A ROCK RETAINING wall creates a pleasant split-level look in this backyard. Walls are especially helpful for sloping terrain.
DECORATIVE STONE is attractive and provides an alternative to concrete as a patio flooring choice.
Homeowners are getting creative in upgrading their yards with choices ranging from firepits to decorative stone and small waterfalls, area landscaping professionals say.
James Woodhead, owner of Woody’s Custom Landscaping of Battle Ground, said the amount of renovations and additions being done this spring is far outpacing last year’s activity.
“My job scale and the amount of work we’re getting has jumped exponentially,” he said. “It reminds me of back in 2007 before the collapse.”
What do people want these days? Woodhead listed patios and retaining walls as popular items. Flagstone squares also are being used to create a nicer look than concrete for patio floors, he said.
“Fire pits are very popular, too,” Woodhead said. “I’m putting in a propane one next week.”
One of his clients recently purchased a large residence and wants to do lots of landscaping projects, including adding a lake on the property.
“Even last year, those kinds of jobs were hard to find,” Woodhead said. “This one caught me by surprise.”
Jay Hofer, owner of J’s Custom Landscaping in Vancouver, agreed that people are spending more money sprucing up their lawns and patio areas. He called it another way that homeowners can add value to their house.
“A flagstone or paver patio can complement your home without the expense of maintaining a wood deck,” Hofer said. “There are many shapes and sizes of stones to make each patio unique to your home. Most people are shying away from concrete because they want something more natural.
“Now that the economy has improved, people are more interested in improving their outside,’’ Hofer added. “We’re seeing people who might have done a $500 clean-up job in the past who are now adding a firepit or patio. We’re seeing that kind of trend.”
Landscape lighting is getting more attention this spring due to improvements of LED lights, according to Hofer.
“People previously thought LED meant blue and ugly, but now it’s not,” he said. “Even though there’s a higher upfront cost it’s becoming popular because you don’t touch a lightbulb for 10 or 15 years. They also use about 75 percent less electricity on average.”
Hofer’s firm also is restarting or refreshing lawns and plants that were damaged last winter.
“Six to 12 inches of snow will do that,” he said, adding that as a result many people are opting for new plants better suited for the Pacific Northwest climate.
Last winter’s weather is providing lots of work for Grant Johnson, owner of Grant Johnson Landscaping of Ridgefield. He said the snow prevented lawns from getting needed oxygen and that, coupled with abundant rain, promoted the growth of snow mold in the grass. Johnson said the snowfall was heavier than any in the last 13 years, prompting the problem in many lawns.
Frontier Landscaping owner Steve Pash said many of his clients are starting to put more care into their yards after neglecting them for years due to financial reasons.
“People are doing more revamps,” he said. “They’re staying put and upgrading their yards. There wasn’t the care going on for trees and plants, and now it’s time.”
Other reasons to alter current landscaping stem from having planted shrubs or other items too close to a house. Pash said it’s often a case of “wrong plant, wrong place. We’re starting to see a lot of do-overs.”
Pash also believes people are becoming more aware of using water in environmentally-responsible ways. Drip irrigation systems are popular as a result, he said, along with people using more native plants suited to the area.
Lighting and water systems – popular a few years ago – are coming back again, Pash added.
His company is cashing in on the surge in landscaping interest, just as other Clark County firms are doing.
“We’re busier than we’ve been since 2008 and 2009,” Pash said.
