Low-Maintenance Landscape Design using Oregon Native Plants

Low-Maintenance Landscape Design using Oregon Native Plants

Low-maintenance landscapes have become higher in demand as our lives and hobbies have changed, while the expectation for a great looking lawn and garden has stayed the same. Hiring a landscape maintenance service may be an option for some, and pesticides and herbicides seem to promise a relatively quick and cheap solution for the busy DIYer. But there’s a third way: use native plants.

Native plants are naturally adjusted to thrive in the Oregon climate with minimal help from people – meaning less water, less fertilizer, less bug and weed control measures, and ultimately, less maintenance.

 

This is the Pacific Coast Iris. It is ridiculously gorgeous and also native to Oregon!


The Benefits of a Native Landscape

There are quite a few Oregon native perennials, trees, shrubs, and ground covers that have the ability to really knock your socks off.

Benefits of using native plants in your landscape design include:

  • Less maintenance
  • Supports wildlife
  • Saves money by needing little watering or maintenance when planted well
  • Naturally reduces the use of pesticides and fertilizers – native plants have developed their own defenses against many pests and diseases
  • Gets your space closer to being a Backyard Certified Wildlife Habitat

 


 

A Few Examples of Landscape Plants Native to Oregon

Here are just a few of the Oregon native plants that can add some definite beauty to your landscape with minimal extra maintenance.

Pacific_Dogwood-tree

Cornus nuttallii (Pacific Dogwood)

 

oregon-native-plants-oregon-stonecrop

 

Sedum oreganum (Oregon Stonecrop)

 

 

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Ribes aureum var. aureum (Golden Currant)

 

These are just a few of the show stoppers that provide a low-maintenance solution while still giving a landscape curb appeal. This website provides a vast native plant list to really delve into and find some incredible plants you’ll love.


Drake’s Can Design it for You!

If a native, low-maintenance landscape is on your mind, contact us! We can design and install a dream landscape that doesn’t take all your free time to keep it looking stunning!

 

Several Portland area projects - Traditional - Landscape - Other - by Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Center

A lifelong Oregon resident, Drake has been passionate about plants since childhood, beginning with propagating and growing flowers at his grandfather’s nursery. He opened Drake’s 7 Dees in 1974, while earning degrees in Business and Horticulture from Oregon State University. He later expanded into the design/build side of the industry, allowing him to combine his passion for plants with his love of family by maximizing the quality of family time spent outdoors.

Drake is co-founder of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association and is a Landscape Industry Certified Manager (LICM)—a designation that less than two percent of landscapers have attained. Additionally, Drake serves on the Board of Directors for the Portland Japanese Gardens, widely regarded as one of the seven best Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Drake is married to former Oregon Speaker of the House, Lynn Snodgrass. Together, he and Lynn received the Farm Bureau President’s award in 1999 for their service and dedication to agriculture in the state of Oregon. Drake and Lynn have two wonderful daughters, two talented son-in-laws, and seven grandchildren. In his spare time, Drake enjoys camping, water and snow skiing, reading, and of course, gardening.

Born and raised in the Portland Metro Area… Tim has had an appreciation for the outdoors from a young age.  Inspired by our local beauty ranging: the Mt Hood National Forest to salty, sea spray of Cannon Beach, the arid high-desert of Central Oregon to the rugged terrain of Steens Mountain – Tim sought higher education at the University of Idaho in their Landscape Architecture department.  Graduating with honors in 2004, he returned home to establish his professional career.

Now making his home in Sandy, Oregon – Tim and his wife [Nicole] are raising two happy and healthy kiddos and 4 fur-babies.  Between soccer, football, cheerleading, girl scouts and other extra-curricular activities… the Sellin family are heavily involved in their community and church family.  Since college, Tim has spent 13 of his 17 years with Drake’s 7 Dees and has ‘set roots’ in anticipation of long-term growth at the family-focused company.  Having spent his time away from Drake’s in a ‘boots on the ground’ capacity, Tim has fostered a love for the operational/production side of landscape business, as well as the design/sales.

His goal in life as well as business is to put others first.

Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, BSLA… 2009
California Polytechnic University, Pomona… Cum Laude
American Society of Landscape Architects – Honor Award

Steven has 15 years of experience in the residential landscape design/build and garden center industry, including 9 years with Drake’s 7 Dees. Steven also has experience working with the National Park Service in Yosemite on sub-alpine restoration projects, as well as volunteer experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving the community of Zaouiat d’Ifrane in Morocco.

Together, Steven and his wife Anna have four lovely children, all 5 years old and under! In his (very limited) spare time, Steven enjoys camping, hiking, archery hunting, and cooking. Steven’s passion for his work lies in helping others, through design to envision a more beautiful space that, once built, becomes a reality that improves their quality of life.