--- title: "Penning Landscapes — Landscape Contractors | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/penning-landscapes-pfvwus-pf~436745922 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~436745922.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Penning Landscapes" category: ["Landscape Contractors"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/30f328d00239e8c1_0381-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "68 Coombs Street, Suite D11, Napa, California 94559, United States" latitude: 38.2904 longitude: -122.2841 phone: "(707) 255-8129" website: http://www.penninglandscapes.com rating: 4.6 review_count: 14 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 116 last_updated: 2026-08-24 --- # Penning Landscapes Original Houzz profile: [Penning Landscapes](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/penning-landscapes-pfvwus-pf~436745922) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Contractors - **Location:** Napa, CA - **Serves:** Napa, Sonoma, Saint Helena, Yountville - **Houzz rating:** 4.6 out of 5 (14 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves Penning Landscapes is your trusted landscape design-build and maintenance company, serving Napa and Sonoma Counties. We are committed to creating exceptional residential, winery and hospitality gardens and outdoor living spaces that are customized to your personal vision and lifestyle. Your outdoor space is an extension of your home, and at Penning Landscapes, we understand how important it is to express your personal style. Your “outdoor living room” should be a place that reflects your vision and brings you joy. That’s why we design, build, and maintain your landscapes with care, using our signature process to create outdoor spaces that grow and evolve with you. Let us transform your surroundings into beautiful, functional spaces that you’ll love for years to come. Our landscaping services include irrigation and water management, lighting, design and building (installation), and ongoing maintenance. (CA Contractors License C-27 554472) We focus on creating sensible maintenance plans that will help you manage your garden long into the future. To read more about us and our services, visit our website at www.penninglandscapes.com. ### Services Provided - Landscape Construction - Hardscaping - Garden Design - Landscape Maintenance - Deck Building - Custom Fire Pits - Custom Water Features - Masonry - Concrete Construction - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Fence Installation - Gazebo Design & Construction - Landscape Lighting Installation - Deck Repair - Brick Masonry - Artificial Grass Installation - Landscape Drainage System Installation - Irrigation System Installation - Demolition - Custom Putting Greens - Drip Irrigation Installation - Land Leveling & Grading - Lawn Care - Mulching - Gate Installation - Custom Bocce Ball Courts - Arbor Design and Construction - Excavating - Decorative Concrete - Edible Gardens - Irrigation Repair - Living Walls - Lawn Mowing - Driveway Gate Installation - Land Clearing - Greenhouse Design & Construction - Dog Run Construction - Hedge Trimming - Lawn Aeration - Brush Clearing - Lawn Seeding - Lawn Treatment & Fertilization - Brick Repair - Fence Repair - Dry Wells - In-Ground Trampolines - Green Roofing - Concrete Sealing - Automatic Gate Installation - Grout Repair ### Areas Served - Napa - Sonoma - Saint Helena - Yountville ### Typical Job Cost $10,000 - 1 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Penning Landscapes | | Address | 68 Coombs Street, Suite D11, Napa, California 94559, United States | | Phone | (707) 255-8129 | | Website | http://www.penninglandscapes.com | | License Number | 554472 | | Followers on Houzz | 116 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/PenningLandscapes - LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/penning-landscapes - Blog — https://www.penninglandscapes.com/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Penning Landscapes](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/penning-landscapes-pfvwus-pf~436745922) - **Website:** http://www.penninglandscapes.com - **Phone:** (707) 255-8129 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - CLCA, Irrigation Association, Bay Friendly Coalition, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Awards from CLCA: Best Landscape Maintenance Entry for a large residence Statewide. First place for medium residence in 2013. Awards of recognition for landscape maintenance 2004, 2011, and 2012. - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2020), for Service. **Affiliations** - [California Landscape Contractors Association](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/california-landscape-contractors-association-pfvwus-pf~127371204) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 — 14 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — susan fraser, Aug. 2019** > Lou Penning Landscapes was thorough in writing up proposals, explaining changes and estimated costs during the course of the project, and the workers were professional and knowledgable about plants, planting, irrigation and lighting. **Comment from Penning Landscapes:** > Hi Susan, thank you for the review, it was a pleasure working with you too! We think your project turned out great too! > Ben **★★★★★ — Nancy Foss, Aug. 2019** > Ben Penning runs a very professional landscaping company. His knowledge of plants, landscaping materials, irrigation, lighting and design were all very helpful in guiding the implementation of my complete landscape renovation. His staff is conscientious and communicates well with the client and management. **★★★★★ — Alan Chinberg, Jan. 2019** > I am totally happy with all aspects of Lou Penning landscapes. They came up with an exceptional plan for the landscape and were very Professional with their work and follow through. They showed up on time and stayed in constant communication with us. They also supervised their sub contractors and made sure their work was finished to perfection. Ben and Luke are a great team and I would recommend them to my friends and co workers. I work for Coldwell Bankers Brokers Of The Valley and I have placed them on our Vendors List for our Clients. **★★★★★ — Kathy Wong, Jan. 2019** > The fires wiped out my entire landscaping/drainage/irrigation in my front and back yard. > This was a big job. Ben and Luke worked with my budget and time frame. They were able to develop a beautiful plan including a 3 ring binder with instructions on maintenance of my new yard. Some plants had issues and were replaced quickly. The crew were so considerate of my dog roaming the property and were very helpful. > I would highly recommend working with Lou Penning Landscapes. **★★★★★ — Anne Harris, Jan. 2019** > (Re)landscaping our property was quite honestly not on our list of priorities. But most of it burned during the wine country wildfire in Oct 2017. Thankfully our house was spared, but our outbuilding and property were pretty devastated. Before we could focus on landscaping, we had to take care of our well water situation, rebuild our outbuilding and take care of some other infrastructure issues. Needless to say, this was a pretty stressful time, and we were also constrained somewhat with our insurance policy limits. I talked with several landscape design and installation firms. I initially sought out Lou Penning because of recommendations on Houzz. I'm really glad we chose Penning. Ben Penning is so easy to work with - he understood our concerns, priorities, and budget constraints. At the time we met with Ben, we had a lot of burned trees, shrubs, and melted irrigation. We had done some cleanup but it was hard to know what they were really working with. On top of that, we live in an area with a lot of volcanic rock, so it's hard to know what you can really plant without moving rocks or jack hammering. All of this to say that budgeting for our project was understandably difficult. Ben was flexible in how we constructed the budget, and I appreciated his flexibility and willingness to work with us. The crew that worked on our property was great -- they work hard, do high quality work, and are meticulous. > > It's so nice to look outside and see GREEN again! We have a palette of native plants, shrubs, and trees that will blend in well with the area we live in as they grow and mature. We'll continue to work with Ben in the future! **★★★★★ — Teresa Brewer, Oct. 2017** > We were very pleased with the work that Lou Penning and team did for our home. They were professional, courteous and most importantly know their stuff! **★★★★★ — Linda and Jeff F, Oct. 2017** > We highly recommend Lou Penning Landscapes based on our experience with them over the past year. After seeking several contractor bids for our landscaping project in Napa, CA, we hired Penning because their pricing was competitive, they were able to start the project quickly, we liked the quality of their work, and they made the process easy. Everything from the bid process to final execution went smoothly for a large, complicated residential project. We dealt mainly with Ben Penning, who is terrific, although interactions with the rest of the team -- including Luke, Jose, Ben's father Lou, and the subcontractors -- were all very positive as well. > > Ben was very communicative along the way, managing expectations and keeping us updated on progress. He anticipated "unknowns" in advance -- such as the amount of jackhammering that would be needed based on the rock content of our soil. This meant that the extra cost to dig thru rock, did not come as a surprise.. > > We found the company to be honorable, responsive, and responsible. We would highly recommend Lou Penning Landscapes, with no reservations whatsoever. **★★★★★ — Lee Philipson, Oct. 2017** > I could not be more pleased with the job that Ben Penning and his crew performed at our home. They worked very long and hard. And it shows. I would be glad to recommend them. **★★★★★ — dona28, Oct. 2016** > Lou Penning designed my front driveway which was a drive very long country driveway with planted areas on either side. He designed the most beautiful, elegant, low maintenance planting, concrete paths that connected the two buildings that sit on the driveway that we could could ever hope for. He was thorough, went through plant choices with me, and created a driveway area that is a spectacular garden. His estimate of costs was even under budget. What started out as mud and broken asphalt was transformed into something fantastic. I loved working with this incredibly talented man and would highly recommend him to anyone. **★★★★ — jdrwilcox, Sept. 2016** > Lou Penning and his crew did a total relandscaping of our front and back yards in Alta Heights two years ago. It looks absolutely gorgeous, and has matured into a showpiece that never fails to draw compliments from new visitors. The work included installing drip lines, a fountain, low-key tree lighting, small trees, and three wooden raised beds, along with ground cover, a few boulders, and a wide rage of plants. When adjustments were needed after some plants died, Lou was more than willing to talk it over with us, and to help with the selection of replacement plantings. Communication was key; while Lou had definite ideas about what to plant and where plantings should occur, we took this to be a sign of his expertise, and worked with him to come up with compromises when his ideas differed from ours. We have recommended him to several friends, and will continue to do so. **★ — User, Aug. 2016** > Working with Lou was unfortunately a nightmare. After $7000, to landscape a very small front yard, I have a sprinkler system that is constantly breaking, and a tree that leaves a mess all over my driveway and yard, and plants that have looked terrible in how they have grown in and have needed replaced. Because I was young and inexperienced, I felt that Lou really took advantage. He steamrolled me into doing what he wanted, not what I asked for. He had absolutely no knowledge of plants, and could not tell me what any of the plants would look like or how they would grow. I had to ask repeatedly for details before he reluctantly showed me some photos of similar looking plants. He charged me an arm and a leg for a job that ultimately was poorly done, not what I asked for, and that I have had to spend several hundred dollars ( and will have to spend more) fixing into something that is what I asked for and that is actually workable for the space. This project was done approximately ten years ago and has looked worse, not better, over time. A talented landscape architect is aware of how his or her design will look over time as the plants mature. Unfortunately, as my yard shows, Loo seemed to have no awareness, or concern for this at all. **Comment from Penning Landscapes:** > This was quite a surprise since we have not heard any complaints about our service after we did the job in the fall of 2001. That was 15 years ago, so I may not remember all the details, but my family lived across the street and I would have been happy to make any changes or repairs if you had asked. > > We presented a design that named the plants, irrigation lines and other features. You OK’d the work and signed a contract. I felt that we had a good working relationship and positive exchanges throughout. I am really sorry that you felt it was not what you wanted. Now days with Google it is easier to look up plants, then we had to rely on descriptions and drawings and limited pictures. We communicated with you by writing everything down so that there would be no misunderstanding of what we were going to do. > > Water systems and plants need regular maintenance. Irrigation systems need to be turned on and inspected and controllers need to be adjusted at least monthly. A little bit of maintenance can save a lot of trouble when the temperatures climb. Low maintenance plants and yards still need regular attention, just less than a lawn with mowing, fertilizing and high water use. > > I am really sorry that you had a bad experience but it could have been avoided had we received a phone call expressing your concerns earlier in the process. We would have been happy to come over and give a look, adjustment or consultation any time after the installation. > > Best Regards, > Lou **★★★★★ — Julien FAYARD, April 2016** > Professional team, paying attention to the environment and creating landscape that are in line with the project, water conservative and easy to maintain. ## Selected projects - [Garden Paths & Walkways](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/garden-paths-and-walkways-pj-vj~328966) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 21 - Description: The path home can be made of any material - natural or man-made. This collection of photos includes some of our best garden path and walkway projects in the Napa Valley. - [Gates & Entryways](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/gates-and-entryways-pj-vj~328967) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: Give your home the grand entrance it deserves! Gates, trellises, vines, fountains, paths, and trees can create the entrance of your dreams. - [Napa Valley Landscape Design Projects](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/napa-valley-landscape-design-projects-pj-vj~328955) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 21 - Description: These are just a few of our favorite landscape projects from all around the Napa Valley, including the City of Napa, St Helena, and Yountville. - [Hardscapes & Poolside Landscaping](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hardscapes-and-poolside-landscaping-pj-vj~329000) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: Some of our most favorite projects include working on hardscapes. We also love working pools into our landscape designs. - [Outdoor Water Features & Ponds](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/outdoor-water-features-and-ponds-pj-vj~363339) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 6 - Description: Water features and ponds provide great color, balance and texture to outdoor spaces. The trickle of water can also provide tranquility and serenity. When building a water feature, we focus on our clients' wants and needs for their space in addition to the space itself. - [Flower Garden Designs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/flower-garden-designs-pj-vj~329026) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 9 - Description: Flowers add so much color and personality to a space. We love working with complementary and contrasting colors to create the best result. - [Walls of Stone](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/walls-of-stone-pj-vj~328968) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 2 - Description: Stone walls add majestic flair to a space like no other natural element. - [Container Gardening](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/container-gardening-pj-vj~328964) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 6 - Description: Liven up your outdoor patio with a container garden. Show off a single container garden with multiple layers of plants and flowers, or create a space with multiple containers. - [Edible Vegetable Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/edible-vegetable-gardens-pj-vj~501021) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: Beautiful and uniquely designed vegetable gardens in the Napa Valley. Whether you are working with a small space or a larger one, gardens can enhance your quality of life. Organic gardening is one of our specialties. - [Landscape lighting](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/landscape-lighting-pj-vj~1183168) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 16 - [Grasses and Bocce Court](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/grasses-and-bocce-court-pj-vj~698770) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 11 - [Drought tolerant landscapes](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/drought-tolerant-landscapes-pj-vj~592757) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 5 - [From lawn to low water use](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/from-lawn-to-low-water-use-pj-vj~1057673) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: A large suburban frontyard consisting solely of thirsty turf was was transformed to a flowering paradise with the use of ornamental grasses, native shrubs, flax, lavender, and flowering perennials. Household water use was reduced by 75%!! - [St. Helena backyard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/st-helena-backyard-pj-vj~557434) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: This backyard was blessed with a large healthy live oak, a small grove of redwood trees and two recently planted red-leafed Japanese maples. The rest of the yard consisted of a scruffy lawn with stepping stones leading from a dining patio to a small concrete sitting area. With the help of landscape contractor, Lou Penning, we were able to convert this yard to a cool, shady oasis with fountains, dining area, and sitting area - [Frontyard lawn removal](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/frontyard-lawn-removal-pj-vj~557372) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: This corner lot front yard was made up of turf, closely planted sycamore trees, and old wood retaining walls. With the expertise of Lou Penning Landscapes (installer), Concrete contractor, Lance Wright, and metal fabricator, Phil Gerosa; we created this low water use yard with steel retaining walls, concrete pavers, and low water use plantings: Euphorbias, grasses, New Zealand flax, sedum, agave, and other succulents were used in the planting. Garden sculpture was selected by client - [St. Helena Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/st-helena-residence-pj-vj~7545034) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: This St. Helena residence was an exciting enhancement from a regular backyard into a hidden oasis, based on our clients’ vision. They desired a “secret garden” that was drought resistant and included a large vegetable garden that could produce a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. We delivered a unique and cohesive backyard that has something new to discover around every corner. The backyard features a “rock river” that solves drainage issues and ensures the garden thrives year-round. De… - [Mt. Veeder Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mt-veeder-residence-pj-vj~7555968) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: The Mt. Veeder residence was a wonderful challenge as we were tasked to evolve the outdoor space, initially designed for a young family to a sophisticated retreat for multiple generations. We worked closely with the client to create a landscape that balanced the 90-degree angles of the modern house with the natural terrain of the surrounding Napa Valley hills. Our design features a low-water garden with drought-resistant Mediterranean and Californian native plants that is appropriate for this en… - [Birmingham Garden and Pool](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/birmingham-garden-and-pool-pj-vj~5861765) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - [Galleron Road](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/galleron-road-pj-vj~4518403) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - [French Provincial](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/french-provincial-pj-vj~4518224) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 [See all 23 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/penning-landscapes-pfvwus-pf~436745922) ## Ideabooks - [Pool House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/158957504/list/pool-house) — 23 ideas - [Master Bath](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/156157710/list/master-bath) — 6 ideas - [Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/119327557/list/bathroom) — 3 ideas - [Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/142257251/list/kitchen) — 8 ideas - [Backyard](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/138162669/list/backyard) — 16 ideas - [Staircase](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/156158006/list/staircase) — 2 ideas - [Outdoor Nook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/150779742/list/outdoor-nook) — 1 idea - [Living Room](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/141475053/list/living-room) — 8 ideas - [Enfield](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/107658365/list/enfield) — 2 ideas - [Metro](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/107298739/list/metro) — 7 ideas - [Walls](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/97466466/list/walls) — 6 ideas - [Scripps Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/73980143/list/scripps-ideas) — 5 ideas - [Fire Pit](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44168940/list/fire-pit) — 3 ideas - [Bocce](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/35170398/list/bocce) — 4 ideas - [Outdoor Seating](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/53501628/list/outdoor-seating) — 1 idea - [Flowers](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/53501549/list/flowers) — 2 ideas - [The Garden Path Home](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/19069462/list/the-garden-path-home) — 13 ideas - [Lawn-Free Landscape Design](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25496795/list/lawn-free-landscape-design) — 7 ideas - [Pergolas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/34475136/list/pergolas) — 1 idea - [Container Gardening](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25496687/list/container-gardening) — 5 ideas [See all 22 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/penninglandscapes) ## Community Q&A **Q: name of purple flower?** *(in Photo Questions)* What is this beautiful purple/blue flower? A: It's Mexican Sage, Salvia Leucantha **Q: walkway material** *(in Photo Questions)* Is this decomposed granite on the walkway? A: Thanks for you question! It's DG underneath, then we spread 1" of California Gold (which is a 3/8" gold granite crush) **Q: Rocks/pebbles** *(in Photo Questions)* what kind of rocks are used for the ground cover? A: We get them from a local supplier in Napa, they call it 1.5" Lodi. It's a smooth rock. **Q: Can you describe the materials and construction of the chimney?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: I think it's corten steel that has been distressed with an acid wash. We didn't do the chimney though. **Q: What are the dimensions of this court? Love the look and Pergola.** *(in Photo Questions)* A: It's 50' x 10', thanks for the question! **Q: Dimensions and drainage** *(in Photo Questions)* I love this look and all your work. Sadly, you're 2000 miles away. Can you tell me the wall thickness and height of the concrete? Also, what are the overall dimensions of the court here? Any suggestions since you built this? Thank you for the help. A: I recommend running a cable across. Attach the string lights to the cable. Good Luck! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-24.*