Landscape Design Services

• Serving San Diego & Surrounding Communities •

Why is professional landscape design important?

Whether new construction or a renovation of an existing yard, you are investing in your home.  Professional help in creating a sustainable landscape that will last and bring enjoyment for years to come is vital to success. 

Our landscape design services help San Diego homeowners create outdoor spaces that are beautiful, functional, and appropriate for the local climate, site conditions, and natural environment. Here are some of the important factors to be considered.

Here are some of the important factors to be considered.

A backyard garden with a wooden fence, trees, and a concrete patio. Garden lights and a hummingbird feeder are hanging from a metal pole.

Avoid Future Problems

Professional landscape design helps to avoid future problems in your landscape such as grade or drainage issues, damage caused by trees or vines, or irrigation damage to structures or finishes such as stucco.

A landscape design plan for a backyard, showing various plants, rocks, and features, including existing bougainvillea, bird of paradise, boulders, and cobblestone accents, with a water meter box and directional arrow pointing north.
A garden path with various plants, including a leafy shrub in the foreground and a large rosette succulent on the right, with a wooden fence and sunlight in the background.

Selection of Plant Material

How much water will plants require? What are the considerations surrounding their future size, spacing, location, and growth habits?  Will they be resilient and generally not require the control of pests, such as insects or blights?

We also take into consideration shade or sun requirements, as well as creating shade for areas for you to enjoy and save energy. In San Diego County, plant selection should work with the local climate and natural environment, not against it.

Garden landscape plan focusing on backyard and slope areas, showing plant species such as Albizia julibrissin, Cercis canadensis 'Merlot,' Asparagus densiflora 'Myers,' Cytisostoma callistegioides, Fatsia japonica, Dianella tasmanica 'Silver Streak,' Juncus patens 'Elk Blue,' Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream,' and Parthenocissus tricuspidata, depicted with corresponding photographs.
An outdoor patio area with seating, a large umbrella, a patio heater, and various plants under a pergola, with trees and a fence in the background during daytime.

Designing Around Outdoor Spaces

The size, and layout of patio areas, pathways, and so forth all need to be considered.  Questions such as…

  • Will they accommodate furnishings?

  • Will they allow for proper foot traffic?

  • Will they be adaptable to change and your future needs?

A detailed landscape design plan featuring a variety of trees and shrubs, a large grassy turf area, a playground with a sandbox and shade structure, a sitting area with chairs and a table, a BBQ area, a shed, and designated spots for a fire pit and portable fire pit, with existing hedges to remain along the right side.
Residential backyard with a paved walkway, lush green lawn, trees, shrubs, decorative rocks, and outdoor lighting.

Designing for Safety and Code Considerations

We take into consideration things such as security, line of sight issues for driveways, and the location of certain features like sheds, pergolas, or fire features.

While many homeowners search for landscape architects or landscape architecture services when planning a major outdoor project, Timberwood Outdoor Living brings a practical design-build perspective rooted in decades of hands-on landscape construction experience.

A garden landscaping plan showing various trees, shrubs, flowers, pathways, and decorative elements arranged in a detailed layout.
A man in a hard hat, safety glasses, and a reflective safety vest is standing outdoors on a dirt construction site, holding a shovel and smiling.

Why Choose Us for Your San Diego Landscape Design Project?

A new landscape typically represents a significant investment in your home, so it is well worth taking the time to have it professionally planned and specified.  At Timberwood, head designer and owner Jonathan Bolin brings over 35 years of experience in designing and installing landscapes both large and small in the San Diego area.  We create all designs in CAD using professional horticultural software.

Jonathan’s experience spans commercial landscape management, residential landscape design, renovation, construction, installation, and long-term landscape maintenance. That background gives him a practical understanding of how outdoor spaces should look when completed—and how they need to function and mature over time.

  • CA Licensed Contractor 925904 C-27, C-33

  • “Smart” Irrigation Certified

  • Commercial General Liability Insured

  • Workers Compensation Insured

Water flowing over a small, black outdoor water feature with a textured finish, set in a garden with plants and a beige fence in the background.

  • "Jon created a detailed plan based on the budget we set forth. …his work far exceeded our expectations. We have since referred our friends and family to his service due to the quality work he has provided us over the years."

    — Marc V. – San Carlos, CA