Seattle Landscape Construction
Listen up, friend. If you just moved to the Emerald City, you’ll quickly learn Seattle landscaping is a whole different ballgame than other parts of the country. Seattle's climate, terrain, and culture make outdoor spaces unlike anywhere else. Here’s the tea on why landscape construction is so dang unique in the PNW.
We cover a lot of the specifics to our area here: You can read about the creative ways we have solved Seattle area challenges! For more in depth info, contact us anytime.
For starters, let’s talk weather. Seattle’s drizzly climate means plants need to be wa-a-ay more moisture-loving than in sunny, dry spots. Warm season Southern grasses and flowers won’t cut it. Landscapers use hardy, lush ferns, mosses, hydrangeas, and conifers that thrive in Seattle’s cool, damp seasons.
And our seasons are definitely distinct here. While the rest of the country gets snowed in during winter, Seattle stays relatively mild. It’s our rainy season which is perfect for landscaping projects! No need to work around frozen soil or snow storms. Hello, ideal planting conditions.
With oceans nearby and Lake Washington splitting the city, we’ve also gotta deal with more moisture. Smart drainage systems, gravel pathways and porous pavers help avoid a swampy mess in yards. Ain’t no one want puddles all over their patio, am I right?
Don’t even get me started on the terrain. Seattle’s nicknamed the Hill City for a reason, peeps. With steep hills, slopes, and elevation changes, flat backyard plains are hard to come by. Pro landscapers terrace graded hillsides and use retaining walls to prevent erosion.
Space is limited in urban Seattle yards too. Smaller square footage means you gotta get creative with vertical gardening, multifunctional features, and open concepts for that seamless indoor-outdoor living. We are all about being creative. Check out some of the amazing things our crazy talented team has come up with.
And you can’t forget the volcanoes! Nutrient-rich volcanic soil makes Seattle a plant paradise, with flowers and produce growing like crazy. But it also means drainage and retaining walls are extra important on grades.
With so many evergreens, mountains, and waterways, the PNW style is all about embracing the natural beauty. Lots of informal plantings, woody mulches, and indigenous rocks and boulders. Minimal lawn space, more native greenery.
Seattleites also prioritize eco-friendly landscaping for health and conservation. Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance yards reduce water waste. Permeable pavement and rain gardens prevent runoff. Living rooftops insulate homes. It’s all about sustainability here and we are the leaders in sustainable landscape contruction, check how we do that.
And you can’t forget the coffee! Patios, fire pits, and lounge areas are essential for sipping lattes outside. Gotta load up on cozy seating with weatherproof cushions to take full advantage of coffee breaks between showers.
Between the climate, topography, lifestyle and culture, landscaping in Seattle is so uniquely adapted to the region. But that’s what makes our outdoor oases extra special. So embrace what your landscape pro suggests to create your own PNW paradise!
We have been crafting and caring for outdoor spaces since 1990 and specialize in quality residential landscape design, construction, and full-service garden stewardship. So contact us today to get started on your landscape construction in the Seattle area!
Category: From a Landscape Contractor