What We're Up To - John Darby Landscape, Inc.

What's going on at John Darby Landscape, Inc.

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.

Sellwood – August 2014

This is a backyard renovation project in the Sellwood District of SE Portland that we completed in early September. Normally, we post pictures of the finished project, with maybe a picture from before we started work, but we decided to do things a little bit differently this time. A lot of details are involved in putting together a quality landscape project, so we took pictures of this project as it went through the different stages leading to completion.

This project involved transforming a boring backyard into am inviting and functional outdoor living area. When we started, the highlights of the yard included wood chips and old concrete. There really wasn’t much to write home about when we began, but over the course of a month, we transformed this dull area into a beautiful outdoor living space. The wood chips are gone, the concrete has been removed, and in their place we have installed a large paver patio with raised planting areas and a water feature.

The highlights of this project include:

A textured concrete paver patio: We used two paver sizes to create a patterned patio area. The pavers are concrete, but are textured to resemble slate. We used a color blend that has some slightly warmer tones in it to soften the area and add some color contrast. Runoff from the patio is diverted into a series of pre-manufactured dry wells (flo-wells) to manage the water on site.
A stacked stone wall: The edge of the patio blends into a stacked stone wall that contains a large planting area.
A water feature: A waterfall cascades from the stone wall, complete with blue LED lighting effects. The water feature includes an autofill valve and an overflow drain to make it as easy to manage as possible.
A privacy screen: A large wooden screen provides privacy for the hot tub area and outdoor shower. The screen was built with 6×6 pressure treated posts and stained 2×6 cedar boards.
A dog run area: The fence was extended along the side of the house, and a new gate added for access. The dog run area is contained with pressure treated lumber and filled with pea gravel so it can be hosed out more easily.
Irrigation: The plantings are watered by a Rain Bird drip irrigation system for maximum efficiency. We installed an easy-to-use Rain Bird ESP-RZX irrigation controller. We also installed a new double check backflow device for the current and future irrigation needs.

We have included two photo galleries – On that shows the finished project, and one that shows the project in varying stages of completion.

Here are the final pictures of the project:

: The view from the back porch.

: The Water Feature built into the sitting wall.

: A closer view of the water feature.

: Notice the clean edges on the patio!

: Another overview of the project.

: A luxurious outdoor shower.

: The LED Fountain at dusk.

: The LED Fountain after dark – there are also several other colors options available.

Here is a gallery showing the project as it progressed from the beginning to just before completion:

: The side entrance to the back yard. Although it is muddy from equipment, you can see that it is still just a concrete slab.

: A view of the end of the concrete entry area looking toward the main part of the back yard.

: The wood chips are gone, the lines for the wall have been painted on the ground, and the area is being graded for the pavers.

: The side yard, which will be transformed later.

: A lot of work goes into making sure that paver patios are level. Here, we are just starting to move soil around and prepare the area.

: The concrete is being removed with a jackhammer. Good things are on the way!

: The outline for the wall footings has been cut and dug out.

: The concrete has been broken up, and is being removed from the area.

: The concrete is gone!

: You end up with a lot of extra dirt when excavating for paver patios and stone walls…

: A lot of water can run off of a patio, so we installed flo-wells to capture and manage the runoff. You have to dig big holes for these things!

: Not much has happened here in the past week, but you can see how much traffic this area gets as we work on the rest of the back yard!

: The wall has been installed! You will also notice that the water and power for the irrigation and water feature have been placed as well.

: Another view of the wall. The top cap has not quite been finished, but everything has been leveled and squared.

: The side yard has been dug out as well, and the posts for the privacy screen have been placed (not painted yet though).

: The grading has been done, the gravel is down, and everything is finally ready for pavers.

: Another view of the graded patio area.

: The pavers have been placed in the entry area. The edges have not been finished yet.

: The patio is coming along nicely. About 2/3 of the pavers are down, and the edges will be finished later.

: This view of the paver patio shows the layers involved. You have a compacted gravel layer, a sand layer, and the pavers on top of all of it.

: Progress on the side yard! The end of the fence has been removed to make way for the extension and new gate, the retaining boards are in, and landscape fabric has been installed.

: This section has been done for a few days, but this picture really brings out the pattern and color range of the pavers.

: The fence has been extended, the new gate has been installed, and the pea gravel has been placed. Also, the screen supports have been painted black.

: This is that same section of patio that was shown unfinished on August 28th. Notice how nicely the edge has been finished!

: When you run into a hard edge, you have to start cutting pavers to fit. We had to cut a lot of pavers to fit against this wall…

: An ode to our trusty brick mallet. It has served us well…

: Staining 16 foot long 2×6 boards is somewhat of a challenge, but we made it work.

: The entry way, with the edges finished.

: Another shot of the entry, showing the texture of the pavers and the clean edge of the patio.

: Looking into the back yard, you can see that the edges are finished and the patio is almost done. The pavers standing on end have been removed to make way for a channel drain.

: The patio and wall, together at last! The unfinished area is where the water feature will be installed.

: A shot of the patio from the wall.

: Installing a channel drain to catch water from the patio. This area will eventually be an outdoor kitchen.

: Some gates are easy, others are tricky. This one was a bit tricky, but we made it work!

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.

: This is sod in its natural state. If it looks easy to install, consider that most of the work is spent preparing the soil that supports the sod.

: The sod all neatly rolled out and ready to start growing!

: A really charming water feature with dual waterfalls

Seasonal Irrigation Adjustments

Summer is here, and although we have had a stretch of wet weather, the warmer weather is coming back! This means that your lawn will most likely require more water in order to stay green, which sends most people scrambling out to their garages to figure out how to make their irrigation controllers apply more water during the warmer weather. There is a feature found on just about every irrigation controller, regardless of the manufacturer, that can make your life far simpler. Unfortunately, most people don’t know that the feature exists, or how it works.

The “seasonal adjust” feature goes by many names depending on who made the controller. Rain Bird, which we use in all of our installations, calls the function “seasonal adjust” in most of their controllers. Other manufacturers call it a “water budget”, and there are probably other names for it as well. All of these functions work the same way – by increasing (or decreasing) the set watering times by a percentage value. For instance, if you have a watering zone set to go on for 10 minutes daily, and set the seasonal adjust to 150% (or +50% depending on the model), that zone will now water for 15 minutes daily. At 70% (or -30%), the zone will come on for 7 minutes. Please note that different controllers use different notations for calculating the seasonal adjustment. Most Rain Bird controllers we come across use a 5%-200% range, with 200% being twice the programmed watering time and 100% being the actual programmed value (lower values indicate a decrease in the programmed times). Other controllers, such as the ESP-RZX (a great, simple to use Rain Bird residential model) denotes the adjustment as a +% or -%. In this case, +50% would be the same as 150% on the other models. Consult your manual if you are unsure.

Why is this feature so handy? The intention is that you set your controller program at a baseline level (100%, or +/- 0%), and use the seasonal adjust feature to increase or decrease the watering time depending on the season. In July/August, you may raise the adjustment to 150%. In late September, you may want to lower it to 60% until you finally turn it off for the season. The bottom line is that instead of having to go through your controller and changing settings for every zone, you can universally increase or decrease your watering with a single, simple, straightforward setting.

Tigard – April 2014

Here is another backyard transformation. We turned this yard from a sloped nightmare into a level, usable space. After removing several truckloads of soil to bring the grade down to a reasonable level, we constructed a sturdy stone retaining wall to create a level landing for the yard and patio.

We then constructed a set of stone stairs that allow access to the new yard from the house. The stone stairs lead down to a beautiful paver patio, which is bordered by a lush new lawn. To complete the project, we planted arborvitae around the perimeter to provide privacy and greenery. And of course, we installed an efficient irrigation system for the lawn and shrubs using quality Rain Bird parts.

Although we are finished with our part, there is still so much future potential in this “new” yard. We created the solid foundation, and now the homeowner has lots of new options for planting and other landscape enhancements!

King City – March 2014

Yes, there were plants in this King City project, but the centerpiece was truly the extensive paver patio and curved sitting wall. We transformed an old concrete slab into a beautiful and functional outdoor living area that makes the backyard area much more usable and appealing. The pictures speak for themselves, and for this project we have a “before” shot to demonstrate how much difference a good hardscape can make.

Irrigation Frustration?

The sun is out, and with temperatures heading into the 70s, people are starting to venture outdoors for the season. For those with irrigation systems, this usually also means firing up the system and crossing their fingers that everything still works correctly. The problem is that things don’t always work correctly after sitting through the winter, and trying to pinpoint the source of the problem or trying to tame a raging geyser coming from a broken head can be absolutely daunting.

The good news is that we can help! As a licensed irrigation contractor, we have years of experience installing and repairing systems. From a broken head to a faulty valve, we can troubleshoot the problem and repair it so that you don’t have to worry about it and can get back to enjoying the weather. We can also test your system to make sure that it is running at peak efficiency, and can update those parts of your system that may be using more water than necessary.

And yes, we also design and install complete irrigation systems. We use high quality Rain Bird components in all of our installations, and design our systems with efficiency and water conservation in mind.

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.

: A clump of Himalayan White Birch trees

: A landscape without boulders is, well, boring…

: The winter landscape is fascinating!

: A green carpet of Tall Fescue sod.

: Boxed Steps Taming the Hillside.

: Closer View of Boxed Steps.

: Quarried Basalt Steps.

: The custom cedar trash enclosure.

A New Landscape for 2014

A new landscape for 2014 Welcome 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!

Lake Oswego – October 2013

This project involved lots of gorgeous new plants, an irrigation system upgrade, a lawn facelift, boulders, beautiful containers, flagstone walkways, and an impressive amount of drainage work. The original landscape at this home was fairly basic and lackluster, and had been left unfinished in some places. Coupled with drainage problems that were causing erosion and an inefficient irrigation system that liked to spray water everywhere, it was definitely time for a change!

The first thing we did was to fix the drainage issue. We installed a few hundred feet of river rock drain to collect and channel the water, which quickly fixed the erosion problem and made the yard quite a bit easier to work with. We removed an existing back lawn and replaced it with new sod, which was reshaped to better fit the yard. Then we brought in a truckload of incredible plants to fill in the blank canvas and give the new landscape substance. Be sure to take a look at the picture of the Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’), which is in full fall color right now and is absolutely stunning!

The new landscape was finished off with some strategically placed boulders and a pair of flagstone walkways. We installed two birdbath column rocks, which look awesome in their new home. To top it all off, we retrofitted the inefficient planting bed spray irrigation with super efficient pressure-regulated Rain Bird Xeribug™ emitters that use only a fraction of the water as the old system.