The Great Outdoors company made the process of having a patio put in so easy! I contacted Graham (the owner) on Monday, he came by the same day 10mins later, gave me a reasonable estimate, and my patio was installed on FRIDAY! It was incredible how efficient and easy it was. Here are some highlights:1) Graham was super responsible, responsive, and thoughtful: He kept me updated every step of the process such as when the stones will be delivered, and when the crew can come by, etc.2) They put thought into the patio design: I had 7 other contractors and hardscape people come by, and their designs were all very similar- gravel and concrete pavers for a path. Nothing was inspiring and we were not excited for ugly poured concrete. Graham on the other hand, looked at our space and asked about our needs, he put thought on where we can best put our hot tub, how to design around that to maximize usable space, and talked to us about what material (e.g. bluestones, river stone) we can use to match our house color. In the end, it was that thought and care he put in that made us go with him.3) They also thought about the existing space: for example, our house is blue, so they went out of their way to get river stones that have hints of blue in them.4) The crew was extremely efficient: I couldnt believe how skilled they were- I thought it would take at least a few days, but they were able to finish within 8hrs! It was also nice to see the owner working on site during the job to make sure everything was tidy.5) Flexible: at the last minute we decided to add a stone area surround our AC.Conclusion: I think this company is one of the best companies in Charlottesville and will be coming back in the spring for more landscaping work! If you are looking for landscaping, this is the right place to call!

Graham was greatWe had a mud pit in our back yardturned into a beautiful patioHe was on time with the projectUpfront with the pricing and did a great job!We would highly recommend them

The Great Outdoors, LLC did a phenomenal job helping us design a new patio space this past August. We were so impressed with their quality of work, communication, and planning that we hired them for a landscaping project as well. Our backyard is beautiful now! Highly recommend.

We were very impressed with this company! The owner, Graham Howe, was very professional and informative. He planned our landscaping and provided a complete drawing within 24 hours of his visit. The finished landscaping went above and beyond our expectations. We will definitely contact him with any future landscaping projects.

These guys deliver exactly what they promised. We couldn’t be happier. Thanks

Graham you are professional and we will ask more for your help in our backyard still we didnt decide from where we will begin.your plans helpful and we are really appreciate all what you offered and gives us..wish all the best.

The Great Outdoors installed slate steps and two patios in my back yard this past fall. I wasnt exactly sure what I wanted, and I asked Graham to design a cost effective plan. I was really pleased with the results and the cost. I had asked for the work to be done quickly as I was having a party the following week. This was a tough job to begin with given the pitch of my back yard, and then it rained both days they were here. They got it done on time despite the weather and the backyard looks great! I was very impressed with Graham. I gave him a budget and a timeline and he executed on both perfectly. I will definitely be using them again in the near future.

This review is incredibly delayed but I wanted to make sure to praise the work that Graham and rest of the staff of the Great Outdoors did. This is the second time that we have used the company and both of our experiences were fantastic. For the first project, they installed several wooden retaining walls around the front of our property. The work was done quickly and affordably, and the quality was excellent. The walls are still in great shape several years later.Last summer (2016) we hired the Great Outdoors to install a new flagstone patio and stone retaining wall around the back and side of our home. We were somewhat hesitant to commit to the project because the work would be so extensive but Graham took the time to meet with us, answer our questions, and provide suggestions on what could be done to improve the existing space while still keeping the cost within our budget. In addition to the patio, they also made some alterations to our front walk to accommodate a nearby tree. The walk is now safer and the tree was undisturbed. As with the first project, they were very efficient, completing the project in just under a week, and did a wonderful job. As a result of this project, my wife and I now spend considerably more time enjoying our backyard.On a side note, all of the staff for the Great Outdoors are incredibly friendly and polite, making them enjoyable to work with. The company also has an ecological mentality to their work, trying to utilize local plants in their landscaping, which was appealing to my wife and me. We will definitely call the Great Outdoors for any future work we would like done.

Graham and his crew did an excellent job of completing our project on time and efficiently. He was a pleasure to work with all the way along. We highly recommend his company.

I have worked with Graham on several projects, including hardscaping the back patio and design/installation of landscaping in the front yard. His professional opinion takes into account the level of time I am able to commit to my yard (very little) as well as what plants & trees would work best in this environment. He understands the importance of staying budget; I have always felt that I have paid a fair price for his ideas & labor. Graham is timely in his follow up and follow through. Finally, even when thrown a curve ball (a last minute installation of a fire pit sunk into the patio), Graham embraced the concept & designed a beautiful, cozy gathering space for friends that is the talk of the neighborhood. I highly recommend The Great Outdoors for any landscaping project.

We moved into our new house and felt overwhelmed by the lack of landscaping. We contacted Graham and he prepared a master plan for our whole property. His expertise and knowledge of what grows well in Central Virginia, native plants and deer and rabbit resistance has been invaluable to us. He and his team have completed the front and back for us and in the Autumn we will complete each side. Along with his recommendations, Graham also listened to what we like and incorporated our favorite plants in the plan. We look forward to working with The Great Outdoors again in the fall.

They helped to improve the landscape at both our home and rental property. They did an excellent job enhancing the look with new trees, shrubs, and perennials. They also installed a beautiful flagstone patio for us. Highly recommended!

Great design and collaboration with all professionals involved, installed retaining walls, fencing, landscape and final touches to make this major project just wonderful. I highly recommend Graham and his team. Ill be a returning customer.

Graham and his crew finished a hardscaping & landscaping project for us in Crozet, VA right before Memorial Day weekend in just 3 days. The results are exactly what we wanted. Graham is prompt, courteous, knowledgeable and experienced. You cant go wrong with him and his hardworking crew.

Graham and his crew are talented gentlemen who work very efficiently and do beautiful work. I bought a Groupon for a landscape consultation that resulted in an overhaul of the very poor curb appeal of my front yard. With Grahams vision, I now have a lovely appealing approach to my front door complete with new sod, new shrubs, and a lovely rock garden swale that has resolved a long term drainage issue while adding definition and character to my flower bed. In the rear of my home, they removed a 30 foot row of old, out-of-control shrubs and replaced them with four beautiful, well-spaced viburnums. An old overgrown boxwood at the corner of the house was replaced with a beautiful Nellie Stevens holly. He was very careful to choose deer resistant plants throughout the project. The sod placed in the front and back yards was expertly placed and is already well established in a couple of weeks. I highly recommend The Great Outdoors for your landscaping and hardscaping needs. Graham is a delightful, polite, and honest young man and you will not be disappointed.

They are relatively reasonable with prices