Landscape Design for Berkeley

Planted Earth Inc. has earned a reputation as a premier landscape architecture firm serving Berkeley, California and other East Bay communities over the past 20 years. We’re known for crafting captivating, personalized and enjoyable outdoor spaces that augment your entire property. Our company brings together expertise in design, horticulture and construction under one roof, allowing us to handle all aspects of landscaping and outdoor construction projects

We call Berkeley home and know the characteristics of its climate, soil and terrain in each neighborhood. The East Bay’s favorable weather, with cool winters and warm summers, allows for a broad selection of plants to populate a garden with, yet we favor species that are most appropriate for the semi-arid climate here.

That means choosing attractive plant species that have low water needs and don’t require heavy fertilization or pesticides, such as California natives or flora from other regions in the world with a similar Mediterranean climate. Doing so allows us to create outdoor environments that are as resilient and low maintenance as they are beautiful.

Beyond wise plant choices, we utilize automated drip irrigation systems, mulch and hydrozoning group plants with similar watering needs to reduce water usage. To improve the soil, we opt for natural amendments that support root growth, add a balanced amount of nutrients and foster healthy microbial diversity.

Berkeley’s diverse topography means there is no one-size-fits-all approach to design: properties in the urban flatlands of West or North Berkeley will have less space, more summer fog and thick clay soil that requires amendments. On the other hand, for a property in the Berkeley hills erosion mitigation, drainage and wildfire considerations will be paramount, while the exposure to intense sunlight of predominantly western-facing slopes and a different soil regime must be factored into the design.

One common feature of Berkeley are its many trees, including oaks and redwoods. We thoughtfully incorporate existing trees on your property into our design, to complement these stately species and utilize the shade they provide.

The same goes for considering and preserving the property’s view corridors looking out to the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s skyline, Mount Tamalpais or Tilden Park.

Where there are views to be had, there will also be erosion concerns. As a licensed general contractor, we’re experienced in building retaining walls, terraces and drainage systems to stabilize your home landscape and reduce the risk of harm to your property from winter rains.

The roots of plants and a healthy layer of mulch will bolster the whole system by slowing and absorbing rainfall, thereby reducing runoff intensity. For example, we might utilize Mediterranean-climate appropriate grasses like Purple Fountain Grass or New Zealand Sedge, paired with shrubs such as California native Ribes or Ceanothus species, and an accompanying layer of attractive cedar mulch for this purpose.

One of the realities of owning a home in Berkeley is the risk of wildfire. Our licensed landscape architect can design defensible space around your home and specify plants and building materials that reduce fire risk. We are up to date on best practices and local code requirements. If needed, our design team can produce a vegetation management plan for the city planning/building department.

Our gardening knowledge is complemented by our skill in crafting beautiful and functional hardscaping elements, including arbors, trellises, decks, fences, gates, water features, masonry and stonework. We invite you to peruse our project portfolio to view our work, schedule a consultation with our team or fill out our detailed questionnaire if you’re ready to begin the process of creating the landscape design you’ve been envisioning.

Decorative gate, maple tree, yarrow and fencing.

  • "Michael and his team have transformed our yard into an oasis. From the start Michael was a co-creator in our vision, helping us to refine what we really wanted, make sensible decisions to meet our budget, and then using his vast experience to bring it to life. You can see the attention to detail and craftsmanship that his team applied in their work. We highly recommend engaging Planted Earth for your landscape project."

    Rob, El Cerrito

  • “Mick and the crew at Planted Earth are simply the best! Stunning, high-quality work. Accurate estimates. Timely completion. A trusted source for all our jobs, both big and small.”

    Joshua, Kensington

  • “Michael has done a number of projects at my home. In every case we have been thrilled with the results. He and his crew are easy to have around and do their work professionally and on schedule. I have also seen several of Michael’s projects at other sites and have come away impressed every time.”

    Geoff, Berkeley

  • “Michael has vast experience in all aspects of landscape; there is nothing he and his crew can’t handle. He has a great eye for design and the skills to make the ideas become reality. He is flexible, reliable, and very easy to communicate with. His crew and sub¬contractors are equally skilled and professional. Two years after the official completion of my yard, he is still available for even the smallest of requests for modifications or technical expertise with irrigation, lighting, and planting.”

    Donna, Piedmont

  • “We had a huge, slightly overwhelming landscaping project on a big lot that hadn’t been touched by anyone but deer for years. The team at Planted Earth was able to take our jumble of ideas and create for us a multi-¬staged plan so we could budget it bit by bit. Our garden now is so gorgeous; people driving by will often slow down just to check it out.”

    Amanda & Frank, Berkeley

  • “Planted Earth and Michael McFadden are the absolute best. They took our shabby, dated and overgrown backyard, and turned it onto a work of art. They worked extensively on price and design with us — we wanted something that looked awesome from a design perspective, but also worked with our lifestyle (we have a very active yellow lab). He came up with a design we loved, made it fit in our budget, built us a gorgeous redwood deck and arbor, installed paving stones and decomposed granite, worked with us to choose plants that we liked and suited the landscape, and handled all of the irrigation and sod.”

    Chloe, Walnut Creek

  • We've done multiple projects with Planted Earth. The outcome is not only beautiful, but structurally sound. They allow plenty of time for planning and budgeting to ensure you get the outcome you're looking for and remain available for questions after your project is finished. They also have crews who can come out to keep our yards beautiful and properly irrigated as needed. You can't go wrong with this level of skilled, attentive and personal service.

    Sheri, Oakland

View Our Project Portfolio