Expert Landscaping in San Diego — Pavers, Fencing & Hardscaping
Sustainable, beautiful outdoor spaces built to last — for homes, HOAs, and businesses across San Diego County. Licensed, insured, and locally trusted since 2020.
- 6+ years serving San Diego
- Licensed & insured
- Free on-site estimates
Full-Service Exterior & Landscaping
From drought-tolerant design and premium hardscapes to 24/7 emergency response — everything your San Diego property needs, from one licensed contractor.
Core Landscaping & Hardscaping
The everyday work that transforms and maintains your property.Drought-Tolerant Landscaping
Water-wise native plantings and xeriscape designs that thrive through San Diego dry seasons.
Learn morePaver Patios & Driveways
Interlocking pavers and travertine for patios, driveways, walkways and pool decks built to last decades.
Learn moreRetaining Walls & Masonry
Engineered block and stone retaining walls that hold slopes, level yards and stop erosion.
Learn moreFence Installation & Repair
Wood, horizontal cedar and vinyl privacy fences built plumb, straight and set to last.
Learn moreLawn Care & Maintenance
Precision mowing, edging, fertilization and turf renovation that keep lawns green year-round.
Learn more24/7 Emergency & Storm Services
Fast response when wind, water, or a fallen tree can’t wait.Storm & Wind Cleanup
Fast 24/7 response to clear windstorm debris, downed limbs and fallen fronds and make your property safe.
Learn moreEmergency Tree Removal
Rapid removal of fallen palms, storm-toppled trees and hanging limbs threatening your property.
Learn moreEmergency Irrigation Repair
Fast repair of broken sprinkler lines, stuck valves and geysers before they waste hundreds of gallons.
Learn moreHillside Mudslide Clearing
Rapid mud and debris clearing plus emergency diversion when a saturated San Diego slope lets go.
Learn moreYard Debris & Hazard Removal
Fast haul-away of storm debris, overgrown brush and yard hazards — cleared and gone the same day when we can.
Learn moreProperty & Water-Smart Solutions
Commercial care, outdoor living, turf, and water efficiency.Commercial Grounds Maintenance
Dependable exterior grounds care for retail centers, HOAs and business parks — on schedule, on budget.
Learn moreResidential Hardscape Design
Custom outdoor living — fire pits, kitchens, pergolas and paver spaces designed for how you live outside.
Learn moreArtificial Turf
Zero-water, always-green synthetic lawns, pet turf and putting greens installed on a base built to drain.
Learn moreSlope Erosion Control
Terracing, retaining, drainage and deep-rooting planting that hold San Diego canyon slopes for good.
Learn moreDrip Irrigation
Sprinkler-to-drip conversions and smart controllers that slash water use and may qualify for rebates.
Learn moreWhy San Diego Homeowners & Businesses Choose Us
Licensed C-27 & B Contractor
A licensed California landscaping and general building contractor — we self-perform the full exterior scope under one accountable team.
Built for San Diego’s Climate
Drought-tolerant design, drip irrigation, and hardscape bases engineered for our dry seasons and expansive clay soils.
Craftsmanship That Lasts
From compacted paver bases to engineered retaining drainage, we build the parts you can’t see as carefully as the parts you can.
24/7 Emergency Response
Storm cleanup, fallen trees, irrigation leaks, and mudslides — real people answer the phone when it can’t wait.
Water-Smart & Rebate-Ready
We design conversions to qualify for regional turf-replacement and irrigation rebates, cutting your water bill for good.
Locally Owned & Trusted
Founded in 2020 by Seth Goedker, we’re a San Diego company invested in the communities we serve.
A San Diego Company That Takes the Craft Seriously
SOCAL EXTERIOR SERVICES, INC was founded in 2020 by Seth Goedker on a simple idea: exterior work should be built to last, and the company doing it should answer the phone and stand behind the results. We specialize in sustainable, beautiful outdoor spaces — residential and commercial — across Southern California.
As a licensed C-27 landscaping and B general building contractor, we self-perform landscaping, pavers, masonry, fencing, and drainage. That means one accountable team from design through the last detail — and hands-on craftsmanship you can see.
Built for San Diego’s Microclimates, Soils & Water Rules
San Diego is not one climate. A shaded, marine-layer yard in Point Loma needs a different plan than a sun-baked Poway slope, and a clay-soil lot in Carmel Valley behaves nothing like sandy coastal ground. Match the plants and irrigation to the site and the landscape thrives; ignore it and you pay for dead plants and wasted water. We assess your actual conditions before we design anything.
We group plants by water need using hydrozoning — putting plants with similar needs on the same valve so one thirsty plant doesn’t force a whole bed to be overwatered — and select species against WUCOLS water-use ratings. Then we convert spray to efficient drip irrigation, improve the soil, and mulch to hold moisture. That’s how a drought-tolerant landscape stays healthy on a fraction of the water and keeps you within the region’s permanent water-use rules.
On the county’s canyon and hillside lots, drainage and grading come first — the same discipline behind our slope & erosion control and engineered retaining walls. We build to standards from the San Diego County Water Authority and EPA WaterSense.
Site factors we assess first
- Marine-layer shade vs. inland heat — matching plants to your exposure
- Clay soil, sandy coastal soil, and decomposed granite
- Slopes, runoff, drainage outlets, and erosion risk
- Irrigation pressure, coverage, leaks, and controller settings
- Salt exposure near the coast and fire-conscious planting inland
- HOA review and any grading or drainage permit triggers
A Clear Process — From First Visit to Maintenance Handoff
No satellite guesses. We assess the site, put the scope in writing, and build in the right order so plants live and water isn’t wasted.
- 1Free on-site assessmentWe walk the property, read sun, slope, soil, and access, and listen to how you want to use the space.
- 2Test irrigation, read the soilWe run every zone and check pressure, coverage, and leaks first — new plants fail when the water system isn’t corrected.
- 3Design, plant palette & written scopeYou get a plan with hydrozones and materials, plus a written, site-specific scope — not a number off a map.
- 4Grading, drainage & hardscape baseWe correct grade and drainage and build compacted bases before the visible work — the parts that make it last.
- 5Installation & inspectionPlanting, pavers, walls, and fencing are installed to spec, then walked and inspected with you.
- 6Maintenance handoff & warrantyWe set your watering schedule, explain plant establishment, and offer ongoing care so the investment holds.
What Landscaping Costs in San Diego
Real ranges, not vague promises — so you can plan before you ever request an estimate.
$2–$14
per sq ft
Broad landscaping
$12–$20
per sq ft (SDCWA)
Sustainable renovation
$7,750–$38,750
project range
Typical backyard
These are planning benchmarks, not quotes. Your real price is driven by access, demolition, soil, irrigation, drainage, and hardscape — which is exactly why we provide a written, site-specific scope after a free visit. For bigger projects we offer phased plans with milestone-based payments so you can build in stages. See a detailed breakdown in our San Diego paver & retaining wall cost guide.
Serving San Diego County & Beyond
From our El Cajon base we cover the coast to the backcountry — and reach into Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties for larger projects.
What Our Customers Say
5-star rated for landscaping & hardscaping across San Diego County
Read our reviews on Google →“They converted our thirsty front lawn to a drought-tolerant design and the water bill dropped immediately. The crew was on time, clean, and clearly knew our clay soil.”
“Our paver driveway from another company had sunk badly. SoCal Exterior rebuilt the base the right way and reset it — three years later it’s still perfectly flat.”
“A palm came down across our yard during a Santa Ana. They answered the phone at night and had it cleared safely the next morning. Lifesavers.”
“Engineered retaining wall on our canyon slope, permits and all. Professional from the estimate through inspection. The drainage detail was exactly what we needed.”
“New horizontal cedar fence and a paver patio. Straight lines, tight gates, and it completely transformed the backyard. Craftsmanship you can see.”
“We manage several retail centers and rely on them for grounds maintenance and storm cleanup. Consistent crews, great communication, no surprises.”
Tips, Guides & Local Know-How
Slip-and-Fall Prevention on Commercial Concrete & Paver Walkways in Southern California
Read article
HOA Water Conservation Standards in San Diego: Transitioning to Chic Xeriscape
Read article
How to Inspect Mature Eucalyptus and Palm Trees for Structural Weakness and Rot
Read articleTalk to a Local Pro Today
Reach us for a free on-site estimate or 24/7 emergency service. We serve all of San Diego County and the surrounding region.
- Call or Text
- (323) 606-0255
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 7am–6pm · Sat 8am–4pm · 24/7 emergency dispatch
San Diego, California · Serving San Diego County from our El Cajon operating base
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
San Diego landscaping costs, water rules, permits, and how we work — answered straight.
What areas does SoCal Exterior Services cover?
Are you licensed and insured?
Do you offer free estimates?
Do you provide emergency service?
Why choose pavers or drought-tolerant landscaping in San Diego?
How soon can you start my project?
Do you handle both residential and commercial properties?
Who is SoCal Exterior Services?
How much does landscaping cost in San Diego?
What does drought-tolerant (sustainable) landscaping cost per square foot?
What is hydrozoning, and why does it matter?
Should I repair my irrigation before replacing plants?
Do I need a permit for grading or drainage work in San Diego?
How do I verify a San Diego landscaping contractor?
Reviewed by Seth Goedker, SOCAL EXTERIOR SERVICES, INC · Last updated September 2026. Verify our contractor license with the California CSLB.
Get Your Free Landscaping Estimate Today
Talk to a licensed San Diego landscaping and hardscaping pro. Free on-site estimates, honest pricing, and craftsmanship that lasts. Locally Owned & Operated.
- Free estimates
- Licensed & insured
- 24/7 emergency service