Outdoor Craftsmen

Outdoor Craftsmen offer turf mowing and garden maintenance as well as yard design work. They even offer winter services.

Outdoor Craftsmen were thorough and professional from start to finish. The design work was remarkable as was the execution of a major project throughout the winter and spring. When we elected to make a few modifications in the middle of the project, they were responsive and Chris, Don and their crew adjusted quickly and as needed. They honor their warranties and since completion have checked on the yard and new plantings. Their vision and experience led to a highly functional and creative backyard living environment in the middle of the city.

After a year and a half remodel and being out of our house, our yard was completely torn up. We were very involved in the house remodel and by the time we were done and moved back in, we were exhausted. We met with Scott Deemer and told him we were open to ideas. Our designer was Chris Holthouser and he came up with some incredibly unique ideas. We looked at his ideas and tweaked them a bit with our own thoughts and that was it!!! What he did was amazing!! We had to make so many decisions in the house remodel, it was nice to sit back and let them do what they do best. Everyone was professional and respectful of our privacy while they worked in our yard. No loud music and no daily trash to pick up. They kept us informed of the progress and it came out GREAT. We were so happy with the plants, landscaping and hardscapes. We can now sit back and enjoy our beautiful house AND our beautiful landscaping. Several of our neighbors have since hired Outdoor Craftsman after seeing what they did to our house and their homes look amazing, too.

Based on our experience of over 40+ years of owning multiple homes in Boulder County, including doing two remodels, trying to work with Outdoor Craftsman was by far the worst experience we have had in working with any contractor. Essentially, you are locked into a contract for a minimum of $5000 without knowing what the final estimated cost would be - when asked an approximate cost of the project, we got the evasive answer of "somewhere between $10,000 and $1 million". In actuality, the bid came back at twice our budget. When we decided not to move forward due to the cost, we were handed an invoice for the balance of the 'plan', of which we had only received a plan for about a third of the entire yard - but were expected to pay for the entire plan that was never completed.

Wow! Outdoor Craftsmen turned my humdrum suburban yard into a work of art. The project took about 6 weeks and it was fairly extensive -- they eliminated all of the grass in the backyard as well as a few dead trees. Then they added 45+ tons of boulders, a bubble rock, several trees and bushes, and hundreds of plants. They also enlarged the concrete patio to make it more functional. My backyard is visible from a popular bike path and I can’t tell you how many people stop to tell me how much they love my new yard. I love it, too! So does the local wildlife. My yard is alive with birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bunnies, and bees. I also loved working with Outdoor Craftsmen. Everyone I came into contact with was extremely professional and conscientious. They each took great pride in their work and they very much wanted me to be happy with their work. I think they named their company well because each of them really is a “craftsman”. To summarize, Outdoor Craftsmen did an outstanding job for me and I highly recommend them to you.

We have worked with Scott's team for over 10 years on two major landscaping projects for an established home (i.e. needed major renovation) involving, design, installation and maintenance. I love my yard and so, apparently, do all the neighbors who compliment me each season. The hardscapes are beautiful and functional; the irrigation system is water efficient; the lighting exquisite, and the planting makes every season a palette of color and texture. Scott takes the hint of a customer's vision and builds out options without dogma. His crew is friendly and responsive to input (move it a foot to the right.) Above all, he stands behind his work.

Outdoor Craftsmen is one of the top landscape architects, designers, and installers in Boulder County. We searched for just the right company to design and install landscaping for new construction. Outdoor Craftsmen was our choice and it was one of the best choices in services we made during the process of constructing a new home. The owner, Scott, personally met with us during our selection phase to answer our questions and educate us on how his company would best fit the requirements of a project that was starting from ground zero. They hire top notch help. Every person that worked on our project from the planners and designers to the team of workers tasked with grading the lot, laying the sprinkler system and digging the holes for the countless trees and plants was highly professional. We had dedicated workers at our site until dark making sure the job was done right. One of the most important attributes of Outdoor Craftsmen is their immediate response and proactivity. They have replaced plants before I even noticed there was something wrong with them. They take pride in their work and want their customers satisfied. We highly recommend this company!

Our rural home sits on five acres at the base of the mountains on the edge of the prairie. Scott and his team of skilled professionals heard and understood our vision of taming this property, then designed until it was right, a plan for transforming our exterior space as a natural extension of our interior space. They coordinated with our building contractor to terrace the newly built walkout basement up and out to the east. Artfully placed massive boulders structured the terracing to look as if they were always there. Unique trees, bushes, and grasses were selected and placed to provide structure, shape, texture, and color. The walkout is a work of art, a masterpiece! That aesthetic was carried throughout the property. Installations of boulders gave structure to an otherwise flat landscape and tied newly planted trees, bushes, and grasses into existing plant life. Ours was a monumental project, and its outcome far exceeded our expectations. Knowledge, skill, experience, and artistry coupled with responsive and supportive client care made working with Outdoor Craftsmen a complete pleasure.

We used Outdoor Craftsman to design a major makeover to our front and back yards. Our main goal was to eliminate the traditional bluegrass that occupied most of the space and to have a more natural landscape that would use less water in the long run. Outdoor Craftsman did the design and the landscape work. The crew that worked on our project did a great job. They worked every day the weather permitted and worked well as a team. We had major work done in the removal of grass, a concrete patio and rock wall and established trees and shrubs. These were replaced with more natural plantings and landscaping, as well as raised garden beds, new patio block, an outdoor kitchen, pergola and yard lights. We are very pleased with the end result, and working with Outdoor Craftsman has been professional and comfortable.

They were terrific for the first 3 years, these last 2 have been awful. They contracted to do full landscape service (except cutting the lawn) and I hired them so I could travel and not have to worry about landscape maintenance. I've had to call them frequently regarding routine things that should have been done per the contract or as set up by the company and me. Or I have to call them because the job wasn't done right. Or I have to call them because they didn't come when they said they would. The last straw was when I called the supposed supervisor to tell him I'd be gone for 5 weeks and to make sure they didn't power wash the pond and start it up for summer. That was on March 24th. My irrigation system wasn't turned on for the season (yes, they took care of that too so they should have known) so there would be no water to the pond. They came and did the work anyway. My house sitter emailed me in Warsaw, Poland to let me know that the pump in the pond was making all sorts of grinding noises and that they had been there and turned it on. Luckily she figured out how to turn it off. Another example is, that they had for 5 years used a local professional tree service and billed me with my monthly charge. For the 2014-15 season they stopped using the pro service but didn't tell me. So my trees weren't serviced for a year, from fall 2014 to spring 2016. But worse than that was when they needed pruning they sent a new employee of theirs with no tree experience. He did such a job hacking the trees that it cost me $882 to have the tree service they used to use come and try to mitigate the damage. There are many other problems, too many to go into here, from billing to supervision (none). Beware

I'd been using Outdoor Craftsmen for a few years to maintain grounds of my home in Niwot. When I moved back to Boulder in 2015, I asked Scott Deemer if he could design something special for my courtyard and front garden. I now have a beautiful glass sculpture, waterwall and koi pond off my studio and a unique entrance to my home! The work is first rate and everyone involved was great to work with. I highly recommend Outdoor Craftsmen for a unique look, impeccable work and easy working relationship.

At the end of 2015 we completed a major re-landscaping project with Outdoor Craftsmen. The project was a complete refresh of our property including building a new backyard paver patio and outdoor kitchen, rebuilding large boulder retaining walls, creating attractive planting space on a very steep, shaded curbside part of our lot, installing new irrigation, sod, trees and plants throughout the property and a new paver driveway to replace our old concrete. The project took three months to complete (as scheduled) and we are very happy with the work. Their crews were extremely hard working, friendly, respectful, prompt and incredibly skilled. Their attention to detail was stellar. Our project manager was highly attentive to our needs and concerns - whether large or small, throughout the entire project from the design aspect through installation and beyond. He was highly responsive and always available for questions/consultation. He was sensitive to our budget and put forth reasonable options for us to discuss and base decisions on. We give OC the highest possible recommendation.

We finished our outdoor project this year, after using the company for several different things in the past few years. The results are fabulous, and the attention to detail is like no one else. We are thrilled with our end product, and will continue to use the company for all of our outdoor needs.

The entire team at Outdoor Craftsmen was very professional and a joy to work with throughout the entire process. They completely redesigned the exterior of our home in Bloomfield and the end result is amazing. We are so impressed! Our new outdoor living space is much more than we had ever thought it could be. I would certainly use them again or recommend them to anybody looking to improve the landscape around their home.

After the contract was signed, we did not feel our needs and concerns were heard or followed through on. When asking for a sidewalk worth of brick pavers returned (that OC removed) was told they'd been thrown out (they were less then 3 years old.) Many shrubs have since died. OC replaced them the first year and after that we were on our own. We clearly stated we did not want a specific set of shrubs but were condescendingly made to feel they were necessary. They all died last year, three (4 yrs?) years after installation. When expressing concerns over our new irrigation system not meeting the needs of our new, high end trees and shrubbery we ended up needing to solve the problem ourselves. Bummed it didn't work out. Expensive! We were disappointed when the one staff person who sincerely seemed to listen and care was not rehired the next summer. Sorry, but do not recommend OC.

The Outdoor Craftsmen are a professional organization that does top notch Designs. They have great attention to detail and offer amazing landscapes with clear vision.

For the past two years, we have worked with Chris Holthouser at Outdoor Craftsmen on a complete renovation of our yard. The project has involved removing all of the grass, putting in pathways, regrading some areas, building a large new front stoop, extensive paver work, installation of trees and large shrubs, and replacing our antiquated irrigation system. While the project is now mostly complete, we will be working with Chris and Outdoor Craftsmen this spring and next for outdoor lighting design and installation, adding smaller plants, etc. We have also engaged the company for sprinkler and other outdoor maintenance work. Our expectations for the project have been far exceeded in every way – the design, installation, plant selection and quality, the skill of the crews, and the quality of service. Unlike some of the other companies that we interviewed, Outdoor Craftsmen really listened to what we wanted rather than trying to sell us a standard design. We have been particularly impressed with their willingness to stand behind all of their work whether it involves a minor adjustment or replacing a tree or shrub. Chris, in addition to designing the project and providing overall management, was closely involved in all phases of the work. He was always available if we had questions, and if something needed his attention, he responded quickly. No detail was too small to escape his attention or interest, and his knowledge of all aspects of landscaping is extensive. Based on our experience with Chris, we have recommended Outdoor Craftsmen to friends and neighbors and will continue to do so in the future. At the outset of the project, Chris told us that his goal was for us to love it – and we do!

We are so thankful for the beautiful landscaping craftsmanship in the creation of our backyard and front yard space. It was a very educational process for us, and I am sure that at times we might have been difficult because we didn’t understand every detail that goes into the planning and execution of a project like ours. We were treated with the utmost respect from everyone that Outdoor Craftsman employs from their project manager, to the men who worked on sight, as well as the owner. They took care of every detail and thoroughly explained the process to us along the way, all along while being available at any time to answer the numerous questions and concerns that we had. We have been more than pleased with the landscaping that was done and feel it was worth every penny we put into it. Our family of 5 richly enjoys the backyard and we are out there all the time with each other, which was our goal. It has been awesome to watch the changes occur even as the grasses and plants mature. The front yard went from hated to loved and we are pleased with the ambiance it creates for the entrance of our home. Their suggestions along the way were thoroughly thought out and planned beyond what we would have thought of. The aftercare has been wonderful too. We’ve had Paula come out to see us and teach us what to pull as weeds and what not (as we do not have this general knowledge), she was very helpful. We have felt like anytime we have a concern, someone is there to help us out. Outdoor Craftsman's service and staff are bar none. We would recommend their services to anyone looking to enhance the appearance and enjoyment of their home. Hohs Residence, Frederick, CO

We contacted Outdoor Craftsmen after accidentally pulling into our neighbor’s driveway in the suburbs (twice!). We wanted something that would make our house unique, and that would draw attention to the front door, rather than the three-car garage. We also needed help fixing inherited drainage issues that were sinking our front path. Outdoor Craftsmen exceeded our expectations, drafting a plan of an open porch, a more natural path, and a landscaping overhaul. The design process was collaborative, with a nice mix of our own ideas and theirs when we needed inspiration. They modified their drafts to meet our aesthetic tastes and were able to break down their plans into smaller projects that we could implement as our budget allowed. They also exceeded our expectations during the actual construction work. The crews were consistent and courteous. They were even willing to schedule construction around our then-toddler’s naps. The crew took pride in their work and their expertise was obvious as they seamlessly integrated natural boulders, concrete pavers, and stone masonry with a delightful array of interesting flora. Subcontractors were highly skilled and did beautiful woodwork over our porch. Like every project, our project was unique, and Outdoor Craftsmen approached each stage with flexibility and creativity as challenges were encountered and overcome. For instance, Outdoor Craftsmen tirelessly applied a variety of stains to the path to get the look that we wanted. When the steep incline of our front walk caused some of the floating pavers to flex, Outdoor Craftsmen came back immediately to make adjustments. Likewise, when we realized that the incline caused the pavers to be slick when wet; Outdoor Craftsmen quickly researched options and found a special grip that they applied in order to provide additional traction in the winter. When some of the plants did not make it through their first winter (which is to be expected), they not only replaced what hadn’t survived, but also added a whole assortment of new plants to give us a palette of spring color. And last, but not least, Chris even personally escorted us to the tree farm to select our front centerpiece. In conclusion, Outdoor Craftsman produced superior work for us. They transformed the front of our house into something beautiful, a space that we enjoy spending time in, and a place we look forward to returning home to.

We have contracted Outdoor Craftsmen for two projects and are pleased with the outcome and enjoyed the process. In comparison to other landscape contractors that we have used, we found Outdoor Craftsmen outstanding in getting what we wanted at the cost we wanted to pay. They are very easy to work with and are able to adjust the project to fit the needs and budget. We appreciate their design sense, their horticultural knowledge and workmanship. The association we have had with Outdoor Craftsmen over the last three years has been rewarding.

We hired Outdoor Craftsmen to update our existing landscaping. We originally wanted to add some color, but were intrigued with Scott's unique approach to landscaping. A new landscape plan was proposed and we toured their supply of landscape plants and materials. We were impressed with the variety of interesting trees, shrubs and plants. They have a large selection of beautiful plants - much different than we'd seen before. The end result to phase 1 of our update is incredible. It fits our desire to have a mountain style landscape and is so much more. Scott has an vision for our yard and it is apparent in the placement of each boulder, tree and plant. He was hands on throughout the project. Every member of his team is invested in the end result. I appreciate how available they are and how incredibly talented each and every person is. We have used them to plant our flower pots, outdoor maintenance as well as our Christmas lights and are absolutely pleased with each project.

This thank you is late in forthcoming, but I wanted to express our gratitude for such a magnificent completion for our landscape project. We have received many comments regarding your work and how beautifully it complements the house. We love the natural scope and feel of the yard and we have had the pleasure of passing along referrals for Outdoor Craftsmen. Additionally, we appreciate the group of workers that perform the weekly maintenance. They have done a fine job thus far and are always professional and courteous. Again, thank you for your guidance in designing the front and back yards. Your team is top notch and very thorough. -Amy and Jim Smith, Superior CO

“We engaged with Outdoor Craftsmen for a huge project to completely landscape our 1.3 acres including all the trees, shrubberies and plants. They installed a large deck, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, stone patio, new driveway and entryway and so many other projects that I cannot even begin to list. We have remodeled and built several of our homes and there are always issues that arise - always, be it overruns, miscommunication, follow through etc., but with Outdoor Craftsmen, there were no issues and that is due to the amazing hands on approach taken by Chris Holthouser and his team and by the complete support of the owner, Scott Deemer. The attention to detail was quite extraordinary and the commitment by the team to get it just right made it a very easy project for us as the homeowners. Chris would be out late at night placing plants in just the right spot or driving up to Northern Colorado to look at rocks, his passion it would seem, or on the phone getting everything ordered and installed in time. Their accounting process is very easy to understand, the change order process is very well organized and I never panicked about an invoice coming in with an unknown number because that never happened and that is a first in all our years of building. Every benchmark was met, every detail as described and the end result is quite spectacular.” -Elaine & Daniel Berg, Boulder CO

We looked at several different companies to complete our backyard project and Outdoor Craftsman was by far the most thought out plan with unique style and features. Chris had the vision from the beginning and the project turned out above and beyond our expectations. The project was 3 months long, with a crew here every weekday. The crew and project supervisor were extremely polite and respectful. Their attention to detail and strive for perfection was impressive. We are looking forward to spring to enjoy it up close again!

The team at Outdoor Craftsmen is a group of talented professionals who envisioned and executed an incredible landscape for our home that went beyond our expectations. Chris designed a plan that creatively solved our issues of poor drainage and lack of privacy with extensive boulder hardscapes, large berms, and amazing plant specimens. During the two phases of our job (almost 5 months total) the crew maintained a clean and safe job site, kept open communication, and dealt with many last-minute requests and changes from us with ease and flexibility. We now have a beautiful, private oasis that we love - and spend much of our time in! We would not hesitate to recommend Outdoor Craftsmen to anyone. Their commitment to excellence is evidenced in their outstanding work.