---
title: "Gaia Gardens — Landscape Contractors | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/gaia-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1452529472
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1452529472.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Gaia Gardens"
category: ["Landscape Contractors"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/7033b45f04aacb80_9361-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States"
phone: "(973) 495-3755"
website: http://www.gaiagardens.net/
rating: 4.9
review_count: 15
best_of_houzz_awards: 2
followers: 38
last_updated: 2026-08-20
---

# Gaia Gardens

Original Houzz profile: [Gaia Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/gaia-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1452529472)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Landscape Contractors
- **Location:** Montclair, NJ
- **Serves:** Bloomfield, West Orange, Montclair, South Orange, Verona, Cedar Grove
- **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (15 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2017–2019), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Recommended on Houzz
- 1,000 Ideabook Saves
- Best of Houzz winner
- Locally owned
- Offers Custom Work

Gaia Gardens will create a beautiful, organic, and sustainable environment that integrates aesthetically and ecologically with your property.

We do this by providing personalized design tailored to your lifestyle. We design with a preference toward low maintenance, native, and functional landscaping based upon principles of sustainable land use and permaculture.

Our finished projects are attractive while also serving a purpose. The careful selection of plants and knowledgeable design implementation can solve drainage problems and reduce the cost of heating or cooling a home. Many beautiful plants can also provide healthy snacks, for you and local wildlife.

Prior to beginning a project, we will evaluate the present habitat and design according to the characteristics of your property. Plants are positioned with respect to their own micro-climate, treated as an element in the ever changing composition of nature.

We maintain the same approach through all of our services, landscape design, hardscaping, plantings, container, and specialty gardening. Our maintenance practices are geared towards the health and success of every plant while emphasizing your stylistic preferences. We use IPM (integrated pest management) for effective, environmentally low-impact, low-cost problem solving.

### Services Provided

- Landscape Construction
- Hardscaping
- Garden Design
- Landscape Maintenance
- Patio Construction
- Paver Installation
- Retaining Wall Construction
- Custom Fire Pits
- Pool Landscaping
- Outdoor Kitchen Construction
- Outdoor Lighting Installation
- Masonry
- Outdoor Fireplace Construction
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Landscape Lighting Installation
- Brick Masonry
- Planting
- Landscape Drainage System Installation
- Sod Installation
- Tree Planting
- Lawn Care
- Mulching
- Site Preparation
- Organic Gardens
- Lawn Mowing
- Hedge Trimming
- Lawn Aeration
- Lawn Seeding
- Lawn Treatment & Fertilization
- Stump Removal
- Stump Grinding
- Yard Waste Removal
- Landscape Design
- Patio Design
- Native planting and edibles
- Outdoor Lighting Design
- Pergola Design

### Areas Served

- Bloomfield
- West Orange
- Montclair
- South Orange
- Verona
- Cedar Grove

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Gaia Gardens |
| Address | Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States |
| Phone | (973) 495-3755 |
| Website | http://www.gaiagardens.net/ |
| License Number | NJ HIC\# 13VH03809900 |
| Followers on Houzz | 38 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/gaiagardensllc/

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Gaia Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/gaia-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1452529472)
- **Website:** http://www.gaiagardens.net/
- **Phone:** (973) 495-3755

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- -New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association
- -Rutgers Master Gardener

- **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2017–2019), for Design, Service.

**Affiliations**
- [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973)
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/better-business-bureau-pfvwus-pf~1830530549)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 15 reviews**

### Reviews

**★★★★ — Jean Folsom, Feb. 2018**

> I hired Gaia Gardens to completely re-landscape my front yard.  Daria came up with a beautiful design, adding lovely plants I never would have thought of on my own, and simplifying the maintenance as I had requested.  She added a stone wall to balance the one I already had, making the design much more cohesive than it had previously been.  The workers were professional and the site was immaculate when they left.  I have hired her for more projects, and plan to use her services for all my lawn and garden maintenance in 2018.

**★★★★★ — Eugenie Temmler, Feb. 2018**

> Gaia Gardens deliveted exactly what I was looking for:  a pretty, natural, ecologicaaly friendly and low-maintenance garden.  Timeliness and price weregood too.

**★★★★★ — Toni Bransford, Oct. 2017**

> I have used Daria's company ever since I met her almost 10 years ago at a pottery store and she has never disappointed. She is always forthright, does profess to do something she can't do, and follows through. When I first met her she convinced me to have my lawn mowed every 2 weeks rather than every week because it was healthier for the grass. This was different from what everyone else espoused.
> I have recommended her to at least 2 more friends recently and they have both been very happy with her services.
>
> She has and will continue to handle ALL our landscaping needs. She handles all our planting needs. At this point, I don't even go to pick out what I want. I just give her a general sense, we look at some things, she has an idea of what I like after all this time, and shejust picks it out and does it, giving me a reasonable price.

**★★★★★ — Virgilia Campos, July 2017**

> I love working with Daria.besides being a delightful human being, she runs a successful business with trustworthy employees.  She's been at my house probably for four years now and my only regret is that I did not meet her earlier

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you for your review!! For ever let me know when you are having a pot luck!

**★★★★ — Lon and Lisa Hoyt, Sept. 2016**

> Gaia Gardens has completed two major projects for us over the past few years and several smaller ones. We are very pleased with our redesigned front yard, new rear patio and landscaping. The owner is very knowledgeable, has good design sensibility and offers budget-conscious recommendations. Project schedules and budgets are outlined in advance. The owner responds promptly to questions and follows up on project details. We look forward to hiring Gaia Gardens for the next project.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — Joy Parisi, July 2016**

> We love working with Daria -- she is honest, caring, professional and her knowledge of plants and landscaping, as well as her passion for her profession, is inspiring. She also makes sure to work according to her customer's tastes, and makes great suggestions based on what we prefer as well as what will work in a specific area, and she will work within your budget. She landscaped the front of our house, put in bamboo for us in a way that would not invade our neighbors property, and we will look forward to working with her for years to come.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — HU-9021984, July 2016**

> I am an avid gardener. I read a lot, browse catalogs and I am very much aware that I am very demanding.  That’s why I use Daria Paxton for consultation and regular garden work.
> I learned over the time how much she loves her job and takes pride in it to the great detail.  Fertilizers and weed killers she is using do not harm birds or kill earthworms.  Her team doesn’t rip the grass to the bare ground when doing the edging.  Things like that show how much she cares.
> In addition to that she possesses a great knowledge of plants, growing conditions and proper maintenance.  She is conscientious about the environment, water usage and the benefit for birds when she gives an advice as to what is worth planting.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — Joel Patenaude, July 2016**

> Daria, Gaia Garden's owner, has a stable crew of landscapers who have cared for our yard for the past several years.  Early on we had some large projects including reclaiming a wild woody lot and incorporating it into our yard.   They are easy to work with and I highly recommend Gaia Gardens.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — higberg, July 2016**

> Daria the owner of Gaia Gardens is a talented professional. She gives personal attention and is thoughtful in her planning and communication with each client she works with. I highly recommend Gaia Gardens.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — Linda Luciano, July 2016**

> Daria helped us envision a garden where only chaos existed. She has an eye for detail. She encouraged us to use different types of plants based upon height, textures and color. She also helped us envision a new walk that blended well with the landscape. We have worked with Daria since 2005 and are very happy with her work.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you Linda for reviewing me on Houzz. It was a pleasure working with you.

**★★★★★ — John and Julie Hartley, July 2016**

> Gaia Gardens helps me be a better landlord!  I own a 3-family building in Montclair and live out of state.  For many years Daria and her team have taken care of all items outside for me - lawn, clean-ups, snow removal, tree trimming, etc...  As a longtime customer I particularly appreciate their responsiveness to last minute, emergency requests (had water in the basement, tenants thought it was snow-melt coming through the foundation, Daria was on property within 30min of a call, she quickly diagnosed a backed up mainline over flowing - not good news, but accurate and helpful).  Other times I've needed quick, unexpected help with yard projects and called Gaia.  Each time a representative came right over and either helped resolve my problem or referred me to a specific professional that helped.  I have a long list of service providers that I rely on to help me be an effective long-distance landlord.  Of all of them, Gaia Gardens is consistently has the best customer service and response time.  Thanks Gaia Gardens!

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

**★★★★★ — Rudresh Mahanthappa, July 2016**

> Daria has a done a wonderful job maintaining our lawn, trees, and plants.  We've also had her do some seasonal planting in our beds with great success.

**Comment from Gaia Gardens:**

> Thank you so much for taking the time to review me on Houzz.

## Selected projects

- [Driveway Expansion, Stonework, Lighting and Maintenance](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/driveway-expansion-stonework-lighting-and-maintenance-pj-vj~1844088)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 4
- [Eclectic Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eclectic-garden-pj-vj~1844093)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: Colorful, multi-season garden
- [Outdoor Kids Play Area and Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-kids-play-area-and-landscape-pj-vj~2352494)
  - Location: Glen Ridge, NJ
  - Photos: 4
- [Landscape and Patio Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/landscape-and-patio-project-pj-vj~2352572)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 2
- [Outdoor Patio Stonework and Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-patio-stonework-and-landscape-pj-vj~2352555)
  - Location: Oradell, NJ
  - Photos: 5
- [Full Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/full-landscape-pj-vj~2352534)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 2
- [Driveway and Landscape Project](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/driveway-and-landscape-project-pj-vj~2352541)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 4
- [West Orange Modern Front Yard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/west-orange-modern-front-yard-pj-vj~1844075)
  - Location: West Orange, NJ
  - Photos: 2
- [Rock Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rock-garden-pj-vj~1844073)
  - Location: Montclair, NJ
  - Photos: 3
- [Outdoor Kitchen, Stonework and Lighting](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-kitchen-stonework-and-lighting-pj-vj~1844082)
  - Location: Glen Ridge, NJ
  - Photos: 2
- [Oradell Ranch House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/oradell-ranch-house-pj-vj~1844079)
  - Location: Oradell, NJ
  - Photos: 2

[See all 11 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/gaia-gardens-pfvwus-pf~1452529472)

## Ideabooks

- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/113208016/list/wish-list) — 28 ideas
- [My Bathroom Plan](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/138762220/list/my-bathroom-plan) — 35 ideas
- [Garden favorites](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/139122427/list/garden-favorites) — 5 ideas

[See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/gaiagardens)

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-20.*