Artificial turf is a synthetic grass surface made from woven fibers designed to look like a natural lawn. It has grown in popularity because it is durable, consistent, and easier to maintain than traditional turf grass.

Artificial turf does not require irrigation, fertilizing, aerating, thatching, mowing, or edging, making it a practical option for some Portland-area yards, play spaces, pet areas, and low-maintenance landscape designs.

An awning is a patio covering attached to an existing roofline or exterior wall of a home. Awnings help provide shade, shelter, and protection from rain, making patios and outdoor seating areas more usable.

Some awnings tie into the current gutter system, while others use their own drainage system. They can be covered with different materials depending on the design, budget, and desired look.

Creative plantings use color, texture, evergreen structure, deciduous plants, perennials, and seasonal interest to create a landscape that feels custom to the homeowner and property.

By considering each client's color preferences, maintenance goals, sun exposure, soil conditions, and overall design style, Exstream Landscaping creates planting plans that are practical, attractive, and personal.

Composite decking is made from boards that combine wood particles and plastic materials. The wood portion is often sawdust, wood chips, or wood fiber, while the plastic portion may include recycled or virgin plastic.

We often recommend composite decking in the Pacific Northwest because it lasts well in our rainy climate and requires very little maintenance compared to traditional wood decking. It is available in many colors, textures, widths, and finishes.

Decks create usable outdoor living space and can be built in a variety of styles. We offer traditional cedar decks as well as composite decking and PVC decking options.

Deck railings can be built from traditional wood, metal, cable railing, or other materials depending on the style of the home and the look you want to achieve.

Paver driveways have become popular because they are customizable, attractive, and practical. They can handle weight well, help shed water efficiently, and offer a more flexible design than plain poured concrete.

Another benefit is repairability. If a section of a paver driveway is damaged, the affected pavers can often be replaced without removing the entire driveway surface.

Fences can provide privacy, define outdoor spaces, protect pets, improve safety, and add style to a landscape. We create fences to fit each client's needs, property layout, and design preferences.

Options include solid privacy fencing, chain link fencing, traditional cedar fencing, and hardwood materials such as IPE, Camaru, and Batu. Custom patterns, lattice details, and material combinations can make a fence feel more unique.

Fire features add warmth, atmosphere, and a natural gathering point to an outdoor living space. With fire pit kits and custom fire feature options available in many sizes, shapes, textures, and colors, they can be designed to match nearly any landscape style.

Fire features may be wood burning, natural gas, or propane, depending on what is available in the area and what the homeowner prefers.

A fire pit is generally any contained outdoor vessel or built area where a controlled fire can be enjoyed. Fire pits can be simple, rustic, modern, circular, rectangular, gas-powered, or wood-burning.

We have built rustic fire pit areas using indigenous stone, circular block fire pit kits, and ultra-modern smooth-sided fire pits filled with glass beads and plumbed with natural gas.

Hardscaping refers to the non-living, built elements of a landscape. These are usually made from stone, block, brick, concrete, pavers, wood, or composite materials.

Common hardscape features include retaining walls, patios, paths, driveways, seating walls, decks, pergolas, pavilions, and fire features. Hardscaping gives a landscape structure, function, and long-term usability.

A patio is a designated outdoor living area, usually paved and located near the home, often outside a back door. Patios are commonly used for dining, relaxing, entertaining, grilling, and spending time outside.

Patios can be built with pavers, natural stone, concrete products, or other materials depending on the desired style and function.

Native species plantings use trees, shrubs, and plants that occur naturally in a specific region, ecosystem, or habitat. In the Pacific Northwest, native plants are often a strong choice because they are adapted to local rainfall, soils, and seasonal patterns.

Native plantings can require fewer resources and less maintenance than plants from very different climates. For example, a native dogwood is much easier to grow and maintain in the Pacific Northwest than a Joshua tree from the deserts of California.

Raised garden beds are planting areas built above the surrounding ground level. Unlike traditional in-ground gardens, raised beds can be made from wood, composite, rock, metal, or block to match the style and function of the landscape.

They can be custom-built for tight spaces, small yards, vegetable gardens, flower gardens, or accessible gardening. Soil amendments can also be adjusted or changed more easily than in a traditional garden bed.

A pergola is an open outdoor structure usually built from wood or metal with posts and an overhead framework. Pergolas can help define outdoor living areas while allowing light and air to pass through.

They are often used over patios, seating areas, walkways, or garden spaces and may be combined with trailing plants, fabric, curtains, lighting, or other design features.

A pavilion is a separate, freestanding, open-sided structure used in the landscape to create a covered outdoor space. Pavilions are often placed over patios, seating areas, kitchens, or gathering spaces.

Because they provide protection from rain, snow, and harsh sun, pavilions can make a backyard more usable throughout the year.

Outdoor rooms divide a yard into usable living areas based on how the space will be used. One area might function as an outdoor kitchen and dining area, while another may be designed for lounging, conversation, or entertainment.

This approach helps a landscape feel more intentional and comfortable, especially when patios, covers, lighting, fire features, seating, and plantings are planned together.

Fixed structures are permanent built elements in a landscape that are not intended to be moved around the property. These may include pergolas, pavilions, covered patios, attached fire features, outdoor kitchens, and other built-in landscape elements.

Fixed structures can extend the usability of outdoor living areas and help define the layout of the yard.

An irrigation system applies water to lawns, planting beds, garden areas, shrubs, trees, and other landscape areas through an installed watering system.

Irrigation systems may include traditional sprinklers, drip irrigation, low-volume watering zones, valves, controllers, and other components designed to keep the landscape healthy and efficient.

A seating wall is a short wall built at a comfortable height for sitting. It can include a cap, ledge, or seat surface and may be made from stone, block, wood, or composite materials.

Seating walls are often used around patios, fire pits, outdoor rooms, and gathering areas to provide extra built-in seating for friends and family.

Low-volume drip irrigation systems apply small amounts of water slowly and directly to the root zone of plants. This makes them more water efficient than many traditional spray systems.

Drip irrigation is commonly used for shrubs, trees, perennials, raised garden beds, vegetable gardens, flower gardens, and planting areas where controlled watering is important.

Walkways and paths are defined routes that lead from one area of a landscape to another. They improve access, movement, safety, and flow throughout the yard.

Paths and walkways can be built from compacted gravel, pavers, natural stone, stepping stones, decking, or other materials depending on the design style and use.

Pavers are manmade bricks, tiles, or stone-like units commonly made from concrete. They come in many shapes, sizes, textures, colors, and finishes.

Pavers make it possible to create custom patterns and surfaces for patios, paths, driveways, seating areas, and outdoor rooms while allowing for easier repair than many poured surfaces.

Sustainable landscaping is a modern approach that considers the environment, local climate, water use, plant selection, maintenance needs, and long-term resource efficiency.

In the Pacific Northwest, sustainable landscaping may include native plantings, efficient irrigation, permeable hardscapes, raised garden beds, thoughtful drainage, and designs that reduce unnecessary maintenance.

Phased or staged projects allow a larger landscape plan to be completed in sections over time. This can help homeowners work within a budget, schedule, or priority list without giving up the larger long-term vision.

At Exstream Landscaping, estimates are organized with separate line items so clients can prioritize the most important work first, delay other items, remove features, or add elements as time and budget allow.

Night lighting is one of the best values in a landscaping budget because it improves beauty, safety, security, and usability after dark.

Landscape lighting can illuminate walkways, patios, porches, steps, garden features, walls, and outdoor living areas. A well-lit home is safer for movement and can also help discourage unwanted activity around the property.