Landscaping and Hardscape in Santa Margarita, CA

Paso Robles Landscaping designs and builds yards for Santa Margarita homes, from the small-town grid near El Camino Real to ranch and hillside parcels in the surrounding valley. We build decks and patios, retaining walls, pergolas, fire features, drip irrigation, drought-tolerant planting and fire-safe zones around the house. Santa Margarita is a short drive down Highway 101 from our Paso Robles office. Call 805-712-4440 or request a free estimate.

Santa Margarita's Valley Climate

Santa Margarita sits at the top of the Cuesta Grade on the upper Salinas River, with the Santa Lucia and La Panza ranges on either side. The nearby Santa Margarita Ranch area is described as having deep alluvial soils of many textures with patchy residual soils on the slopes, and one of the wider day-to-night temperature swings in the region. For a yard, that means:

• Plan for frost. Cold-air pockets in the valley freeze tender plants. We pick plants that take frost and summer heat.
• Slopes need structure. Hillside lots often need retaining walls, steps and decks to create level space.
• Oaks are part of the lot. We lay out patios and trenches to protect root zones and keep summer water off oak trunks.

Water in Santa Margarita

Homes in town get water from County Service Area 23, a groundwater system run by San Luis Obispo County Public Works (CSA 23 page). Many properties outside town are on private wells. Either way, efficient irrigation keeps bills and well draw down: drip zones grouped by plant type, a weather-based controller, mulch or gravel to hold moisture, and lawn only where it gets used. We are not aware of a local turf rebate for Santa Margarita at this time; see our lawn replacement page for the programs we track around the county.

Fire Safety and Permits

Santa Margarita is surrounded by grass, oak woodland and brush, and many parcels outside the town core are in a State Responsibility Area where defensible space up to 100 feet is required by state law. CAL FIRE's defensible space guide describes Zone 0 (the first five feet), Zone 1 (to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (to 100 feet). Check your zone on the State Fire Marshal FHSZ map. We build the area closest to your house with pavers, gravel and noncombustible edging; see fire-safe landscaping.

Santa Margarita is unincorporated, so building permits go through County Planning & Building, and on rural land the County's Oak Woodland Ordinance limits clear-cutting of an acre or more of oak woodland.

What We Build in Santa Margarita

Projects we build here include:

• Landscape design and installation, with drought-tolerant planting and drip irrigation
• Hardscape: patios, pavers, walkways, concrete and driveways
• Retaining walls, steps and drainage
• Pergolas, patio covers and decks
• Outdoor kitchens, fire pits and lighting
• Artificial turf, rock, gravel and decomposed granite, and lawn replacement

Nearby Areas We Serve

From Santa Margarita we also work in Atascadero, Garden Farms, San Luis Obispo, Templeton, Creston and Paso Robles. See every community on our San Luis Obispo County service area page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you work in Santa Margarita?

Yes, in town and on rural and hillside properties nearby. Our office is in Paso Robles.

Where does Santa Margarita get its water?

In town, from County Service Area 23, a County Public Works groundwater system. Many rural homes are on private wells.

Is there a lawn rebate in Santa Margarita?

We are not aware of a local turf rebate for Santa Margarita right now. Efficient drip irrigation and lower-water planting still cut water use and well draw.

Can you build on a steep lot?

Yes. Retaining walls, steps, decks and terraces are a big part of hillside work, and we handle any permits they need.