Oregon has had a long, wet, and chilly spring. Even with solid rainfall, it hasn't necessarily moved the needle on the ongoing drought that continues to wreak havoc on the entire West Coast — from wildfires, limited growing seasons, record high temperatures, and the loss or destruction of fish and wildlife habitats. Nearly 90% of Oregon is still in some form of drought, according to a May 3rd U.S Drought Monitor report.

This leads us to a common question we receive from our customers. "How can I create a drought-tolerant landscape?"

There isn't just one answer to this question but rather a handful of ways to create water-saving or drought-tolerant landscapes. We've compiled a short list of our responses:

1. Say goodbye to water-guzzling turf
Reduce the size of your lawn or eliminate it entirely and replace it with drought-tolerant perennials and mulch.

2. Landscape → hardscape
The term "hardscape" refers to all the non-living elements in landscaping, such as a brick patio, a stone wall, or a wooden arbor.

3. Utilize porous material

Reduce runoff in your landscaping by using materials that absorb moisture. Such as pea gravel between stone pathways or adding a layer of mulch around your plants reducing water loss and suppressing weed growth simultaneously — now that's a twofer!

Making some or all of these changes to your landscape will reduce your water consumption, require less yard maintenance, and add abundant color and variety to your yard. Beautiful landscapes start here — give us a call to discuss your upcoming project!