For over twenty-five years, we have focused on delivering high-quality residential landscapes that reflect careful design and skilled construction. Serving Portland and nearby communities, we have completed more than one thousand projects and earned extensive five-star client recognition. We manage each project personally, ensuring a seamless process and a finished landscape that aligns with your vision.Our services include landscape design, full garden installation, stone patios, walkways, walls, pergolas, irrigation systems, lighting, and custom water features. Japanese garden techniques, natural stone craftsmanship, and sustainable construction methods are integral to our approach. Our experienced team works cohesively, applying decades of shared knowledge to each installation. By prioritizing detail and longevity, we create outdoor spaces designed to perform beautifully over time.
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
Every exceptional garden begins with a carefully considered landscape design. We meet with you on-site to walk the property and discuss priorities, challenges, and possibilities. The design experience is structured yet relaxed. This initial step ensures clarity, alignment, and confidence before moving forward together.
We focus exclusively on water feature landscaping, drawing on decades of hands-on experience. From initial design to ongoing maintenance, we handle ponds, streams, and ornamental features with precision and care. Every installation is engineered to balance beauty, function, and long-term performance.
Our low voltage outdoor lighting services focus on creating reliable, efficient, and visually appealing systems. We design lighting that complements the landscape while extending its enjoyment after dark. Durable materials and professional installation support long service life. Ongoing maintenance and system upgrades are also available.
We provide professional landscape design and construction services through a unified, start-to-finish team. As licensed landscape contractors, we create outdoor spaces that reflect thoughtful planning and skilled execution. Each project is approached with the same dedication to quality, whether the design is classic, modern, or minimalist.
Our irrigation services help preserve and enhance existing landscapes through efficient water management. Investing in a properly designed sprinkler system often makes more sense than replacing a mature garden. With precision layouts, modern components, and smart controls, our systems reduce water use while keeping plants healthier than manual hose watering.
Our team designs and installs paver patios and paths with an emphasis on durability, layout, and finish quality. Pavers offer reliable performance and visual consistency across many applications. By applying experienced craftsmanship and proven installation techniques, we create outdoor spaces built to endure.
Our approach to stone masonry emphasizes permanence and craftsmanship. We build stone features that offer strength, longevity, and refined aesthetics. Stone requires careful selection and expert installation. The investment delivers structures that remain functional and visually appealing for decades, adding lasting value to the landscape.
People
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.
Ben is a third generation landscaper and has been working in the family business since 2003.
Reviews (14)
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!
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!
Natasha Bramley
Nov 11, 2025
My backyard was a shambles when I started my hunt for someone who could match my esthetic and meet my expectations. My search led me to Ben and Ross NW Watergardens and I could not be happier with how things turned out. From conception to finish, Ben and his team were a joy to work with- they are professional with an amazing eye for design and details. Every request of mine was fulfilled, their finishes are exquisite, everyone on their team left the workplace tidy and safe for my small dog at the end of the day and they started and finished when they said they would. It is clear that this is more than a job for the proprietor, Ben- it is a passion. I absolutely love my new garden and am looking forward to many happy years enjoying it.
Anna A.
Jul 19, 2025
Ben did an amazing job helping us with our garden project. He really took the time to understand what we wanted, gave great advice, and handled everything with so much care and attention to detail. Even after planting, he followed up and helped us adjust things when needed. The garden looks beautiful now, and were so grateful for his help. Highly recommend working with him and his team!
Colin Cochran
Jan 01, 2025
David Moore
Aug 26, 2024
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.
Theresa Jelderks
Jul 05, 2023
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.
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.
Josh Rosen
Sep 06, 2021
Ben and his team were truly amazing to work with. We love that it's a local family business. From the start, the process and communication was straight forward and we appreciated their expertise to bring our backyard vision to life. They went above and beyond and were super flexible due to a few weather hiccups out of anyone's control. We highlight recommend them and will be using them for any future projects. Thanks!
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.
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.
Tristan Waddington
Dec 16, 2019
I worked with Ben at Ross NW Watergardens to clean up a tight area that was overgrowing with weeds behind my home.
Out went the existing plants, pavers, and an old concrete pad. In went a new weed barrier, quarter-minus gravel, and some nice 24-inch pavers.
Ben's team also did a significant amount of work around my front yard. Taking out existing plants, part of the lawn, and installing a new paver patio.
Ben was very responsive throughout the entire process. He followed up promptly to my questions and was present on site when needed.
The team did terrific job and kept things nice and clean throughout the ordeal.
I wouldn't hesitate to work with Ben and his team again in the future.
Out went the existing plants, pavers, and an old concrete pad. In went a new weed barrier, quarter-minus gravel, and some nice 24-inch pavers.
Ben's team also did a significant amount of work around my front yard. Taking out existing plants, part of the lawn, and installing a new paver patio.
Ben was very responsive throughout the entire process. He followed up promptly to my questions and was present on site when needed.
The team did terrific job and kept things nice and clean throughout the ordeal.
I wouldn't hesitate to work with Ben and his team again in the future.
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!
Jennifer Donovan
Aug 28, 2018
Working with Ben, Joe and crew was the most problem-free, productive, enjoyable job weve ever done with a contractor. And since we moved into a home that had been largely untouched since 1954 we have hired a lot of contractors over the past 5 years. It has been a pleasure and we think our backyard is nothing less than breathtaking.
Eileen Krueger
Nov 19, 2016
I can happily give Ben and his crew 5 stars! He was able to navigate our ideas, translate them into a cohesive scheme and direct his able crew to make it a reality. We couldn't be more pleased, having been left with an unfinished yard in a newly constructed house. His design complemented the aesthetic of the house and makes it a pleasure to drive up!
They are also prompt, keep to a schedule and communicate readily.
They are also prompt, keep to a schedule and communicate readily.