Piedmont

Planted Earth Inc. provides the scenic residential charter city of Piedmont with landscape architect, design and build services.

Featuring some of the Bay Area’s most graceful gardens and classic, 19th-century style homes, Piedmont sits at the cusp of the flatlands and foothills of the East Bay. The town enjoys warmer temperatures, minimal fog and only mild breezes for much of the year. Many homes nestled amongst the hills have stunning views of the Bay, San Francisco and the setting sun.

Many west or south-facing yards can get especially hot and dry, favoring plants that do well in heat and have only modest water requirements. Even with appropriate planting of species comfortable in arid and semi-arid environments, drip irrigation will ensure that these plants survive long dry spells and heat waves. Mulching is important as well, acting to conserve water and stabilize soil erosion for homes embedded in Piedmont’s hillsides.

Earthworks engineering can be necessary to stabilize sloping terrain, keep soil in place and mitigate flooding.

Deer are prevalent in the Piedmont area and can cause significant damage to plants during the winter months, when foliage is sparse elsewhere. Secure fencing encompassing the property and constructed to sufficient height is essential for keeping deer out of your yard.

Whether it is designing an attractive, low water needs garden, a beautiful and effective fence or a stylish retaining wall or terrace, Planted Earth is happy to help residents of Piedmont make the most of their home landscapes.

Red dwarf banana, kangaroo paw, California live oak in backyard with lawn, red deck chair and curving stone wall alongside steps.
Red dwarf banana, kangaroo paw, California live oak in backyard with lawn, red deck chair and curving stone wall alongside steps.

  • "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