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Landscaping Services

Landscape Design & Construction in Lynn & the North Shore

A clear scope and a written plan before anything is built. Zacarias designs and builds landscapes that hold up to North Shore weather, from planting plans to patios, walkways and retaining walls.

Landscape Design and Construction, Done Right the First Time

Landscape design and construction is the work of planning an outdoor space on paper and then building it in the ground so it looks good and keeps working for years. It covers everything from where the beds and lawn go to how water moves off the property, and it ties together the softer plantings with the hard structures like patios, walkways and walls.

At Zacarias Tree & Landscaping, we have been designing and installing landscapes for homeowners across Lynn and the wider North Shore since 2002. As a family-run company with 85+ years of combined experience and more than hundreds of local jobs completed, we know what survives a Massachusetts winter and what fails. Our approach is simple to say and harder to do well: a clear scope so you know exactly what you are getting, a clear plan so the crew builds it correctly, and careful finish work so the yard is ready to use. We are licensed, bonded and fully insured.

Because we also handle tree work, we plan around the trees you want to keep and protect their roots during construction. Whether you are starting with a bare lot or reworking a tired yard, we build one integrated plan instead of a pile of disconnected fixes.

Landscape Design and Construction, Done Right the First Time
Landscapes Planned Around How You Live
20+Years of local projects
Design & Build

Landscapes Planned Around How You Live

From layout to planting to finish grading, we design and build complete outdoor spaces that fit your property.

  • Full-service design & build
  • Licensed, Bonded & Fully Insured
  • Family-run since 2002

What We Design and Build

Every property is different, so we scope each project to what your yard actually needs. Our landscape design and construction work commonly includes:

  • Layout and planting plans that map where lawn, beds, trees and features belong before a shovel touches the ground.
  • Lawn installation and renovation, from full seed or sod to reviving a struggling lawn.
  • Bed edging, soil and mulch work that gives planting areas a crisp, finished edge and healthy growing conditions.
  • Patios and walkways built on a properly excavated and compacted base so they stay level.
  • Retaining walls that hold back grade and open up usable, level space.
  • Landscape lighting to extend how and when you enjoy the yard.
  • Water management and regrading so rain runs away from your home instead of pooling against it.

If your project leans heavily toward stone and pavers, our hardscaping services cover that side in more depth. For a full menu of what we offer across yards and grounds, see our landscaping services overview.

How Zacarias Approaches a Project

Good landscapes are built in the right order, and most of the work that determines whether a patio settles or a lawn thrives happens before the pretty part shows. Here is how we run a typical project:

  1. Site walkthrough. We walk the property with you and assess the real constraints: drainage, access for equipment, existing grades, and the trees worth protecting.
  2. Scope and plan. We put the layout, materials and sequence in writing so there are no surprises, then coordinate material ordering and equipment scheduling.
  3. Base and structure first. For hardscapes, that means proper excavation depth, a compacted aggregate base, correct pitch for drainage, and edge restraint so pavers stay put.
  4. Plantings and finish. Soil, beds, lawn and plantings go in once the structure is set and protected.
  5. Cleanup and haul-away. Debris removal follows the scope in your written plan, so you know what leaves the site.

Because we are local, we build for our climate. North Shore landscapes have to handle freeze-thaw cycles and heavy rain events, so we plan base depth, drainage and grading to prevent the settling, heaving and plant decline that sink cheaper, faster jobs. We serve Lynn, the North Shore, and Essex & Middlesex Counties; you can see the full list on our service area page.

What Affects the Cost and Timeline

No two landscapes carry the same price, because the work involved varies so much from yard to yard. Rather than quote a figure sight unseen, we give free estimates after seeing the property. The factors that most influence cost and schedule include:

  • Size and scope of the area being designed and built, and how many elements are involved.
  • Site conditions such as slope, drainage problems, poor soil, or the need for regrading.
  • Access for equipment and material delivery; tight or gated yards take more labor.
  • Materials selected, since stone, pavers, plant sizes and lighting all range widely in price.
  • Structural work like retaining walls or extensive excavation and base preparation.
  • Existing features that must be removed, worked around, or protected, including established trees.

Timeline follows the same logic. A straightforward bed refresh and lawn renovation can move quickly, while a project with retaining walls, drainage correction and hardscape construction is sequenced over more days so each layer is done properly. We will walk you through the expected schedule as part of your estimate.

Quality Workmanship, Start to Finish
HundredsLocal jobs completed
Built to Last

Quality Workmanship, Start to Finish

We handle the whole project so the pieces work together, built in the order that protects finished work.

  • One company, whole project
  • Built in the right order
  • Free on-site estimates

Designing Around North Shore Sites

A plan that looks good on paper has to survive the site. Four conditions shape most of our designs here. Ledge: in much of Lynn, Swampscott, and Marblehead, granite sits close to the surface, which limits how deep we can dig for a patio base or a tree pit; we often design with the ledge, raising beds or stepping the grade, instead of paying to break it out. Small, close lots: city and older-town yards need every square foot to work, so privacy screening, a compact patio, and a path to the side door usually matter more than open lawn. Coast: yards near the water need salt- and wind-tolerant plants and hardscape materials that won’t flake in salty spray. Water: heavy soils and slopes decide where the patio can sit and where runoff has to go, which is why drainage is in the plan from the start.

If your property is within about 100 feet of a wetland, stream, pond, or the shore, the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act can bring the local conservation commission into the project, even for grading or a patio. Check with them early; it can shape the design and the schedule. Any excavation also starts with utility marking through Dig Safe, and for plant choices the UMass Extension landscape fact sheets are a reliable second opinion. We also plan around the trees you want to keep, which our guide to landscape design around mature trees explains in detail.

Most successful projects are built in phases in the right order: drainage and grading, then walls and hardscape, then lighting wire, then plantings and lawn. Our post on planning landscaping work in the right order shows how that sequence keeps a budget intact, and your first landscaping project with Zacarias walks through what working with us looks like from the first visit. Front entries get their own attention in entrance landscape design.

Questions

Landscape Design and Construction FAQs

Do you provide a design before construction begins?

Yes. We start with a site walkthrough and a written scope and plan covering the layout, materials and build sequence, so you know exactly what will be built before we begin.

What areas do you serve for landscape projects?

We are based in Lynn and serve the wider North Shore along with Essex and Middlesex Counties. See our service area page for the full list of towns we cover.

How do you keep patios and walkways from settling or heaving?

The durability is in the base. We excavate to the correct depth, compact an aggregate base in layers, set the proper pitch for drainage, and lock the edges with restraint. Planning for our region's freeze-thaw cycles is what prevents settling and heaving over time.

Can you fix drainage or water pooling in my yard?

Yes. Water management and regrading are part of our work. During the walkthrough we assess how water moves across the site and plan grading and drainage so rain runs away from your home rather than pooling against it.

Will you work around the trees I want to keep?

Yes. Because we also do tree work, we plan the layout around trees worth keeping and take steps to protect their roots during construction.

How much does a landscape project cost?

It depends on the size, site conditions, access, materials and any structural work involved, so we do not quote a flat figure. We provide a free estimate after seeing your property and will explain the factors and expected timeline for your specific project.

Can you build my landscape in phases?

Yes, and many projects work best that way. We plan the whole yard once, then build in an order that avoids tearing up finished work: drainage and grading first, then walls and hardscape, then lighting wire, and plantings and lawn last. You can spread the phases across seasons to fit your budget.

Request Your Free Landscape Design Estimate

Tell us what you'd like the yard to become and anything that's not working now, and we'll call to schedule a free design walkthrough, usually the same day.

Takes 30 seconds • We’ll confirm a few details on the next step

Get a Free Estimate

Talk to a Local Zacarias Pro

Design-build projects are planned and built by a family-run Lynn company, licensed, bonded & insured since 2002, with ISA-Certified Arborists on staff, across Essex & Middlesex Counties.

  • Visit / Mail80 Mayfair St, Lynn, MA 01904
  • 24/7 Emergency Line(781) 704-1096
  • HoursMon to Sun, 9am to 5pm • 24/7 emergency response

Ready to Design and Build Your Landscape?

Tell us about your yard and what you would like it to become. We will walk the site, put together a clear plan, and give you a free estimate for a landscape built to last on the North Shore.