Landscape Design-Build in Gilbert, AZ
Home base — our design studio is right here.
It's a Saturday in March in Gilbert. It's 78 degrees, the neighbors are out walking to the park, and you're on the patio with coffee looking at a backyard that finally matches the rest of the house. The turf is green without a sprinkler running, the waterfall is going, and you're already planning who to invite over when the evenings cool off again in the fall.
Fernweh Outdoor is a landscape design-build company based in Gilbert, at 2536 E Harrison Ct. Owner JR Ramirez is a second-generation landscape contractor with 15 years in the field, and Gilbert is where we live and where most of our work happens. We design and build complete backyards and front yards here: paver patios, artificial turf, irrigation, outdoor kitchens, shade structures, fire features, lighting, and our signature natural-looking water features. Every project starts with a site survey and a design you can see before we build.
Building in Gilbert: what’s different here
Gilbert grew fast. The town was the fastest-growing municipality in the country from 1990 to 2003, and most of its neighborhoods were built in the decades since. That shapes almost every landscape project we do here.
HOAs and architectural review
Much of Gilbert is master-planned, and most of those communities have HOAs with architectural review. Before a patio cover, wall, water feature or new front yard goes in, your plans usually need approval. Our 3D designs give your HOA a clear, detailed package to review, and if the committee comes back with concerns, we revise the design to address them. You handle the submission; we make sure what you submit is complete.
Soil: caliche and old farmland
Gilbert was farm country long before it was suburbs. It was known as the “Hay Shipping Capital of the World” in the 1910s and 1920s. Today, many yards sit on soils that include caliche, a layer of soil cemented together by lime. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension notes that caliche blocks roots, restricts drainage and can leave plants yellow and struggling. That's why we survey every site before we design, dig to the depth each base system needs, and build our paver, turf and wall bases to drain.
Heat and monsoon rain
Gilbert sits at about 1,237 feet, averages just over 9 inches of rain a year, and has hit 119 degrees. Much of that rain arrives in heavy summer monsoon storms. A landscape here has to handle both: shade and materials that make summer usable, and bases, grading and drainage that can take a storm without shifting or washing out.
Water and Gilbert's rebates
The Town of Gilbert runs its own water utility and offers conservation rebates to its water customers. As of this writing:
- Residential Grass Removal Rebate. up to $2,000 for removing grass, plus up to $1,000 in an additional incentive, for a maximum of $3,000. You must get pre-approval from the Town before removing any grass, and removed grass must be replaced with low-water-use landscaping. Rebates are limited and first come, first served.
- Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate. up to $250 per household for a weather-based smart controller on the EPA WaterSense list, with Wi-Fi or an on-site sensor, installed on an existing automatic irrigation system.
If you're planning a grass removal, talk to us before any sod comes out, so we can plan around the pre-approval step.
Permits
Some of what we build needs a Town of Gilbert permit, including gas lines for fire features and outdoor kitchens. We pull the permits our work requires and build shade structures to engineered specs.
What we build in Gilbert
- 3D Landscape Design. Every design starts with a professional site survey of elevations, existing structures and property lines, which matters on Gilbert lots where HOA plans and drainage both need to be right the first time.
- Paver Patios, Walkways and Driveways. Belgard and Phoenix Pavers on a compacted ABC or open-graded base, built to stay flat through monsoon season. Backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty.
- Travertine and Natural Stone. Travertine pool decks with bullnose coping and flagstone patios that stay cooler underfoot in Gilbert summers.
- Artificial Turf. Turf Hub products on a base that drains, a common choice for Gilbert families replacing thirsty lawns.
- Irrigation Systems. Drip and lawn irrigation with pressure regulation, filtration and Rachio or B-hyve Wi-Fi controllers. Check the EPA WaterSense list and Gilbert's rebate rules for your controller model.
- Water Features. Pondless waterfalls and streams, our signature work, with the sound of moving water and no open standing water.
- Ponds. Aquascape-built ponds and water gardens, 24 inches deep for water gardens and 30 inches or more for fish.
- Outdoor Kitchens. Blaze appliances as standard, permitted gas lines, starting at $9,995.
- Shade Structures. Alumawood pergolas and insulated patio covers, engineered for wind and permitted.
- Fire Pits and Fire Tables. Natural gas, propane or wood-burning, for Gilbert's long cool season from fall to spring.
- Landscape Lighting. FX Luminaire and WAC fixtures in brass or cast aluminum, so you get to use your yard at night too.
- Retaining Walls. Belgard and block walls up to 4 feet for raised beds, terracing and grade changes.
Prefer a set scope and price? See our landscape and water feature packages.
Gilbert neighborhoods we serve
We work throughout Gilbert, including Power Ranch, Val Vista Lakes, Seville, Morrison Ranch, Agritopia, Layton Lakes, The Bridges, Adora Trails and the Heritage District, along with the older and newer neighborhoods in between. Each community has its own look and its own HOA guidelines, and we design to fit both.
Gilbert landscaping FAQs
Do I need HOA approval for a backyard project in Gilbert?
In most master-planned communities, yes. Structures, walls, water features and front yard changes usually go through architectural review. We give you a detailed 3D design to submit, and we'll revise it if your HOA asks for changes.
Can I get a rebate for removing my grass in Gilbert?
The Town of Gilbert offers a Residential Grass Removal Rebate of up to $3,000 total for water customers who replace grass with low-water-use landscaping. You need pre-approval before removing any grass, and rebates are limited, so apply early. Confirm current rules with the Town before you start.
Does my project need a permit in Gilbert?
It depends on what's being built. Gas lines for fire pits and outdoor kitchens need permits, and larger structures and taller walls can too. We pull the permits our work requires and will tell you at the consultation what applies to your project.
When is the best time to build a landscape in Gilbert?
We build year-round. Fall is the most popular time to start, so the yard is finished for Gilbert's cool season, which is also the best time of year to use a fire pit or outdoor kitchen. Booking your design in late summer gets you on the schedule early.
How much does landscaping cost in Gilbert?
It depends on the size of the yard, what's coming out, and what's going in. The on-site consultation is free. After that, 3D designs are $279 and renderings are $79, both credited toward your project. Outdoor kitchens start at $9,995, and our packages give set prices for common projects. Everything else is quoted after a site visit.
Our warranty
Paver installations carry a 10-year workmanship warranty. All other services carry a 3-year workmanship warranty, with manufacturer warranties on top.
Start your Gilbert project
We're local. We'll come out, survey your yard, talk through what you want and what your HOA allows, and show you your new landscape in 3D before we build.
Also serving nearby Chandler, Mesa and Queen Creek.
Ready to start your Gilbert project?
Free on-site consultation. Your 3D design ($279) comes after, credited toward your project.
Schedule a Consultation