A beautiful garden is an important component in making a house feel like a home. But as with any region of the country, the Pacific Northwest has its own unique landscape design challenges. While most people picture evergreen forests and year-round rainfall, the Northwest actually has three distinct landscape regions, so proper design is key to creating a garden that will thrive and bring joy to the household for years to come. A local landscape contractor will have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you select the correct plants for the eco-system. It also helps to work with someone who knows about some of the issues that can arise in different growing areas before starting out.
While the Northwest's mild climate and considerable rainfall are responsible for the region's lush green landscapes, coastal regions can be a difficult place to grow some varieties. The soil is sandy and lacking in nutrients, the salty winds coming off the sea can damage vegetation, and the rainfall erodes soil away. A landscape contractor will have a good idea of what's best for a specific area, but adding three inches' worth of good soil or compost is generally enough to give young plants the nutrient-rich earth they need to take root in their new environment. A barrier of hardy trees and shrubs can protect delicate flora from the strong winds off the ocean, while also preventing erosion. It isn't easy to start a lawn on the coast, but six inches of compost can make it possible to grow a hardy species of grass. The best time to plant in this region is in the spring, after the heavy winter rains are over.
In the Cascades and other mountainous regions, beautiful forests and abundant undergrowth thrive naturally despite the short growing season and rocky soil. But if you're looking to cultivate non-native vegetation in these rougher terrains, you'll need the guidance of a landscape contractor to create a garden that can flourish. If the land is surrounded by shady trees, plants should be chosen that will do well in partial sun. For more open areas, wildflower meadows do well and, as a bonus, attract butterflies and birds. Lawns are not recommended as they tend to become overrun with mosses and ferns; a rock garden complemented with native grasses is an easy-to-maintain alternative and does well in full sun. Again, spring is the best time to plant, after the last chance of frost.
High-desert regions can stress foliage with hot days, cold nights and infrequent rainfall. Xeriscaping (landscaping with drought-resistant species) is the technique of choice for those living in the high desert. There are many beautiful desert plants to choose from and efficient drip-irrigation lines can be added to provide extra water. Water features, such as ponds or fountains, are a good alternative to a lawn. In the high desert, the best time to plant is in the fall, as this tends to be the mildest season and gives plants a chance to establish themselves before the cold winters set in.
Despite the challenges of the weather and terrain, there are many other possibilities when considering how to design a landscape in the Northwest. The region offers one of the country's best climates for growing rhododendrons, for example, while native varieties like the sword fern and Western bleeding heart are popular landscaping options. Portland's reputation as the Rose City is not unwarranted, and the Northwest's passion for eco-friendliness can be found in gardening practices as well. With the help of a landscape contractor, you can have a long-lasting garden that features some of the best natural resources the Northwest has to offer.
Author Resource:-
Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed internet marketing strategist. If you need a Seattle landscape contractor, he highly recommends Rick Young Landscape and Design. They collaborate extensively with the client and offer a range of services to meet any of your landscaping needs, from hydro-seeding to drainage.
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