Viridian Landscaping

10/01/2026

We have just about completed the removal phase of our current project.
The goal is to make as much useable space for entertaining and recreation as possible.
The existing water feature was a source of maintenance frustration for our clients (and friends) and was occupying too much valuable space to allow for all of the desired activities.
We removed 2 decks, disassembled a gazebo, removed a water feature and have hauled off approximately 60 yards of soil.
All of this has been accomplished with challenging access.
The next phases will include concrete block walls, 2 patios, stairs and turf.

08/12/2026

Progress photos from our Newberg job. Our goal is to create unique and intimate spaces for our client to walk through and enjoy. Bringing in 24 tons of boulders helped us squeeze as much drama as we could out of the existing slope. Next up are installing the metal path edging and the plant hunt.
Big thanks to Eric Continuum Landscape and Design for all of his help!

08/08/2026

We got certified, y’all!

Susie and Matt are very knowledgeable gardeners and also professional landscapers. They decided to go all in on making over their small Clackamas yard as habitat. They removed the lawn and a blackberry infestation, and began to replace the home builder's plantings with some favorite ornamentals and many natives.

Their plantings include vine maples, Oregon grape, snowberry, serviceberry, osoberry, mock orange, oceanspray, ninebark, red-flowering currant, birch-leaf spirea, evergreen huckleberry, Douglas aster, tiger lily, native self-heal, California poppy, streambank violets, lupine, Oregon iris, Oregon and broadleaf sedum, oxalis, vancouveria, bleeding heart, candyflower, false lily of the valley, nodding onion, heuchera, sedges, checkermallow, yarrow, maidenhair, lady and sword ferns, and more.

As you might imagine, this is a densely planted yard, with lots of small zones and pockets to arrest the observant walker and shelter wildlife. Congratulations on your Gold certification, Susie and Matt!

Clackamas SWCD

WeedWise: A conservation program of the Clackamas SWCD

08/08/2026

Backyard transformation for our lovely clients 😁

05/25/2026

Phase 1 of our Newberg project-
Our client lives on 2+ acres and requested our assistance with providing screening from a commercial property with bright night lights and a neighbor’s auto collection. Twice our client has tried planting screening trees on their property but because of heavy soil, species selection, planting locations and lack of consistent summer water these plantings have died.
We proposed bringing in a blended soil that would provide much needed organic matter for the soil and a raised substrate for our new plants to establish roots without drowning.
To prepare the planting areas we ran a single shank ripper to break up the hard pan layer under the topsoil and then rototilled. We then ran 800’ of 1” poly to these beds to help provide automated irrigation. Next, we brought in 200 yards of blended soil to shape the beds.
Typically, when driving through rural areas with newer homes in the Willamette Valley, you will see rows of Leyland Cypress planted at the property edge. Why did we choose not to do that? Well, that’s what had been tried previously and they died. Secondly, the client really enjoyed their views of the sky and only wanted screening to about 18’+/-. The Leyland Cypress can get to 40’ pretty quickly. Third, having a single texture wall of plants takes away from the beauty of having a rural property - open space. Placing a uniform wall of plants around one’s property can feel like self imposed confinement.
For planting, we will be using a mix of native plants that can tolerate heavy wet soils in the winter and dry summer conditions such as Coastal Pine, California Wax Myrtle and Red Twig Dogwood. We will be placing these plants in a staggered pattern in amorphous beds to add depth and interest.
Much thanks to Eric@ Continuum Landscape and Design for his help this last week.

05/15/2026

Front courtyard redo featuring steel edging with welded joints, columbia basin column rocks, compacted black 1/4 minus and a new lawn.

03/20/2026

Finished up the boulder placement and flagstone pathway on our project in SE Portland. The boulders we used came from our client’s eastern Oregon ranch. They hosted Susie and me overnight on their family’s homestead. Being able to use boulders from a place with so much history and meaning to our clients added an element of depth and authenticity to this project. We are grateful that our clients chose us for this unique project

03/06/2026

Today we are installing drip valves on our latest project. It might muddy but our work is clean 😁

02/27/2026

Smart removals make for big changes. By removing the Alaskan Cedars and Vinca, we were able to brighten up the entrance of this clients home and create opportunities for new plantings. It was a lot of work digging out the roots but the result was well worth it.

02/11/2026

Spring feels like it is almost here. Here are some photos from last spring’s visit to a couple Rhododendron gardens.