Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Asian-Inspired Landscaping Solutions in San Francisco
Tamate Landscaping is a San Francisco-based landscaping company specializing in creating unique, tranquil, and sustainable landscapes with an Asian and Japanese flair. Founded by Paul Tamate, who brings over 25 years of experience in landscape design and installation, the company focuses on integrating natural elements such as water features, stone, and wood to craft functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces. Our services include landscape design and installation, retaining wall construction, water feature design, patio and deck building, masonry work, outdoor lighting, irrigation systems, and xeriscaping. We pride ourselves on personalized service, attention to detail, and the use of high-quality materials to ensure each project meets the specific needs and desires of our clients.Our team works closely with homeowners to transform their outdoor spaces into beautiful, usable living areas that enhance the beauty and functionality of their properties while increasing resale value. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, we have built a reputation for delivering projects on time and within budget, as evidenced by numerous positive testimonials from satisfied clients. Our expertise in Asian-inspired garden design, combined with a deep understanding of San Francisco's unique climate and topography, allows us to create landscapes that are both sustainable and visually stunning. We are fully licensed by the State of California and dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized landscaping services that exceed expectations.
Services
Landscape Design
Water Features
Retaining Walls
Patio Construction
Outdoor Lighting
Irrigation Systems
Xeriscaping
Masonry Work
Custom Stonework
Deck Installation
Highlights and features
- We offer over 25 years of experience in Asian-inspired landscape design and installation.
- Our team hand-picks materials and plants to ensure quality and aesthetic harmony.
- We provide personalized service with direct owner involvement from design to completion.
- Our projects consistently receive praise for attention to detail and client communication.
- We specialize in sustainable, drought-tolerant landscaping solutions for San Francisco's climate.
What people say
Tranquil, sustainable designs
Exceptional attention to detail
Knowledgeable in water features
Transformative results
Professional execution
Services
Landscape Design
Our landscape design service creates customized outdoor spaces blending Asian aesthetics with functional living areas. We focus on sustainable practices, using native plants and drought-tolerant materials while incorporating water features, stone elements, and strategic lighting. Each design considers local climate conditions and client preferences for low-maintenance, high-value transformations.
Water Features
Specializing in Asian-style water features, we design and install koi ponds, waterfalls, and fountains that enhance tranquility and property value. Our systems use advanced filtration technology for easy maintenance while creating soothing ambiance through carefully placed water elements in both small and large spaces.
Retaining Walls
We construct durable retaining walls that prevent erosion and create usable terraced spaces in San Francisco's hilly terrain. Using natural stone and engineered materials, our walls combine structural integrity with aesthetic appeal, often incorporating lighting and plantings to enhance functionality and visual interest.
Outdoor Lighting
Our outdoor lighting designs enhance safety and nighttime enjoyment through strategic placement of path lights, accent lighting, and low-voltage systems. We specialize in energy-efficient LED solutions that highlight landscape features while creating inviting atmospheres for entertainment or relaxation.
Xeriscaping
We implement water-conserving xeriscaping solutions featuring drought-tolerant plants, rock gardens, and efficient irrigation systems. This approach reduces water consumption while maintaining aesthetic appeal through creative use of textures, colors, and sustainable materials suited to San Francisco's microclimate.
People
Paul Tamate
Owner/Operator
Paul Tamate has over 25 years of experience creating custom Asian-inspired landscapes in San Francisco. He personally oversees each project from concept to completion, hand-selecting materials and plants to ensure quality. His expertise includes water features, masonry, and sustainable design, with a focus on transforming challenging spaces into functional outdoor living areas.
Questions
What areas do you serve?
We specialize in landscaping services throughout San Francisco, including challenging hillside properties and urban spaces requiring unique design solutions.
Do you handle both design and installation?
Yes, we provide full-service landscaping including custom design, material selection, and complete installation managed directly by owner Paul Tamate.
Can you incorporate water features in small spaces?
Absolutely. We specialize in creating scaled water features for compact urban gardens, including tabletop fountains, small koi ponds, and cascading wall features.
What about maintenance after installation?
While we don't provide ongoing maintenance, our designs incorporate low-maintenance materials and efficient irrigation systems to minimize long-term care requirements.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, we hold California State Contractor License #551694 and maintain full insurance coverage for all residential and commercial projects.
How do you handle project timelines?
We provide realistic schedules during consultation and typically complete most projects within 4-6 weeks, depending on scope and weather conditions.
Reviews (5)
Benjamin Perez-Goytia
Jan 21, 2015
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Paul has done a series of improvements in my backyard, transforming the place into a truly beautiful oasis. He built a new concrete box with stone for bamboo. He replaced the old brick walls of my backyard with beautiful stone. Finally, he designed and built a new pergola in the center of my backyard. All these improvements have transformed my backyard into a beautiful place. Paul is very professional, and reliable.
He is very punctual, and completes the work very fast and on-time. His prices are very reasonable, and he always provides advice and great ideas. I strongly recommend Paul, and his team! I am looking forward to work with Paul in future house projects. He is one of the best contractors I have worked with since I own my house. Ben Bernal Heights, SF
He is very punctual, and completes the work very fast and on-time. His prices are very reasonable, and he always provides advice and great ideas. I strongly recommend Paul, and his team! I am looking forward to work with Paul in future house projects. He is one of the best contractors I have worked with since I own my house. Ben Bernal Heights, SF
Marie Ascolani
Mar 29, 2014
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I could not be happier with the work Paul and his team did on my backyard. Paul was patient and understanding in helping me develop the overall layout for my patio construction and landscaping. On top of that he was extremely mindful of keeping the project within my budgetary constraints. I was also really impressed with his knowledge of all the different types of plant life that work well in San Francisco. Now I can not wait to host a some parties and BBQ's in my new oasis of a backyard. Thanks again Paul!
Donald M.
Mar 20, 2014
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Paul Tamate did a great job transforming our backyard of old concrete squares, overgrown plants, a multitude of potted plants and a "Big" palm tree into a beautiful calming space. We wanted an Asian/Western theme. He created a solid patio area of flagstone for barbequing and entertaining. The Asian features were created with a Yukimi lantern, Japanese maple, heavenly bamboo and a pond with stream.
The pond was designed to give us the feel of the country/rustic and peacefulness created by the sound of running water. He worked patiently with us through a few of our changes from the original design. It was amazing to us that he finished the job in two weeks. He and his crew were very efficient and worked hard to keep us on budget. We are glad we chose Paul Tamate Landscaping and recommend him highly
The pond was designed to give us the feel of the country/rustic and peacefulness created by the sound of running water. He worked patiently with us through a few of our changes from the original design. It was amazing to us that he finished the job in two weeks. He and his crew were very efficient and worked hard to keep us on budget. We are glad we chose Paul Tamate Landscaping and recommend him highly
Mil Zoom
Apr 10, 2013
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Paul was great, I explained what I needed and he was very understanding about possible difficulties with our neighbor. Paul stayed consistent with the estimate on price and timing, he and his crew did a beautiful job on our retaining wall and fence. This was a big project and we had many contractors that couldn't figure out how to get the work done within our budget.
Chun Tam
Dec 21, 2012
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Tamate Landscaping revitalized our front and side yard over a 3 to 4 week period. We went from the tired burned out grass look to a modern and manicured landscape. Paul personally spent quite a bit of time working with us on the design and was on site supervising and working on every detail of our project. He and his team were efficient and finished the project within the promised timeframe and cost. We were extremely happy with the end result and would definitely recommend Paul and his team to others.
