Landscape Design & Yard Care Services in Hillsboro

Built for Local Soils & Seasons

When rain settles over the Tualatin Valley each fall, local properties quickly show what lies beneath the surface. From the heavy clay along Brookwood Avenue to the tight residential lots across South Hillsboro, maintaining an outdoor space in Washington County requires a clear understanding of regional soil behavior, local drainage patterns, and Pacific Northwest plant cycles.

At Preferred Landscape Services, we have spent over two decades working directly with these conditions. Founded in 1998, our business began with routine yard care and expanded into comprehensive landscape design, site construction, cement work, and year-round maintenance packages. We know how native soil shifts between seasons, which plants thrive through wet winters, and how to build outdoor features that hold up year after year.

If you are ready to address standing water, refresh an established yard, or map out a full outdoor overhaul, our team brings practical experience and dependable work to every job site.

Ready to talk through your outdoor project? Call (503) 782-5900 today to schedule an on-site consultation and get a free estimate for your Hillsboro home.

People Commonly Ask About Landscaping

When is the best time of year to plant or lay new sod in Hillsboro?

Early autumn and mid-spring are ideal. Autumn allows new plant roots and sod to establish during cool weather while winter rains handle the watering. Spring offers mild temperatures before summer heat arrives.

How do I stop my lawn from turning into a lake during winter?

Standing water is typically caused by heavily compacted clay soil or improper lawn grading. Corrective steps usually center on relieving compaction through core aeration, top-dressing with organic material, or implementing dedicated drainage channels and swales to redirect water flow away from low areas.

How often should my irrigation backflow assembly be tested?

The City of Hillsboro Water Department requires backflow assemblies to be tested annually to protect the municipal drinking water supply. Our certified technicians handle these tests and submit the required compliance documentation directly to local water authorities.

The Reality of Your Yards: Clay, Drainage, & Root Space

Living in Hillsboro means enjoying green surroundings, but managing a home landscape here brings distinct physical challenges. Successful yard care in this part of Oregon starts with recognizing how local properties are built and how our weather impacts the land.

Breaking Through Tualatin Valley Clay

Most residential properties in Hillsboro sit atop dense Silty Clay Loam. During summer dry spells, this earth bakes into a hard, cracked crust. When autumn rains arrive, it saturates rapidly, turning poorly graded lawns into soggy sponges. Standard lawn practices often fall short because water cannot penetrate deep into compressed soil layers.

We approach soil structure with long-term stability in mind:

• Targeted aeration and moss treatment. Opening up tight soil profiles to allow air and moisture down into root zones, while applying targeted moss treatment to prevent winter dampness from choking out turf grass.
• Balanced turf blends and artificial turf. Installing deep-rooting sod blends suited to Oregon weather, or low-maintenance artificial turf installations for shaded areas where natural grass struggles against standing water and moss.
• Sub-surface and surface drainage. Installing catch basins, French drains, and surface swales to direct heavy rainwater away from home foundations and low spots.

Managing Foundation Vent & Clearance Issues

In established neighborhoods near Orenco Station and older subdivisions off Baseline Road, mature plantings often outgrow their original footprints. Over decades, hedges, shrubs, and evergreens creep toward siding and windows.

When foliage presses against exterior walls, it traps moisture, blocks sub-floor foundation vents, and invites wood-rot or crawlspace humidity issues during damp winters. Our crew regularly performs hedge and shrub trimming along with selective plant removals to restore air circulation around your home while preserving mature curb appeal.

Comprehensive Outdoor Services for Washington County Homes

Landscape Construction, Hardscaping & Cement Work

An outdoor living area should feel like a natural extension of your indoor spaces. We handle custom hardscaping projects including paver patios, walkways, retaining walls, and outdoor lighting to extend the usability of your yard after dark.

For utility projects and heavy outdoor additions, our team constructs solid cement work and cement foundations designed to support sheds, outbuildings, and seating structures. Establishing proper gravel sub-bases and drainage channels helps concrete and hardscape features maintain level alignment and stability through Pacific Northwest freeze-thaw cycles.

Irrigation Installation, Clocks & Flow Monitoring

Water management in Washington County requires precision. Over-watering in summer leads to shallow root systems, high municipal water bills, and fungal diseases. As a RainBird® Select Contractor®, we design and install irrigation setups, sprinklers, and drip zones built around water efficiency.

• Irrigation clocks and flow checks. Modern smart controllers automatically pause watering cycles during local rain events. Flow sensors monitor real-time water volume to detect line splits or broken heads, shutting down water flow to individual zones to prevent turf erosion.
• Sprinkler installation and repair. Complete system installs, routine head adjustments, and winterization to protect lines from freezing temperatures.
• Annual certified backflow testing. Certified technicians perform required annual testing on backflow assemblies to keep your property compliant with City of Hillsboro Water Department regulations.

Property Maintenance & Seasonal Cleanups

Maintaining a clean lawn and garden takes steady, year-round attention. Our scheduled maintenance packages cover routine mowing, trimming, weed control, bark dust application, spring cleanups, and fall leaf removal to protect plant beds before winter sets in.

A Local Team Built on Reliability & Honest Communication

Preferred Landscape Services was built from the ground up by David and Gabrielle Jensen. After earning a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design at Utah State University, David brought his hands-on field experience to Oregon in 2002. Together with Gabrielle, who manages business operations and administrative accuracy, they built a company focused on dependable service, fair pricing, and clear client communication.

Over 25 years later, our team has completed over 300 residential landscaping jobs across Hillsboro, Beaverton, and the greater Portland metro region. 

People rely on us for several practical reasons:

• Complete coverage for peace of mind while crew members operate on your property.
• Respect for your schedule with prompt arrivals and clear project updates.
• Commercial-grade equipment operated by trained team members who understand plant health and construction safety.
• Honored with the Angi Super Service Award for multiple consecutive years based on direct feedback from local homeowners.
• Solid backing on our construction work and plant material installations.

How We Work with You

Transforming or maintaining your property should be straightforward and stress-free. We follow a clear, practical process from the moment you reach out:

1. Initial on-site consultation. We meet at your property to inspect soil conditions, light exposure, grade, drainage, and current plant health while listening to your goals.
2. Transparent proposal. You receive a detailed estimate outlining work scopes, material choices, project timelines, and clear costs, no hidden fees or unexpected line items.
3. Scheduled execution. Our crew arrives with professional tools and clean methods, working efficiently to complete construction or setup your ongoing care plan.
4. Final walkthrough and support. We review the completed work together, walk through irrigation controls or maintenance instructions, and assist with any care questions.

Stop battling wet clay, overgrown shrubs, or tired lawns alone. Reach out to the local team at Preferred Landscape Services  by calling (503) 782-5900 for clear answers and dependable work.