The Garden Gate is Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana’s leading landscape and pool installation company. We provide a turnkey construction service that manages every detail from initial site preparation to final walkthrough. One coordinated team. One custom landscape design. All underone roof.
Whether you select a modern desert layout, a family-friendly retreat, or an entertainment-ready outdoor living space, our expert crews install with precision and care.
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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 installation follows best construction practices and adheres to ROC code requirements. All integrated under one project manager and one construction schedule.
We pay close attention to initial site preparation and confirm the finished grade drains away from the house before beginning work. A laser level and plate compactor ensure the site preparation is done correctly, whether we are importing and compacting soil or finishing the final grade. We also install deck drains next to the pool and often install gutters with underground drain pipe to move rain water and pool water away from the patio and house.
Patios, pool decks, and walkways can be built with natural stone (travertine or flagstone), concrete (poured pads or stepping pads), porcelain (pavers or tile) or concrete pavers that stand up to local weather conditions and daily use. Masonry walls, seat walls, retaining walls, privacy walls are built to meet local code requirements and provide privacy.
Pool and spa shells are made from shotcrete with steel reinforcing engineered for your custom designed pool and specific site conditions. We feature Pentair smart controllers with a Pentair pool app for ease of operation from your phone or computer. Easily adjust water temperatures, pool, spa and landscape lighting, cleaning schedules, water features, fire features, and other features.
Because we provide a turnkey installation service, we can design and install your kitchen, fire feature, fence, gate, shade structure, irrigation system, night lighting, artificial grass, cacti, shrubs, and trees. Custom outdoor kitchens are built from masonry and finished with a countertop of your selection. Granite and concrete counter tops are popular options with stucco, stone, or tile exteriors. A full range of built-in grills, griddles, pizza ovens, storage drawers, access doors, and lighting is available. Natural gas service can be extended from the gas meter or pool heater to the kitchen grill.
Code-compliant perimeter fencing that preserves sightlines, anchored with steel-reinforced concrete footers, custom steel pergolas engineered to withstand extreme conditions, trellise sanchored to the wall or concrete footers, and secure steel gates integrated with your layout. Metal work can include laser cut designs, and paint, powdercoat, or natural rust finishes.
Our irrigation systems typically include a PVC main water line with poly lateral lines. Irrigation system that only use polylines do not perform well long term in Tucson, Marana, or Oro Valley. Shorter sections of easy-to-use ½” poly line (which can be easily replaced or extended) are connected to the PVC main line and drip emitters help regulate water flow. Separate tree, shrub, and cacti valves ensure all plants are watered correctly and the irrigation controller regulates water use for each valve. We feature Hunter smart controllers with Hydrawise software that can be operated remotely with your phone. You can monitor and control daily water use and adjust seasonal settings as the weather changes.
Low voltage LED light fixtures are installed on stakes placed in the ground and connected together with 12-guage direct burial wire (12/2 wire, two copper wires) with gel-filled wire nuts. The lights are connected to a lighting transformer that maintains on / off times. Lighting times can be controlled by a pin-set clock, a photocell that can uses ambient light to determine sunrise and sunset, or an astonomical timer that is programed based on the date and your location. Smart transformers with WiFi control features including the ability to build ‘zones’, dim lights, and operate color lights with up to 30,000 colors per zone (FX Luxor ZDC controller).
We offer a wide variety of plants including native and drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, and accents which are planted following Arizona Landscape Contractor Association guidelines. Special attention is placed on plant types and placement within the yard where each plant will thrive (full sun, partial sun, shade, and frost protection).
We use low-maintenance, synthetic grass surfaces for play areas, pets, or just to add color. Putting greens are installed with fringe and multiple holes.
Our turnkey service means we can manage everything for you including gas and electric service. We extend natural gas and electric service to shade structures, kitchens and fire features, plumb water lines to water features and irrigation systems, and handle all of the permitting, inspections, and approvals.
Your on-site Project Supervisor works closely with our office-based Project Coordinator to schedule subcontractors, in-house crews, suppliers and inspectors to the jobsite while maintaining communication between the parties, including you. You will receive regular project updates from the start of construction through project completion
Your project typical flows in this sequence:
- The final landscape and pool design is approved
- The construction proposal is approved
- We submit permit applications and secure permit approvals
- An internal pre-construction meetingis held to review the scope of work, assign crews, finalize the construction schedule and order materials
- We layout the pool and spa for owner approval (if part of the work)
- Pool layout is followed by excavation, plumbing, steel and shotcrete installation
- Site preparation and grading for landscape (drainage and compaction, swales, berms, boulders)
- Layout landscape feature including kitchen, fire features, patios, walls and fences
- Install fences and gates
- Build kitchen and other masonry features including walls
- Trench for utilities (gas, electric, plumbing) and irrigation system
- Secure approvals for gas line and electric service
- Install waterline tile in pool and spa followed by coping on bond beam
- Install patios, stepping pads, and pathways
- Install trees, shrubs, and cactus
- Connect Irrigation system to controller and install drip line to all plants
- Connect lighting system to transformer and aim light fixtures
- Install screened rock and rake rock
- Install kitchen counter, grill, doors/drawers, and other items selected
- Connect gas and test the grill and fire feature
- Install pool finish, acid wash, and fill pool and spa with water
- Startup the pool and spa, and train owner on all equipment operation including controllers and transformer
- Clean up site and conduct walkthrough with owner, develop a punch list
- Complete punch list items
Many items affect landscape costs including the size of the property and the scope of work. The actual project size and scope of work is the biggest factor in costs. Forexample, there is a large cost variance between remodeling a small backyard or installing a new pool and spa with landscape at a newly constructed home on a 1-acre lot.
In both scenarios, labor is usually the predominant cost. All plants and trees, irrigation systems, lighting systems, patios, masonry walls, driveways, the kitchen and custom fire features are installed by our team of experienced crew leaders, laborers, and subcontractors.
Plant quantity and sizing is an important factor, too. If you can you wait for smaller plants to grow into larger ones, you will save money. But if you prefer larger mature plants immediately, there is a cost to that. Larger plants are more expensive and require more labor to move into position and plant in the ground.
Quantities play a significant role as well, including lighting fixtures, boulders, driveway length, and patio sizes. But these items and costs can be controlled by an efficient design that follows a budget or budget range as provided by the Owner.
Kitchens and fire features can be in various shapes and sizes. Grills and burners are usually priced as good, better, and best (premium) along with accessory items. Countertops made from granite include various grades of quality and cost.
The cost of a pool can be affected by access, or a lack of access for preferred larger excavation and earth moving equipment. The size of the pool determines the amount of steel, shotcrete, plumbing, tile, coping, and interior finish, so the correct sizing of your pool is critical.
There is a wide selection of finishes and options to select from when designing your pool. Options include the type of lighting (standard or LED, white or variable colors), interior finish (plaster, pebble, or pebble upgradeslike PebbleSheen), tile selection (standard 6” x 6” tile or mosaic tile), automation, and pool sanitizing and filtering equipment selections. Other variables include the distance of the pool equipment from the pool and the distance from the pool equipment to gas and electric service.
The key to success starts with a landscape design that includes the pool and spa, followed by a written proposal that describes where the budget is being spent with a description of all expenses. That allows you to make choices on where to spend your money.
Our landscape designs are used for estimating and for submittal to the Homeowners Association (HOA), the Design Review Committee (DRC), and local agencies responsible for permitting your project.
We have extensive experience working with Owners in Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley to get their landscapes, pools and related structures approved for construction. Plan approval often requires strict adherence to approved plant palettes, lighting restrictions (lumen output), amd setbacks and height restrictions (shade structures). Our team manages the details to keep you in compliance with all regulations and to get your project started and finished on schedule.
We provide a plant and construction warranty, and all manufacturer warranties flow through to you. We make sure equipment is registered with the various manufacturers so warranty issues are easily resolved.
To protect your investment over the long term, we offer high quality landscape and pool maintenance services performed by our experienced technicians. Our crews arrive on time, on the scheduled service day, and perform all work specified in the proposal.
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.
No two projects are the same, so project timelines vary. If your landscape and pool are part of a new home build, our promise is to meet the closing date set by your builder. If the landscape is installed after closing, or is part of an enhancement project for an existing home, landscape installation typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after we arrive and start work. Of course, this is dependent on the actual scope of work. Pools and spas usually take 2-months to 3-months to build after excavation is initiated. Size and site specific conditions also affect timeline.
Yes. We can prepare and submit all required permitting documents, as well as respond to the plan reviewer comments. After comments are resolved we can update the plans and secure final approvals.
The Garden Gate was formed in 2001 and we have worked on all types of difficult properties and complex projects in Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley. With our AZ ROC landscape and pool license, and general contractor licenses, we are prepared to take on any condition. When required, we use an engineer to provide specialized engineering services to aid in the construction of retaining walls, pools walls, shade structures and related items.
The selection of materials starts when we begin the design phase. As a custom landscape and pool design company, we work with you to select all materials of construction and incorporate your decisions on the landscape and pool plan.
TheGarden Gate Design Center is set up to ensure meetings, plan review andselections are easy. We have manufacturer samples on display (tile, porcelain,travertine, pebble finish, plants, light fixtures) examples of our work, plantsand plant booklets available to move the process along without delay. We canalso integrate your favorite or pre-selected materials into the design.
Construction costs for landscapes and pools are based on the final scope of work as shown on the approved design. The final landscape design lists all materials of construction, and the exact quantities and sizes. We use the final plan to prepare a detailed written proposal for your review. You will see the actual square foot cost to install the patio and driveway, the individual cost for plants and light fixtures, and a per ton price for screened rock or decomposed granite.
The pool price will show the base cost for the pool and separate pricing for options and upgrades.
Value engineering is always available and is typically achieved through changes in quantities and sizing. When required, the work can also be completed in phases.
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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