Portland Landscaping Ideas
Browse landscaping ideas from Portland and get inspiration for your own property
Bring in Boulders
If you want your front or backyard to have a natural vibe, boulders are essential. There are many areas near Portland where boulders can be locally sourced to give your landscaping regional authenticity. Boulders can be subtly tucked amongst plants or displayed proudly with lights that illuminate them at night. To make the most impact, go with large boulders that can be buried partially below ground so that they look as if they have always been there. Boulders can also be grouped to create a focal point in your yard or even to serve as additionally seating.
Get ten tips for using boulders from a Portland landscaper
Ross NW Watergardens
Portland, OR
Create a Private Lake
A swimming pool can look starkly out of place amongst the naturalistic Pacific Northwest scenery. However, if you still want a place to swim why not have a lake created in your own backyard? That’s exactly what the owners of this Washougal, Wash. property did. Just 24 miles outside of Portland, this landscape was designed by Gregg and Ellis Landscape Designs. The lake ranges in depth from 3 to 12 feet and has a waterfall and grotto. The completed lake is much more appropriate in this setting than a swimming pool would have been. The homeowners even added fish and a dock to the lake.
See more of this project: A Landscape for Nature Lovers
Woody's Custom Landscaping Inc
Battle Ground, WA
Cover the Ground
Sometimes bare dirt can be an offensive sight, especially when weeds rear their ugly heads. In this garden on the outskirts of Portland, not a single bit of earth can be seen. Large flagstone slabs serve as a walkway leading to the gate, while a creeping ground cover fills in the space between stones. The effect looks almost like a living carpet. This type of planting can be watered with overhead sprinklers or kept moist from below with underground irrigation. Be sure to pick a ground cover that is tough enough to endure people occasionally stepping on it. Additionally, new growth may need to be trimmed back occasionally to keep the plant from overtaking the flagstones.
Get more ideas for ways to fill the joints between flagstones
Blooming Desert Landscapes
Powell Butte, OR
Create a Rain Garden
Being in the Pacific Northwest, Portland gets a lot of rain. A rain garden is a beautiful way to benefit from the frequent rainy weeks when water is plentiful in your yard. In this garden, a bioswale addresses drainage issues by directing water to a rain garden where it can soak back into the earth. By using plants that prefer seasonal flooding you can create a very interesting focal point in your landscape. Keep in mind that during dry seasons the rain garden may need occasional attention or irrigation to keep it looking its best.
Learn more about rainwater harvesting
Changing Landscapes Inc.
Lake Oswego, OR
Live Outdoors
When it’s not raining, Portland is a great place to spend time outdoors. An outdoor living space can be created that is just as functional and comfortable as your indoor spaces. This backyard features a paver patio, outdoor kitchen, stone seatwalls and a custom wooden pergola. If you want to be able to use the space even during rain storms, get a pergola with a solid roof that is attached to your house. Make sure you have privacy fencing or tall plants that enclose your outdoor living space, separating it from your neighbors.
Get more ideas for creating privacy outside
All Oregon Landscaping Inc
Sherwood, OR
Go Rustic
With its 345 miles of bike lanes, 220 miles of hiking trails and numerous options for outdoor activities, Portland residents like to get off the beaten path. Why not bring the atmosphere of the wide open backcountry to your own yard? Adding rustic details to your landscape will make you feel like you are one with nature. Try allowing moss to grow on stones and pathways, let a few native plants pop up amongst your lawn, or fight the urge to prune hedges into neat and tidy shapes. As seen in this backyard, use natural materials, such as flagstone, whenever possible and add personal touches with furniture and décor.
Discover more ways to create a rustic landscape
Gregg and Ellis Landscape Designs
Portland, OR
Be Whimsical
Portland has a creative side which can be seen in its many artists, musicians and crafters. If you want to embrace this creativity in your landscape there are many options. Instead of sticking with a typical straight or slightly curved path, this one incorporates flagstone spirals at various points. These spirals add a bit of whimsy to the landscape without interrupting its function. They also provide stopping points along the path for the plants and surroundings to be taken in and enjoyed. While this type of design may be more costly because of its intricacy and additional materials, it is well worth it to have something truly unique.
See more examples of flagstone walkways
Beautiful Bones & Purple Stones Landscape Design
Portland, OR
Portland Landscaping
Recycled Landscaping Ideas
Backyard Retreats
