Why Experience Matters in Backyard Landscape Design
I was pleased to share the before photos of this Portland backyard garden retreat with you earlier this year in this blog post. Today, I’m thrilled to reveal some after photos—and tell a few stories along the way about how thoughtful design and careful decision-making transform tricky city backyards into personal retreats.
The Challenge: Two Doors, Two Sets of Stairs, and One Big Puzzle
When I first met my clients Rich and his family, we discussed their small city backyard—a space hemmed in by two sets of stairs, two doors opening to the garden, and a beautiful but (seemingly) in-the-way spring-flowering magnolia.
Having two doors in a small backyard always makes planning your “movement”—the flow from space to space—a bit of a puzzle. But as an experienced designer, I see these challenges as opportunities to create clever, intimate spaces that truly work for my clients’ lives.
Experience Pays Off: Putting Trees First
Without the mature magnolia, the design might have missed that “magic.” Honestly, if we’d lost the tree, I would have had to approach the entire project differently—and the cost to recreate this kind of shade and presence? Astronomical! My clients are dedicated to their tree and consult pros for its care. In a space like this, that’s invaluable.
A big part of what I bring to every landscape design project is deep respect for what’s already there—especially trees. An experienced landscape designer doesn’t just plop down new features, we carefully weigh the benefits of every existing plant, evaluating what should be preserved and how best to protect those green treasures. That pays off both aesthetically and financially.
Protecting Roots, Protecting Value
This magnolia’s root flare was nearly at the base of our new deck, its roots winding through the yards on both sides. We consulted a certified arborist at Honl Tree Care for advice. We avoided raising soil grade, and—most importantly—didn’t compact the patio surface.
Compacted crushed rock is nearly the industry standard for paths and patios in Portland, but experience has taught me that breathing space for roots is paramount. Compacting soil strips out oxygen, literally suffocating roots. That’s not worth the risk to a 50-year-old magnolia.
Returning Water to the Earth
Selecting the right surfaces is another place my experience really counts. In this backyard, I used a 5/8-inch crushed rock for the sitting area—without compacting it—so rainwater goes right through, back into the ground. My clients wondered about cleanup after “the great annual petal drop,” but with a broom and a little patience, it worked beautifully. Functionality, aesthetics, and environmental friendliness, all rolled into one solution.
It’s important to not change the oxygen ratio in the soil near tree roots. Compacting the soil removes oxygen. Adding soil over the root zone will change the oxygen ration and damage the roots ability to uptake water….After all they can’t just pick up and move their roots overnight if we change their environment.
Creating Privacy, Creating Sanctuary
A huge part of my work—and where intuition and experience play the biggest role—is understanding how to frame space for maximum comfort. By setting the conversation area down in the garden, we created privacy and a cozy, enveloping feel—a true garden “room.” This was my clients heart’s desire.
Privacy Art Screens Work to Create a Backyard Sitting Room
The screens repeat the rust color, add depth to the small city backyard and break up the horizontal lines of the fence making our sitting area feel more like its own room. They are located to view from inside the house from the sun room and a whole bank of windows in the kitchen.
To punch up visual interest and privacy, we repeated the rust color from custom-finished steel planters (shout out to Rich for his creative process using hydrogen peroxide, rock salt, and vinegar on raw steel!). He used this technique to change the planters from a basic black raw steel to the rust finish you see. The steel screens from Home Depot echo the planters’ patina, break up the shallow yard’s horizontal lines, and make even a petite space feel layered and intentional—like a private, hidden retreat for dining, lounging, clinking glasses, or sipping coffee.
Small Details, Big Delight
Details matter: the way Brian Woodruff, (Mortar and Petal) selected and set our boulders and used steel edges for the paths is refined and quietly beautiful—simple, deliberate moments that give the space soul. The new deck’s soft, neutral tone boards isn’t boring at all, but creates the perfect backdrop.
And a fun surprise? My clients realized, post-design, that there was room for a bar counter at the deck’s end—giving them their first-ever sit spot view into their lush, Japanese-inspired front garden. And now, even their sunroom furniture was relocated to face the garden, and wow we see there’s a new “favorite” spot at the bar for morning coffee. These delightful, unforeseen changes are the best signs that our design is a perfect fit and that our new backyard retreat is truly being lived in and loved. That’s the real reward of thoughtful, experienced design.
Ready to Love Your Tricky City Backyard?
If you have a small, challenging city backyard in the Portland area, I’d love to help you make it wonderful and welcoming—a place you’re drawn to every single day. With an experienced landscape designer, your outdoor space can become not just more functional, but an oasis that reflects your style and maximizes every inch!
Let’s talk. Contact me and let’s create the retreat you’ve been dreaming of.
P.S. The old, rotting deck is gone (thanks to the careful crew at Cascade Fence and Deck), the new porch and dining deck are in, and the plants are growing and looking healthy. The transformation is nearly complete… and I couldn’t be happier for my clients!
