Landscape Designer in Los Altos Hills

Your Dream Outdoor Space, Designed and Built Right

Transform your Los Altos Hills property with our 50+ years of landscape design expertise and cutting-edge 3D technology.

Los Altos Hills Landscape Design

Outdoor Spaces That Actually Work for Your Life

You’re not looking for just another pretty yard. You want an outdoor space that makes sense for Los Altos Hills’ unique climate and your lifestyle. That means drought-tolerant plants that thrive in our Mediterranean weather. Hardscape elements that handle our slopes and soil conditions. Outdoor living areas where you can actually relax and entertain without worrying about maintenance headaches. Your landscape should enhance your property value while reflecting the natural beauty of our hills community. When it’s done right, you get more usable space, lower water bills, and a yard that looks great year-round without constant upkeep.

Bay Area Landscape Design Experts

Five Decades of Getting It Right

Lakota Design Group has been designing and building landscapes in the Bay Area since 1975. That’s over 5,000 projects and 50 years of figuring out what works in Los Altos Hills’ unique environment. We’ve worked with everyone from Silicon Valley executives to families who just want a backyard their kids will love. What sets us apart isn’t just experience—it’s understanding that every property in Los Altos Hills has its own challenges, from protecting native oaks to managing water runoff on slopes. This is a family-operated business that’s built relationships, not just landscapes. When you work with Lakota, you’re working with people who’ve seen every soil condition, drainage issue, and design challenge our area can throw at a project.

Landscape Design Process Los Altos Hills

From Consultation to Completion, No Surprises

It starts with an in-person site consultation where we actually listen to what you want. No generic solutions—we’re looking at your specific property, your lifestyle, and your goals. Next comes the design phase using 3D and CAD technology. You’ll see exactly what your space will look like before any work begins. This isn’t guesswork—you’ll walk through your future landscape virtually and make changes until it’s exactly right. When you’re ready to build, we connect you with our vetted contractors and manage the entire project. Daily updates, direct oversight, and guaranteed completion dates. You get the design free when you use one of our contractors, and we handle all the project management so you don’t have to.

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About Lakota Design Group

Los Altos Hills Residential Landscape Design

What You Get Beyond Just Design

This isn’t just about drawing pretty pictures. You’re getting comprehensive landscape design that addresses Los Altos Hills’ specific requirements—from water-efficient plant selections that meet municipal guidelines to understanding which materials handle our climate best. The service includes site surveys, soil analysis, and drainage planning. We know which native plants thrive here and which ones struggle. We understand how to work around existing oaks without damaging root systems, and how to create outdoor living spaces that make sense for our Mediterranean weather patterns. You also get project management if you choose one of our contractors. That means someone who knows your project inside and out is overseeing every detail, keeping you updated daily, and making sure deadlines are met. No more wondering what’s happening or when things will be finished.

How long does a typical landscape design project take in Los Altos Hills?

The design phase typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on your property size and project complexity. We use 3D and CAD technology to create detailed visualizations, which takes time but ensures you see exactly what you’re getting before construction begins. If you proceed with installation using one of our vetted contractors, construction timelines vary based on scope. A front yard redesign might take 1-2 weeks, while a complete backyard transformation with hardscape elements could take 4-6 weeks. The key difference is we provide guaranteed start and completion dates upfront—something rare in the landscaping industry. We also manage the entire timeline for you, providing daily updates and direct oversight throughout the process.

What makes landscape design different in Los Altos Hills compared to other areas?

Los Altos Hills has unique challenges that require local expertise. The Mediterranean climate means you need drought-tolerant plants that can handle dry summers and wet winters. Many properties have slopes that require proper drainage planning and erosion control. There are also strict water-efficiency requirements from the town, plus regulations around protecting native oak trees. Inappropriate landscaping can seriously damage these trees, often with damage not showing up for years. Los Altos Hills also requires specific plant selections that blend with the natural hillside environment. The elevation changes, soil conditions, and proximity to open space areas all influence what design approaches work best. A landscape designer who understands these local factors can save you from costly mistakes and ensure your project enhances rather than fights against the natural environment.

Do I really need professional landscape design, or can I figure it out myself?

For simple plant replacements, you might manage on your own. But Los Altos Hills properties often have complications that aren’t obvious—drainage issues, soil problems, or regulations you might not know about. Professional design becomes essential when you’re dealing with slopes, want to add hardscape elements, or need to work around existing trees. Improper grading can cause serious water damage to your home. Wrong plant choices can waste water and fail to thrive, costing you more in the long run. The bigger issue is that mistakes are expensive to fix. A professional who knows Los Altos Hills’ specific conditions can prevent problems before they happen, often saving you more than the design cost through better material choices and proper installation planning.

How do you handle the water restrictions and drought concerns in Los Altos Hills?

Water efficiency is built into every design from the start. Los Altos Hills has specific water budget requirements that landscapes must meet, and there are plant factor calculations that determine how much water your landscape can legally use. Our approach focuses on grouping plants by water needs, using native and drought-tolerant species that naturally thrive here, and incorporating hardscape elements that reduce overall water demand. This isn’t about creating a desert landscape—it’s about choosing plants that look great while using minimal water. Modern irrigation technology also plays a role, with smart controllers and efficient delivery systems that reduce waste. The goal is creating beautiful landscapes that actually save you money on water bills while meeting all municipal requirements.

What happens if I want changes during the design process?

Changes are expected and welcomed during the design phase—that’s exactly why we use 3D visualization technology. You can see your landscape before it’s built and request modifications until it’s exactly what you want. The 3D and CAD process allows you to walk through your future space virtually, understanding how different elements work together. If you want to move a patio, change plant selections, or add features you hadn’t considered initially, those changes happen on screen, not after construction begins. This revision process is included in our design service. The goal is getting your landscape right the first time, which means taking time during design to ensure every detail matches your vision and lifestyle needs.

Why should I choose Lakota Design Group over other landscape designers?

Fifty years of local experience means we’ve solved problems you haven’t even thought of yet. We’ve worked on over 5,000 projects in the Bay Area, including properties for Silicon Valley executives who demand excellence. What’s unique is our complete service approach—design, contractor connections, and project management all handled for you. Your design cost gets refunded when you use one of our vetted contractors, and we manage the entire project with guaranteed completion dates and daily updates. Most importantly, this is a family-operated business that’s built its reputation on relationships, not just projects. We’re not trying to rush through your design to get to the next client—we’re focused on creating landscapes that enhance your property and lifestyle for years to come.

Local Resources

Los Altos Hills, CA is located in Santa Clara County in California State

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