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For more than two decades, we have provided residential landscape design and construction services throughout Portland and nearby communities. Our experience includes over one thousand completed gardens and a strong record of five-star client satisfaction. We oversee each project directly, ensuring clear communication and a final result that reflects your priorities.

We design and build complete outdoor environments, including gardens, patios, walkways, walls, pergolas, irrigation systems, lighting, and water features. Our work often incorporates Japanese-inspired techniques and expertly crafted stone elements. With a long-standing team and proven methods, we focus on precision and longevity. Every landscape is constructed to deliver lasting performance and visual harmony.

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
Business 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
Landscape Design Landscape design is the guiding framework behind every great garden we create. Our process starts with an on-site consultation focused on your property and goals. The experience is professional and enjoyable. This meeting ensures mutual understanding before design work begins.
Water Features Water features offer a unique ability to elevate a landscape, and we have dedicated decades to mastering their design and construction. From koi ponds to elegant streams and compact bubblers, we handle every phase with experienced care. Our work emphasizes natural aesthetics, reliable systems, and thoughtful planning that ensures lasting enjoyment.
Low Voltage Lighting We provide expertly designed low voltage landscape lighting that enhances outdoor environments with subtle illumination. Our systems are efficient, durable, and built for long-term performance. Installation is completed with minimal impact to established landscapes. We also support continued care through maintenance and system improvement services.
Landscape Design Build Our professional landscape design and build services are structured to ensure clarity and quality from start to completion. Clients work with one licensed team throughout the process, allowing for consistent execution. The landscapes we create are thoughtfully designed, expertly constructed, and held to high standards of craftsmanship.
Irrigation Systems We manage every stage of irrigation system development, from thoughtful design to long-term care. Our installations use efficient heads, drip irrigation, and automated controls to simplify watering. Experienced professionals handle layout and installation with precision, protecting mature gardens and delivering reliable performance backed by ongoing service.
Paver Patios Our paver services focus on creating outdoor spaces that are both attractive and practical. Interlocking concrete pavers offer strength, flexibility, and visual consistency while avoiding common issues associated with traditional concrete. From initial design through installation, our team applies proven methods and experienced craftsmanship.
Stone Masonry Our stone masonry services deliver lasting outdoor structures through skilled craftsmanship. Stone features provide strength, permanence, and visual depth that improve with age. Each installation is carefully constructed for longevity. The higher initial cost reflects the enduring performance and timeless character of stone construction.
People
Ben Bowen
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.
Reviews (14)
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Bert Boyer
Jan 20, 2026
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!
Naisa Gordon
Sep 18, 2025
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
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.
Arthur Knaupe
May 11, 2025
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!
David Moore
Aug 26, 2024
Ben and his team are fantastic! Communication is great and Wow is the work not only wonderful, they are fast!! I've had a few different landscape/contractor projects and I would easily recommend Ross NW over any of the other companies. Will be going back for my next project.
Jamie Skreen
Oct 30, 2023
We were beyond impressed with Ben and his team, Jose and Consuelo. The water feature they created for our home was beyond amazing. We love seeing and hearing it every day. Bens design was phenomenal, and Jose and Consuelo paid excellent attention to detail and made the feature such high quality. Highly recommend them for whatever project you are doing! They are so talented.
Jack D.
Nov 03, 2022
I found Ross NW Watergardens after researching Japanese gardens and deciding to have one installed in our backyard. From the moment that I contacted the company I knew that I had made the right choice. Ben responded to my inquiries very quickly and we arranged a meeting to discuss possibilities. After the initial meeting, Ben sent us a proposal for our consideration. Upon finalizing the plan after our input, a date was set to begin the work. Due to a heavy schedule the actual work began about a month after our target date. The wait was worth it!!
The installation crew led by Efrain was excellent. They were efficient, neat and very talented. Efrain's work on our patio as well as his execution of the garden design was above and beyond our expectations. We are absolutely delighted with the results!
Given the cooperation and care exhibited by both Ben and Joe Bowen as well as the talent and expertise of the installation crew, I would highly recommend Ross NW Watergardens.
Dale Allen
Sep 01, 2022
I hired Ross Watergardens to design and install a Japanese garden around 3 sides of my condo. Ben Bowen was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. He listened with interest to all my ideas and incorporated them wherever they made sense. The design process was a true collaboration. I never felt rushed, even when I needed a few weeks to study up on natives and wildlife friendly plants. Ben always responded within a day or two and got new designs back to me within a week. Once the design was complete, he set a tentative start date and stayed in touch as the date approached, always respectful of my schedule.

The design itself is gorgeous - beyond my expectations. The large stones make me think I'm in a mountain hermitage. And the plants are beautiful, even in their winter colors. I can hardly wait for spring.

The landscape lead, Efrain, arrived with a crew every day between 8 and 9. They had all the necessary equipment, and worked steadily and efficiently until the job was done - ahead of schedule! They cleaned up at the end of every day and especially well on Fridays.

I can't say enough what a pleasure it was to work with Ben and his crew on my garden. Their communication, expertise and professionalism made the project a true delight.
Brett Fleming
Nov 10, 2020
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.
Patrick G.
Nov 12, 2019
Ben and his team did an amazing job building a walkway on the side of our house from the driveway to the back. They also installed a french drain system to deal with a drainage issue along the length of our backyard. The work was done quickly and professionally. I have used them in the past, and will use them for future work. Thank you Ben!
Christine Ulmer
Mar 23, 2019
My husband and I visited Japan several years ago. After he died I wanted a visual reminder of what he loved. I met Ben armed with Japanese landscaping design books complete with post it notes. In a 15 minute conversation I knew he was the person for the job. A careful listener and great communicator who responded quickly to my questions and frets. I am looking at my back yard with three huge boulders (mountains) against a huge grey gravel "lake." I have graceful planted mounds on what was my flat yard. One of the two large stone paths that spread across the yard leads to a boulder "seat" beside a Japanese lantern. He suggested gorgeous black grasses that echo the black trim on the house. My front door is orange and looking through the glass in it and simultaneously through the glass back door one sees a beautiful weeping tree with orange bark. The crew was fabulous to deal with..very professional and hard working. Every day is a comforting reminder of my husband.
Alexander Basek
Dec 11, 2018
Ben is a master. We are so happy with how our landscaping turned out. He stuck with us over a long renovation, never got flustered by anything going wrong, and, of course, helped plan and install an incredible front and back yard for our house. We could not recommend him highly enough. Worth every penny.
Mc
Aug 05, 2018
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
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!!