Thoughtful Designs Built to Last
We design and build outdoor spaces that are functional, enduring, and tailored to the way you live. From initial concepts to final walkthroughs, we handle every phase of the process—bringing together design expertise, skilled craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of North Bay conditions.
With decades of experience across Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties, we know how to balance aesthetics, sustainability, and long-term performance. Whether you’re creating a new outdoor living space or upgrading an existing landscape, we provide clear guidance and dependable execution from start to finish.
Our Landscape Design & Build Services
Landscape Design
Our design process begins with understanding your property, lifestyle, and goals. We create thoughtful plans that consider grading, drainage, plant selection, hardscape layout, and long-term maintenance—resulting in landscapes that look good, function well, and stand the test of time.
Native & Sustainable Landscape Design
We design landscapes that work with the local environment, using native and climate-adapted plants to reduce water use and support long-term landscape health. Sustainable strategies improve resilience while maintaining visual appeal.
Fire Safe Landscaping
Fire-safe landscaping reduces risk while preserving the character of your property. We incorporate defensible space principles, fire-resistant plant selections, and strategic spacing to improve safety in fire-prone areas.
HardscapING
We design and build durable hardscape features that anchor your landscape and enhance usability. From patios and walkways to retaining walls, steps, and seating areas, our team focuses on craftsmanship, proper construction methods, and materials suited to North Bay conditions.
Softscaping
Trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcover, and turf are selected for beauty, performance, and long-term health. We consider soil conditions, sun exposure, water needs, and mature size to create balanced plantings that thrive over time.
Irrigation Systems
Efficient irrigation is essential to a healthy landscape. We design and install properly zoned systems that support plant health while conserving water, with layouts tailored to plant type, exposure, and slope.
Landscape Lighting
Thoughtfully placed lighting enhances safety, security, and ambiance after dark. Our lighting designs highlight pathways, architectural features, and key plantings while maintaining a warm, understated aesthetic.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens bring functionality and entertainment outdoors. We coordinate layout, utilities, surfaces, and materials to create spaces that are practical, cohesive, and built for regular use.
Fire Features
Fire pits and fireplaces add warmth, ambiance, and usability to outdoor spaces. We design and build gas and wood-burning fire features with safety, placement, and code compliance in mind.
Water Features
From fountains to ponds, water features add movement and sound to the landscape. We design and build systems that are efficient, properly scaled, and easy to maintain.
Artificial Turf Installation
Artificial turf offers a low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawns. We install turf systems with proper base preparation and drainage for a clean, durable result.
Fences
Fencing adds privacy, safety, and definition to outdoor spaces. We build a range of fence styles that complement the landscape while meeting functional needs.
The Benefits of quality Design & Construction
A successful landscape depends on both thoughtful planning and proper construction. Professional design ensures the layout, materials, and plant selections are right for the site, while experienced landscape construction ensures everything is built correctly and performs as intended.
When design and construction work together, the result is a landscape that functions well from day one and continues to perform over time.
Professional landscape design and build helps:
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Create refined outdoor spaces tailored to your home
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Enhance property value and long-term appeal
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Ensure every detail is thoughtfully planned and built
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Deliver a seamless process from design to completion
With decades of hands-on experience across the North Bay, we create landscapes that are designed to work and built to last.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
"Paul Johnson has been my go-to for any of my landscape questions. The previous owners of my home did a huge disservice. They hired some company that did an awful hack job on all the trees. It has taken some time to repair the damage, and that would not have been possible with out the care and attention that Johnson's gives to our trees. They also designed a new landscape for us, and installed it, which was certainly not an easy feat. The access is very tricky, and they managed to pull off a miracle. Our landscape couldn't be more beautiful and now I spend as much time as possible outside. We recommend Johnson's Tree & Garden Service highly."
—Stacey R.
"I am the President of the Home Owners Association at the Headlands in Sausalito. We have 139 units and several acres of sick pine and oak. It was a real challenge for the board to deal with our past landscaper. They were lazy, disorganized, and would show little to no interest in communicating with us.
Then we were introduced to Johnson Tree / Gardening Service. Johnson has been with us for 5 years now, and literally everyone who comes to board meetings says they are impressed with the results. We now have a sustainable, well maintained landscape. We communicate regularly with Paul Johnson and Andrew Johnson. When there is a problem, and I leave a message on their phone, they call me back within the hour. I cannot say the same for their competition."
—Adam W.
"I hired Johsnon's Tree & Garden Service to cut back my trees. The before and after looked like a million bucks! The view I have now is breath taking. They were very professional, fair pricing and their work was superb! I would recommend them highly!"
—Gary S.
"I hired Paul Johnson after I saw how he transformed the trees down the street at Shelter Bay Avenue in MV. It really was a work of art to thin the branches the way he did and an ode of respect to these old trees! It was night and day amazing! So, I hired him to cut back an overgrown Oak from my neighbor's yard, as I had installed Solar Panels and for the rebate they take a picture via satellite re: trees covering your panels or not. Excellent, quick and he unchoked the tree of a gnarly thick ivy that ran up and down it! Last week, I had him come to my kids school to asses the sickly looking fruit trees. He told me about the mumified fruit and how it affects branches nearby and what would need to be cut and how to maintain them. He gave them new life! This is how all Tree Editors should be. Not just "hacking" at the tree to get it smaller, but thoughtful like Paul for the beauty of the tree's potential. (oh and for our school's garden which practically has no budget-it was on him!) A true tree lover and tamer!"
—Lisa H.
areas we serve
We provide landscape design and build services throughout Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties. With deep roots in the North Bay and active yards in Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Sonoma, we stay closely connected to the communities and properties we work on every day.
Each region presents its own design and construction challenges—from hillside sites and fire-prone zones to coastal exposure, clay soils, and water-use regulations. Our experience designing and building landscapes across these conditions allows us to plan appropriately, select the right materials, and construct landscapes that perform as intended.
Whether we’re working on a compact residential yard, a sloped hillside property, or a larger estate landscape, we approach every project with an understanding of local conditions and long-term performance—so the finished landscape looks good, functions well, and holds up over time.