- By Cody McMurtry
- January 29, 2020
This Oakland backyard was weird and isolated. A detached garage chopped up the space and made getting into the backyard difficult. In addition, after testing the soil we were concerned about food farming on this site.
First, the garage was converted to a covered patio/storage and bicycle shed. This was achieved by re-engineering the garage and removing two of its walls. One of the remaining walls became a climbing wall for the kids. After re-purposing the garage we were also able to recapture 1/2 of the driveway in order to provide a play space.
Next, a circular slate patio became a hub that tied the space and all of its elements together.
Finally, our construction team hauled away the upper 12″ of lead contaminated soil from the entire yard and replaced it with healthy soil. We then installed four raised beds and this family started farming before we were even finished with the job.
Our client on this project, a web architect and creative genius, brought many great ideas.
- By Cody McMurtry
- January 22, 2020
This tiny backyard has something for everyone in the family. The design challenge was to expand an existing tile patio so the space could function as an outdoor living room for a family of four humans and two small canines.
Designing a new entry gate and replacing the existing stairs from the public sidewalk to the elevated backyard – without consuming too much precious space – was a further puzzle.
A jacuzzi spa was integrated into what had formerly been an odd narrow masonry shelf, part of a footing to support a large retaining wall, which is now clad in a living layer of succulents and perennials.
Once we figured out the larger design changes, the rest fell right into place. The yard now features a patch of deep rooted fescue for the doggies, an apple tree and some carefully selected shrubs and perennials, lights and a new perimeter fence. This small space has everything our client wanted and feels much larger than it did before the renovation.
- By Cody McMurtry
- January 22, 2020
Planted Earth had the opportunity to work with a client who has lived in the same Berkeley home for half a century, since the age of five.
Because of this history, our team was careful to consider the significance of existing elements that could have easily been overlooked or disregarded.
A large new flagstone patio will soon be shaded by a wisteria vine that was planted at the base of a redwood pergola. New redwood fences and gates provide privacy without cutting off a connection to neighbors. The plant palette ranges from California natives like Huckleberry Ceanothus and garden classics like Japanese maple and dogwood. In fact, a hybrid dogwood variety “Eddies White Wonder” is a cross between a California native variety and Cornus Florida, aka American Dogwood.
- By plantedearth
- March 13, 2018
Our client had a vision of a covered outdoor living area in a steeply sloped backyard in El Cerrito, which was actually in a landslide zone.
The Planted Earth team took the vision, developed the design and partnered with geotechnical and structural engineers to produce a buildable design, which our construction team brought to life by adding details along the way.
The plant selection is suited for a semi-arid environment exposed to both sun and wind. On the down slope side, the concrete walls and an awning extending from the house form a sheltered area to enjoy the garden.
- By plantedearth
- March 13, 2018
This rustic backyard patio and garden space is located in Oakland’s Lakeshore neighborhood. The project featured a comprehensive remake of the landscape, including garage removal, extensive grading and the creation of outdoor play and dining areas.
Cast in place concrete forms steps and retaining walls, creating elevated garden beds which bring a colorful array of plants to eye level when sitting in the patio. Hardwood benches provide seating alcoves for hosting guests, and re-purposed wood was used to construct all of the fencing.
- By plantedearth
- March 13, 2018
Planted Earth has been creating gorgeous stone and crushed rock patios since our founding in 2003. These open spaces frame the beauty of the surrounding garden environment, and provide a platform from which to enjoy your yard.
- By plantedearth
- April 6, 2016
Located on the southwestern end of San Francisco in the historic St. Francis Wood neighborhood, this project drew on the native palette of the area. Planted Earth designed and built dry laid stone walls to form planting beds for low water natives in front of the house and created a water feature and warm microclimate in the backyard for the family. Large boulders were also installed to give focal points to the landscape. This project was designed in collaboration with Siol Studios Architecture of San Francisco and installed by the planted earth team.
- By plantedearth
- April 6, 2016
The design for this landscape met multiple needs. First, connectivity between the house and the backyard was improved with the design of a multi-level hardwood deck. Next, a haphazardly sloping backyard was transformed into a fun, useable space with fruit trees, a bean tee-pee and planter boxes. The design also features a corten steel gate to keep out the deer, an integral-color concrete driveway, boulders and native, drought-tolerant plantings. The front yard presents an understated, naturalistic, playful face to the street, while the back yard provides a comfortable outdoor living room for the family.
- By plantedearth
- April 6, 2016
This landscape, located on the rim of Wildcat Canyon, is contemporary in its design and inspiration. A simple yet striking pallet of mostly native plants was used to compliment the architectural style of the house. This project was designed in collaboration with ETA Architecture of San Francisco and installed by the Planted Earth team.
- By plantedearth
- April 6, 2016
This Berkeley bungalow is located on a corner lot on the west side of town. Planted Earth carried out a comprehensive renovation of the property.
New fencing, stone walls and gates defined and captured the property boundaries, and a new garage was constructed in partnership with a general contractor. The low fence allows views into and out of the front yard while maintaining a soft separation between the street and the yard.
Inside the newly-established perimeter, a new deck and patio space were created. Filling in the borders and edges around the hardscaping is a diverse selection of tried and true, water wise plant species.
The low fence allows views into and out of the front yard while maintaining a soft separation between the street and the yard.
