Landscape Design & Build Services in Marin

As one of the Bay Area’s premier landscape architecture firms serving Marin County, our team at Planted Earth Design & Build is renowned for creating exquisite bespoke outdoor spaces. Our work merges beauty and functionality, making your outdoor environment a cornerstone of your property, whether as a place to relax or gather with friends and family.

We bring over two decades of experience to every project, and as a licensed landscape architect and general contractor we provide the full suite of custom design, installation, garden care and construction services to handle all aspects of your project.

Primarily serving southern Marin County, including Tiburon, Mill Valley, San Rafael and Sausalito, we’re familiar with the area’s nuances and appreciate how our design choices should meld with the surrounding environment. Marin features a lush interface between town and nature, characterized by redwoods, oaks and rolling hills, accompanied by the striking presence of landmarks such as Mount Tamalpais, Muir Woods, Angel Island and the Bay itself, making for unparalleled backdrops to set a landscape design within.

This area north of the Golden Gate Bridge features a warm-temperate climate that provides ample time throughout the seasons to enjoy home outdoor spaces, perhaps including a patio, water feature or multiple terrace levels that offer both sunny and shaded alcoves. Custom fencing will deter deer from grazing on your plants, while providing a decorative border to define the landscape.

Marin experiences semi-arid conditions from late spring into early fall, which is reflected in our plant choices of California natives or other water-wise plant species, accompanied by efficient drip irrigation systems. The result is an attractive, low-maintenance garden that continues to grow whether or not you pay it any mind.

The clay soils here may need to be amended. Typically, we accomplish this by adding organic matter such as compost manure for tilth and gypsum/pumice to improve soil structure and drainage. These amendments serve to unlock nutrients, allow healthy root distribution and boost water percolation, all of which makes for healthier plants and support the cultivation of a wide array of species.

For communities such as Mill Valley, Kentfield, Larkspur, Corte Madera and San Anselmo in proximity to forest and field wildlands, wildfire risk should be considered. Guided by our licensed landscape architect, we are available to craft a firewise plan for your property that includes establishing defensible space and selecting both plant species and building materials to mitigate fire risk. We continuously stay up to date on local code requirements and best practices for fire safety, and can generate a vegetation management plan for a city planning or building department.

Marin’s terrain is rich and varied, as is every property and person, so we tailor our approach to each situation. Let our experienced team bring your vision of a beautiful and unique outdoor space to fruition. We invite you to view our Project Portfolio, or if you’re ready to get started, contact us today.

  • "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