Cleanups and Upgrades

We cleanup landscapes

Need help with weeds, overgrown bushes, bark mulch or compost application, lawn problems? We’ve been helping people with yard cleanups since 1979.

Do any of the following apply to you and your landscape?

The weeds won. I lost.
My bushes grew too big—way too big.
My lawn looks like a weed patch.
My plants are dead, diseased, and/or missing.
My entire landscape just plain looks bad.
I wish someone could fix it and keep it that way!

If so we can help! We call this a landscape cleanup or a yard cleanup. We have crews largely devoted to just such problems. After meeting with you and evaluating your needs, we custom tailor the job to suit your particular situation. Below are some generalities.

The weeds won. I lost.

We are experts at solving weed problems and have many tried and true remedies. 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 problem, this approach will cost more money and may take repeated visits. But if you only have a few smaller weeds, you may be satisfied with the results. Let’s look at why.

Our only recourse is to pull each weed by hand, or sometimes to hoe and remove mechanically.
Larger weeds will probably grow back from the roots.
Smaller weeds can take a very long time to remove mechanically or by hand.
After the job is completed, weeds will sprout from any remaining roots.

If you really want to avoid use of pesticides, you may want to make an exception in this case so you can get off to a good start with the cleanup. Do not overlook mulch (just below). It will be your biggest help!

Weed control with the help of herbicides

If we spray the weeds with a weed control agent, it will kill the weeds roots and all.
We don’t have to remove every weed. We can just cut off the top and leave the roots.
If we apply another type of weed control when finished, it keeps the weeds from returning.

Mulch buries weed seeds so they don’t germinate

Whether bark dust or compost is used, the results are the same—greatly reduced sprouting of new weeds. When weed seeds are buried more than one half inch they rarely germinate. We recommend keeping a one to two inch layer of mulch at all times. More is better. Note: Compost decomposes quickly and will need to be renewed annually.
Living weed roots will grow new tops right up through the mulch. That’s why it works best to kill the weeds before removing them.

My bushes grew too big—way too big.

Pruning or replacing overgrown plants Usually shrubs, small trees, and hedges simply need professional pruning and/or shearing. We have skilled workmen who have specific training in how to do these things. Please note: There are many backyard gardeners peddling service who really don’t know what they are doing. Sadly, we see all too many plants ruined by these well-meaning people. Hopefully, your plants won’t be among them.

However, plants sometimes grow so large that either (1) they cannot be pruned to an appropriate size or (2), it is not cost effective to do so. In this case we generally suggest replacement rather than pruning.

My lawn looks like a weed patch.

Solving lawn problems
Lawns can develop many differing problems such as:

Weeds in the lawn
Thin, sparse turf
More moss than grass
Differing colors of grass, usually seen as light green patches
Coarse bladed grass in the lawn
Wild grasses that grow flat on the ground

Help with the above problems can be found here: Lawn Care Services

Excess thatch buildup. Please see Thatching & Overseeding

My plants are dead, diseased, and/or missing.

Growing healthy plants
Although the majority of landscape plants grow well with only a minimal of care, many problems can develop. We will assess your needs and make recommendations accordingly. Possible solutions include:

Fertilization to provide needed nutrients
Drip irrigation to supply needed water
Insect or disease control
Replacement with a more suitable plant

My entire landscape just plain looks bad.

Fixing up a seemingly hopeless landscape
Sometimes a landscape is allowed to deteriorate so badly that all appears hopeless. If you feel this way, don’t despair. We can help. It may cost a bit, since significant changes may be needed. Even so, we can evaluate your situation based on your needs. Then we can provide you with options of how to solve the difficulties. Sometimes it is best to tackle one part at a time. At other times it is easier to just do an entire makeover.Please refer to the Installation section of our web site for more information.

I wish someone could fix it and keep it that way!

Maintaining a landscape after the cleanup
We are experts at caring for landscapes and have been doing so since 1979. We offer a large diversity of service option and can satisfy just about any type of need. Please see Year Around Maintenance for more information.

Portland Oregon Landscape Cleanup | Lake Oswego Landscape Cleanup
Happy Valley Landscape Cleanup | Gresham Landscape Cleanup