Robert, I built these for Pacific Dreamscapes

"If you're a homeowner here in San Diego County thinking about a backyard transformation - whether it's in La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, wherever - here are three questions you should ask every landscape contractor before you sign anything.

One: What's your experience with water-smart design? This is California. We have drought conditions. If they can't explain how they're going to create something beautiful AND water-efficient, that's a red flag.

Two: Do you do the work yourself or subcontract? A lot of companies will sell you a beautiful design, then hand it off to crews they've never worked with. You want to know who's actually showing up.

Three: Can I see a project similar to mine in my neighborhood? Not just photos - ask for an address. In Coronado, in Poway, in Scripps Ranch. Something local.

We've been doing this in San Diego for over 25 years. If a contractor can't answer those three questions clearly, that tells you everything."

"We've been doing landscape design and outdoor living projects in San Diego for over 25 years. And not every project is the right fit for us. Here's why that matters to you.

We turn down jobs when the timeline doesn't work, when the budget doesn't match the scope, or when we can tell the homeowner just wants the cheapest bid. That's not how we operate at Pacific Dreamscapes.

Why does that matter? Because when we take on your project - whether it's a backyard in La Jolla or an outdoor kitchen in Rancho Santa Fe - it means we actually want to do it. We're not squeezing you in. We're not cutting corners to make the numbers work.

If you're looking for the lowest price, we're probably not your guys. But if you want it done once, done right, by a team that's been building dream backyards here for a quarter century - let's talk."

"A lot of homeowners ask me - what actually happens once we start? Here's what a typical project looks like when we're working on a backyard transformation here in San Diego.

Week one is demo and prep. We're clearing out what's there, grading the land, handling drainage - and trust me, drainage matters even in San Diego - and setting the foundation for everything that comes next. It's going to look worse before it looks better. That's normal.

Week two is when you start seeing it come together. Pavers go down, walls go up, the shape of your new patio, fire pit area, or pool deck starts to take form.

Most projects we do in La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe - they're done in four to eight weeks depending on scope. We show up every day, we clean up every day, and we keep you in the loop.

That's how Pacific Dreamscapes has done it for 25 years. That's how we'll do your project."