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The Benefits of an Automatic Irrigation System

The Benefits of an Automatic Irrigation System

This summer has been beautiful in the Northwest, but prolonged sunny days can dry out your plants, wreaking havoc on your landscape. Installing an irrigation system saves you time and money in the long run. It preserves valuable water resources, using less water more effectively, saving you time and money on utility bills.

Having an irrigation system makes it possible to enjoy your summer without the worry or time consuming task of hand watering, or even worse returning from a weekend away to find your garden scorched. Irrigation systems can be adjusted as your landscape matures and timers can be set easily by the property owner as the seasons and weather patterns change.

Effective watering is the foundation to a healthy landscape. Even drought tolerant plants need a solid foundation, with regular watering over the first 1-3 years to establish strong healthy root systems. Regular compost application, barkdusting, and mulching garden beds will also aid your landscape in water retention. Proper watering helps your plants with fertilizer uptake, overall plant health and your soil stay healthy by maintaining the proper balance of nutrients. Plants cannot take up nutrients when they are in a state of drought. Even weeds are better controlled when your landscape plants are thriving.

Proper watering is the most important requirement to establishing long term plant health and preserving the investment you make when renovating your landscape. Installing irrigation is an investment to your landscape. Having an automatic irrigation or sprinkler system increases the value of your property. Maintaining your irrigation system is also important to make sure you prevent breaks, leaks, and maintain pressure. Frontier Landscaping can help you set up or repair your irrigation, allowing you to get back to the summer activities you enjoy. We guarantee all our work. Call (360) 574-8979 or send us an email to arrange a site visit for an estimate today.  Due to COVID-19 our construction crews are booked out past the point of irrigation being needed.  We would be more than happy to assist you with an estimate so you can install irrigation over the winter or spring for the next hot summer.

Landscape & Irrigation Guarantee

Frontier Landscaping provides expert irrigation design, installation and repair to residential and commercial properties in Vancouver, Portland, Battleground, Kelso, Longview, Camas, Clark County and Multnomah County.

Landscape Services for Property Managers

Landscape Services for Property Managers

In addition to commercial and residential landscape services we also partner with property managers to alleviate the burden of landscape maintenance from their already full plates. We will work with you on an individual or group of properties to set up a clear and consistent maintenance plan that keeps your tenants satisfied all months of the year.
We make sure it’s done right and with the best environmental practices we can offer. Let us help you set up a landscape maintenance services that includes:

  • Lawn Care, complete with regular mowing, edging and fertilizing
  • Tree care including 24 hour emergency tree service
  • Leaf clean up and garden bed maintenance
  • Hardscape Maintenance, including pressure washing and moss prevention and removal
  • Planting beds
  • Pruning, mulching and leaf removal
  • So much more
When you’re overseeing a property or multiple properties you need to partner with a landscape company you can trust. We have highly skilled staff that are the best in the business. We have been active in the Vancouver and Portland areas for over thirty years and it shows. We provide efficient plans for your property with a budget tailored to your priorities. 

In addition to residential and commercial services we also service:

  • Individually managed property or home
  • Commercial complex or office
  • Group of properties managed by same company
  • Estate or property the includes extensive grounds
  • HOAs or Neighborhood Associations
  • Apartments, Townhomes or Condominium Communities

Property management has many scenarios, you need to have a company you trust to handle the unexpected. If unfortunate issues arise we are skilled at both emergency tree removal and storm clean up.We also provide the preventative care to reduce the risk to your tenants. You never know what to expect during Pacific Northwest Winters and we are experienced to handle whatever Mother Nature sends our way.

Contact us today to start your property management plan.

Ideas To Keep Busy – Part 1

Keeping Busy and #StayHome

As we’re being asked to #StayHome, parents and families are looking for fun ways to keep kids busy. We found a few fun ideas from Growing A Jeweled Rose to help keep kids busy in the garden. We’ve selected our favorites and listed them here. If you try any of these, please post your photos or if you have any other ideas, please share in the comments below. As adults, some of these look fun to us too, so don’t feel like you can’t participate if you don’t have kids at home.

installation

If your kids are a little older and/or are ready to help in the yard, here are a few ideas we found to help keep them busy helping you

Debris Clean- Up
One thing you can do is to clean up your yard. This means removing leaves, twigs, branches, dirt and other items that have accumulated over the fall and winter months.   There are some common issues in Clark County & Portland Metro, so if you’re seeing bare batches, there are a few issues you could be facing.

Make it fun – make it a race to gather debris and bring it to the compost pile. Use a stopwatch (or app) to time them.

Composting
Collected leaves, cuttings, spent foliage and other debris will decompose and create nutrient rich humus for amending your garden. Adding organic compost can be a great way to improve the condition of your soil. Composting also helps to improve water retention, airflow and can improve the strength and feel of the soil. The debris in your yard, such as leaves, plants, grass clippings and even kitchen scraps (not animals) can make great compost. You’ll need to turn it frequently to speed up the decomp process.

Make a game for your kids by having them take turns turning the compost. Time them and have them pass the turning tool around to all of them.

All About Retaining Walls

At Frontier Landscaping we receive many requests for Retaining Walls. This is one of the more frequently discussed additions with regards to a clients’ hardscaping, when deciding on their Landscape designs. This can be with a brand-new landscape or an addition to an existing landscape. Some of our clients live on more sloped areas and it is not unusual to want to create flat or level spots within the Outdoor areas to get more usage from the property. When deciding on a Landscape or improvement to the existing Landscape, at Frontier Landscaping we discuss the best way to increase the living spaces and or enhance by adding these features to the design.

A Few attributes of adding retaining walls

  • Creates more useable Outdoor Spaces
  • Rapid Installation
  • Creates vertical, horizontal areas as well as adding curvature
  • Concrete, wood, synthetics, brick, blocks, etc.
  • Wide variety of colors, sizes and textures
  • Provides support

One method of building Retaining Walls consists of modular concrete blocks that interlock with each other. They can be used to hold back a sloping face of soil to provide a solid, vertical front. Without adequate retention, slopes can cave, slump or slide. With construction of our Retaining Walls, higher and steeper walls can be constructed with the ability to retain the force of earth pressure created by the backfill soil, giving more flexibility to your design choices.

Retaining Walls can be installed in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and textures. They can incorporate straight or curved lines, steps, and corners. They are ideal for not only slope support, but also for widening areas that would otherwise be unusable due to the natural slope of the land. Retaining walls are often used for grade changes, and for other functional reasons such as widening driveways, walkways, or creating more space in a patio outdoor area. More usable area for your Landscapes and Outdoor Spaces.

Retaining Walls provide lateral support to vertical slopes of soil. They retain soil which would otherwise collapse into a more natural shape. The retained soil is referred to as backfill.

Fall is a Great Time for Landscape Add-ons and Renovations.

Have you been wanting to freshen up your space and give your backyard a new feel?  Perhaps you’ve thought of transforming your backyard into an entertainment space, perfect for hosting get-together’s and even Holiday events if the weather is right. Below, we selected six renovation ideas to spruce up your landscaping and get your backyard ready for anything.

1. Adding Hardscape

Looking to add texture to your backyard design? Adding hardscape will greatly increase your backyard’s appeal and usability.  Hardscape design can be simple, like a river rock path meandering through your greenery. Or you can choose to be bold and do the entire backyard in natural stone slabs., pavers or something entirely different. There are endless design options you can create by choosing natural stone, pavers, bricks, river rocks and more. Our Professionals at Frontier Landscape can help you design outdoor spaces that are truly your own.

Adding hardscape can also create a kid and pet friendly play space. 

2. Build a Retaining Wall

Do you have a sloped backyard? Building a retaining wall, or a tiered retaining wall, can create depth and add character.  Kick your design up a notch by adding flowers, plants, shrubs, or even a couple of trees.

3. Design a “Native” Landscape Area

In Washington, we have many different colorful trees and shrubs that add texture and form to your Landscape. You might try a Red Dogwood or Ninebark for year-round color. Planting a Native Garden keeps us in touch with the flora around us.

4. Create a Natural Outdoor Space

Do you find lush trees and cascading waterfalls relaxing?  You can use natural rock slabs to create a waterfall and river that re-circulates through your yard.  Plant trees that give a home to birds, and add bird feeders throughout your backyard.

While you’re at it, add a hammock for relaxing at the end of a long day for when the season rolls back around.

5. Add a Garden or Planter Boxes

Ready for some garden to table living? Starting your own edible garden with fruits and veggies can be very rewarding.  You can start big or small, depending on what your outdoor space will allow. Planter boxes are perfect for creating an area for fruits, vegetables, or herbs to grow without compromising on space. This can be rather seasonal depending on your location and winter temperatures. But… once you have the Garden or Planter Boxes, you can rotate “off-season” with color/flowers that work well when your edibles do not.

Our final thoughts on renovating your backyard:

Add some personal touches!  Maybe some outdoor sculpture with an artistic flare…Consider adding lighting (pathway lights, twinkle lights or tiki torches), a fire pit, or maybe even a bocce ball court.  Personal finishing touches will bring your backyard renovation together and make it the perfect place to relax and welcome friends and family. Have fun and make it your own!

Whatever your backyard renovation dreams or desires are, we want to be a part of them!  Contact US!  or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment with our Frontier Landscaping Professionals. Start making your backyard dreams a reality.

Contact US to schedule an appointment!

Fire Pits and Outdoor Spaces for Fall

Fire pits are a popular and comforting addition to any yard, especially in the temperate Pacific Northwest! As our weather begins to change, our busy lives do too. Work, school, kids and Pre-holiday projects are picking up as we enter the Fall Season.

What better time than now to consider putting in a Fire pit? You have likely thought about it on many occasions, but not gotten around to it. Maybe now IS a perfect time.

Here are some of the advantages to consider…

  • Increase your outdoor season. Mother Nature decides what portion of the year that we can spend outdoors – or comfortably anyway. An outdoor fire pit extends the portion of the year that you can spend in your backyard by providing a heat source. Outdoor gatherings and family evenings can still be enjoyed well into the Fall and sometimes beyond.
  • Creating an Outdoor Gathering place. People love to gather around a fire. A fire pit gives you the perfect focal or gathering point where you can relax with family, friends, and neighbors. Putting the word out that you are having a fire that night, and your people will come!
  • Light… Let’s face it, fires provide heat but they also provide light. When you add a fire pit to your backyard or outdoor spaces, you are also adding light.
  • Adding art and ambiance. Fire pits also add a focal point and a touch of artistry to your outdoor spaces. If it’s a block ring to beautifully tiled fire pits made with natural stone, slate, blocks, and even the addition of water, you can really add beauty along with warmth and light to your yard or garden.
  • Fire Pit functionality. In addition to the warmth, light and ambiance that fire pits provide, there are some things that can also be very functional.

Slate, wood burning fire pit.

Block Fire Pit with Grill

Some fire pits can be equipped with a grilling surface for barbecues or convert to a table. They can be wood burning, propane or natural gas and light with a push of a button or ignite the old-fashioned way… The different versions and possibilities are endless. Based on your personal taste and sense of style, our Frontier Landscaping Staff can help you with the best “version” for you.

Contact US to schedule an appointment!