Landscape and Garden Design for Oakland

Since our early days, Planted Earth Design has been creating gorgeous landscape designs in Oakland, such as this backyard and patio makeover in Rockridge. Our familiarity with its various neighborhoods in terms of climate, terrain, soils and  character allows us to craft vibrant outdoor environments according to your vision.

Oakland is blessed with warm and moderate weather, which allows for a wide range of plants and is favorable for growing most vegetables. Still, drip irrigation is a must for a landscaping project in Oakland to keep your garden green and happy throughout the arid summer and fall seasons. 

Alameda County’s largest city covers a large area and therefore encompasses multiple microclimates, entailing nuances in how one approaches landscape design in Cleveland Heights versus Glenview, for example. Even within a single garden there may be microclimates, such as a shady hillside opening into a sunnier flat area, which means irrigation systems will need to be adjusted accordingly so that plants receive the optimum amount of water.

Soil quality is relatively good across much of Oakland, although areas with an industrial legacy should be tested for lead contamination or other environmental pollutants. In certain areas with higher concentrations of clay, amendments may be necessary. Typically, we utilize a blend of compost manure and pumice/gypsum to treat clay-heavy garden soils.

In neighborhoods set amongst the hills, such as Claremont and Montclair, the southwestern orientation intensifies the sun and can cause a garden to bake. Here, smaller shade trees, shrubs and ornamental ground covers paired with drip irrigation will provide shade and protect the soil from the beating sun.

These same measures will also contribute to reducing erosion. However, often steep terrain requires engineered solutions. As a licensed general contractor, we construct retaining walls, terraces, stairs and drainage systems to stabilize the hillside and reduce risk from heavy rains.

Living amongst the beauty of the Oakland hills necessitates an awareness of the potential for wildfire. Led by our licensed landscape architect, we can design defensible space for your property and select plants as well as building materials that mitigate fire risk. We stay current with best practices and local code requirements, and can provide a vegetation management plan when required by a city planning or building department.

We bring our full range of landscape design, installation services and over 20 years as a licensed landscape architecture firm to make your vision and desire for your home’s landscape environment a reality.

Tibouchina urvilleana, succulents, alstrelomaria, japanese maple, climbing vine, fencing, gate and stone patio