Among Portland landscapes you’ll find a broad range of styles, from modern minimalism to botanical explosions, but newer designs aspire to balance contemporary cool with Northwestern naturalism. Japanese maples thrive in Portland, and the moist, gray climate lends a handsome sheen to gravel and decorative stones and boulders. Perhaps for these reasons, let alone the undeniable beauty of the style, Japanese gardens tend to be popular among the locals. Hardscape design frequently features modern design characteristics: straight edges, cool grays, concrete, and wood. Juxtapose these clean hardscape features with massed, naturalistic planting, and you get an organic modern look that is popular in commercial spaces as well as residential yards.

Portland landscapes commonly feature amenities for outdoor living, from outdoor kitchens and dining areas, to pergolas, particularly those with adjustable louvers or retractable waterproof coverings, which can offer dappled shade in nice weather and dry shelter in wet weather. In keeping with the local focus on sustainability, as well as the need to manage stormwater, landscape stone is a popular feature. From modern charcoal gravel patios to cobble creekbeds to sculptural boulders, stones are versatile and common features across the style spectrum. Landscape lighting is a popular option, along with fire pits and hot tubs. Each amenity contributes to a pleasant outdoor experience after the sun has gone down.

Portland is uniquely dedicated to sustainable landscaping. Designs commonly feature plants native to the Portland region, along with climate-adapted species suitable for the local climate. This reduces water consumption and helps to support local biodiversity. With the frequent rain, designs often include stormwater management features like swales and rain gardens, capturing water on site to reduce flooding and erosion, recharge groundwater supplies, and block pollutants from entering local waterways. Edible gardening is also a hit in Portland, offering a fun and sustainable way to source food. From vertical gardens to traditional raised beds, there is an edible gardening solution for virtually any yard – or even homes with no yard at all!

You bet! While climate-adapted species hailing from the Mediterranean or other similar plant communities and climate zones can play a key role in a water-wise landscape, nothing beats native plants for creating habitat and supporting biodiversity. Having evolved to thrive in local conditions, natives tend to require fewer inputs of water, fertilizer, and maintenance than introduced species. Low maintenance and sustainable – hard to argue with. For those wanting to go the extra mile, try planting keystone native species like oak and cherry trees, woodland strawberry groundcover, cool-flowered lupines, or silvery sagebrush. Keystones comprise just 5% of native species, but offer 75% of native habitat value – when it comes to supporting biodiversity, nothing beats them.

Portland landscapes should be designed to offer something for residents in all types of weather. That means sheltered spaces to enjoy the rain while staying dry, and flexible zones that can adapt to different functions and group sizes, depending on what the season or occasion dictates. With frequent rain, stormwater management is a chief concern. By offering plenty of permeable surfaces, water can be captured on-site, reducing erosion, flooding, and pollution while recharging groundwater supplies. Being the in the West, landscapes in Portland should also prioritize water conservation, leaning heavily on native and climate-adapted plants to minimize water consumption.

Now! Any time of year is great to begin work on a landscape project. When possible, we suggest utilizing the winter to work through the design phase – this sets you up to get on contractors’ books early in the build season, so you can have your design installed and ready to enjoy in time for summer. If winter has passed, don’t worry, it’s never too late in the year to begin work on a landscape design project.