Blog
Retaining Walls Done Right
The Pacific Northwest has a rugged landscape. To the experts at Landscape East & West, that means mountains and valleys, forests, and lots of rocks. While altering terrain is what gives this area interest and beauty, it can also bring challenges when creating landscapes.
Here, we tend to rely a lot on retaining walls to level off sloping yards to make them usable spaces. But there is a right way and a wrong way to install a retaining wall and too often in our travels we see the results of those incorrectly installed. Let’s take a look at what to consider to ensure a retaining wall in your yard stands the test of time.
(more…)
Choosing a Covered Structure for Beauty and Functionality
Landscaping professionals harness human creativity to seamlessly integrate manmade structures with the natural environment, creating a functional and enjoyable space. Here in the Pacific Northwest, that often means adding a covered structure that offers protection from our abundance of rain. At Landscape East & West, we are experts at designing practical covered shelters that add a layer of functionality while also adding to the charm of area landscapes.
(more…)
Transform Your Winter Landscape From Mudpit to Magnificent
Flying into the Portland International Airport this time of year, you’ll see how lush and beautiful our state is, with healthy forests and huge swaths of bright green grass. But upon closer inspection from the ground, those lovely lawns can look downright soggy and muddy. This time of year is when Oregonians begin to question just how much rain their lawn can absorb before they’re left with an unwanted swimming hole right in their own backyard.
(more…)
The Benefits of Hiring a Landscape Designer
It may be tempting to think that as a homeowner, you know your yard best and can put together the perfect landscape that meets your needs and looks beautiful. We would like to politely disagree. The award-winning landscape design experts at Landscape East & West have spent decades studying sound design principles and producing beautiful outdoor spaces throughout the greater Portland metro area. We don’t guess and we don’t take chances. When we create a design, you can be assured a yard that is functional, eye-catching, and built to last.
Let’s explore exactly what a landscape designer brings to a project.
(more…)
The Pros and Cons of a Pondless Water Features
Water features can be a beautiful addition to any landscape offering the soothing sound of trickling water while adding aesthetic appeal. There are many types of water features to choose from but they generally fall into two basic groupings: those with a pond and those that are pondless. No matter what type of water feature you choose, Landscape East & West can design and install it, but here we’re going to look at the pros and cons of choosing a pondless water feature.
(more…)
10 Tips to Match your New Landscape to your Budget
At Landscape East & West, we always applaud you for dreaming of a beautiful new outdoor space for your home. Spending time outdoors is good for your physical and mental well-being, and who doesn’t like some fresh air no matter what time of year? But before your dreams get too big, we recommend creating a budget to ensure your finances match your new landscape desires.
(more…)
Landscape Maintenance for a Beautiful Spring
You may not be ready to start thinking about colder and wetter weather, but now is the time to winterize your plants for the coming months. The Pacific Northwest mostly avoids the harshest winter weather, but to keep your landscape healthy it needs to be protected. Our team at Landscape East & West is already out pruning, thinning, and mulching so our clients’ yards will be ready for the next spring bloom.
Here’s the landscape maintenance we recommend homeowners focus on to keep plants happy and healthy through wind, rain, snow, and ice.
(more…)
Regular Landscape Maintenance Keeps Your Home’s Yard Beautiful
No matter the season, there’s always some landscape maintenance needed to keep your yard looking beautiful. At Landscape East & West, we work year-round pruning, mowing, mulching, and much more to ensure your landscape is healthy and thriving. Once you sign on with us, you will have a dedicated account manager who will ensure monthly assessments of your property are completed to stem problems before they start, maintain that curb appeal, and make sure your investment is protected. This is part of our residential maintenance plan because we know that healthy flora and fauna require some regular care.
(more…)
A Challenging Pacific Northwest Outdoor Living Space Project
It’s easy for Pacific Northwest residents to love where we live. We’re surrounded by beauty and never let a little rain keep us from enjoying the outdoors. Outdoor living spaces, like covered patio structures, can provide protection from the rain in the fall as well as summer shade.
Like many Portlanders, our clients in SW Portland wanted to create an outdoor space they could use throughout the year. Since Landscape East & West experts specialize in designs that add function to exterior spaces, we transformed their patio and deck into a seamless all-weather outdoor living space.
(more…)
How to Plan Water Features and Lighting for Your Backyard Landscape
Water features and lighting can significantly increase the aesthetic appeal of your backyard landscape, adding tranquility and comfort. During the spring and summer months in Portland, water features and surrounding patio space offer a calming, cooling respite from the heat.
Outdoor living can serve multiple purposes for a backyard landscape, including ambiance, functionality, and security. Many of the lighting installations completed by the skilled professionals of Landscape East & West are designed to enhance safety and deter trespassers.
If you’re thinking about adding water features and lighting to your next backyard project, here are the key steps and details to consider.
(more…)
