Our company has spent over a quarter century shaping residential landscapes in and around Portland, earning a reputation built on consistency, collaboration, and long-term client satisfaction. With more than seventy verified five-star reviews and over a thousand gardens completed, we approach each project with the same level of care and attention, regardless of scale. From initial consultation through project completion, we manage the entire process directly, ensuring clear communication and a design that reflects how you want your outdoor space to look and function.
Our services include landscape design and master planning, garden construction, patios, walls, pergolas, irrigation systems, custom water features, and integrated landscape lighting. We are particularly known for Japanese-inspired gardens, natural stone work, and thoughtfully engineered ponds and water elements. Our experienced crew works seamlessly together, drawing on years of shared practice and traditional techniques that elevate every installation. By combining creative vision with practical execution and sustainable methods, we deliver landscapes that balance beauty, durability, and usability while remaining aligned with your budget and long-term goals.
Our services include landscape design and master planning, garden construction, patios, walls, pergolas, irrigation systems, custom water features, and integrated landscape lighting. We are particularly known for Japanese-inspired gardens, natural stone work, and thoughtfully engineered ponds and water elements. Our experienced crew works seamlessly together, drawing on years of shared practice and traditional techniques that elevate every installation. By combining creative vision with practical execution and sustainable methods, we deliver landscapes that balance beauty, durability, and usability while remaining aligned with your budget and long-term goals.
Served areas
- Portland, OREmpty heading, Lake Oswego, OREmpty heading, Dunthorpe, OR, Clackamas, OR, Beaverton, OR, Gresham, OR, Hillsboro, OR, Damascus, OR, Gladstone, OR, King City, OR, Milwaukie, OR, Oregon City, OR, Sherwood, OR, Tigard, OR, Tualatin, OR, West Linn, OR, Wilsonville, OR, Happy Valley, OR, Vancouver, WA, Ridgefield, WAEmpty heading, Camas, WA
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- Custom landscape design and full-service garden installation experts
- Japanese-inspired gardens, modern landscapes, and serene water features
- Over 25 years landscaping experience throughout Portland metro area
- Koi ponds, stone patios, lighting, and irrigation systems
- Designer-led process from first concept through final walkthrough
- Highly experienced team with decades of collaborative craftsmanship
Payment methods
- Cash
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
Services
We believe strong landscape design starts with understanding both the site and the client. During the consultation, we review your property and discuss goals in detail. The process is simple and engaging. This initial meeting confirms whether the project is suited to our services. 
Our team specializes in custom water features that enhance landscapes through sound, motion, and visual interest. We design, build, and maintain ponds and streams using time-tested techniques. With an emphasis on proper systems and craftsmanship, we deliver water features that remain reliable and visually compelling over time. 
Low voltage outdoor lighting is designed and installed by our team to enhance safety and visual appeal. We emphasize restrained designs, efficient energy use, and durable materials. Proper installation ensures consistent performance over many years. Our services also include maintaining and improving existing landscape lighting systems. 
Our landscape design-build services emphasize collaboration, precision, and consistency. With one licensed team handling every phase, we maintain control over design integrity and construction standards. Each outdoor space is completed with careful attention to detail, resulting in landscapes that are cohesive and enduring. 
We specialize in designing irrigation systems that help landscapes establish, mature, and remain healthy. Even drought-tolerant gardens benefit from supplemental watering during early growth and peak summer heat. Our systems are planned by experienced professionals, installed with minimal disturbance, and equipped with efficient technology to use less water than manual watering. 
We design and construct paver patios and walkways that integrate seamlessly into outdoor environments. Interlocking pavers offer flexibility in layout and reliable long-term results. Our teams experience ensures careful preparation, precise installation, and a finished space that functions as intended. 
Stone features provide a sense of permanence rarely achieved with other materials. We design and build masonry elements that enhance outdoor spaces for decades. Each structure is carefully assembled to balance strength and aesthetics. While stone construction carries higher costs, it delivers enduring value and timeless visual appeal. People
Ben Bowen
Ben, our landscape designer, is usually your first contact with Ross NW Watergardens. He will meet you for an initial consultation, work up any proposal needed, and remains your primary contact through the whole design and installation process.
Ben is a third generation landscaper and has been working in the family business since 2003.
Ben is a third generation landscaper and has been working in the family business since 2003.
Reviews (14)
Bert Boyer
Jan 20, 2026
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Ben met with us and provided a very competitive pricing estimate for our project. In fact, it was 4 times less than one other Portland landscape design firm! We could not be more pleased with the quality of the lighting (lifetime warranty) and the outstanding service.
Elliot did a phenomenal job installing path and garden lighting at our house. He was very meticulous with installation details and communicated well with us to design path lighting exactly as requested.
Please give them a chance to bid on your next project. You will not be disappointed!
Elliot did a phenomenal job installing path and garden lighting at our house. He was very meticulous with installation details and communicated well with us to design path lighting exactly as requested.
Please give them a chance to bid on your next project. You will not be disappointed!
Natasha Bramley
Nov 11, 2025
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My backyard was a shambles when I started my hunt for someone who could match my esthetic and meet my expectations. My search led me to Ben and Ross NW Watergardens and I could not be happier with how things turned out. From conception to finish, Ben and his team were a joy to work with- they are professional with an amazing eye for design and details. Every request of mine was fulfilled, their finishes are exquisite, everyone on their team left the workplace tidy and safe for my small dog at the end of the day and they started and finished when they said they would. It is clear that this is more than a job for the proprietor, Ben- it is a passion. I absolutely love my new garden and am looking forward to many happy years enjoying it.
Naisa Gordon
Sep 18, 2025
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We hired Ross NW Watergardens to do a complete overhaul of our front yard. It was a dry and barren eyesore. Ben came in, took some pictures, and got back to us with a proposal super quickly. Once work started , it was super quick, just 3 days (granted its a small yard). There were around 50-ish plants, a large amount of river rocks to make a dry pond, fresh bark dust, and they installed a drip irrigation system. The crew was super polite and friendly. Ben was very communicative and understanding of us having to work around the holiday weekend for our money to get moved around. It was a great experience and we are so happy with our yard.
Aspen Pippin
Sep 13, 2025
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We asked Ross NW Watergardens to propose a replacement design for our aged waterfall with small pond to both reduce the water feature's maintenance (lots of tree debris fall) and aesthetically upgrade it for a more natural, integrated and non-linear appearnce. Ben guided us through the proposal review process over a couple of weeks and several iterations to arrive at a natural flowing pondless design solution to meet all of the design objectives identified for a very competitive price.
Anna A.
Jul 19, 2025
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Ben did an amazing job helping us with our garden project. He really took the time to understand what we wanted, gave great advice, and handled everything with so much care and attention to detail. Even after planting, he followed up and helped us adjust things when needed. The garden looks beautiful now, and were so grateful for his help. Highly recommend working with him and his team!
Arthur Knaupe
May 11, 2025
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Ben and his team couldnt have provided better service. In 2023, they managed the full overhaul of our backyardremoving overgrown bamboo, an old privacy fence, and a previous concrete patio. They then installed a beautiful new paver patio, landscape lighting, plantings, and fencing, handling every step seamlessly.
Even two years later, theyre still incredibly responsive and helpful with questions about maintenance. We couldnt have asked for a better design or a more professional, reliable team. Highly recommend!
Even two years later, theyre still incredibly responsive and helpful with questions about maintenance. We couldnt have asked for a better design or a more professional, reliable team. Highly recommend!
David Moore
Aug 26, 2024
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Mihal F.
Mar 28, 2024
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Rory Blanche
Jul 25, 2021
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We cant say enough good things about Ross NW Watergardens! Ben and his team were exactly what we were looking for with our landscaping project. He listened to what we were looking for, provided insights and design ideas that fit within our budget and answered all of our many questions. He also provided thoughtful updates throughout the entire process, which was much appreciated. He has an extremely skilled team thats friendly, works quickly and does quality work. Overall, we are extremely pleased with the end result and look forward to enjoying the beautiful backyard that Ross NW Watergardens created for us!
Diane Lieppman
Dec 02, 2020
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After completing a whole house renovation, we were ready to embark upon a landscape makeover to match our contemporary/Asian themed home. Our mission was to find someone who could design and install landscaping to tie our house and yard together.
After interviewing two other landscape designers, we found our perfect match with Ben Bowen and Ross NW Watergardens. Ben met (and exceeded) our list of desires for our yard, starting with his keen ability to envision what we could not imagine. He quickly saw through the existing, worn-out mish-mash of trees, plants and grass that had been cobbled together over seventy years of planting. After accepting his thorough proposal, which confirmed all that we had discussed, his crew went to work.
Ben did an excellent job of communicating with us from beginning to end. The project came in within budget and was completed in the 3-week timeframe he had promised.
His knowledge of plants, trees, boulders, landscape lighting, irrigation and other landscape details gave us confidence during the undertaking. The quality of all materials used was top notch, including healthy, happy plants, grasses and trees.
Ben was always available when we had questions, and we knew that he had our back should anything go awry. The entire crew at Ross NW Watergardens was knowledgeable, efficient, hard working, and respectful of our space while there.
We would not hesitate to recommend Ben and Ross NW Watergardens to anyone looking for landscape design and/or installation.
After interviewing two other landscape designers, we found our perfect match with Ben Bowen and Ross NW Watergardens. Ben met (and exceeded) our list of desires for our yard, starting with his keen ability to envision what we could not imagine. He quickly saw through the existing, worn-out mish-mash of trees, plants and grass that had been cobbled together over seventy years of planting. After accepting his thorough proposal, which confirmed all that we had discussed, his crew went to work.
Ben did an excellent job of communicating with us from beginning to end. The project came in within budget and was completed in the 3-week timeframe he had promised.
His knowledge of plants, trees, boulders, landscape lighting, irrigation and other landscape details gave us confidence during the undertaking. The quality of all materials used was top notch, including healthy, happy plants, grasses and trees.
Ben was always available when we had questions, and we knew that he had our back should anything go awry. The entire crew at Ross NW Watergardens was knowledgeable, efficient, hard working, and respectful of our space while there.
We would not hesitate to recommend Ben and Ross NW Watergardens to anyone looking for landscape design and/or installation.
Brett Fleming
Nov 10, 2020
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With a summer of staying home, this was the year to tackle our yard projects. Although we had a rough idea of what we wanted, we did not have the creativity or knowledge of what would work well for our needs nor where to put everything. We reached out to a couple of landscape experts. Ben was very communicative, has very detailed descriptions of the services provided and a design sense we identified with.
We have a small yard and sensible budget. Ben was open to the our ideas and any changes we proposed. He was able to work within our means and put together a really great design that we're very pleased with. We'll end up with a yard that is pleasant all year round without requiring constant maintenance.
We think part of the fun of having a yard is getting your hands dirty, so we're currently working on implementing Ben's design ourselves. However, we knew some things were a little too big to handle ourselves. Ross NW helped us with a crew to install a gorgeous paver patio. Again they were conscious of our budget and we could not be happier with results. Thanks Jose!
The few people who have seen the work have been blown away by the transformation so far and we can't wait until we've completed our part of the plan and get to enjoy the final result.
We have a small yard and sensible budget. Ben was open to the our ideas and any changes we proposed. He was able to work within our means and put together a really great design that we're very pleased with. We'll end up with a yard that is pleasant all year round without requiring constant maintenance.
We think part of the fun of having a yard is getting your hands dirty, so we're currently working on implementing Ben's design ourselves. However, we knew some things were a little too big to handle ourselves. Ross NW helped us with a crew to install a gorgeous paver patio. Again they were conscious of our budget and we could not be happier with results. Thanks Jose!
The few people who have seen the work have been blown away by the transformation so far and we can't wait until we've completed our part of the plan and get to enjoy the final result.
Joel Rotert
Jun 04, 2020
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Ben and his team are hands down the best contractors to have worked on our home since we moved in. Our experience includes at least 10 different groups over the last 5 and a half years for a variety of large and small projects.
Why so exceptional? A few key reasons:
* excellent communication at all phases
* top quality work: both design and execution
* reasonable quote & adhered to, if not slightly under
* timely once the project started
* respectful, thoughtful team on site
Our project was modest (small backyard leveling, sodding, simple landscaping and minor hardscaping) but Bens design guidance and his teams skill helped them overdeliver. We couldnt be happier with the end result, it turned out much better than we ever envisioned.
We cant recommend the Ross NW team highly enough!
Why so exceptional? A few key reasons:
* excellent communication at all phases
* top quality work: both design and execution
* reasonable quote & adhered to, if not slightly under
* timely once the project started
* respectful, thoughtful team on site
Our project was modest (small backyard leveling, sodding, simple landscaping and minor hardscaping) but Bens design guidance and his teams skill helped them overdeliver. We couldnt be happier with the end result, it turned out much better than we ever envisioned.
We cant recommend the Ross NW team highly enough!
Mc
Aug 05, 2018
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Ross NW Watergardens did an amazing transformation of my homes landscaping. Ben was very knowledgeable and listened thoughtfully to my ideas for the landscaping. He made great suggestions and was able to answer all my questions. The crews that Ben assigned to my project were professional, courteous and very hardworking. When an unexpected issue came up, Ben was on it right away and was totally committed to resolving the issue in the best possible way for me. I highly recommend Ross NW Watergardens for their knowledge, skill and integrity.
Nancy Pautsch
Jan 26, 2015
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Ross NW Watergardens have completed two projects for us in the past 2 years. Both times they have exceeded our expectations!
Ben is very responsive and provided excellent suggestions and input. Jose & his guys did the work, and I can't say enough good things about them as well. The plan was well communicated, they arrived when they said they would, they did what we expected and they cleaned up when finished. On top of that, they are always super nice and kind. And our yard looks fabulous! :)
Thanks guys!!
Ben is very responsive and provided excellent suggestions and input. Jose & his guys did the work, and I can't say enough good things about them as well. The plan was well communicated, they arrived when they said they would, they did what we expected and they cleaned up when finished. On top of that, they are always super nice and kind. And our yard looks fabulous! :)
Thanks guys!!