The Garden Gate is Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana’s leading landscape and pool expert for residential projects. We are a design-build company, meaning we work with you on a design for your home, then build your pool and landscape project. Our experienced, low-pressure design team takes the time to understand your vision, preferences, lifestyle, and budget—then creates a master pool and landscape plan that reflects how you and your family use your yard.
With our in-house design and construction teams we provide a complete turnkey process. Beginning at the design phase through permitting, construction, and final approvals, you only work with one company. We design and build pools, spas and landscapes including outdoor kitchens, fire features, shade structures, water features, and install plants, trees, lighting, turf, irrigation systems, gas and electric service - everything you need with one team.
After completion of the landscape design, we deliver a detailed cost proposal for the pool and landscape installation.
Everyproject is planned around your property, goals, budget, Homeowners Association(HOA) or Design Review Committee (DRC) guidelines, as wellas local rulesand regulations. With 25 years of design and installation experience servingthe greater Tucson area—including Marana and Oro Valley—we deliver a simple,stress-free process for our clients. Every plan is buildable, HOA-ready, andpriced accurately from day one.
Ourcustom front and backyard designs can include:
Sonoran Desert-friendlyor specialty plants, grouped for water efficiency, with drip irrigation and decorative screened rock.
We integrate smart controls, salt-water chlorination systems, color-changinglights, and integrated water walls or bubblers, as well as Baja shelves (alsocalled a tanning ledge or “lagoon” locally), umbrellas, and swim-up bars orin-pool tables and seating.
FromBBQ islands designed for resale value to full outdoor kitchens forentertaining, we place grills, griddles, and pizza ovens to fit the flow ofyour backyard. If you like to entertain, a fire feature adds seating and afocal point.
Code-compliantpool fencing that preserves views, custom steel pergolas and shade structuresfor comfort from the desert sun, trellises to guide vines or screen views, andmetal gates for privacy and security—all integrated into the design.
Our turnkey approach todesign and installation can also include patios, driveways, walkways, retainingwalls, seating walls, and screen walls to hide mechanical equipment (like apool pump), planned with drainage and access in mind.
Path, up-lighting,and down-lighting designed to highlight plants and architecture, creatingambiance.
Year-round,low-maintenance grass solutions for play areas, pets, or entertainment spaces.
Gas,electric, irrigation, and lighting systems are coordinated into one cohesivebuild.
AutoCADdrawings and 3D renderings that ensure accuracy, clarity, and confidence.
Every project is custom designed for you, your property and the way you use it. We are responsible for all of the building permits, inspections and approvals for every phase of work. The design considers your goals and budget, Homeowner Association (HOA) or Design Review Committee (DRC) guide lines, as well as local rules and regulations. With over 25 years of design and installation experience serving Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley, we know how to deliver a stress-freeproject for any sized project.
Our custom designs typically include:
There are a wide variety of plant materials to choose from and our job is to incorporate your favorite plants, assist with selection of others and provide advice on the correct placement of selected plants so they thrive. We typically install separate valves for the cactus, shrubs and tree line and use an automatic irrigation controller, or smart irrigation controller that communicates with the valves to deliver the correct amount of water to each plant.
We integrate a smart controller to operate the heater, in-floor cleaning system, salt-water chlorination system, standard or color-changing LED underwater lights, and water features, deck jets, and bubblers. Pools often have benches, shallow shelves or lagoons, umbrellas and swim-up bars.
From smaller kitchen islands to full scale kitchens designed for chefs and entertaining, we have the experience to guide you through the process, design your custom space, and assist with selection and installation of grills and accessories. Construction drawings with elevations assist in the design process and are necessary for construction. Kitchen islands usually have a gas grill and an access door below, but larger kitchens can include smokers, griddles, pizza ovens, side burners, refrigerators, drawers for storage, slide out trash containers, beverage butlers, and more.
Standard security fences and code-compliant pool fencing is often a ‘picket style’ design made of square metal tubing. Other custom styles are available including an ‘organ pipe’ fence (round tube) and ‘Ocotillo’ fence (made from rebar). They can be painted or have a natural rust finish.
Custom metal steel shade structures and Alumawood structures provide welcomed shade from the desert sun and often cover kitchens and gathering areas. Other metal work including trellises with vines can help screen neighbors, and custom metal panels (welded or plasma cut) provide additional privacy, all integrated into the design.
Our turnkey approach to design and installation also includes patios, paths, driveways, masonry walls, retaining walls, seat walls, and screen walls to hide mechanical equipment (pool or HVAC equipment).
Path lights, up-lights, hanging lights and specialty lights are placed to create nighttime ambiance, improve access and highlight key plants and building features.
Artificial turf provides year-round color and low-maintenance grass solutions for play areas, pets, or entertainment spaces.
Gaslines and electric service, irrigation systems, and LED lighting are some of the items installed through our turnkey construction service.
We provide AutoCAD drawings, 3D renderings and detailed construction drawings to ensure accuracy of build, clarity in design and confidence in the process.
Your project begins with a complimentary consultation.
For new home construction, the first meeting is in the conference room in our Design Center where we can review your building plans and you can review examples of recently completed pool and landscape projects. For existing homes, the first meeting is usually at your home so we can see the physical space and walk the property with you. In both cases, we evaluate the available space and secure the key information that’s needed to prepare your custom design. With this key information we begin our collaborative effort together.
Key information includes:
- collection of building plans and / or hand measurements of the yard
- identification of the access route in to the yard for equipment and location of utilities
- your ideas and thoughts for the yard describing how it will be used
- we’d like to know if you have children, grand children, and pets
- are you a full time resident or seasonal resident
- will there be a pool / spa, fire feature, kitchen or other gathering spaces / special features
- have you considered plants or plant sizes
- would you install smaller plants and wait for them to mature, or do you want larger plants and trees now
- have you identified favorite plants and trees, patio materials, colors or other materials of construction
- discuss homeowner budget or budget range and project start dates
With key information and your input, we prepare the initial design and develop a final landscape plan. We use the final landscape plan to prepare a detailed cost proposal so you can make informed decisions before construction begins.
With one point of contact for design and one point of contact for construction our experienced team will build your landscape project exactly as promised.
Designconsultations are free. Pool designs—and pool designs that include landscape—aretypically free. Stand-alone landscape designs may incur a nominal design feebased on scope. While landscape design fees can catch clients off guard, theyare critical to making sure the plan is buildable, bid properly, and that the crewsknow what to install. These highly detailed plans are also used for permitting,engineering (when required), and HOA and DRC submittals.
Yes— we specialize in turnkey landscape and pool design-build, with one point ofcontact for design and one for construction. Our team integrates pools, spas,and patios into a cohesive plan that looks intentional. Planning the entireproject from the beginning makes sure nothing is overlooked, installation isdone in the most efficient sequence, and, if the project is phased, rework islimited.
Landscapedesigns typically take 2–4 weeks; pool designs can be completed in about fivebusiness days. While most people view the pool as the more complicated element,the detail in the landscape plan is what ties the entire project togethercohesively, and why it takes more time.
Revisions are a normal part of the design process. Many times, what sounds good in conversation has a much different feel on paper. This is why the design process is so important to a successful project.
Revisions are a normal part of the design process. Many times, what sounds good in conversation has a much different feel on paper. This is why the design process is so important to a successful project.
Onceapproved, your design moves to estimating. We prepare a professional line-itemproposal, review it with you (there’s never pressure to decide on the spot),and incorporate any adjustments until the plan matches your vision and budget.
Yes. We have extensive experience working in some of thestrictest neighborhoods like Stone Canyon in Rancho Vistoso, Honey Bee Estates,Canyon Pass at Dove Mountain, Saguaro Ranch, Ritz-Carlton Residences, TheGallery at Dove Mountain (Dos Lagos), The Preserve, Pima Canyon, VentanaCanyon, La Paloma, Boulder Canyon, and their neighboring communities. Providingyour most current HOA guidelines helps streamline approvals.
Click Start Your Project or call us at (520) 574-7585 to schedule a complimentaryconsultation.
Pool designs using Pool Studio software, which includes conceptual pool and landscape ideas, are provided at no charge. We can provide a detailed pool and hardscape cost proposal from this design. If we are selected to build your pool and you need a landscape design, we provide the landscape design at no charge.
We charge a landscape design fee for landscape only projects, and the cost is determined by the scope of work.
Based on experience we know that a great design is the key to your successful project. While the landscape design assists the Owner in the decision-making process, it is also used for submittals to the HOA or DRC, for permitting (securing gas, electric and other permits), and by the construction crews.
Yes, we can provide a pool/spa only designs. While we specialize in turnkey landscape and pool projects we also design and build individual pools,with or without spas.
Landscape designs typically take 2 to 3 weeks to complete. Pool designs can be completed in about 5-days. While most people view the pool as the more complicated process, the landscape design actually takes more time to complete. Landscape plans incorporate the pool in the design along with all patios, walls, accessories (kitchen, water features, fire features), plant material, boulders, screened rock, fences, gates and related materials. The landscape design pulls the elements together in one cohesive plan.
Revisions are a normal part of the design process. Many times, what sounds good in conversation has a much different feel on paper. This is why the design process is so important to a successful project.
Revisions are a normal part of the process. Landscape plans and our initial ideas evolve through the process, which is why a detailed design is needed. Our expert designers are low pressure, non-commissioned and here to guide you through the decision-making process.
Once the design is completed and approved it moves on to the estimating department where we prepare a detailed proposal. Typically, we review the proposal with you at the Design Center and incorporate any final changes. We may also discuss project schedule, phased in work, and value engineering.
We have extensive experience working with many neighborhoods including Stone Canyon, Rancho Vistoso, Honey Bee Estates, Canyon Pass and Dove Mountain, Saguaro Ranch, Ritz-Carlton Residences, The Gallery at Dove Mountain (Dos Lagos),The Preserve, Pima Canyon, Ventana Canyon, La Paloma, Boulder Canyon, and their neighboring communities. We can help you with the plan submittal process and respond to comments or requested changes received from the HOA / DRC plan reviewers.
Click Start Your Project or call us at (520) 574-7585 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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“We don’t just design beautiful yards — we design spaces that actually get built. On time. On budget. And since most people don’t know who to trust, we earn it by asking better questions, solving real problems, and standing by our word.”
Tyler Johansen, Director Business Development
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