A Yard & A Half Landscaping Cooperative
Local business · 26 Thayer Rd, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
Their work
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Call (781) 788-8855Visit websiteSee on GoogleYou reach them directly — we don’t take a cut.
Verified record
- Not rated by the BBB
- 2 reviews in the last 6 monthsNo negatives
- 14 customer photosOf completed work
Highlights
- Multi-source ratings — 4.7★ on both Google and Houzz, no dissent
- Repeat business — one client cites several separate completed jobs
- Warranty honored — a settled paver driveway edge was fixed at no cost
- Trade credentials — ICPI paver and NCMA retaining-wall certifications
A Yard & A Half is a worker-owned landscaping cooperative that's been shaping yards around Waltham since 1988 — founded by Eileen Michaels, then handed to its crew as a 100% employee-owned co-op in 2007, with 19 worker-owners now running the company. It covers Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Lexington, Newton, and Waltham, and the two things people keep hiring it for are stone hardscaping and organic garden maintenance. The most recent reviews describe exactly that kind of work. In June, a homeowner credited two of the cooperative's staff, Geovani and Gina, with a budget-conscious patio build and a full planting plan, right down to care instructions for the new plants. A February review from a repeat client walked through several separate jobs: a yard regrade and custom patio with ornamental boulders, a paver driveway whose settled edge was fixed under the existing warranty, and a bamboo-removal job. That pattern — one household coming back project after project — is the strongest thing on record here. Its Houzz and Google pages both land at 4.7 stars, Houzz on 6 ratings and Google on 13, and independent mentions on Nextdoor and a couple of landscaping directories echo the same design-and-stonework reputation with no dissent anywhere. Houzz also lists a run of hands-on trade credentials — ICPI-certified paver installation, NCMA segmental retaining wall installation, a Certified Master Gardener and an MA Certified Horticulturist on staff, and a NOFA organic landcare credential that lines up with its stated maintenance approach. Older recognitions on file include an Angie's List Super Service Award (2016) and an Inc. Magazine "Winning Workplace" honor (2010). What's missing is scale: the star ratings come from a modest pool — a little over a dozen on Google, half a dozen on Houzz — so this reads as a well-liked, well-credentialed local outfit rather than a high-volume one, and there's no negative review on record to weigh against the praise. As a landscaping business it isn't state-licensed (Massachusetts doesn't license landscapers), so those trade certifications are the closest thing to third-party vetting worth asking about directly. For a hardscape or planting project in its service towns, this is a reasonable call — just confirm current scheduling, since spring and summer are when this trade gets booked solid.
Read the comments
Most recent comments
- 5.0Jun 9, 2026
We had a fantastic experience with A Yard and a Half! From our very first consultation, it was clear that Geovani and Gina had both a great eye for design and a genuine commitment to creating a beautiful outdoor space that fit within our budget. The patio they built looks amazing, and we're thrilled with the new lawn, plants, and flowers. Their team also provided detailed care instructions to help us maintain everything properly, which we really appreciated. What stood out most was the level of thoughtfulness and personal attention Gina brought to the project. When I mentioned that dahlias are my favorite flower, but that I was worried I might forget to dig up the bulbs before winter with a newborn on the way, she immediately offered to send me a reminder. It's that kind of care and attention to detail that made the entire experience so special. We couldn't be happier with the results and would highly recommend A Yard and a Half to anyone looking for a talented, professional, and truly caring landscaping team.
— Mackenzie LaneView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Feb 1, 2026
I have used A Yard and a Half Landscaping for multiple jobs, and I cannot speak highly enough of their excellent workmanship, friendly service, and fast turnaround. Initially, they partnered with my landscape designer to regrade my yard and build custom patios with ornamental boulders – transforming an eyesore into a beautiful space for entertaining. They also installed a paver driveway at a great price, backed by a warranty they’ve already honored when an edge settled slightly. Most recently, they tackled invasive bamboo from a neighbor’s yard that had spread into and across my yard, dislodging pavers from one of the patios and damaging a retaining wall. Almost immediately after I called, they sent a crew to uncover, chase, and remove dozens of massive roots – some three feet deep, up to 30 feet long, and thicker than my forearm—painstakingly working by hand in the cold around existing trees and plants. They rebuilt the patio and retaining wall, cleaned everything up, and left the area looking like new. As a bonus, they even worked with my neighbor to get the bamboo removed from his side of the fence, saving me a difficult conversation. Highly recommended! Geovani is the best!
— Laurie DamianosView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Aug 1, 2025
Mario and his crew just finished the front of my home, and I'm truly elated. These men worked through rain, were punctual, and the ultimate professionals! They were here every day until the job was done! So happy with their design and work that I've already referred them, and I plan on doing the back of my home and my kids home next year!
— SusanView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Jul 3, 2024
Geovani Aguilar and his team at A Yard and a Half just created and built the most beautiful water feature for my yard. They finished today, and I could *not* be happier! My pictures don't even begin to show its beauty. Geovani and his crew were fantastic to work with. They included me in all the decisions -- what shape to make the feature, whether to make a waterfall or have a gentle burble, how to arrange the rocks, what plants to put around it. So I really feel like we came up with something *mine*, rather than something that someone put into my yard. He worked around my schedule, answered my many questions, and was super diligent about leaving everything spotless afterwards. Oh, and the prices were about a third of what I had gotten quoted by another company. Fully insured, and true professionals. I would gladly recommend Geovani's work to all!
— Amy TravisView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Oct 5, 2023
Fantastic people with fantastic skills. Best 'landscaping' business I've ever spoken with. They do the right kind of work FOR people and planet 🙏🏼
— Zane WalshView on Google Reviews ↗
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Update history
Added 7 new comments, added 44 new photos, established rating 4.1
- behind the score: Multi-source ratings — 4.7★ on both Google and Houzz, no dissent
What does landscaping cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from A Yard & A Half Landscaping Cooperative. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$50 – $70
Typical landscaping service around $60