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Lake Oswego – Fall 2015

This was a large residential project that we finished in Lake Oswego on a new construction home last fall.

Elements of this project included:

  • An expansive Tall Fescue lawn:  This tough yet beautiful turfgrass will require less water and maintenance once established, and will stand up to regular use with ease.
  • Stone walkways:  We used a lot of stone walkways in this project to access various parts of the landscape.
  • A drainage system:  The back yard had some leveling issues and a major drainage problem when we arrived.  We leveled the rear lawn and installed a generous amount of drainage to create the level, rolling expanse of grass that you see in the images.
  • A rain garden:  We constructed a rain garden that is not only gorgeous, but also allows the landscape to manage some of its runoff onsite.  Water that would normally end up in a storm drain is instead kept on the property and allowed to soak back into the soil.
  • Numerous grasses and perennials:  We really enjoyed the colors and textures of this project.  The fall colors were beautiful, and the selection was designed to provide interest in all seasons.
  • Boulders:  A well placed boulder makes a strong statement.  We strategically placed a number of large boulders throughout the project to provide structure and contrast.
  • An extensive Rain Bird irrigation system:  We love our Rain Bird irrigation products, and really put them to good use here.  This landscape incorporated a number of irrigation zones, most of them with high-efficiency drip irrigation.  Our drip systems will keep the water low to the ground and near to the plants that need them, only using the water that is necessary and keeping it in the landscape instead of running into a drain.
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North Portland – June 2014

We’ve been working on a number of projects this spring, but this is one of our more recent endeavors.  An aging lawn in North Portland was in desperate need of rehabilitation, and the homeowner wanted a water feature for their backyard.  John Darby Landscape, Inc. sprung into action, and despite the exceptionally hot weather, transformed the old weed-ridden turf into a beautiful green lawn, and created a charming water feature that will continue to delight for many years to come.

For this project, we had to install a new irrigation system from scratch, as the older house has never been irrigated.  We installed two zones of lawn irrigation, using high efficiency Rain Bird VAN nozzles.  We also added a highly efficient drip irrigation zone for the existing flower beds, and installed a Rain Bird ESP-RZX controller that is extremely reliable but also simple to use.  We had to install a new double-check backflow device as well for the irrigation system.  After this, we installed hardy RTF Tall Fescue sod, which will require less water and fertilizer as it ages and will provide a very tough and durable lawn surface.

For the water feature, we constructed a double cascading waterfall with an upper and lower pool.  Pictures are more effective than words, so please take a look at the picture in the gallery below!  The water feature has the added bonus of plenty of room for planting, including a planting space for a small tree between the two water cascades.

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Bull Mountain – January 2014

This was a continuation of a project that we have been working on in phases (See Bull Mountain September 2013).  This phase was particularly challenging due to an extremely steep hillside that made access to the project area difficult.  In typical John Darby fashion, we challenged the hillside right back, and transformed an inaccessible nightmare into a stylish yet durable usable space.

Some highlights of this phase include:

  • A Custom Cedar Trash Enclosure –  The steep hillside made it impossible to hide trash and recycling receptacles out of sight, so we improvised and built a custom enclosure that extends out over the hillside and provides an enclosed, level place to store these unsightly necessities.  The hidden bonus?  The enclosure platform also provides safe and level access to the utility meters and irrigation controller.
  • Stairs, Stairs, Stairs – One particular feature that really stands out on this project is the generous helping of stairs.  As mentioned before, the hillside on this project was a real challenge, and made safe access to the lower yard a major challenge.  Through a combination of quarried basalt and boxed steps, we transformed the hillside from a hazard to a work of art.  Boxed steps are a rugged yet economical alternative to stone stairs, and can also serve as the base for a number of different tread materials.  In this instance, we used compacted gravel for the tread surface.
  • Irrigation – We continued the irrigation system using quality Rain Bird parts.
  • More Tall Fescue Sod – We really love this stuff, and used it again in the lower yard.
  • More Boulder Accents – We used a lot of boulders in this phase to define and complement the landscape.

 

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A New Landscape for 2014

A new landscape for 2014Welcome to 2014!  2013 was a busy year at John Darby Landscape, Inc., and we want to thank all of you that we had the opportunity and privilege to work with last year.  We are looking forward to another great year in 2014, and wanted to remind you all that landscape projects in our region can generally be done at any time of the year (with some exceptions for polar vortexes and hurricanes, but those are fairly unlikely).  As we move toward the spring and summer season however, our calendar fills up fast, and we sometimes have to delay new projects by several weeks during the busier months.

Besides scheduling, here are some good reasons to tackle your landscape project in winter instead of waiting for warmer weather:

  • You get a jump on the season.  You can be sitting in your lawn chair marveling at your amazing new outdoor living space while your neighbor is still trying to figure out where he left the shovel last fall.
  • Fall and winter plantings establish faster.  Planting in the cooler weather gives plants an opportunity to establish and get prepared for our harshest season – summer.  Whereas summer plantings are “what you see is what you get” until the next growing season, fall and winter plantings have the benefit of an extra spring growth flush.
  • Let nature provide the water for establishment instead of your wallet.  Fall and winter plantings use the natural abundance of seasonal rain water to get settled in and get past the fragile “newly planted” stage.  Summer plantings rely completely on irrigation systems to establish themselves, which means more money out of your pocket every month when the water bill comes in.  Early planting and an efficient irrigation system can cut the watering costs dramatically!
  • Hardscape projects such as paver patios, walkways, and garden walls form the backbone of your landscape.  By getting these main elements in place now, you will be able to focus on more important things once the sun comes back.

Whatever your landscape dreams for the new year, we can make them happen!

 

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Bull Mountain – October 2013

This was a part of a multi-phase project in the Bull Mountain area of Tigard, and included planting, boulders, custom brick work, irrigation, lawn installation, and an elegant water feature.

Some highlights of this project include:

  • A fantastic fountain!  You can see in the image that the three pots are constantly overflowing into the main basin, which is lined with basalt wallstone, surrounded by custom brick work, and includes LED lighting for nighttime accents.
  • Tall fescue sod – The more we use this premium turf grass in our projects, the more we fall in love with it.  Tough, tolerant of low water levels, low fertilizer requirements, and did we mention tough?
  • Low volume watering system – All of the trees and shrubs are watered with Rain Bird Xeribug™ drip emitters for targeted and efficient watering.  The controller is paired with a rain sensor and a seasonal adjustment feature for adaptive watering.
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