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

  • "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

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