GardenCrafters has been providing expert landscape design and contracting services since 1988. We are experienced horticulturists who can put together a garden to match your home's personality. If you desire anything, from a tropical paradise, Mediterranean patio garden, to contemporary design, we have the expertise to make your dreams come true. We offers complete services for the discerning homeowner. We offer free estimates and also provide free hardscape designs (patios, walls, arbors, etc.) with signed contracts.
Served areas
- Pleasanton, San Ramon, Dublin, Oakland, Alameda, Pleasant Hill, Orinda,Concord
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Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits
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Enjoy your backyard as a relaxing retreat even on nights when the cold creeps in with a backyard fireplace. Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Mixing Your Landscaping Needs With Our Fertile Imagination Creating Every Aspect Of Your Outdoor Environment From Design to Installation. We create garden retreats -- everything from very formal to very naturalistic design. If you desire anything, from a tropical paradise, Mediterranean patio garden, to contemporary design, we have the expertise to make your dreams come true.
Mark Olson, owner and designer of GardenCrafters has degrees in Horticulture and Design. He has traveled extensively throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Our goal is to create a garden experience that is an extension of the client's home, one that compliments their lifestyle. Mark has been creating and designing since 1988 and has become an expert in every aspect of design and installation. Creative decks, patios, shade structures, arbors and walls to make your garden a private oasis.
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Mark Olson
Owner
Mark Olson, owner and designer of GardenCrafters has degrees in Horticulture and Design. He has traveled extensively throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Our goal is to create a garden experience that is an extension of the client's home, one that compliments their lifestyle. Mark has been creating and designing since 1988 and has become an expert in every aspect of design and installation.
♣ Creative decks, patios, shade structures, arbors and walls to make your garden a private oasis.
♣ Outdoor kitchen and fireplace specialists to make your evening meals or entertaining inviting.
♣ State-of-the art lighting systems. Well-placed lighting is a wonderful accent for any garden.
♣ Water features. Waterfalls, fountains, pools and ponds create a a tranquil environment
♣ Exceptional planting design. The design and placement of plant material is everything.
♣ Horticultural expertise. Knowing a wide variety of plants for the right location in conjunction with local climate zones is crucial. See our articles on local landscape and horticulture here.
♣ Creative decks, patios, shade structures, arbors and walls to make your garden a private oasis.
♣ Outdoor kitchen and fireplace specialists to make your evening meals or entertaining inviting.
♣ State-of-the art lighting systems. Well-placed lighting is a wonderful accent for any garden.
♣ Water features. Waterfalls, fountains, pools and ponds create a a tranquil environment
♣ Exceptional planting design. The design and placement of plant material is everything.
♣ Horticultural expertise. Knowing a wide variety of plants for the right location in conjunction with local climate zones is crucial. See our articles on local landscape and horticulture here.
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Reviews (13)
Michael Reyes
Jun 02, 2022
GardenCrafters is amazing! I have used them to establish a garden in my backyard and it is beautiful. We recently contracted with them to makeover our very overgrown yard. Their team have all been very easy to work with as my wife and I struggled to figure out what we wanted at first. They not only helped with the design but also dealt with us as we made changes with the initial plan.
Sue Noyes
Feb 07, 2022
We made a very bad decision in selecting GardenCrafters and Mark Olson for the extensive renovation of our large garden. I am writing this with the hope of sparing others from wasting their money as we did. Mark takes no pride or ownership of his work. Most of the plants have died including a magnolia tree that was planted in an underground spring (Mark installed the irrigation system) or eaten by deer (he assured us that all plants were deer-proof).
He has not returned to check on his work or responded to our questions or concerns. My husband and I are senior citizens and should have done a more in-depth reference check.
He has not returned to check on his work or responded to our questions or concerns. My husband and I are senior citizens and should have done a more in-depth reference check.
Kirk Day
Feb 14, 2020
Tom E.
Apr 03, 2019
Two years ago we were in search of someone to upgrade our back yard when we found Mark. He helped us with the design, plants, grass, irrigation, lighting and hardscape. The end result was everything we had hoped for and them some. We would recommend Mark Olson I your looking for someone that really knows what he doing.
Erika Gonzalez
Dec 04, 2018
Mark Olson and his team did some amazing work on one of our rental propertiesin Benicia. Our goal was drought tolerant plants and yard that would require minimal upkeep. Mark had a solution that worked great and now one year later still looks fantastic. I'll be calling him soon to work on our Walnut Creek home too!
Lorna Givens
Feb 18, 2018
I figured they would be someone I could count on since he'd won the best of east bay award five years running, and I was right. My backyard was a mess of weeds, crabgrass, and just general ugliness. They were able to take what little space I have and turn it into a retreat for my wife and I. This summer we had all sorts of compliments after a couple of dinner parties. Highly recommended.
Elizabeth D.
Apr 27, 2016
Mark Olson, the owner of Garden Crafters is the ABSOLUTE BEST in the Bay Area for your landscape needs. He doesn't just give you an idea of what he thinks best for your home, he sees your property in his mind before it's finished. I highly suggest you don't interfere with his creative process. You can of of course have your own suggestion where needed, however we found that more than not any suggestions on our part came out best with his vision.
Our landscaping is far more beautiful, and continues to grow more beautifully ever passing month, than when we first built our home. We had one of the top landscapers for our first 20 years and it was NEVER as pleasing as this out come. Mark is also so pleasant to work with as well as his staff who planted. Mark is basically an architect with experience, and a genius in horticulture. His work also accentuates your home with added beauty, and your home looks new again. Choosing him is an intelligent choice. Not choosing him....is just silly.
Our landscaping is far more beautiful, and continues to grow more beautifully ever passing month, than when we first built our home. We had one of the top landscapers for our first 20 years and it was NEVER as pleasing as this out come. Mark is also so pleasant to work with as well as his staff who planted. Mark is basically an architect with experience, and a genius in horticulture. His work also accentuates your home with added beauty, and your home looks new again. Choosing him is an intelligent choice. Not choosing him....is just silly.
Elizabeth D.
Apr 27, 2016
Mark Olson, the owner of Garden Crafters is the ABSOLUTE BEST in the Bay Area for your landscape needs. He doesn't just give you an idea of what he thinks best for your home, he sees your property in his mind before it's finished. I highly suggest you don't interfere with his creative process. You can of of course have your own suggestion where needed, however we found that more than not any suggestions on our part came out best with his vision.
Our landscaping is far more beautiful, and continues to grow more beautifully ever passing month, than when we first built our home. We had one of the top landscapers for our first 20 years and it was NEVER as pleasing as this out come. Mark is also so pleasant to work with as well as his staff who planted. Mark is basically an architect with experience, and a genius in horticulture. His work also accentuates your home with added beauty, and your home looks new again. Choosing him is an intelligent choice. Not choosing him.is just silly.
Our landscaping is far more beautiful, and continues to grow more beautifully ever passing month, than when we first built our home. We had one of the top landscapers for our first 20 years and it was NEVER as pleasing as this out come. Mark is also so pleasant to work with as well as his staff who planted. Mark is basically an architect with experience, and a genius in horticulture. His work also accentuates your home with added beauty, and your home looks new again. Choosing him is an intelligent choice. Not choosing him.is just silly.
Rose H.
May 08, 2015
I'm an elderly widowed woman who hired Mark to do some landscaping. I'm writing this in the hopes it may save some other trusting person from making the same mistake I did. He put in a watering system that doesn't water the plants, used some half dead plants, probably discounted, and mulch that was made from painted boards and had garbage in it, such as pieces of metal, plastic and other debris. Please look elsewhere for your landscaping service, I wish I had.
Cindy B.
Oct 01, 2014
My backyard had too much lawn, an old spa with an very unusable deck and some tired plants. After talking to three other landscape design companies I selected GardenCrafters to redo my backyard. Mark Olson's design plan was creative, included all the things on my wish list and within budget. The project started on time and the people working on various aspects of the yard were respectful of my property. My questions were answered promptly and I am very pleased with the result. Anyone considering a landscape project should call GardenCrafters.
Anne K.
Oct 24, 2013
We used GardenCrafters to redo a very tired part of our rather large yard. Mark came up with some great ideas that really integrated the new landscaping with the existing yard. His workers were very reliable and accommodating. The work site was kept very clean and everything was put away each night. At the end of the job Mark went over the various plants and told us how to care for them. Every phone call was answered very promptly. This is a great company!
Anne K.
we used GardenCrafters to redo a very tired part of our rather large yard. Mark came up with some great ideas that really integrated the new landscaping with the existing yard. His workers were very reliable and accommodating. The work site was kept very clean and everything was put away each night. At the end of the job Mark went over the various plants and told us how to care for them. Every phone call was answered very promptly. This is a great company!!!
Cindy B.
My backyard had too much lawn, an old spa with an very unusable deck and some tired plants. After talking to three other landscape design companies I selected GardenCrafters to redo my backyard . Mark Olson's design plan was creative, included all the things on my wish list and within budget. The project started on time and the people working on various aspects of the yard were respectful of my property. My questions were answered promptly and I am very pleased with the result. Anyone considering a landscape project should call GardenCrafters.