Landscaper pricing in Portland
What landscapers charge in Portland (typically $50-$100/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
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Portland landscaper pricing
What landscapers should charge in Portland
Portland landscape work is dominated by Forest Heights/West Hills/Council Crest/Eastmoreland estate gardens, Lake Oswego ultra-premium, PNW native plantings (Douglas fir, sword fern, salal, vine maple, evergreen huckleberry), Portland Tree Code Title 11 compliance (strictest US tree protection), rain garden installations (City of Portland Stormwater Code), and Earth Advantage sustainable landscape design. Oregon CCB Landscape Construction Professional required. Forest Park (largest US urban forest at 5,200 acres) backs onto Forest Heights premium suburb.
Hourly rate
$50-$100
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
$35-$75
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common landscaper jobs in Portland
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in USD.
Site visit and consultation
What's included
Most established landscapers consult free for jobs over $3,000. Concept design with drawings is usually charged.
Lawn install (per square metre)
What's included
Includes site prep, irrigation drop-in (optional), soil top-up, and instant lawn rolls. Seed-establish is cheaper but slower.
Paving (per square metre)
What's included
Includes excavation, sub-base, sand bed, pavers, and edging. Natural stone, porcelain, and patterned laying cost more.
Retaining wall (per linear metre)
What's included
Depends on height and material (block, gabion, sleeper). Excavation, drainage, and engineering for >1.2m walls extra.
Garden bed preparation (per sqm)
What's included
Includes excavation, compost, mulch. Excludes plants. Edging adds $20-40/linear metre.
Tree planting (advanced 100L+)
What's included
Includes tree, planting hole, stake, mulch, and 30-min watering setup. 500L specimen trees run higher.
Irrigation install (per zone)
What's included
Includes mainline, valve, drippers or rotators, controller wiring. Pump and tank install extra.
Garden maintenance (weekly visit)
What's included
Includes mow, edge, weed, blow. 1-hour visit. Pruning and fertilising on a separate schedule.
Full backyard redesign (medium plot)
What's included
Hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting. 3-6 week duration. Plant stock 25-40% of cost.
Portland quote factors
What to factor into your Portland landscaper quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a landscaper in Portland. Marine west coast (Mediterranean-influenced). Mild winters (December-February, rarely below 30F, occasional non-sticking snow), warm summers (June-September, 75-90F, occasional 100F+ heat dome 2021 hit 116F historic), high rainfall (~36 in/year, most October-May in persistent drizzle). Mild climate makes heat pumps highly efficient year-round (Portland is one of best US heat pump markets). Moss plus mildew plus rot constant trade concerns. Wildfire smoke August-October from OR/CA/WA fires (2020 Labor Day fires devastated Oregon). Earthquake risk (Cascadia subduction zone).
Oregon CCB + LCB (Landscape Contractors Board)
Oregon CCB Construction Contractors Board registration + Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB) Landscape Construction Professional License (LCP) required for landscape construction over $1,000. Oregon Association of Nurseries certifications differentiate at premium tier. State 'Oregon LCB LCP' on quotes; provides design principles, sustainable horticulture, and continuing education credentials.
Portland Tree Code Title 11 strictest US
Portland has strictest tree protection in US. Portland Tree Code (Title 11) requires permit + replacement for protected tree removal (any tree 12" DBH or larger). Quote tree protection plan ($800-$3,500 per site), tree permit filing ($250-$500 per tree), and replacement planting ($350-$1,500 per replacement tree) as separate lines. Forest Heights backs onto Forest Park (5,200 acres, largest US urban forest); tree code enforcement strict on edge lots. Specialty tree-protection arborist trades thriving.
PNW native plant specification
Portland's Cascadia bioregion drives demand for PNW native plantings (Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar, sword fern, salal, vine maple, evergreen huckleberry, Pacific rhododendron, Oregon grape state flower, red osier dogwood). Quote PNW native packages at $25-$80/sqft installed. Audubon Society of Portland + Backyard Habitat Certification Program partnerships differentiate at premium tier. Earth Advantage and Sustainable Landscape Professional (SLP) credentials valuable.
Premium designer tier
Forest Heights (97229), West Hills (97210), Council Crest (97201), Eastmoreland (97202), Lake Oswego (97034/97035), West Linn (97068) customers expect designer gardens with architect coordination. Quote design fee 12-20% of project cost ($15,000-$95,000+ for full estate project). Build relationships with Portland architects (Allied Works, Skylab, Olson Kundig regional, William Kaven) for referrals.
Rain garden + stormwater management mandatory
City of Portland BDS + Environmental Services mandate stormwater retention on most renovations and new construction (Portland Stormwater Management Manual). Quote rain garden design ($5,000-$25,000), bioswale ($25-$75/LF), and permeable paver pathways ($15-$40/sqft) as separate line. Native plants qualify for stormwater credits. Portland is national leader in green stormwater infrastructure.
PNW year-round work calendar
Portland PNW climate (mild year-round, rarely below 30°F, year-round rainfall October-May, dry July-September) enables year-round planting. Quote without seasonal premiums; customers pay any time of year. Lock in 12-month maintenance contracts with quarterly visits. Recurring revenue consistent year-round; premium tier estate maintenance ($1,500-$8,500/month) is significant.
Sample quote
A real Portland landscaper quote you can copy
Backyard patio + garden makeover, 80sqm site, mid-range finish. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Site excavation, removal of old lawn, soil grading
Concrete paver patio (28sqm, 400x400 charcoal)
Retaining wall, sleeper, 8m long x 600mm high
Lawn rolls (35sqm, premium Sir Walter buffalo)
Garden beds prep + planting (15sqm, mixed natives 200-300mm pots)
Irrigation install (2 zones, drippers + pop-ups, smart controller)
Mulch, edging, finish (40m linear edging, 4m³ pine bark)
Project labour (12 days, 2-person team)
FAQ
Portland landscaper pricing questions, answered
Common questions about landscaper pricing in Portland, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
Design and consulting $125-$285/hour for premium designer work. Installation labor $65-$185/hour. Project pricing: standard Portland gardens $25-$80/sqft installed, premium designer gardens $60-$200/sqft (Forest Heights, West Hills, Lake Oswego). Design fees typically 12-20% of project cost. Estate maintenance contracts $1,500-$8,500/month. No state sales tax helps margin.
Yes. Oregon CCB Construction Contractors Board registration + Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB) Landscape Construction Professional License (LCP) required for landscape construction over $1,000. State 'Oregon LCB LCP' on quotes. Oregon Association of Nurseries certifications differentiate at premium tier.
Strictly. Portland has strictest tree protection in US. Title 11 requires permit + replacement for protected tree removal (any tree 12" DBH or larger). Quote tree protection plan ($800-$3,500 per site), tree permit filing ($250-$500 per tree), and replacement planting ($350-$1,500 per replacement tree) as separate lines. Forest Heights backs onto Forest Park (5,200 acres); tree code enforcement strict on edge lots. Specialty tree-protection arborist trades thriving.
PNW native + Cascadia bioregion: Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar, sword fern, salal, vine maple, evergreen huckleberry, Pacific rhododendron, Oregon grape (state flower), red osier dogwood. Audubon Society of Portland + Backyard Habitat Certification Program partnerships differentiate at premium tier. Avoid water-hungry English garden plants in PNW dry July-September.
Yes, on most major renovations and new construction. City of Portland BDS + Environmental Services mandate stormwater retention (Portland Stormwater Management Manual). Quote rain garden design ($5,000-$25,000), bioswale ($25-$75/LF), and permeable paver pathways ($15-$40/sqft) as separate line. Native plants qualify for stormwater credits. Portland is national leader in green stormwater infrastructure.
Hourly rates are $50 to $95 in the US, £28-65 in the UK, A$55-110 in Australia, R180-500 in South Africa, and C$45-95 in Canada. Most landscapers prefer fixed-price quotes for projects over $2,000 because hourly invites scope creep.
The big variables are material grade (concrete vs natural stone), plant size (4L vs 100L), and how much earthwork is included. A 'cheap' quote usually uses budget materials and small plants that look sparse for years. Compare the materials list, not just the total.
Site walks and concept conversations are usually free for jobs over $3,000. A scaled drawing with plant schedule and hardscape detail takes 4-8 hours and many landscapers charge $300-1,500 for that. Worth it because the drawing becomes the contract.
For jobs over $5,000, get 2-3 quotes. Compare the plant schedule, hardscape materials, irrigation spec, and establishment guarantee. The cheapest quote often skips drainage, irrigation, or guarantee.
Most shrubs need 6 months of regular watering to establish; trees need 12-18 months. Lawn rolls knit in 4-6 weeks. Quote a maintenance plan covering at least the first 3 months so the investment does not die in summer.
Keep going
More landscaper resources
The full international pricing guide, ready-to-send templates, and the main landscapers page.
Full landscaper pricing guide
International rates across 8 countries, plus all common jobs and a 10-question FAQ.
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