Portland landscapes are in full bloom this time of year, treating residents and visitors to an abundance of colorful and fragrant roses, fuchsia, and perennials. Landscapes need maintaining throughout summer’s high-growth season. If you’re planning out your midsummer gardening tasks, here’s a good list to get you started:(more…)
“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” Did you know these wise words from the Dalai Lama apply to landscape design? Landscape design experts start with sound design principles as a foundation. They can then produce stunning designs knowing they may decide to break a few rules to accommodate their creative choices.(more…)
Homeowners have a choice when it comes to residential maintenance. They can opt for a basic service that’s just that: mowing your lawn, blowing off any leaves, and little else. Professionals refer to these operations as “mow, blow, and go” because their business model depends on quantity over quality. Expertise and experience matters. Just because someone can build you a cabinet doesn’t mean you’d hire them to build your house. If excellence and quality service matters to you, you need a full-service landscaping maintenance company with a reputation you can trust.(more…)
When it comes to lighting your landscape, the right design can make all the difference. While lighting design is often overlooked, it’s one of those elements that when done properly can add that “Wow” factor to your landscape and home exterior.(more…)
Even if you don’t live in an area that endures extremely cold temperatures, it’s important to winterize your landscape to prevent damage to plants and to protect your equipment. In this post, we’ll focus on the 3 steps you need to take to winterize your irrigation system. (more…)
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. Like many Portlanders, our clients in SW Portland wanted to create an outdoor space they could utilize throughout the year. Since our landscaping 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…)
Here in the Pacific Northwest we appreciate our abundant opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. Residential landscapes are designed to thrive in our damp climate and produce year-round beauty that transforms from season to season. When it comes to landscaping, Portland, Oregon gardeners know how to keep yards lush and gardens vibrant. Creating landscapes that incorporate edible plants is becoming a popular way to combine beauty with practicality. Blending native plants with herbs, fruits, and vegetables turns a garden into an edible paradise. Thinking about doing a little foodscaping? If you’re curious about what to grow and when to plant, take a look at our handy infographic. Maybe you’ll get inspired! For more inspiration, browse photos of some of our garden designs.(more…)
Enjoy Your Beautiful Spring GardenSpring officially began on March 20th and this year the spectacular Pacific Northwest cherry blossoms arrived right on time. Since then spring has been blooming all around us. While we may have some gray skies and rainy days ahead, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by a rainbow of colorful flowers. If you’re a homeowner, that means spring landscaping is already on your mind.(more…)
Lawns have remained a desirable element of a beautiful landscape for centuries. The first lawns were owned by royalty and served as status symbols, so it’s no surprise an exquisite lawn improves curb appeal increasing the value of the home. But, there are many other reasons so many homeowners opt for a lawn. Some feel it brings them closer to nature, and enjoy spending time feeling the soft grass beneath their feet. Others simply consider a lush lawn a symbol of summer and look forward to countless hours enjoying their lush landscape with family and friends. The smell of freshly mowed grass has even been found by researchers to improve overall mood and longevity.(more…)
How to Plan, Design, and Maintain Your Water Feature
Water has long been considered one of life’s four essential elements (along with fire, earth, and air). It’s not only vital to survival, it heals, sustains, and balances. Research proves listening to water can decrease stress and lift the spirit, and watching it can dazzle and delight. There are many reasons our Portland landscaping clients install water features. In addition to the intrinsic and aesthetic benefits of water, the sound of moving water is a great way to drown out traffic or other unwelcome noise. Water features also attract wildlife to your yard. If you’re interested in creating a Zen retreat or a meditation garden, be sure to include a water feature as a key ingredient in your overall design. (more…)