Sandy, Oregon

• Project Type: Existing Apartment Community
• Scope: Landscape and Irrigation Renovation
• Existing Landscape Assessment: Comprehensive
• Maintenance Optimization: Yes
• Safety and Visibility Improvements: Yes

Project Overview

Clement Walsh Landscape Architect, Inc., was approached by the Property Owner to provide a Landscape and Irrigation Plan Set that would improve curb appeal, reinforce intuitive wayfinding to the rental office, and strengthen the property’s overall first impression for prospective residents. The curated planting palette emphasized durability, low maintenance, and cost efficiency while creating a cohesive, clearly legible landscape composition that reinforced circulation patterns, highlighted key entries and signage, maintained clear sight lines at windows and parking areas to enhance safety, and supported the buildings’ architectural presence.

The Challenge

This project required a comprehensive assessment of existing plant performance, health, safety impacts, and overall aesthetics. Some areas had desire lines that had led to plant decline, and other plants had died or not been maintained for one reason or another. Lawn edges had lost clear, easily maintained shapes. Vision clearances in parking areas had been overgrown, and overgrown bushes blocked windows, raising safety concerns. As a result, the landscape no longer supported safe circulation, clear visibility, or a cohesive property identity.

The Approach

As a firm, we approach every project with a consistent, client-focused mindset. Our priority is to deliver high-quality design solutions that meet our clients’ goals, budgets, and ongoing maintenance requirements. We collaborate with property managers to identify existing drainage, safety, and maintenance concerns and evaluate potential hazards within the existing landscape that should be addressed in the proposed improvements. We also verify that any proposed walls or fences comply with local jurisdictional landscape codes. Simple bed lines, logical lawn continuity, appropriate mowing radii, and cohesive mass plantings help simplify ongoing maintenance demands across the site. Our landscapes are designed for long-term performance, incorporating durable materials, cohesive planting design, and thoughtful plant selection and placement that maintenance teams can clearly understand and manage. We also consider visibility, access control, and defensible space strategies to enhance community safety and discourage unwanted activity.

The result is a resilient, professional landscape that enhances the property’s value and maintains strong curb appeal over time. Our approach delivers landscapes that perform as well as they look — enhancing both property value and long-term operational success.

The Process

• Pre-Design and Code Research: Our firm meticulously compiles all existing site information, including applicable jurisdictional development codes. If the client does not already have a site plan and/or survey, we compile existing surveys and plat maps from public records showing property lines, easements, and building footprints.  We supplement the existing documentation with our own on-site observations and measurements to document existing landscape features, mature trees and shrubs, and note conditions that could impact future designs, such as desire lines, surface roots, and parking lot stresses. Based on our observations, we make professional recommendations on which plants should be kept or removed. This information is the number one guiding principle in our landscape plans, ensuring they are comprehensive and will endure for years to come.
• Plan Set – Comprehensive Landscape and Irrigation Plans:
  • We produce a comprehensive Landscape Plan that includes specifications and construction details. Our specifications and details balance enforceable performance standards with practical construction realities, ensuring clarity for contractors without creating unnecessary cost burdens. Existing mature specimens that remain healthy are strategically incorporated to preserve immediate impact while avoiding unnecessary replacement costs. Our curated plant palette reflects the nuances of the site conditions and architecture to create a compelling, durable landscape design.
  • Our irrigation plans are developed in coordination with the planting design, site soil conditions, and overall hydrology to ensure long-term plant health and system performance. We prioritize water distribution uniformity and strategic hydrozoning to meet plant demands while minimizing waste and preventing overspray onto adjacent hardscape areas. System sizing, zone configuration, and material selection are carefully evaluated to balance installation costs, operational efficiency, and run-time demands. We coordinate with property managers to confirm adequate water pressure, point-of-connection location, and meter requirements early in design to avoid conflicts during construction.
  • The result is a water-efficient, durable irrigation system that supports plant longevity while reducing long-term operational costs.
• Construction Support: During Construction, we provide:
  • Construction Observation
  • Plant Procurement Coordination
  • Bid Coordination and Contractor Evaluation
  • Personal Plant Placement Guidance
  • Post-Construction Check Sheets (as required by city or owner)
• Maintenance Plan: Post-construction, we offer a design-informed maintenance plan tailored to the specific performance goals and constraints of the site. Because we understand the approved design framework and site constraints, we provide maintenance crews with a clear, calendar-based checklist addressing pruning, fertilization, plant performance monitoring, irrigation oversight, sight lines, safety, and best mulching practices. Where plant decline or performance issues arise, we evaluate underlying conditions and provide strategic replacement recommendations to preserve the integrity and performance of the overall landscape system. This proactive approach protects the client’s landscape investment and ensures long-term performance.

The Result

The result is a landscape that balances long-term maintenance realities and budget considerations without sacrificing professional curb appeal. The refreshed, cohesive design modernizes the property’s image and strengthens its leasing appeal by improving first impressions for prospective residents. It enhances resident safety, simplifies ongoing maintenance, and protects long-term value.