Our Clients say it best
Glorious garden with drought tolerant Flakia ground cover and white roses
I just got back to Santa Barbara and the garden is everything we wanted it to be, you accomplished it so well. Thank you so much, A. D. Hope Ranch
Toasting marshmallows by the firepit is the perfect way to spend an evening with family
Our landscaping was completed in the midst of the pandemic so having the space and the space of my sister next door (Montecito Landscape also did my sister’s property) allowed us to be at home, gather outside with family and friends and spend way more time than I ever imagined. The kids are able to play and run around, and we are able to enjoy our home more than before. A big part of the project was the addition of an entire outdoor kitchen complete with smoker and high-tech pergola and a fire pit. We spend nearly every evening outside, in our kitchens or toasting marshmallows around the fire pit. I feel like we live in a resort!
Chris and Lisa were such fun to have around, we miss them! KV
Colorful, drought tolerant garden with custom garden gate
There is no other outfit. Montecito Landscape is always inspired to join in a vision, including one as complicated as mine! They are the most well-managed, professional outfit in the Central Coast, and can carry a project to completion, bringing in others, all expert and professional, while coordinating them perfectly. It’s all about respect and joy in the work. RK. Montecito
Read a book or do nothing at all, away from it all in this peaceful secret garden oasis
We moved into our new home and felt like the landscaping didn’t match the charm of our home. We also wanted to utilize the outdoor space as an extension of our living space. We are incredibly happy with our new landscaping, well above and beyond our expectations. We are in a better mood and spend more quality time with each other and our loved ones. More time outside and away from our computers has made us happier. More birds and bees are enjoying our new home as well. Chris understood our vision and was able to stick to the budget.
Thank you, we couldn’t be happier. E. Santa Barbara
This colorful perennial garden is full of fragrance and texture and color with roses, sage, culinary herbs, Alpine strawberries, lavender and scented geranium. Want to see more of this beautiful garden? Click here for the full story.
Totally LOVING the garden today!! Can’t get over how many butterflies and hummingbirds we’ve seen just today!! Everything looks beautiful! My guests are wowed, and loving everything. Can’t thank you enough for getting so much done in the last 2 weeks. Really amazing….thank you!! SB, Montecito
Teak Tea House nestled in an oak woodland in Montecito California. Want to see more? Click here for the full project description.
As a new homeowner, I was dissatisfied with the previous owner’s landscaping, even though it was relatively new. I felt too “deserty” and not enough like Santa Barbara. I wanted something to reflect the Mediterranean feel. I LOVE my new landscaping. I can’t even tell you you how much it adds to my overall experience of living here in Santa Barbara! It’s like having a whole, huge, extra living space, just outside my door and it continues to just make me happy! Thank you! S. Montecito
Cozy cottage surrounded by colorful drought tolerant plantings of rockrose, penstemon, santa barbara daisy, nepeta, lambs ear, teucrium, falkia, heliotrope and apple tree. To see the rest of this project click here.
We have absolutely loved and enjoyed every minute with you both. This experience has really been so fun. I have to give the credit to Kirk for finding you all, I was set to go with someone else and Kirk wasn’t really feeling that company so he went looking elsewhere. I was annoyed at him for holding up the process…..that changed the day you care over it. I’ll never forget it, you walked out the door and I said oh my god I love her! I can say almost very day of this process, Kirk or I have said, we love Chris and Lisa and crew so much.
Beautiful gardens make people happy, this is what we do. We love to make people and pets happy. How? This garden is entirely non-toxic. See the rest of this garden in portfolio.
Not only are you guys so accommodating and so thorough you are such a pure joy and fun to be with. Our yards are more beautiful than I ever could have imagined and I am pinching myself every time I look outside. We will hopefully enjoy these spaces until our kids are grown, it’s totally amazing! You guys are always so positive too and never (visibly) frustrated with us. HA. Us Farrell girls (me and Katie) tend to run a bit anxious and you knew just how to handle that.
I was really sad when you said you were almost done because I didn’t want you to go! However, you guys are our friends and we can still see you and would love to have you over for BBQ’s and time spent enjoying the fruits of your labor and our new friendship. We love your crew too- those guys (and gal) work so hard and are so nice and patient, especially with our kiddos who were always trying to “help” them:) Thanks so much for everything!!!!!!
- Anne and Kirk
This beautiful antique door was converted into a secure and private garden entry gate. The garden is designed to be dog-friendly and non toxic. See rest of project in portfolio
I’m sitting in my newly installed garden, astonished at how quickly the plants are plumping and flowering. I don’t know many names of the plants, but I’ll learn, because the wizards behind this installation aren’t going anywhere. Chris and Lisa Cullen brought their decades of experience with plant selection and knowledge of “what works” in a particular micro-climate, sun exposure, and irrigation needs.
Colorful drought tolerant Santa Barbara Style garden with gravel paths, creekbed, boulders, Mexican Sage, Oak trees, Arbutus Marina, Rosemary, Lavender. To see more of this project click here
This is the second iteration of a Montecito Landscape installation for us. The first go-around was voluptuously successful, but was decimated by the January 9 mud flow. I did not hesitate to call Chris and Lisa again. They knew what we liked and what we wanted. They have a marvelous sense of color and texture and a way of creating a topography of highs and lows.
They have a knowledgeable crew who are on time, responsive, and their jefe, is one of the nicest and most competent people you’ll ever meet.
And, oh yeah, Chris and Lisa are pretty nice people themselves. Bob Latham, Montecito
This beautiful flagstone courtyard is classic Mediterranean design with a central fountain. Above the hand-hewn stone wall the garden bed is filled with flowering perennials. Olive trees, teucrium, pittosporum tobira, pentas, roses, and bougainvillea.
Chris and Lisa Cullen make our garden sing! With an exquisite eye for detail and a deep knowledge of optimal plant selection, the Cullens have helped us to create and maintain fairy tale worthy gardens. Their crew is professional and courteous, and with them at the helm you are assured of a garden that will delight. We wholeheartedly recommend them.
Laurie Schuster, Montecito
Custom made fountain surrounded by a meadow instead of lawn. The perimeter of lavender, sage and roses make this garden a glorious statement of joy.
“You know how much we enjoy the garden you designed for us, so how could we not recommend you to our friends? We visited the garden you recently created for our friends the day after you completed the work and they were so delighted with the way it looked. I guess they decided we knew what we were talking about. You and your crew are the best, Chris. Thanks again. B & G, Santa Barbara
Bocce ball court set in the foothills of Montecito with magnificent ocean views from the raised flagstone patio. To see more of this project click here.
Email sent at 6:30 am? Good old clipper by my front door a few hours later? Then a follow-up phone call?...What's with you, lady - is that kind of efficiency your routine MO? …and thanks to Lisa too, she's always there for me with my requests. Helen
I really appreciate the exceptional quality of integrity and spirit of generosity you showed us. It is how I have always tried to behave in my business days, but am constantly disappointed by how rare that is. You have a running tab of good dinners (and good company) on me. A. Chao
Nothing like roses to set the mood for beauty and romance and Roses can be drought tolerant!
I think the boulders look WONDERFUL! THANK YOU and please thank your team for us – I know how much hard work and sheer muscle power this took! Thanks too for taking care of the driveway lights.
This comfy sitting area on gravel courtyard in the Montecito foothills is surrounded by flowering perennials such as Santa Barbara Daisy Lavender, Heuchera and California native plants. Want to see more? Click here
Honestly, I SO appreciate your fantastic responsiveness, attention to detail and meticulous follow through – it is such a comfort to know that even though I’m 100 miles away, everything – absolutely everything! – that you said you would do, is done quickly, beautifully and with enthusiasm and collaboration. This has been a really enjoyable and fun project to complete BECAUSE of both of you and your management and direction of your team. I’m looking forward to seeing the final result, and future projects together! Best regards, JW
This beautiful garden is dog-friendly and non-toxic, full of colorful but edible plants such as roses, Alpine strawberries, culinary herbs and flowers perfect for making herbal teas! Click here to see more
Chris and Lisa Cullen are delightful landscaping visionaries whom we have known and worked with over the past few years on two different projects. I trust their skill and talent and highly recommend them to anyone.
We had hoped to get exactly what we got—a beautiful space that is an extension of our interior space, where we live, laugh, love and make memories with family and friends.
We invested in our landscape because our surrounds are an extension of who we are-what a better place to invest than in your garden?
The pond area is one of my husband’s happiest places, he can’t wait to come home from work and go to his pond-the tranquility of which is kind of a safe haven in the garden of a chaotic world.
The landscape textures, colors, sounds and smells that surround us every day are a reminder of Mother Earth’s gift to us-natural beauty.
Thank you, Montecito Landscape, for walking the walk and talking the talk. Your vision became our landscape, a picture perfect portrait of the garden that is worth every penny. Debbi and Don, Malibu
We really liked Lisa and Chris’s enthusiasm about our garden’s potential. They came up with a solution to our concerns that exceeded our expectations and more importantly, delivered on-time and within budget. Their crew works hard and we really appreciated the follow-up to ensure that the garden’s water needs were being met. We can’t say enough about their crew. All are efficient, polite and responsive. Leana is quick to offer assistance and has really been amazing and the supervisor is terrific and a great communicator. I also really appreciate Lisa’s mulching tips! We love the way the new landscape is natural and integrated with the rest of the property. Everything is so healthy (we had major problems with our precious garden). It is so beautiful and we love looking at it! Thank you, you guys are great! J&R, Montecito
Dear Chris and Lisa, We want to thank you for being people of complete integrity. By this time in life, we have a file full of “contractor nightmares”.
Working with you was such a calm and happy experience. The members of your crew were friendly and worked so hard! We are happy customers. Bob & Anita, Montecito
Chris and Lisa Cullen knocked it out of the park with their recent “makeover” of the landscaping of my Montecito home property. Their passion for plants and all things nature and their enthusiasm for their skilled craft is highly contagious. They made the entire “re-landscaping” of a tired and dated place a delight for me as they literally unearthed the hidden gem qualities of the property and “re-sculpted” it into a setting infused with peace and tranquility and yet functional and entertainment-friendly spaces. If you’re thinking about adding value to your home in terms of quality-of-life living space, or just looking to add some new color, shapes or fragrances to add to your garden, do yourself a favor and give Chris and Lisa an opportunity to show you how to take your vision to the next level. They are truly “alchemists of magic” in property landscape transformation.
- Rick, Montecito
Dear Chris and Lisa,
We appreciated your willingness to fit plant choices to our preferences and to work with our gardeners. Your follow-up is unusual and very impressive. Thank you. Don and Trees, Montecito
Dear Chris and Lisa,
Thank you both and to your team for your professional service at all times. We were delighted with your attention to detail, for your immediate appreciation of our property and a natural approach to bringing the existing beauty alive. We are thrilled with what you have created. Anne & Xan, Santa Barbara
Dear Chris and Lisa,
We want to thank you for the wonderful job you did on our garden, we love it and it already brings us much joy. Your crew was nothing short of excellent, fast moving, clean and professional in manner. The foreman was well-spoken and very accommodating and explained all what the crew was doing.
To you, Chris, we thank you for choosing the plantings and all the planning. Your visits were fun, friendly and provided interesting learning. We will recommend you to anyone we know. Thanks again for a marvelous job. Niels & Nancy, Santa Barbara
Dear Chris, Lisa and Leana,
What I love is the simple elegance of the design: flowing pathways, beautiful pots, thoughtful arrangements and plant choices. I now have four visible outdoor spaces!
I appreciated the professional crew, the seamless process and superb customer service. You were responsive to my needs, artful, and honest. I trusted Chris and his vision for the property.
Thank you for your kindness, personal service and expertise. You created a beautiful environment that we are proud of. Entertaining is much more enjoyable now! It was worth every penny.
- Kristie and Steve, Santa Barbara
We have recently finished a 6 week project with Chris and Lisa Cullen and are absolutely delighted with the result. Both Lisa and Chris were extremely easy to work with and their combined ideas and knowledge proved invaluable in producing an edited and fresh look to our garden as a whole. All their staff were hard working and polite at all times. We would be happy to recommend Montecito Landscaping to anyone.
Alison and Jan, Hope Ranch
Working with Chris and the crew, everyone was extremely professional. Chris went out of his way to help make the property and experience as best as possible. Prices were extremely fair and when changes did come up, Chris was fair on those as well and I never felt like he was trying to “up charge” when changes occurred. Montecito Landscape is one of the best companies from any trade I have ever worked with. Very professional on all levels. Luke, Montecito
We design beautiful, livable gardens that are uniquely created for our clients. No client is the same, so no garden is the same. Click here to see more of this project
It all started with a dying orange tree…When Chris came out to look at our back yard, he could see it with fresh eyes and realized there was more than just solving a dead tree problem. He could see the possibility of more space, and came up with a coherent design.
First, we were amazed at Chris’ ability to effectively discern our particular tastes and what he knew would be appropriate to the conditions. His guidance was gentle, respectful and yet decisive. The trip to the nurseries to look at plants was a perfect example of this balance. We got exactly what we wanted, including sound advice.
Work commenced at an impressive pace. The crew was skilled and amazingly productive. We were especially pleased with the work of your stone specialist. Everything was done exactly as promised. We couldn’t be happier. We had lived with the same backyard for over 35 years and never suspected it could be this spacious or beautiful.
I do not think a day goes by that I do not walk the garden, sometimes to cut rosemary or chives, or these days to haul out a bucket of reclaimed water. Guests are charmed by the abundance. It has the blues, greens and greys of a Mediterranean landscape, with lavender, sages and rosemary.
As an artist, my garden provides me with plenty of drawing ideas. At a spiritual level, both working and walking in the garden are a calming source of pride. Sometimes, if I’ve been busy at my drawing table I just have to be outside and walk the garden path, breathe some fresh air and clear my mind. Thanks for everything! Jan and Charles, Santa Barbara
Dear Chris, As I have endlessly ragged, harassed and complained, it is now my pleasure to endlessly thank, appreciate and enjoy your beautiful work.
Thank you for being the spirit, the energy and the enthusiasm which brings all the plants—and my delight in them—to life. Everything is exquisite. Thank you for being the true Druid Master of your art. With love, Daphne
Dear Chris and Lisa, Montecito Landscape is prompt, professional, clear and businesslike. You are receptive listeners, with positive energy, you have wonderful ideas and are very creative; no detail was left unattended, and no follow-up (by me) was required. When you first met with my niece, she started her report with the comment “First of all, these are seriously nice people”.
I was also grateful for your skilled crew. They have extraordinary good work habits, are neat and tidy, there was not evidence that they had even been here. They are polite and hardworking young people, who obviously respect plants and nature (and homeowners!) and want to be of service and take pride in their work. That comes, of course, from good leadership. Well done! My little paradise is just glowing! Robin, Montecito
Dear Chris and Lisa,
We are completely happy with the beautiful creation Montecito Landscape did for us. From our first meeting with Chris and Lisa to the final walk-through, everything was handling in a professional and courteous manner.
Their crew was hard-working, steady and all seemed knowledgeable about the design of our landscape. Each person worked energetically, confidently and with a great, positive attitude. They displayed a good-natured camaraderie working together in an organized, well-coordinated manner. They always had a smile for us.
We now have a lovely, well-planned outdoor space more beautiful than we ever imagined-thanks to the knowledge and artistry of Chris and Lisa Cullen. Penny and Ken, Santa Barbara
Chris and Lisa,
We want to thank you from the bottom on our hearts for what you have done for us on our property. I could suffice it and just say that I may be the happiest client you have ever had!
What a wonderful experience this was from start to finish and so fast! We had a vision and Chris took it all the way with a twist. In one week it went from a drab, boring, no privacy entrance to a dream come true.
When I was explaining to Chris what I wanted I said “In my fantasy world I would extend this garden, but that is too difficult”. All I heard in the next moment was “Well, let’s go with the fantasy world and make it happen”.
I had been reading their columns for years and thought, that if I ever did get this dream project done I would definitely call them. We connected without even knowing each other.
Thank you, M & R-Montecito
Chris and Lisa of Montecito Landscape helped me correct mistakes of previous landscapers.
The trees, plants and irrigation system they suggested worked perfectly with my house style, California climate and my personal taste.
They are professional and oversee every step of selection and installation. They have returned several times after payment just to see that everything was in order.
I would strongly recommend Montecito Landscape. My husband and I are thrilled with the new look of our property. Judy and David, Montecito