Landscape Articles & News

Precision Landscape is happy to share our experience and expertise on the best practices for designing, installing and managing landscapes.

Precision Landscape and LatinoBuilt

Precision Landscape was honored to be recognized as a supporter for LatinoBuilt, a nonprofit whose primary purpose is to support and empower Latino-owned businesses in construction. LB works with partners within the community to address the current inequities and...

Are You Dreaming of a Lawn-free Landscape?

Are You Dreaming of a Lawn-free Landscape?

We Can Help You Get There As you know, water is a scarce commodity. And we need to conserve our use of it. You can still make your property verdant and productive even if you decide to take out your entire lawn. In California and elsewhere...

Sustainable Lawn with Drip Irrigation

Sustainable Lawn with Drip Irrigation

Now You Can Have Your Grass and Be Sustainable Too Old-fashioned lawn care has been getting a bad rap lately because it tends not to be environmentally-friendly. Yet, with Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF®) and drip irrigation for your lawn, you can have your...

Lawn Alternatives

Lawn Alternatives

For various reasons these days a conventional lawn is not for everyone. Maybe mowing is not feasible or possibly the cost of water is just unreasonable. Fortunately there are alternatives Ornamental shrub planting With careful design a pleasant landscape...

Sprinkler Clock Programming

Sprinkler Clock Programming

Just having an automatic sprinkler system alone will not guarantee success—not even a good one. The clock absolutely must be programmed correctly. Otherwise, you won't receive the value that you paid for. Additionally, the default program that the...

Curing Dog Urine Spots

Curing Dog Urine Spots

If you have a dog, you may struggle with brown spots on the lawn caused by dog urine. There is a simple solution. The urine needs to be rinsed from the foliage and there must be adequate water in the soil. Here's the low down. Osmosis at work...

Curing Lawn Dry Spots

Curing Lawn Dry Spots

We've all seen it—brown patches in the midst of an otherwise nice green lawn. Worse, no matter how much you water they don't go away. Why? The answer is surpisingly simple as is the solution. Hydrophobic soils After a protracted period of dryness soils...

Picture Perfect Turf

Picture Perfect Turf

Most anyone can install a lawn that looks perfect. However, keeping it looking perfect down the road. That is the real challenge. Several key features must be met in order to have any hope of a picture perfect lawn. Soil that retains water yet lets it pass...

Pink Snow Mold in Turf

Pink Snow Mold in Turf

Pink snow mold is a relatively new disease problem in the Northwest. But if you have it, your lawn can suffer and quickly. Purdue University has prepared a great article about it that you can download here. Turfgrass Disease Profiles: Pink Snow Mold and...

Red Thread in Turf

Red Thread in Turf

Red thread is a fungus that attacks grass blades especially during the wet and humid months of the spring although it can occur almost any time of year. Purdue University has written an excellent article about it that can be downloaded here. Turfgrass...

Replace Dead & Dying Plants

Replace Dead & Dying Plants

Inevitably some plants will decline and eventually die. The causes will vary. What should be done about it? That answer depends largely on YOU! If you care to make your environment aesthetically pleasant both for yourself and those around you, then perhaps...

Renovation Pruning

Renovation Pruning

With time many plants gradually become larger and regular maintenance pruning just won’t cut it. Then it’s time for renovation pruning. Over the years we have learned that regular ornamental pruning is not adequate for many plants. By ornamental pruning we...

Cutting Back Perennials

Cutting Back Perennials

Perennials, ornamental grasses, and many ferns look best when cut back annually. The exact timing depends on the plant. Eliminating last year's old growth makes way for succulent new growth. Otherwise you see both dead old and new foliage. What to cut back...

New Lawn Care

New Lawn Care

After planting a new lawn, the owner must water appropriately. Otherwise a perfectly installed lawn may fail. Too much water is bad; too little is worse. The soil must be firm enough to walk on by the first mowing. Initial Sod Lawn Care Water your new sod...

Prune Roses

Prune Roses

Roses should be pruned in late February or early March in the Portland, Oregon area. Weak canes should be removed, excess canes cut out, height reduced, and cut to outside facing buds. When to do final pruning Here we are talking about pruning...

Repairing Winter Lawn Damage

Repairing Winter Lawn Damage

Has winter weather taken a toll on your lawn? Thinned out, diseased turf, and even dead patches commonly occur even on otherwise good lawns when winter’s poor growing conditions take their toll. We can renovate your winter damaged lawn ...

Moss in Lawns

Moss in Lawns

Problems with moss in your lawn? That irridescent yellowish cast can ruin the looks of an otherwise beautiful lawn. Worse yet—maybe it appears to be taking over. Control it at winter's end for best results. An annual occurence The cool, moist,...

Sprinkler Clock Programming

Is Sprinkler Winterizing Necessary?

Recently we received an inquiry asking if it really is necessary to winterize sprinklers, or as the question was worded, "Do I need to worry about winterizing my sprinkler system?" Great question. I thought I'd post my answer here for others to see. Here...

All Sprinkler Systems are Not the Same

All Sprinkler Systems are Not the Same

When you install sprinklers to water your lawn and shrub plantings, you expect everything to be evenly watered and for the system itself to be durable. A sprinkler system designed and installed by us will perform as expected. However, a poorly designed and installed...

Weed Control Solutions

Weed Control Solutions

We are experts at solving weed problems However, at the outset you must decide if you will permit the use of pesticides in your landscape. Your answer will lead us down one of two paths. Pesticide free weed control If you have a bad weed...

Stone in the Landscape

Stone in the Landscape

Nothing compares with the beauty and durability of natural stone or natural rock in your landscape. Add a slate patio or flagstone patio for a touch of elegance. Boulder settings and split stone retaining walls anchor your shrub and perennial gardens in place as...

Mulch for Natural Weed Control

Mulch for Natural Weed Control

Weed problems? Want an easy, naturally organic solution? Bury the weed seeds. If they can't see the light of day, they won't germinate. Well, actually there's more to the story. This is an easy and natural way to control weeds without the use of...

Aerate, Thatch Lightly & Overseed Annually

Aerate, Thatch Lightly & Overseed Annually

Want to keep a beautiful lawn? We highly endorse aerating, lightly thatching, and over seeding your lawn annually in the spring months. You may wonder why, given that our ryegrass lawns don't build thatch. The big deal here is new & improved grass...