Installation

Our award-winning gardens are known for their year-round interest and harmonious color schemes. Please refer to the Portfolio section for examples of the many private, commercial, and public gardens we have created over the past twenty years. We choose appropriate plants with sequential bloom periods and excellent texture for your landscape. Successful gardens change with the seasons and allow for different views and impressions throughout the year. In the Mid-Columbia, one often frequents different outdoor places for sitting or eating during the course of the year, in tune with the changing seasons and weather.

Gorgeous fall colors enhance this spacious entrance landscape in Hood River, Oregon

INSTALLATION PROCESS

Once the landscape design is complete, we can install your landscape in phases or as a complete project. You may also choose to do part of the installation yourself. The installation starts with contouring your site’s terrain, grading and improving drainage, if necessary. Construction of the hardscape, i.e. seating areas, paths and structures, then takes place. Subsequently, soil preparation, irrigation installation, and planting follow. We employ our own, experienced stonemasons and planting crews, and work with reputable subcontractors to install irrigation systems and build structures. A properly installed garden, through careful, organic soil preparation and use of hardy, acclimated plants, will continue to improve and delight for many years to come, as it matures and develops its own identity.

If you have an existing garden you wish to change or update, we can assist you with planning and implementing a garden makeover or rejuvenation.

These handsome moss rock terracing walls were constructed dry, with generous, mortared bluestone steps leading to the patio above.

STONE

Natural stone is beautiful, low-maintenance and exceptionally durable. It adds a natural feel and permanence to the garden and home.

Using native stone for your patio or paths relates and roots your garden to its surroundings and provides continuity with regional history. Furthermore, local stone is usually more cost-effective and sustainable.
Individual expression and taste will give each garden its special flair. Our stonemasons have extensive experience with the construction of stone walls, patios, paths, steps, and decorative stone features.

For examples of our stone work, please refer to Stone in the Landscape in the Portfolio section.

PLANTS

A small, private town house landscape

We regularly test new plant varieties at our growing facility, and, once they have proven their value and adaptability to our locale, we introduce them into your garden. Grouping plants according to their cultural needs and devoting part of your landscape to suitable native plants is an environmentally friendly approach. It also gives your garden a distinct character, which reflects the beautiful natural landscape around us. Indigenous and drought-tolerant plants usually need less water once established. Xeriscaping has become a popular, recognized gardening method. A thriving, fertile soil will contribute to healthy plant growth, minimize pests and diseases, and aid in achieving a low-maintenance garden.

COST

Each site is unique and cost of a landscape installation varies with type of materials and variety and size of plants chosen; as well as intricacy of hardscape, condition of existing vegetation and soil. Steep sites requiring retaining walls and terracing will be more costly to develop than flat ones. We provide an itemized estimate for the installation with your completed design, which will give you a close guideline regarding the budget necessary to build part or all of your landscape. During the development of the design, phasing of the landscape installation may be discussed, in order to work out the best way to achieve a successful installation with minimal redundancies, while allowing for spreading out of expenses.

Mount Hood Gardens, Inc. is fully licensed, bonded and insured as a Landscape Design and Contractor Business in Oregon, License #6348. It carries Worker’s Compensation and Public Liability Insurance, and pays Unemployment and Social Security Taxes for its employees as required by the US Government.

 

 

"I just love what you have done in the front. It complements the back, but it can stand
alone, too. You have done magic and it’s perfect. Thank you for all the extra touches
that make your work so topnotch!"

—V. P., White Salmon