If your yard is looking a little bland, there are a variety of ways you can spruce it up. While new plantings can be an obvious and simple solution, adding a new hardscape, or replacing a hardscape that is not aging gracefully, can provide a nice, year-round foundation for creating interest in your yard.

Popular options for hardscape surfaces include the following:

Patios
Patios create the perfect space for enjoying the outdoors. Whether you have room for a small patio or a large one, the key is making sure the materials and style are in harmony with your home. For example, if your patio has trim or other material used along the edges, make sure those coordinate with the materials and color of your home. Patios can be built beautifully with pavers. Pavers give the added benefit of multiple colors and sizes so you can get a really custom look.

Walkways
Adding a walkway to your yard is a great way to combine function and beauty. Walkways can be constructed from different materials such as wood, stone, pavers, and concrete. Think about your yard. Where are your beaten paths? Are there places that get particularly soggy during the rainy months? A walkway with a few gentle curves or softened edges with fragrant plants can add a lot of charm.

Decks
Decks can be a great addition if you have a larger yard, creating a space for overlooking your pool, pond, lawn, etc. Decks are most commonly made from different varieties of wood, but several engineered materials are available, too. Depending on the size and height of your deck, you may require a railing. Again, you have several options that can create a variety of effects. For instance, you can opt for traditional wood rails, sanded knobby wood rails, cables, glass and post, etc.

Seating Walls
If you have children who like to play in the yard, or if you simply enjoy sitting outside to take in the fresh air, a seating wall can be a nice addition. Seating walls can be made with a combination of blocks and paver caps, natural stone, and you can even incorporate lighting. Lights built into a seating wall set the stage for an evening feature for your yard. Another fun idea for a seating wall is to create one with different heights so guests of all sizes can have their own special space.

Driveways
Concrete makes a fine driveway, but if you want to up the 'wow' factor, a paver driveway can be just the answer. You can choose from a variety of colors for the main surface and even add a contrasting color for a nice edge. Line the driveway with some low shrubs and you will have the nicest driveway on the block.

Retaining Walls
If you have followed us for any amount of time you know we are fans of retaining walls. Not only do they create functional space for your yard (or keep it from eroding away), they also make for amazing backdrops for different water features and climbing plants, as well as creating space for adding things like outdoor fireplaces, wood fire ovens, and other decorative plant nooks. Retaining walls are most traditionally made from concrete blocks that come in different colors and shapes, natural stone, and also pressure treated lumber with a nice finish.

At Graham Landscape & Design, we have an exceptionally talented team of design and construction professionals. Our team can meet with you to discuss your specific needs, explore ideas, and construct a project perfect for your space. Give us a call today at (541) 729-8029.

If you're looking to add a hardscape to your backyard, one of the common materials used are pavers. Pavers come in all kinds of colors and can be paired nicely with other materials to create one-of-a-kind designs. However, most people are not familiar that there are different kinds of paver systems with permeable pavers being the more environmentally friendly choice.

Traditional pavers are laid over layers of stone and polymeric sand and feature tight joints so that when compacted, the pavers are set together. If stone dust or limestone screenings are used, there is a higher likelihood of trapping water and causing early failure of your pavers.

Permeable pavers, on the other hand, are laid on multiple layers of crushed stone, and the joints between each paver are filled with smaller aggregate. This design allows water to instantly drain through the joints and percolate through the layers of aggregate below, where any impurities are trapped before water seeps into the ground and returns to local waterways. To create the ultimate sustainable patio, driveway or walkway, a permeable paver system can be designed to collect and recycle rainwater for irrigation and other purposes.

And, depending on where your home is located, there may be grants or tax incentives available for installing permeable pavers or a water harvesting system, which makes the idea of installing a permeable patio, walkway or driveway all the more attractive.

If you would like more information about installing a permeable paver hardscape for your home, please give the Graham Landscape & Design team a call today. 541-729-8029

You have the pool, but your landscape design and landscape maintenance are not complete until you decide how to surround your space with a pool deck. 

In the Pacific Northwest weather, you’ll need something resistant to the rain and wind that comes after the summer season. Many materials might work. We’ll summarize a few options here that are the most popular. 

You can browse thousands of ideas and designs online. Your budget and preferences will determine the result!

Pressure-treated wood is the most popular material for pool decking, because of the ease of use and price. The average price is $2 per square foot. The wood used is cheap pine that is treated to resist mold, rot, and insects. It is prone to warp over time, however, so the maintenance can end up being more involved than you’d like.

Cedar is such a beautiful color, and is another option for pool decking. This option is for those who love the natural look in their yard. The wood is lightweight but sturdy. Make sure you treat it with weather-resistant stain so that it retains its original color. Otherwise, it will gradually turn gray. The cost is about $6 per square foot.

Composites are quickly becoming a popular choice. A composite is made of synthetic materials made to look like wood. The price is higher - up to about $10 per square foot - but the maintenance is minimal.  You’re paying more but can rest assured that it will last.  

Another attractive choice is to use pavers for your pool deck. They have the look of natural stone, are slip resistant, and very durable. With pavers, the choice is endless. There are so many shades and styles that you can match them to create the best look for your space. 

If for some reason one of the pavers becomes damaged, you can spot replace them very easily. Make sure to fill in between the gaps with a polymer sand and protect with a sealant at installation. The average cost of pavers is between $16 and $24 per square foot.

Whether it’s wood, composite, or pavers, you’ll want a pool deck that complements your outdoor space in the warm Willamette Valley sunshine. We can help you here at Graham Landscape with a design and materials that work best for your budget and lifestyle needs.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and built this cohesive hardscape including the paver patios, pathways, steps, and retaining wall for this Eugene area home. The residents were thrilled to make better use of their hillside yard.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and installed this simple yet elegant paver pathway and pool deck, adding beauty for this Eugene area home.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and installed this custom paver patio and walkway plan along with a very special Oregon State Beavers fan fire pit and cover. Even though Eugene is home to the Oregon Ducks, we can still support our Beavers brothers and sisters.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and installed a system of interlocking paver patios and pathways, as well as plantings, to add distinction to this Eugene residence.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and installed this interlocking paver patio and steps to extend the functional space of this homeowner's yard.

Graham Landscape & Design in Eugene, Oregon designed and installed this system of paver pathways and patios, along with a new fence and custom gate with an arbor.

Graham Landscape & Design designed and installed this paver patio, fire pit and seating wall to provide these homeowners years of enjoyment and better use of their yard.