Verified record
Several Houzz customers who wrote in 2016 brought Ralph Williams Landscape Design jobs that needed a plan before a shovel: a replacement lawn, garden railroad, pool-side layout, stone walls, patios, and a waterfall. The Houzz profile places the business in Lancaster and describes a father-and-son team with 60 years of combined experience. The older accounts give useful detail. One 2016 reviewer said Ralph and Eric removed crabgrass and six to eight inches of poor soil, brought in good soil, leveled the yard, and reseeded it. Another wrote that a waterfall rebuilt about two years earlier had worked without annual repairs; other 2016 customers described a concrete patio, stone walls, and a backyard design around a pool. Houzz currently shows a 4.8 average from six ratings and 23 projects, while all six written reviews date to 2016. The service list covers landscape and garden design, hardscaping, patios, pools, and masonry. Before hiring, ask for current project photos and a site-specific plan and schedule; the written examples are old enough that recent work should be part of the first conversation.
“Designed by Ralph Williams Landscape Design in Harvard, the display fills a 16-by-20-foot platform.”
I have used Ralph Williams Design several times over the years, from minor to major landscaping projects. The quality of the work is outstanding. The foundation of any high quality landscaping project is a strong vision. This is where Ralph really sets himself apart. He listens carefully to the client and brings a vision to life, ultimately creating a design that is perfectly integrated into the particular home and property. He combines a keen aesthetic sense with a lifetime's worth of insight on the use of plants and materials. He also clearly enjoys what he does. Eric Peterson's construction team is efficient, courteous, and meticulous. They have the equipment and expertise to do things that other teams can't,, especially on large scale projects. Overalll, we have been very happy working with Ralph and Eric. If you want high quality,, beautiful results, these are the guys to hire.
Before our lawn was replaced, the only grass we had was crabgrass, literally. Ralph and Eric removed all the bad grass and because we didn't have good soil, the top 6-8" of dirt was also removed. They brought in good soil, leveled everything and reseeded. Our lawn has looked great for the last 8 years. And, every year we still get compliments from our neighbors. Almost all of our communications with Landscape Design was through Ralph. He is extremely easy to work with and really listens to you. The end result is something you will love to look at for years. We would very highly recommend Ralph and Eric's Landscape Design for your landscaping needs. They do a Great job!!! Brenda and Alan
In the summer of 2001, my wife agreed we could replace her beautiful back yard lawn with a garden railroad (a long time dream of mine). I had heard that Ralph Williams was the one to call if you ever wanted to build a garden railroad. I discussed my dream with Ralph, outlining our wish for three mainlines, two passing sidings, two levels, a tunnel, bridges, trestle, and switches connecting each loop. Eric then laid out the plan and began moving dirt, building stone walls, laying track, and installing wiring. The final step was adding plants, shrubs, and flowers to make it a garden, including lighting for night operations. Everything done was carefully thought out and meticulously executed. Now, more than a decade later, the garden railroad is a beautifully matured masterpiece, drawing admiration from all who see it. It's called the OMG Railroad because the first response from visitors is "Oh My God!" Looking back, I appreciate more and more the exceptional skill and creativity Eric and Ralph brought to make my dream a reality.
Ralph provided initial input for our back yard design, which really helped transform our space. He helped us visualize a unique layout to encompass our naturally-shape, in-ground pool and provided valuable input on it's installation. When time came for patio installation, his team was professional, efficient and courteous. What was going to be an 800 sq.ft. patio, became an almost 1,100 sq.ft. patio through the installation process and the team made adjustments to accommodate the additional without issue! A real Team, dedicated to doing great work and giving customers a quality, finished product. The result was amazing and we could not be more pleased. His experience and knowledge went a long way to helping create such a unique space. Thanks again Ralph!
Ralph Williams redesigned and rebuilt a small waterfall in my garden about two years ago.(The date given below is approximate--I'm not sure of the exact date.) The waterfall has worked just fine ever since. (Before that, it seemed to need repairs every year.) Ralph was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgable. He put a lot of thought into my project, even though it was a small one, which I appreciate.
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Certified attributes are verified against the public registry. Others are the business's own statement.
1 change recorded — last scanned Sep 19, 2026.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from RALPH WILLIAMS LANDSCAPE DESIGN. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$50 – $70
Typical landscaping service around $60
Detailed craftsmanship5.0
Custom sheds5.0
Fence & carpentry work5.0
Wood and block retaining walls4.9