Archive for low maintenance plants

Olives on olive trees in Portland

Success with Olive Trees (and other Drought-Tolerant Plants) in Portland

Posted by Carol 
· March 10, 2025 
Olive trees in Portland passing the test of time.
Designers test tree.  This Olive tree stands the test of time. I drive by this tree often and have watched it handle 10 Portland winters.  In summer it gets hot south sun with reflected heat from paving in NW Industrial area of Portland (NW Pettygrove).

Why Olive Trees in Portland?

Welcome to a fresh take on Portland landscaping, where each client’s garden is crafted with care, precision, and a touch of the unexpected. As a dedicated landscape designer, I take great joy in transforming outdoor spaces using drought-tolerant and unique plants. Portland homeowners often seek a landscape that stands out, featuring plants that are not only resilient but also unusual and captivating. Enter using the unexpected: olive trees in Portland!

Embrace the Beauty of Unique, Drought-Tolerant Landscapes with Olive Trees in Portland

Olive trees, celebrated for their year long silvery leaves and calming presence, are becoming a favorite in Portland. They fit beautifully into small urban gardens, offering evergreen elegance throughout the winter. Not only are they drought-tolerant, but some varieties may even surprise you with fruit—olives, of course! Placing these trees requires a well educated and artistic touch to ensure they thrive, making your garden plantings resilient and attractive.  They are also a favorite for modern landscape design style in Portland.

Learning Through Decades of Keen Observation of Portland Landscapes

My passion for plant placement stems from years of observation. As I explore Portland’s streets, visit new and old client landscapes, and participate in local garden tours, I collect insights from each tree and unique plant. A notable lesson came when olive trees in Portland — on NW 19th and Pettygrove — faced our worst ever winter cold February of 2024 with an unusually frigid and powerful east wind. So many broadleaf evergreens in Portland were damaged beyond anything I’ve ever seen but these mature trees maintained their serene and glowing leaves with no damage at all. They’ve stood the test of time in a south-facing, east-protected location—a testament to thoughtful placement.

The Right Plant in the Right Place

From experience, I know that plant exposure is a key to the right location for a plant. My go-to rule for olive trees is a southern or southwest exposure, where city structures can shield them from harsh winds and cold east exposure. Such insights are enriched by conversations with experts like Sean Hogan at Cistus Designs and  Barbara Porter of Oregon Olive Trees in Dallas Oregon, alongside valuable reads like Pacific Horticulture…….. and talking with other landscape designers and of course Mike Darcy.  

Oregon Olive Tree sells olive trees in Portland and is trustworthy for advice on these beautiful Mediterranean plants.
Oregon Olive Tree grows  and sells this beautiful multi stem Mission Olive Tree for instant privacy and beauty. Olea europaea ‘Mission Olive’. Photo credit: Barbara Porter
Olive leaf on parking strip tree + my favorite nail polish, "Where Did My Mango" by OPI
Olive leaf on parking strip tree + my favorite nail polish, “Where Did My Mango” by OPI

Research: More Than a Popularity Contest

When researching plant care, I rely on trusted sources, avoiding the echo chamber of unreliable websites. By echo chamber I mean the tendency of people to simply copy information about a plant from a web site into their blog or their retail plant web site without checking its accuracy.  Finding the same information about a plant on ten web sites doesn’t make it accurate. Cross-referencing reliable information and consulting knowledgeable peers ensures that my recommendations are tailored to Portland’s unique climate, rather than simply following internet trends.

Planning for Success with Olive Trees in Portland, Oregon

Take, for instance, a client’s heart felt desire for an olive tree in an east exposure. My client was willing to gamble so despite breaking my rule, the olive tree is thriving, in part thanks to a strategically placed near by building providing some protection from harsh winds and early morning sun. This success story (so far so good) underscores the importance of customizing each landscape plan to the client and to the site.  However I will only call it a true success after this olive tree has made it 5 years.

Fruit and foliage of 'Mission' olive tree Olea europaea 'Mission Olive'. This variety was developed in California in the 1800's by Franciscan missionaries. Photo courtesy of Oregon Olive Tree Barbara Porter
Fruit and foliage of ‘Mission’ olive tree Olea europaea ‘Mission Olive’. This variety was developed in California in the 1800’s by Franciscan missionaries. Photo courtesy of Oregon Olive Tree Barbara Porter

Recently, (February 2025)  I stumbled upon mature olive trees thriving in an unexpected east-facing location, providing me with more opportunities to learn. These trees were only a mile away from the NW Pettygrove street trees.  My curiosity is aroused but until proven otherwise, I’ll continue recommending south or southwest exposure for optimal olive tree cold hardiness, resilience and growth.

The Power of Collaboration and Innovative Design

Nature occasionally challenges our expectations. While I have principles for placing olive trees, I remain open to learning from nature’s surprises and integrating these lessons into future projects.

Contact me

Ultimately, creating a garden with a diverse, low water to drought-tolerant palette is our passion. Whether you dream of a pollinator plant paradise, more traditional plants, or unique Mediterranean plants like olive trees, our success is measured by how well we fulfill your needs and wants.  By combining our expertise with your known desired wish list or vision, we can craft a landscape that is unique and enduring. 

I enjoy talking with prospective Portland clients so contact me and let’s talk.  Stay tuned for our next blog, where I will share more practical advice for enhancing cold hardiness in your plants, including olive trees. 

Categories : Drought Tolerant Garden, Garden Tips, Gardening Green, New Improved Plants, Parking Strips, Plants I Recommend, Tree Selection
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Low Maintenance Ornamental Grasses for Your Portland Garden: Part 3 of 3

Posted by Landscape Design in a Day 
· November 10, 2024 

 

Switch Grass is a Native, Low Maintenance Addition to Your Portland Garden Design

Panicum virgatum American Switch Grass glowing red in mid summer in Portland Oregon

Panicum virgatum American Switch Grass ‘Ruby Ribbons’ glowing red in mid summer in Portland Oregon

Switch Grass: Colorful grass blades with drought tolerance too

Switch grass is a native American grass that offers dramatic color and form, making it a standout in any garden:

  • Mass Planting: This grass looks fantastic when massed or used as a focal point. It’s particularly effective in modern landscapes but fits well into naturalistic gardens too.
  • Seasonal Interest: With its vibrant mid-summer and fall colors, switch grass provides interest when many other plants are fading. I have noticed many of the newer varieties of switch grass blades color up even by mid June depending on how hot it has been.
  • Water Needs: Once established, switch grass is very low water. However, it’s crucial to plant it in well-drained soil. Avoid areas where water can puddle, as this will cause the roots to rot. If you still have powerful overhead sprinkler spray be aware the water spray can cause these grasses to fall over.  Drip irrigation is better for this reason and that it is easier to water deeply and infrequently which is a perfect fit for this grass.
  • Height Considerations:
  • Stick with grasses under 4′ tall for low maintenance.  I always use shorter cultivars 36 to 44 inches tall to avoid my clients having to add supports.  But, taller varieties (such as 6 or 7′ tall switch grass) can be so stunning if you’re willing to put a ring or other support around the plant in spring.  Piet Ouldalf, a famous garden designer uses heavy metal rings with feet (the ring was about 14” to 18”) around his 6′ tall ornamental grasses.  I found this video link on the web for a grass ring but wow these grasses in the video are huge and much wider than any of the tall grasses that I use.   I was in Piet’s garden back in 2001 and saw the supports he uses.  It made me laugh because I had thought when my tall grasses flopped that I was overwatering or doing something wrong but even the master uses supports for tall grasses.  If you are an adventurous gardener, willing to use supports, go for some of the tall varieties like 8′ foot tall Thundercloud Switch Grass.

Switch grass used as a colorful entry walk plant in S.W. Portland in a drought tolerant garden of grasses, herbs, and succulents.

Switch grass is a versatile and resilient choice, offering beauty and adaptability to various garden styles.  It doesn’t provide well for Willamette Valley native insects but it pairs beautifully with pollinator friendly plants like Blanket Flower, Salvias, Penstemons and more. It makes an orderly but loose effect with native pollinator friendly shrubs like Coyote Bush.

Bringing It All Together

Sedum Autumn Joy contrasts beautifully with Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum background) in Portland garden.

Creating a custom landscape design requires a deep understanding of plant behavior. As a landscape designer, my goal is to select plants that not only look beautiful but also thrive in your specific environment with minimal maintenance. Here’s how I can help:

  • Custom Designs: I tailor designs to fit your space and lifestyle and your eco consciousness.  I won’t proselytize but am happy to create plantings that feed our native insects.  Birds gotta eat too and what they eat are insects.  Or maybe we will only use a few native plants and use more non native plants that help bees and use less water all without cramping your style.  Whether you want a low-maintenance garden or are more interested in plants that require learning how to care for them… I’ll create a plan that works for you.
  • Knowledge and Experience: I understand how different plants grow and perform and what it takes to care for them.    Lets create a thriving and vibrant planting plan for your new landscape.
  • Personalized Advice: We’ll discuss what “low maintenance” actually means to you and design a garden that meets your expectations and provides the stunning visual appeal you expect from a landscape designer.

Get in Touch

Creating a custom landscape design is more than just picking plants – it’s about understanding how they will perform in your unique environment and how much care they will need.  If you’re ready to transform your garden, contact me for a phone consultation. Let’s create a stunning, low-maintenance landscape tailored to your needs and preferences.

Categories : Design Basics, Drought Tolerant Garden, Garden Tips, Low Maintenance Landscape Examples, Native Plants, Plants I Recommend
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Low Maintenance Ornamental Grasses for Your Portland Garden: Part 1 of 3

Posted by Carol 
· November 2, 2024 

Creating Stunning Landscapes with Ornamental Grasses: Expert Tips from a Landscape Designer

Low maintenance ornamental grass, Fescue Elijah Blue in Portland front yard with colorful low water sedum groundcovers.

Drought tolerant and colorful N.E. Portland front yard boasts ornamental grasses like Blue Fescue.

As a landscape designer, one of my favorite elements to incorporate into a garden is ornamental grasses. Not only do they provide year-round interest, but they are also incredibly low maintenance and many are drought-tolerant. Grasses visually tie the plants in the garden together and add a calming influence.

I’m excited to share some insights and tips on using grasses in Portland landscapes and how to keep them looking their best.  The grasses I am talking about today are available at most garden nurseries and are perfect for creating a striking, low-maintenance landscape.

Fescue Grass: Elegance in Blue

Festuca glauca – Blue fescue is a stunning choice for any landscape. It’s soft blue hued blades add a touch of elegance and contrast, especially when paired with vibrant perennials like sedums. (They work with so many low water plantings.)  Here are some important tips you need to keep your fescue looking its best:

  • Planting: Space them further apart than you might think – at least 24 to 30 inches. This allows them to grow and shine without overcrowding.  Low ground cover plants (under 5 inches) can be planted close by and creep right up to the grass.
  • Maintenance: Mostly, you’ll just need to comb out the dead foliage in the spring with the occasional spruce up as needed.  When they get too big or start getting floppy, split them (very few people do this anymore), or just replace them entirely. They typically look great for about 3 -5 years assuming you didn’t overwater or over fertilize them which can cause rapid growth. I’ve never fertilized mine.
  • Water Needs: Once established, fescue has low water needs.  Figure out how you will water this area much less than other areas of your landscape.  If you can’t cut back the water using your irrigation system without damaging other plantings, try re configuring your overhead spray irrigation or close off the section of drip tube by replacing it with tube that has no holes in it.  (The term ‘established’ means the plant has been in one place for a full year or two.)
  • How to Kill this Plant:  Water it every day in the summer, over fertilize it, or plant it in a low place where winter water will puddle which will cause root rot.
  • Companion Plants: In this garden I used sedums, hens and chicks, and lower water perennials like Rudbeckia (black eyed susan) which are excellent companions.  The low sedums and succulents fill in around the grasses and add bursts of color. Other low water perennials such as colorful salvias, penstemons and blanket flower (Gaillardia) work well as do dwarf pines or other low water dwarf conifers.

Low Maintenance Reality

Even though you may need to replace fescue every 3-4 years, I still consider them low maintenance.  Sometimes I use fescue as a temporary planting, removing them once long term plantings such as dwarf evergreen shrubs have filled in and reached a more mature size.   Other times I deliberately use fescue for the long term vision with the client knowing they will be planning to replace them as needed.

Additionally,

Continue reading about Portland low maintenance ornamental grasses in the garden in our upcoming Part 2.

Contact us

Hilary and I love plants.  We love making planting combinations that work well together both from a cultural needs and visual spice point of view.    Our knowledge can integrate your landscape plantings and take them to a new level of attractiveness and durability.

 

 

Categories : Design Basics, Drought Tolerant Garden, Garden Tips, Landscape Styles, Low Maintenance Landscape Examples, No Lawn Front Yards, Plants I Recommend
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Adding Curb Appeal With No Lawn Landscaping to Portland 1960s Home: Part One

Posted by Carol 
· May 13, 2024 

Portland 1960s Ranch House Transformed With No Lawn Landscape

Portland no lawn landscaping helps this 1960s home curb appeal!

This Reed Neighborhood house has a welcoming landscape and entry after working with Landscape Design in a Day

Updating Curb Appeal for Windowless 1960s Ranch Home

As a landscape designer, I recently had the opportunity to transform the front of a windowless ranch house in the Reed neighborhood of SE Portland. The homeowners, Jeff and Lyn fell in love with the house for its great floor plan and proximity to their grandkids.  They did not love the front of the house.   The front entry courtyard was dark, windowless, and in need of updating. The old front walkway, likely installed in the 50s or 60s, was too narrow, and was damaged.

Portland 1960s home in need of a landscaping update to enhance curb appeal.

The front entry courtyard was dark, windowless and in need of updating. The old front walkway, likely installed in the 50s or 60s was too narrow and was damaged.

They needed solutions to make their front yard more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. They needed a complete re-haul with creative solutions for a tough situation.

I have used a landscape design process to fix a house before but I was looking forward to this design in particular since the difference in the before and after would be so dramatic and  satisfying.

Using my Landscape Design in a Day kit they supplied me with the information I needed to create a customized solution.  Happily they were open to removing everything; the front steps, old concrete walk and the lawn.  Armed with their preferences, I worked with them to design a landscape that would greatly enhance the curb appeal of their home, create a warm and inviting entry, add functional walkways and good flow to the front door of their home.

A new porch helped with curb appeal of this Portland 1960s ranch home.

New porch and planters soften tunnel effect of narrow courtyard entry.

Creating a Welcoming Entry

The front entry of the house was dark and windowless, which made it feel unfriendly. To address this issue, we implemented four key solutions. First, we designed and built a real porch (not a deck) and incorporated different shapes and sizes of planters and steps to break up the tunnel effect and add interest to the entry.

Additionally, we designed a large well-planted berm, which served as an attractive focal point and helped diminish the tunnel effect of the entry. We added a multi-stemmed, vase-shaped tree to the berm to integrate the house with the land.  Lastly, we created a curved path from the street to a center landing point, which complemented the Northwest natural landscape style that Jeff and Lyn desired.  Landscape installer was D and J Landscape Contractors, Donna Burdick.

Look for our upcoming Part Two article!

Contact Us

Transforming the front of the windowless ranch house in SE Portland was a rewarding project. I loved the challenge of transforming this difficult front yard and entry without the need for a remodel.  We enjoy taking our 30 years of experience and applying it to your existing landscape no matter the level of difficulty.  We can look at your landscape and see what is possible.  Difficult sites are fun but not required.  Contact me today, and let’s create a front yard you love to come home to.

 

 

Categories : Before and Afters, Customer Testimonials, Drought Tolerant Garden, Garden Tips, Low Maintenance Landscape Examples, No Lawn Front Yards, Plants I Recommend
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Privacy Screening Landscape Design for Kerns Neighborhood Portland: Part 2

Posted by Landscape Design in a Day 
· September 27, 2023 

Portland Plant Tips In Kern Neighborhood Residential Landscape Design

Plant tips for Kern Neighborhood residential landscape design.

In Part 1, I dropped by my clients Chris and Veronica’s Kern neighborhood back yard to get my eyes on their privacy tree, a Japanese elm called City Sprite planted 3 years ago by Landscape Design in a Day. It was doing beautifully but my clients had concerns that a talk with Honl Tree Care addressed. My visit also included some tips for the rest of the plants in their landscape design.

Kern neighborhood residential landscape design update.

Plant Health Care Tips

While I was there, I enjoyed seeing how much all the plants were filling in and checked on a few plants Veronica wanted advice about:

  1. Weed Prevention – To control the seeding on our native Heuchera and Fringecup perennials, cut back the flowering stalk before it goes to seed.  These two perennials provide food for bumble bees and many other important pollinators.  Also be sure to do this with the non-native Lady’s Mantle.  I like to pick the flowers of Ladys Mantle ( Alchemilla mollis) so yes please leave the flower on for the bees but be sure to deadhead it before it goes to seed and spreads.
  2. Re think and edit the plantings under the elm. A few plants are not getting enough sun now that our tree has gotten so much bigger.  The culinary purple sage needs a sunnier spot and could even go in a big pot and be moved.  I don’t see a good spot in the other planting beds for it so I would go for the pot approach.

  3. Shade plant tips for Kern neighborhood landscape design.

    Hardy Fuchsia thrives under privacy tree.

    The summer flowering Daphne and the hardy fuchsia near the purple sage look fantastic and can stay. The mass of Crocosmia we kept from the old garden is getting so big it is a little out of proportion.  You can always thin the Crocosmia.  Split the plant mass and remove the stalks in the middle as they are the oldest ones. Or maybe you are enjoying that very low maintenance plant as a large mass.

  4. Here is something to deal with soon.  The root weevil population is increasing. See my blog for no chemical advice on lowering their numbers.  They sure spoil the look of many part shade plants.

    Plant tips for Kern neighborhood residential design.

    Hosta Halcyon is slug resistant but root weevil re notching leaves spoiling the plants appearance.

  5. Your fun stepable groundcover that softens the edges of the big architectural slabs, Cushion Bolax, can be trimmed once a year or more to prevent it from growing over and minimizing our large pavers. Why trim it off the pavers?   Because the large pavers shape adds an attractive architectural element to the landscape overall and if it gets covered with the groundcover, we lose the impact.   See initial blog post from 2021 with testimonial from clients Chris and Veronica.

Privacy Landscape Design in N.E. Portland

We love working with tricky city back yards and want to help you enjoy your back yard.  Most of us want some privacy to entertain friends and family, and  to use your back yard for fun activities or relaxing.  Our back yards can also help our community by providing for pollinators and creating shade and cooling.  What’s on your wish list?

Contact Us

Let’s work together and transform your back yard into your private and perfect place to be.

Categories : Fall Gardening, Garden Tips, Shade Garden Tips, Summer Garden Tips
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