaping decisions around San Diego come back to three things: very little rain, big differences between the coast and the inland valleys, and fire risk where homes meet canyons and open space. Understanding them helps you ask better questions and compare quotes.
A dry climate with rules
The National Weather Service puts San Diego's average at about 10 inches of rain a year, with most of it falling from November through March. Yards depend on irrigation, and local water agencies set year-round limits on when and how you can water.
Coast vs. inland
Near the ocean, temperatures stay mild and the marine layer keeps summer mornings gray. A few miles inland, summers get much hotter and winter nights can frost. A plant that thrives in Carlsbad may struggle in El Cajon, and the reverse.
Canyons and brush
Many neighborhoods border canyons, chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Homes in high fire hazard areas have defensible space rules that shape what you can plant near the house, especially in the first five feet.
Three steps. No cost to you.
Widespread Landscaping is a referral service, not a contractor. Partner companies pay for referrals, so the request is free for you.
Tell us what happened
Share your ZIP code and what you're dealing with.
We match a local pro
Your request goes to an independent, insured company serving your area.
They call you
Schedule an inspection and get a quote. You decide whether to hire them.
Across Metro San Diego.
We take requests from homeowners across San Diego County. These are some of the cities we hear from most often, each with its own climate, soil, water provider and rules.
How a sprinkler zone waters a lawn
An interactive look inside. Press the buttons to run each step.
Know before you call.
Plain-English answers to the questions homeowners ask most.
Questions, answered
Is this service free?
Yes. There's no cost to you to request help. Landscaping companies in our network pay for referrals. You only pay the company you hire, and you're never obligated to hire anyone.
Are you a landscaping company?
No. We're an independent referral service. We pass your request to an independent, insured landscaping, lawn or hardscape company serving your area, and they contact you directly.
Do landscapers need a license in California?
For most installation work, yes. The Contractors State License Board requires a contractor license for landscaping jobs of $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit or uses hired workers. The common classification is C-27 Landscaping. Routine maintenance gardeners generally don't need a C-27, but anyone applying pesticides for hire needs a Department of Pesticide Regulation license. Check licenses on the CSLB website.
What are the watering rules in San Diego?
It depends on your water agency. City of San Diego customers may water landscapes only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., without runoff, and not during or within 48 hours after measurable rain. Agencies such as Otay, Sweetwater, Helix and the city utilities in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido and Poway set their own rules.
Are there rebates for replacing my lawn?
Turf replacement and irrigation rebates have been offered through SoCal WaterSmart, the San Diego County Water Authority, local water agencies and the County of San Diego for some unincorporated properties. Amounts and funding change often, and programs have commonly required approval before you remove grass. Check current offers before you start.