Yes, Portland is full of bad sprinkler systems. Inefficient, leaky, even illegal irrigation systems. Don't let your new sprinklers be installed like that. Here is what you need to know about irrigation systems and irrigation installers.

The home is modern. Space is limited and includes both concrete and wood deck surfaces. There is very little soil to work with. Can a space like this be transformed into a Japanese-inspired garden gathering space?

Here are some concepts that, used properly, can transform the space as desired.

Paris Realty Group runs a nice blog with a recurring feature: "Five on Friday". The concept is simple, they sit down with someone local who works (in one way or another) with homes and ask them five questions.

Last Friday Paris Group sat down with Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens to discuss landscape design in Portland.

Another 5 star review for Ross NW Watergardens' landscape services:

I can read your mind (just when it comes to your yard). You do not want to spend more time caring for their landscapes. You want to spend less time, even no time if possible.

In an effort to give you what you want, here are 10 ways to lessen the amount of time needed to care for your landscape- and most of them of them are serious.

Like many of you we have been following the "Cultural Crossing" expansion of the Japanese Garden closely. The article below, from "The Hills and Heights" publication has a great preview

What does your fescue look like now? My clients with tall fescue sod from JB Sod have lawns that look like wet straw. Not good. I called JB Sod and asked them about it. Here is what is going on:

We have had a much colder winter that normal and fescue lawns have gone dormant. In fact the sod fields at JB are dormant too!

This garden was designed by Sadafumi Uchiyama and installed by us in 2008. We do the basic maintenance as well, with the excellent tree pruning by Mike Ellena.

I stopped by to make sure the garden had come through the ice and snow well. What a great garden this come to be. Even in winter it makes me smile!

Does snow hurt plants?

Not usually. The real danger posed by snow involves weight not cold. As the snow piles up on branches they can bend and then break. This is especially true with plants that are brittle to begin with. Most, if not all, of your plants should be just fine!

The Ideabook below shows concepts that can be used to design a modern landscape that is relatively low maintenance. Enjoy!