Category: Water Feature Design
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.
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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.
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Top Landscape Design Trends for 2020
When it comes to landscape design, we have learned to expect the unexpected – especially here in Portland, where doing your own thing seems to be a cultural hallmark.
In spite of the strong creative and independent Portland spirit (which we love), we have seen certain trends manifest in yards and landscapes across the city over the years and 2020 will be no different. Here are our top five trends we’re seeing as we head into the new year.
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Want To Transform Your Backyard Into Paradise? Just Add Water
Humans throughout history have associated water with everything from peace, openness, wisdom, and depth, to balance, cleansing, healing, and salvation. There’s even scientific evidence to support the many benefits we get from being in or near water. If you’re looking to add a little Zen to your landscape, consider incorporating the element of water.
Water features can be used as design focal points, to mask unwanted noise, to offer a soothing soundtrack, to reflect a more natural environment, to attract wildlife, and to create a sense of visual movement. Whatever the reason, here are some tips to help you design a water feature that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and transforms your backyard into a paradise.
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Winterize Your Irrigation System in 3 Steps
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…)
Springtime Landscaping and Gardening Tips
Enjoy Your Beautiful Spring Garden
Spring 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…)
Wowing With Water Features: Create An Exquisite Focal Point
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…)
Design Your New Summer Outdoor Living Space This Winter
Plan Hardscaping Projects Now So They’re Ready To Enjoy When You Are
You know the expression, “there’s no time like the present?” Every spring we receive calls for patio updates and hardscaping projects. Unfortunately, by then we’re already booked solid! Winter is the perfect time to start planning hardscaping projects you’d like to have completed before summer. We want you to enjoy your outdoor living area renovations as soon as they’re done, so let’s get to it. Let us walk you through planning steps for your hardscaping projects. Take time now to plan ahead, and the outdoor living space you’re dreaming of will be ready for you when the warm weather returns. (more…)
Light Up Your Landscape
Make Your Outdoor Living Space Inviting with Control Lighting
Portland homeowners can add hardscaping, and a patio cover with a fire pit to expand outdoor living space and increase enjoyment during inclement weather. What they may overlook is the importance of landscape lighting. Portland’s winter months bring dark days—many residents feel disheartened at the prospect of leaving for work in darkness and arriving back home in darkness. Landscape lighting can make an outdoor space feel cozy and inviting, even during Portland’s soggy winter season.
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Water Features for Portland Landscaping: Proper Planning, Design & Maintenance
Since ancient times, people have appreciated the healing powers of water. Modern research proves that the sound of flowing water decreases stress levels. The playful gurgling of a stream can lift a person’s spirits, while water’s sparkling movement enchants the eyes. Beyond a yearning for beauty, our Portland landscaping clients cite additional reasons for installing water features, such as achieving a balance of elements (fire, water, metal, air, and so forth). Moving water is also an excellent way to drown out traffic or other unappealing sounds. Water features can attract entrancing wildlife to your yard. Finally, if you’re looking to create a Zen/meditative garden space where you can escape the cares of the world, a water feature is a key ingredient in your overall design.
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