BEFORE - This Pacific Northwest backyard was virtually useless to its family because of its sharp slope and poor drainage.
A severely sloping yard and poor drainage made one Pacific Northwest family’s yard the last place it wanted to spend time. The children couldn’t use it for play and there was no place for the adults to entertain.
Enter ProGrass Landscape Care & Design of Wilsonville, OR. This full-service landscape firm offers not only design and construction services, but maintenance, interior “plantscaping” and even holiday décor.
AFTER - ProGrass of Wilsonville, OR, transformed this landscape into more usable outdoor living space.
The landscaping design firm transformed what was unusable property into expanded outdoor living space.
“ProGrass transformed the landscape into a very usable area for both entertaining and kids’ activities while also addressing some severe draining problems due to poor grading by the home builder,” says Maggie Thornton, marketing coordinator for ProGrass.
Landscape Contractors Help Condo Owners, Too
ProGrass acknowledges that not every Northwestern homeowner has, or will have, expansive areas for outdoor living or landscaping, and the company has its own predictions of where landscaping design is headed in the future.
“As landscapes continue to get smaller, and more people are living in condos and townhouses, living or ‘green’ walls and small roofs, plus containerscaping will grow,” Thornton says.
Whether imparting knowledge on children or its very own clients, ProGrass considers education of healthy landscape practices to be core to its mission. This education, in turn, creates a better living environment for everyone.
For example, ProGrass has found a way to ‘plant the seed’ in young minds about the beauty and importance of the outdoors. The firm’s Gardens for Kids program provides free labor to help create gardens and natural areas at local public elementary schools.
Ask a Lot of Landscape Design Questions
ProGrass prides itself on its customer service. Part of that service is making sure its clients ask the right questions to get exactly the results they’re after. “Communication is key,” Thornton says. “Let us know what you think. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask them.”
That same advice applies to the process of selecting a landscape contractor, she says. She stresses that landscape materials and labor can be costly, so if a contractor’s bid comes in exceptionally low, clients should question exactly what the bid covers.
She also recommends checking the contractor’s state license and inquiring whether there are any complaints against the firm. “Make sure to compare apples to apples when looking at bids,” Thornton says. “Don’t just go with the cheapest contractor without asking a lot of questions first. ProGrass strives to provide the best service possible. We don’t cut corners, but live by our mission statement: ‘Do it right… it matters.’”
Benefits of a Local Landscape Design Service
In addition to maintaining stellar customer service, ProGrass credits its success in the industry with remaining independent in an increasingly consolidated world.
“ProGrass is one of the last local and independent full-service landscape firms left in the United States,” Thornton says. “In an industry which has seen national franchises absorbing small companies, ProGrass is proud to remain independent.”
This local focus has allowed ProGrass, which serves Washington, Oregon and northern California, to concentrate on the unique attributes of Northwest landscapes. The company has even created its own exclusive fertilization program for the Northwest.
“We love our work because it allows us to help our customers enjoy their lives more,” Thornton says. “We provide them with a beautiful landscape, recreating a bit of nature in their own yards, designing the outdoor living space they will use to spend time with family and friends.”
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