Landscape Designer in Portland, OR

Enhance Your Property With Innovative Landscape Designs

The Portland Metro area's natural beauty offers a rich canvas for creating sustainable outdoor spaces. DeSantis Landscapes transforms these spaces through innovative and eco-conscious landscape design. With a history deeply rooted in Portland for over 140 years, our team blends extensive local knowledge with advanced methods to craft beautiful, sustainable environments. We aim to enhance your property's natural appeal while preserving the local ecosystem.

Portland’s diverse microclimates, ranging from forested hills to riverfront neighborhoods, demand adaptive landscape solutions. We tailor each project to address these neighborhood-specific needs, incorporating features such as shade trees suited to the Willamette Valley or plant varieties that thrive in the rainier West Hills. Attention to the natural slope and soil types unique to each district allows us to create landscapes that endure seasonal changes and celebrate the region’s lush scenery.

Schedule your consultation with DeSantis Landscapes by calling us at (503) 782-7356 or sending us a message online today!

Comprehensive Services & Custom Designs for Portland

We offer a diverse array of services to address your specific landscaping needs, whether you own a home, a business, or manage an HOA in the Portland Metro area. Our services include:

• Landscape Design: Our design process begins by understanding your vision and blending it into a plan that suits Portland's climate and ecology. We take pride in our position as a leading landscape designer in Portland, crafting designs that reflect the area's distinct character.
• Installation: We implement our designs with close attention to every detail, using environmentally friendly materials when possible. As a trusted landscape designer, our focus on quality ensures your vision becomes reality.
• Maintenance: Consistent upkeep is essential for any landscape to thrive. We offer custom maintenance plans to keep your outdoor space flourishing all year, making us a preferred landscape designer for many Portland residents.

Our team considers every aspect of your property’s unique environment when planning and executing each phase of a project. For residential sites, we create seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, blending patios, decks, and gardens for year-round function and beauty. For commercial properties, we focus on efficient layouts that maximize curb appeal and support business operations, carefully matching plant choices to traffic levels and municipal requirements in neighborhoods like Laurelhurst, Sellwood, and Northeast Portland. We also stay up to date with changes in city codes to ensure every project aligns with Portland’s evolving regulations for water management and sustainability.

In addition, our design team excels at maximizing small urban spaces, which is common in Portland's city environment. By including vertical gardens, container plantings, and multi-level layouts, we turn even the most compact areas into lush, inviting retreats. Our landscapes are created for longevity and adaptability, allowing them to evolve with changing seasons and the preferences of our clients in the Portland Metro area.

The DeSantis Approach: Environmentally Conscious Landscaping in Portland

Our dedication to environmental responsibility distinguishes us in the Portland Metro area. We use environmentally conscious practices such as:

• Native Plantings: We incorporate local, native plants to encourage biodiversity and reduce the need for excessive watering and fertilizer. This choice ensures a sustainable landscape that thrives in Portland's specific climate.
• Efficient Irrigation: We install sensor-based systems to conserve water and maintain healthy soil, which is crucial for sustainable landscape management throughout the Portland region.
• Bioswales: We construct bioswales to manage stormwater runoff and filter pollutants, improving the ecological balance of your property in line with Portland's environmental values.

Our approach also emphasizes environmental stewardship through careful site analysis and ecosystem-friendly planning. We evaluate existing vegetation, drainage patterns, and exposure to sunlight, then recommend improvements that minimize disturbance and foster healthy plant communities. By integrating pollinator gardens and wildlife-friendly corridors, we add resilience to the urban ecosystem while creating inviting outdoor destinations. Every project reflects Portland’s commitment to sustainability, blending city goals with the unique character of each property.

We also use organic mulches and sustainable hardscape materials, including reclaimed wood and recycled metal, suitable for the Portland environment. Our team seeks out new methods and materials that limit environmental impact while delivering effective results. These practices not only benefit the environment but also make maintenance easier, helping property owners reduce long-term costs throughout the Portland Metro area.

Why Choose DeSantis Landscapes for Your Portland Landscaping Needs?

Customers in the Portland Metro area trust us because of:

• Local Expertise: Over a century of dedicated service to Portland ensures our designs are practical, visually appealing, and tailored to the local environment.
• Personalized Service: We put customer satisfaction first with project plans customized to your preferences and needs, setting us apart from other landscape designers in the region.

Clients value our ability to guide them with practical advice on how to care for landscapes in changing climates, including tips for drought years and wet winters. We understand soil profiles, microclimates, and the best planting seasons in different Portland neighborhoods. Our team also maintains connections with local suppliers, sourcing regionally responsible products to achieve both beauty and resilience. We always keep clear and open communication so every client feels heard throughout the project journey.

We also build long-lasting relationships with our clients in the Portland Metro area, viewing each project as a collaborative journey from initial concept to final implementation. Through open communication and a client-focused approach, we ensure every landscape reflects the individual’s taste and vision. Our commitment to excellence has fostered a loyal client base that often returns for new projects and ongoing enhancements to their Portland properties.

Localized Considerations for Portland Landscaping

Portland’s unique climate requires specific considerations for successful landscaping, including:

• Rain & Drainage: We put Portland's abundant rainfall to work by using effective drainage and water management techniques, a key aspect of our approach as experienced landscape designers in Portland.
• Soil Quality: We enhance local soil with organic amendments to encourage healthier, more robust plant growth suited for Portland's native flora.

Our design team also evaluates local city codes and regional watershed management plans, adapting every landscape to comply with Portland’s high standards for stormwater filtration and runoff reduction. In historic neighborhoods, we recommend designs that retain mature trees or update traditional plantings with more resilient varieties, helping homeowners and property managers preserve neighborhood charm while reducing maintenance. By monitoring local trends and weather patterns, we suggest timely upgrades like smart irrigation controllers or green roofs for better energy performance. These strategies ensure your landscape continues to meet your needs, regulatory requirements, and regional sustainability goals well into the future.

Since the city experiences an urban heat island effect, we design landscapes that manage heavy rainfall while also mitigating higher temperatures. We plant shade trees and design green roofs to help save energy and create comfortable, cooler outdoor spaces for Portland activities. Our comprehensive strategies ensure your landscape remains resilient and efficient across the range of weather conditions that Portland Metro area properties experience.

Our Step-By-Step Landscape Design Process

Our proven design process ensures clients receive thoughtful landscapes that suit their needs and Portland’s diverse conditions. We start with an initial consultation to discuss your goals, site requirements, and budget. Our team then conducts a thorough site assessment, evaluating light, soil, drainage, and local regulations that may impact your project. Using this input, we develop a detailed conceptual plan, including hand-selected plantings and hardscape features chosen for visual appeal and long-term sustainability in your part of Portland.

We share these plans with you for feedback, making adjustments based on your preferences and any site-specific challenges, like unique microclimates in the West Hills or slope management in the city’s southeast neighborhoods. After finalizing the design, we transition to installation, where our team manages each step to achieve a seamless result. Our process concludes with a walkthrough, orientation on maintenance, and tips tailored to your landscape’s plants and irrigation systems. Our personalized approach keeps projects on track and aligned with Portland’s environmental codes, providing confidence at every stage.

Permitting, Codes & Local Portland Landscape Regulations

Successful landscaping projects in Portland require careful adherence to local permitting processes and city codes. Most landscape installations that alter grading, impact stormwater management, or include certain hardscape features must comply with city regulations. As part of our project assessment, we identify any rules that may affect your plans. This includes the requirements outlined in Portland’s Environmental Services Stormwater Management Manual, which impacts how bioswales, permeable surfaces, and rain gardens are designed and constructed.

The city also maintains tree protection and planting guidelines, particularly in the Urban Forestry Code. For properties within designated environmental zones or historic districts, additional steps ensure new landscapes fit community standards. Our team stays up to date with evolving codes, helping you navigate any special provisions needed for your site. By planning ahead and maintaining compliance, we help prevent costly delays and promote success in every landscape project across the Portland Metro area.