--- title: "Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/donna-giguere-apld-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~1921134478 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1921134478.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a19357cb0078a36a_3434-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Portland, Oregon 97202, United States" phone: "(503) 777-1177" website: http://giguerelandscapedesign.com rating: 4.9 review_count: 13 best_of_houzz_awards: 7 followers: 97 last_updated: 2026-09-29 --- # Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design Original Houzz profile: [Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/donna-giguere-apld-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~1921134478) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Portland, OR - **Serves:** Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Tualatin, West Linn, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Sherwood, Lents, Cedar Mill, Oak Grove, Oatfield, Gladstone, Oak Hills, Damascus, Cedar Hills, West Haven-Sylvan, Jennings Lodge, Garden Home-Whitford, West Slope, Sunnyside, Clackamas, Raleigh Hills, West Haven, King City, Wood Village, Durham, Boring, Stafford, Maywood Park, Fairview, Rivergrove, Johnson City, Central Oregon, Marylhurst, Vancouver - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (13 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves Donna Giguere will work together with you to meet your needs while looking at your lifestyle, the architecture of your home and your budget. Her vision is about creating a landscape that is truly your own, that functions well and fits your world whatever life phase you are in. She has over 27 years experience and hundreds of happy clients. She will search for "The Right Plant for the Right Place" and suggest soil work so that your garden will be successful. She works with many different materials, stone, concrete, pavers, wood and steel. She can refer you to a handful of contractors for your landscape construction and will provide assistance during the installation. Her background is in Art- she graduated from Portland State University in metal sculpture and also studied horticulture and geology at PSU. Continuing Landscape design education was at Clackamas Community College. She loves her job! ### Services Provided - Landscape Design - Garden Design - Hardscaping - Landscape Plans - Patio Design - Site Planning - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Custom Fire Pits - Pool Landscaping - Custom Water Features - Swimming Pool Design - Deck Design - Project Management - Drafting - Organic Gardens - Edible Gardens - Facilitation of installation - Garden Consulting ### Areas Served - Portland - Gresham - Beaverton - Tigard - Lake Oswego - Oregon City - Tualatin - West Linn - Happy Valley - Milwaukie - Sherwood - Lents - Cedar Mill - Oak Grove - Oatfield - Gladstone - Oak Hills - Damascus - Cedar Hills - West Haven-Sylvan - Jennings Lodge - Garden Home-Whitford - West Slope - Sunnyside - Clackamas - Raleigh Hills - West Haven - King City - Wood Village - Durham - Boring - Stafford - Maywood Park - Fairview - Rivergrove - Johnson City - Central Oregon - Marylhurst - Vancouver ### Typical Job Cost $2150.- - 4,000 Hourly rates with plans starting at $2150. Consultations only $350. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design | | Address | Portland, Oregon 97202, United States | | Phone | (503) 777-1177 | | Website | http://giguerelandscapedesign.com | | Followers on Houzz | 97 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — giguerelandscapedesign.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/donna-giguere-apld-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~1921134478) - **Website:** http://giguerelandscapedesign.com - **Phone:** (503) 777-1177 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Internationally certified by Association of Professional Landscape Designers, Bachelors in Art Sculpture - **Best of Houzz:** 7 awards (2015–2022), for Design, Service. **Affiliations** - [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 13 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Gilan Menegat, May 2019** > Our original landscape from the late 1990's had become overgrown and tired. We also faced problems with deer eating our plants in the front yard. We hired Donna to provide a refreshed landscape plan for our yard. > We could not be happier. She provided an updated design, which included a natural boulder retaining wall to accent the front. Her selection of plants that deer avoid has been a success. She took extra care to create a plant collection that provides color during multiple seasons through blooms and foliage. We also especially appreciate how, based on our request, she selected specialty plants beyond the plants that are commonly used in "cookie cutter" landscape designs. It is a thrill to walk through the beds and see unusual shapes, colors, and textures. Her customer service is exceptional. She even works with the landscaper on the planting day to ensure all the plants are of quality and properly placed. She receives our highest recommendation. **★★★★★ — Ben, April 2019** > We had Donna do a redesign of our very boring yard, and the outcome was simply amazing. After seeing the project through to completion it really impressed upon me the importance of a detailed design. We would never have been able to create such an oasis without her expertise. We highly recommend her to anyone with a landscape dream they would like to see realized. Donna was very accommodating with our different wants and desires, and helped us find the perfect design and planting for our yard. **★★★★★ — Kurt Larsen, Jan. 2018** > We could not be happier with our new landscape in Southeast Portland; the results of our collaborating with Donna. On the first contact, she was easy to work with and very professional–this proved to be a hallmark of her work ethic. This was new construction and we were living in California, so we had to work at a distance. We shared our thoughts with her via phone conversations and through pictures and websites. Donna then went out to the job site and got a feel for the neighborhood and our yards. These in hand, she quickly went to work and developed an initial concept for our reaction. > > Because one of us lives life from a wheelchair, accessibility was foremost in creating livable outdoor entertaining spaces both front and back and maximizing the potential of a small backyard that was not level. We wanted the landscape to blend with our neighborhood; suit the Northwest but not replicate common themes; offer very low maintenance; and in the back specifically, provide an Asian/Zen feel and ambiance. > > Donna was worth every cent of her design time. She visited the job site multiple times to see how the sun’s location and structures affected the available light. She helped greatly with plant selection; possessing knowledge of what works well in Portland. She worked and reworked the plans a number of times without complaint; and, she helped us select a landscape contractor from her own great recommendations. To generate their bids, Donna met with two contractors on site to thoroughly explain the design and help them to understand our special needs. After we selected our contractor, she walked the job numerous times to monitor that our design and vision were coming together. For continuity, she even met the contractor at a local rock yard for selection of boulders and when the plants and trees were delivered on site, she was there to fine-tune placement. > > The outcome is simply marvelous. Any time of the day we have a wonderful place to sit and drink coffee, sip wine or read a book. Built-in benches and retaining walls offer spontaneous seating for entertaining others and from several locations of both yards. At night, landscape lighting highlights the beauty of the flora and special features; and during the day, birds just love our water feature. What joy to be there in the yard or look out at what is a stunningly beautiful scene at every turn. **★★★★★ — Janet Bauer, May 2017** > We had Donna design our yard after frustration with my own landscaping efforts and other designers. Donna was prompt and efficient and put together a plan according to our wishes. Before we were able to have it installed, the drought of 2013 killed our remaining lawn and we decided not to replace it. That meant doing a whole new design. Donna worked with us on the re-do to overhaul the larger area as quickly as possible and economically given that we had already paid for a plan that no longer fit our circumstances. She helped us through a pretty stressful time and put together a plan we really like. I have been impressed with her design sense compared to others I've worked with and seems to have a deep knowledge of plants. She has also been very helpful with follow up questions and advice. We've had the landscaping plan installed for close to a year now and we are really enjoying it. Native blueberries, other native plants, in a design that fits our house. I am so relieved that we now have a landscape we enjoy, we can manage, and has wildlife value -- what we wanted. **★★★★★ — Jan Harvey, Nov. 2016** > We have loved working with Donna! She has done several landscape designs for us at two different homes, and we have been very pleased with all of them. She has an art background, which, combined with her thorough knowledge of plants and horticulture, results in a masterful blending of textures and color. I particularly like that our gardens are interesting throughout the year, with different plants coming into focus at different times. I also appreciate that she is sensitive to environmental concerns, suggesting plants that are native, that attract birds and butterflies and that are appropriate for our climate zone. On top of all that, she is delightful to work with. She listens to our ideas and wishes and designs plans that we can maintain ourselves. We will continue to call on her whenever we need new ideas for our yard. **★★★★★ — Patricia Frobes, Nov. 2016** > Donna is simply great. She listens, takes the time to understand what her clients like, what kind of gardeners they are and comes up with designs and plant selections to match. She is very creative and really knows plants. She has done 3 designs for me and I love them all. She is also reasonably priced and very responsive. The total package! **★★★★★ — Dan pence, Nov. 2016** > I really enjoy working with Donna. She is a true artist and really knows plants. She has worked up 2 garden designs for me that both turned out great. She listens, knows what plants will work, and makes the garden harmonize with the house and site. I think her work ethic is admirable and her fees reasonable. I would recommend her to anyone, and have to many of my friends. **★★★★★ — kmorich, Nov. 2016** > Donna is a gifted landscape designer. She has an amazing ability to conceptualize a project not only in the design phase, but also as a mature landscape. Her designs have a brilliant textural appearance with year-round presence. We've been fortunate to work with her on two of our homes and both have been such pleasant experiences! **★★★★★ — mletiziag, Nov. 2016** > Donna has been a great partner for us. We've worked with her on two different houses, and each time we've been impressed by her approach to landscape design. She really takes the time to understand our individual requirements, and in both cases, she created a plan that takes advantages of the existing setting, while helping us understand the potential that exists with some carefully selected changes. We're especially impressed with the way she balances aesthetic considerations with more practical concerns like drainage, light exposure, and the impact of growth over time for any plantings. Highly recommended! **Comment from Donna Giguere, APLD Landscape Design:** > I really appreciate this review. It was a pleasure to work with you both! **★★★★ — richarch, Nov. 2016** > We hired Donna to help us with the plant palette when we landscaped our entire yard. Because we have a natural stream flowing through our property, and our city requires primarily native plants to be used, we were primarily interested in Donna's knowledge of native Oregon plants that would work in our setting. She was great at also suggesting non-native plants that worked well in the overall design while being more hardy or adding some nice color or texture accents to the native palette. She was also able to work our existing mature plantings into the overall design very nicely. After the first growing season, our landscape is looking surprisingly established and mature, and we still love walking around the yard and enjoying the beauty Donna created for us. **★★★★★ — Walter Matera, Aug. 2016** > Before moving into my new home in Oak Grove I went looking for someone to change my .4 acres of lawn into natural woodland and meadow. I met with Donna and at once felt she was the one or the job. Over the following months she developed a complete design and oversaw the landscape contractor's work. Everyone who passes is effusive in their praise. Though the project is only about 1/3 complete and will probably take a couple of more years to finish and then three to mature I am delighted with what I have so far and look forward to continuing with Donna. I most highly recommend her and urge those who are searching for someone, especially someone to give their property a native, PNW look to contact Donna. She's brilliant! **★★★★★ — Donna Burdick, June 2014** > Donna Giguere is a master at simplifying outdoor spaces. She is a designer that closely works with Landscape Contractors, therefore her Landscape Designs are installed, as per her specifications. Donna has the ability to design for Contemporary homes, Traditional Portland and Suburban homes. D & J Landscape Contractors enjoys installing Donna's designs as they are buildable and also, easy to bid. > Her knowledge of plants assures her clients a tapestry of textures and colors. Her ability to use local materials makes all projects easily installable. Her dedication to sustainability is her dedication to stewardship of the Earth. ## Selected projects - [Bluestone Patio Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bluestone-patio-retreat-pj-vj~6775287) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - [Riverside Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/riverside-retreat-pj-vj~6775286) - Location: Oak Grove, OR - Photos: 4 - [Native Plant Garden with Frog Habitat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/native-plant-garden-with-frog-habitat-pj-vj~6775285) - Location: Oak Grove, OR - Photos: 4 - [Modern ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-adu-pj-vj~5822507) - Location: Portland, Oregon - Photos: 1 - [Boulder slope](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/boulder-slope-pj-vj~5822506) - Location: Portland, Oregon - Photos: 1 - Description: Fixed some issues with drainage and improved curb appeal. - [Full design installation, front and back yard. Pavers, new fence, planter boxes](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/full-design-installation-front-and-back-yard-pavers-new-fence-planter-boxes-pj-vj~5822504) - Location: Portland, Oregon - Photos: 9 - [ADA and Japanese Inspired](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ada-and-japanese-inspired-pj-vj~5672468) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - [Master Gardener](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/master-gardener-pj-vj~5672447) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 3 - Description: This garden belongs to a Master Gardener and plant collector. It has everything, beautiful trees, shrubs, perennials and roses. - [Portland Infill-Small Spaces-Low maintenance](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/portland-infill-small-spaces-low-maintenance-pj-vj~5672455) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 4 - [Patios](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/patios-pj-vj~210168) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 6 - Description: These are examples of my work on patios. All projects were on Portland Oregon and installed by 4 different contractors. - [Mediterranean Hillside](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mediterranean-hillside-pj-vj~2163486) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 5 - Description: Plantings were selected to evoke a Mediterranean feel (in a Portland climate) while meeting the clients' plant palette. Hillside plants were selected to grow fast and large to hold the soil. They replace hideous English ivy and old overgrown shrubs. - [Ranch House Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ranch-house-renovation-pj-vj~2163526) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 5 - [Early Mid-Century Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/early-mid-century-modern-pj-vj~2163518) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 4 - [Formal Colonial](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/formal-colonial-pj-vj~2163496) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 4 - [Woodwork](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodwork-pj-vj~209532) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 8 - [Wall Designs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wall-designs-pj-vj~210134) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 6 - [Stonework](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stonework-pj-vj~96001) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 6 - Description: Contemporary, Asian or Traditional style, stone type and pattern determine the style and mood of the garden space. Plants can change. Stonework is well....................."set in stone". - [Stairs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stairs-pj-vj~545855) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 6 - [Plants](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/plants-pj-vj~545875) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 9 - [Mid-Century Modern with an Asian Influence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mid-century-modern-with-an-asian-influence-pj-vj~2160927) - Location: Portland, OR - Photos: 5 [See all 25 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/donna-giguere-apld-landscape-design-pfvwus-pf~1921134478) ## Ideabooks - [Patios and decks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4824570/list/patios-and-decks) — 5 ideas - [Plants](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4824740/list/plants) — 8 ideas - [Walls](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4824424/list/walls) — 4 ideas [See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/donnagiguere) ## Community Q&A **Q: I like the cedar double gate** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the price on this? A: Hi Linda, The gates are clear cedar and since this gate was built clear cedar has become very expensive and hard to come by. In today's pricing with the same amount of fine craftsmanship and hardware, a double-gate like this could run as high as $1600. A lower grade of cedar and even what is considered clear these days will have knots in it. Donna Giguere **Q: Curious about the cross beams** *(in Photo Questions)* We're the cross beams each chamfered specifically for this fence? If so, roughly what % increase in cost did that incur? A: Hi Lorne. I apologize for not answering your question earlier. Since this project was done aprx 10 years ago, I can not provide you with the additional cost. I designed the fence but it was built by a very skilled craftsman. Thank you. **Q: Fence** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the fence made of? Is it wood or something else? A: Clear cedar and copper pipe. **Q: What Brand And Color Is The Blue And Yellow?** *(in Photo Questions)* Please Enlighten Us On The Colors Used. A: My clients painted their house-I do not know the color. **Q: Blue Color Fence** *(in Photo Questions)* Please Enlighten Us On The Brand And Color Blue And Mustard Paint Color Please...? A: I do not know what colors my clients used. **Q: birds** *(in Photo Questions)* where are they from? A: I am sorry. I do not know but I have seen them on line somewhere. My clients already had them. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-29.*