Landscaping in the Washougal hills (Vancouver, Camas: transplants, power lines, HOA)

[maranapanda]

Hey guys!

First, I should preface that I don't even know how to ask this question. So my apologies upfront of I'm unclear.

We were looking at a home today that we are very interested in buying. But. The backyard seems to be a thing layer of patchy grass over large mountain boulders. Is that the typical terrain of the area?

Are there ways to work with that type of terrain? The graded area of the yard wasn't too steeply sloped. But I'm worried any soil or sod we used would wash off? (so to speak) Maybe ground covers are the way to go?

Okay, and honestly. Would it be crazy to bring a landscaper to come with me to look at the yard before we bought it?

I don't want to be a pest, but their current situation is bananas.

Thanks for sticking with me while I rambled!

[StealthRabbit]

You definitely want a landscaper (excavation contractor) to look at the place as a contingency of sale, especially if there are ANY slopes that cause drainage issues, and any directing water TOWARDS the home / foundation.

Flowing AWAY from the home... not so critical. Poor drainage / water handling in our soggy climate can cause headaches and structural nightmares. A newly built Washougal home near us, did not have proper drainage, and the overflow flooded onto another new home and eventually the second home split in half and washed down the hill...! Extreme case, but... you want to control your drainage!

We use lots of plantings and ground covers, as we have NO rocks on our place(s). Can't even dig up rocks for landscape, all must be imported. Succulents are great ground cover if your home is in the urban interface (Wildfire danger). Do realize that the fastest / largest wildfire in WA history burned very near Washougal. 238,000 acres in 36 hours
(110 Acres per minute !!!) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacolt_Burn

1) establish correct drainage that will endure 9 months of rain.
2) stabilize your soils / grade.
3) maintain your system (dry wells, drainage pipes, ...)

[kwalk65]

When you are making a costly purchase such as home, and there is ANYTHING that causes you to pause , DO ALL the due diligence necessary to get answers to your questions. Also, check to see if there is a HOA with any restrictions in the CCR's for your landscaping plans. Add a landscaping contingency to your offer to provide you some more time to make sure there are no issues with the yard, if you really want the house.

Don't let your perceived inconvenience to the seller affect your decision to make sure this is the right house for you.

I have a naturally sloped area of my yard planted with succulents and grasses which looks great and requires little to no water. Adding a nice terrace can help break up the slope, too. A great nursery here in East Vancouver (a short 15 minute drive from Washougal) is called Shorty's. Take a picture of the sloped area you want to do plantings for and they are wonderful to give you ideas of what to plant.

Good luck!

[texasdiver]

Good luck getting a landscaper out there to look at it.

I was hoping to get some landsaping work done this summer in Camas. Called 6 places. Only one showed up to look at the yard and never came back with a bid. Neighbor down the street called 14 landscapers and only got 3 to come out. None of them returned a bid.

I'm doing the work myself now.

I think there is a shortage of landscapers or they are really busy right now. I think it is pretty much the same with all the building trades in the PDX area.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Good luck getting a landscaper out there to look at it.
...

I think there is a shortage of landscapers or they are really busy right now.

1) Consider you have a business / career that is most productive / profitable during the 6- weeks of DRY weather / yr we have in the PWN.

What would you do?

They are scrambling to get THAT done NOW... before the sky starts falling (again).

[maranapanda]

Thank you, everyone! I'm headed back out there today to look at the property with fresh eyes to reassess. I've also been in contact with the Clark County extension office. A matter gardener is sending me a list of landscapers, and native grasses/ground covers that I should look into. I asked him about shorty's and he agree that they are a great resource, so I'll be stopping by there this afternoon also! ♥️

[StealthRabbit]

BTW:... I buy all my shrubs and larger plantings from commercial growers in OR, (Near Boring, Damacus, Estacada, Mollala and even out toward Dundee.) Buy 'end of season overstock', as BIG plantings MUCH prefer to get transplanted in the late fall.

Remember that transplants done BEFORE noon have 50% better chance to not go into shock / heat stress. You can also plant late in evening when it is cool. I get most of my trees (more than 500of them) FREE from the roadside ditchbanks (Before the county mows them down, or out of reach of the mowers, but within the easement / under the power lines, so will have to be destroyed anyway). Not always the prettiest trees, but when they get to be 15' they are likely to become a "Charlie Brown Christmas tree for me"

Consider 'edible landscape', Blueberries are very pretty in the fall, and we get 200 - 400# / yr fruit off ours. Prune and plum trees do very well in PNW.

[leastprime]

He knows the difference between poison oak and an white oak
I know the difference between Himalayan Blackberry and Common Blackberry .