Backyard Design & Build in Cambridge, MA

Cambridge backyards ask a lot of a small piece of ground. A yard behind a triple-decker or a rowhouse often has to be a dining room, a garden, a place for the dog and a quiet spot to sit, sometimes all at once. American Elm Landscape designs and builds these yards from start to finish: one plan and one crew, with Allan on the job. Whether you want to refresh a small corner or redo the whole yard, we'd be glad to take a look.

Cambridge lots also come with their own conditions: tight side passages, mature trees protected by city ordinance, shade from neighboring buildings, and soil that doesn't always drain. We plan for all of it from the first visit, so the finished yard looks right and keeps working through New England winters.

What we design and build in Cambridge

Backyard design. A plan for the whole yard, built around how you want to use it: dining, kids, dogs, a garden, or simply a calm place to sit. We lay out the hardscape, planting, privacy and lighting together so the space feels larger than its square footage.

Patios and courtyards. Concrete paver, brick and bluestone patios set on a properly compacted base. For patio-specific details, see our Cambridge patio page.

Walkways, steps and retaining walls. Paths between tight houses, steps that fix awkward grade changes, and retaining walls that turn a slope into level, usable space.

Drainage. Allan is an NDS Certified Professional Drainage Contractor. If your yard puddles or water heads toward the foundation, we fix the cause with French drains, dry wells or regrading. See yard drainage.

Planting. Shade-tolerant and native plantings, privacy screening, and trees chosen for small spaces and Cambridge conditions.

Lighting. Low-voltage landscape lighting so the yard works after dark and feels like part of the house.

Built for small city lots

Most of our Cambridge work is behind triple-deckers, two-families and rowhouses, where there's often no gate a machine can fit through. That's routine for us. We bring materials in by hand or with compact equipment, stage the work so your neighbors can still get by, and leave the access route clean.

In a small yard, design does most of the work. Some things that help:

• One or two materials, not five, so the space reads as a single room
• Built-in seating instead of bulky furniture
• Height from a small tree, a screen or a planter so the yard doesn't feel like a box
• Lighting that makes the yard part of your evening

On a recent Cambridgeport job, we turned a muddy, unused triple-decker yard into a clean paver patio with a turf strip for the dog and built-in seating. For more small-yard ideas, see Small Backyard Patio Ideas That Actually Work and our page on courtyard and small-backyard landscaping.

Trees, permits and planning ahead

Cambridge protects trees on private property more strictly than most cities. If a tree on your lot is 6 inches or more in diameter, removing it or damaging its roots during construction can require a city permit and mitigation. We check for this at the first visit, so it shapes the design rather than surprising you later. Read our guide: Cambridge's Tree Rules Before You Build a Patio.

Cambridge neighborhoods we work in

We work across Cambridge, including Cambridgeport, Mid-Cambridge, North Cambridge, Huron Village, East Cambridge, Riverside and Agassiz, and the residential streets around Harvard, Central, Porter, Inman and Kendall Squares. Not sure if you're in range? Ask; you very likely are.

How it works

Free design visit. We walk the yard with you, talk through how you'd like to use it, and check access, grade, drainage, sun and any protected trees.

Design and written estimate. You get a clear plan and a written estimate. No vague ballparks. If the budget calls for it, we can split the plan into phases.

We build it. One crew handles the base, drainage, hardscape, planting and lighting, with Allan overseeing the work.

You use it. We walk you through the finished yard and how to care for it.

From a customer

“Allan and team have been doing landscape and hardscape work for many years at our home in Cambridge. He's always creative with our ‘city yard.’ His team is professional, and I appreciate that he's always present to oversee their work. His prices are reasonable, and he is responsive.” — Jenna S., Cambridge

Common questions

Do you take on small Cambridge yards?

Yes. Small yards are most of what we do in Cambridge, from a few hundred square feet behind a triple-decker to a full garden. A small refresh gets the same care as a larger project.

Do you design and build, or just build?

Both. We design the yard and build it ourselves, so the plan and the finished work stay connected. Many clients start with a design and build it over a couple of seasons.

Can you work in a yard with no machine access?

Yes. We regularly carry materials in by hand or use compact equipment through narrow side passages, and we plan the job to respect your home and your neighbors.

What if there's a large tree where we want the patio?

We plan around it. In Cambridge, removing or damaging a protected tree can mean a permit and mitigation costs, so we often design to protect the roots instead. Our Cambridge tree guide explains how the rules work.

What does a Cambridge backyard project cost?

It depends on size, materials, access and drainage. For straight numbers, see What a Small Backyard Makeover Costs in Greater Boston. Every project gets a free written estimate after we've seen the yard.

Do you handle drainage and wet yards?

Yes. Allan is an NDS Certified Professional Drainage Contractor, and drainage is built into every patio and yard we design.