Alternative Materials for Building Decks and Patios

The photo above shows a deck that was created by City Steward using a mix of composite material and treated wood.

At City Steward, we offer the option of using composite “lumber” for decks and backyard patios. Traditionally, native woods like Redwood and Cedar have been used for decking due to their visual appeal and inherent insect-resistance. Though nice to have, they require trees to be cut down. An advantage of composites is that they’re a green alternative to virgin wood, in that most use a combination of recycled and reclaimed materials.

In some cases, people think all composite decking is Trex, but actually there are dozens of composite decking products on the market. The primary components are most often a plastic and an organic material, usually fiber from scrap wood. But not all composites contain wood fiber and new products with new combinations of materials are rapidly appearing.

Virgin lumber, treated wood, and composite materials all have their upsides and downsides in terms of cost and performance. This Backyard America.com article goes over the advantages and disadvantages of each type of material that can be used for building decks.

The bottom line for City Steward and our clients is that experience indicates that composite materials, when applied and installed in the right ways, are an effective and environmentally-friendly option. We are particularly enthused about an emerging product that uses rice hulls instead of wood scrap.

Raised Beds for Enhanced Garden Space

Many yards in our area have precious little space for both recreation and gardening. Building raised beds has become a popular way to conserve usable backyard space while still adding capacity to grow herbs and vegetables.

Raised beds contain loosely packed soil that allows for better drainage than Portland’s soil, which is high in clay content. Raised beds also provide warmer soil and an enhanced growing environment because the sides of the beds are heated by the sun. This can allow for a longer growing season. Another benefit of installing raised beds is that the follow up care of your plants is easier, as there is less bending required when pulling weeds or harvesting the vegetables and herbs.

Not only are raised beds a useful addition to your home garden, but they can be aesthetically pleasing as well!

Checking the Spread of Invasive Plants

Invasive plants like English Ivy or Garlic Mustard can have detrimental effects on Northwest native plant and animal communities. The invasives out-compete native plants for nutrients and thereby disturb food chains and reduce biodiversity.

Butterfly Bush is a common invasive plant that originated in China and Japan but now proliferates in Oregon and Washington. It is a large bush with pink, purple, or blue flowers. From yards and gardens, they have spread to forest boundaries, streams, and road shoulders, endangering native landscapes in those areas.

Photograph of a Blooming Butterfly Bush courtesy of Tom Forney, OR Dept of Agriculture

The City of Portland has an anti-invasive policy and is actively trying to eliminate plants like the Butterfly Bush on city-owned sites. It is important for home owners to do the same. At City Steward, we aim to help reduce the negative impact of invasives in our area. One of our service offerings is removing invasive plants and replacing them with natives that will strive and contribute to the vitality of our ecosystem.

The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services has a great reference for those interested in learning more about controlling invasive plants on their property. Here is a link to the city’s “Invasive Plant Management Strategy” as well as a comprehensive list of nuisance and prohibited plants, and the natives that can be planted instead.

Edible Gardens

There are many reasons that edible gardens are taking over yards all around Portland. Growing your own food is a natural fit for the do-it-yourself culture here. What could be more symbolic of independence and self reliance than producing one’s own sustenance and nutrition.

For families, a home garden is a wonderful way to get kids engaged with nature, more aware of how food grows and more willing to eat vegetables. And there is no more certain way to eat organic than have grown it oneself. Saving some money on grocery bills isn’t bad either.

Work into edible gardening gradually by planting one or two spots, or get into it more fully by converting wider areas. The idea is gaining popularity, and was the subject of a September 14, 2008 article in the Oregonian entitled “Is it time to kill your lawn?”

The article chronicles a “new American lawn ritual” – removing it and replacing it with vegetables, fruits and herbs. Just about every yard – with the right site planning, soil building and crop choices – can support edible gardening.