Landscape Design and Hardscaping in Orléans

WLS Landscaping designs and builds outdoor spaces for homes in Orléans. One team handles the plan and the build, so nothing gets lost between the drawing and the dig.

Landscape Design for Orléans Properties

Orléans has everything from established homes in Convent Glen and Queenswood Heights to newer builds in Avalon and Cardinal Creek. What a lot of it has in common is clay soil, which holds water and moves with frost. Good landscape design in Orléans plans for that from the start. We walk the property, measure it, and look at drainage, sun, soil and how you want to use the space. Then we put together a plan that fits your home and your budget, and our crew builds it.

Who We Work With

We work with people who care how their outdoor space looks, how it's built, and how it'll hold up ten years from now.

Residential

Most of our work is for homeowners who want the whole yard planned and built properly, from the base up.

Commercial

We also design and build for commercial properties in Orléans that need outdoor areas that look good and hold up to daily use.

What We Do for Orléans Properties

Landscape Design

We start every project with a plan: layout, grades, drainage, materials and planting, all worked out before anything gets dug up. You’ll see it in 3D first. It’s the same landscape design process we use across Ottawa.

A layout that fits your lot and the way water moves across it.
Patios and seating areas sized for how you use the yard.
Materials picked for your home and for Ottawa winters.
A plan you can build all at once or in phases.

Retaining Walls and Drainage

Clay soil and freeze-thaw are hard on walls and patios. Retaining walls in Orléans need a solid base, clear stone behind them and somewhere for the water to go, or they’ll start to lean within a few winters.

Walls designed for the height and soil they’re holding back.
Proper excavation, base and drainage behind every wall.
Grading that moves water away from your house.
Fixes for yards that stay wet long after it rains.

Patios and Backyards

We plan full backyards with interlock patios, natural stone, planting, lighting and fire features that work together as one space, not a collection of separate projects added over the years.

Patios built on a base deep enough for clay soil.
Natural stone or interlock, picked for the look and how it wears.
Planting that adds privacy and softens the hardscape.
Lighting so the yard still works after dark.

Why Planning Matters in Orléans

Clay Soil: Clay drains slowly and swells when it freezes. Patios and walls need deeper excavation and a better base here than on sandy ground.
Drainage: New hardscaping changes where water goes. We plan grades so it moves away from your foundation and off the patio.
Ottawa Winters: Freeze-thaw finds every shortcut. Proper compaction and edge restraint keep pavers flat and tight.
One Plan, Built in Phases: A full design lets you build in stages without tearing out earlier work.

How a Project Works

Initial Conversation: We talk through what you want, how you use the yard and a realistic budget for your Orléans property.
Site Assessment: We visit, measure, and check grades, soil, drainage and anything else we need to work around.
Design Development: We put together the plan and the 3D design, then adjust it with you until it’s right.
Build & Completion: We book utility locates, our crew builds the project, and we walk you through the finished yard.

Why Choose WLS Landscaping

Integrated Design-Build

We bring design and construction together from the start. This keeps the vision clear through every stage.

Thoughtful Planning

We take time to understand your home, site, and priorities. Every decision is made with purpose and care.

Personal Project Attention

We take on a limited number of projects each season, so you’ll deal with the same people from the first visit to the last day on your Orléans project.

Focused Craftsmanship

Our crews approach each project with precision and respect. Quality materials and careful execution shape the finished space.

Begin Your Outdoor Space

Planning a new backyard, front yard or full property in Orléans? Get in touch or book a consultation and we'll come take a look.

Frequently asked questions

What does landscape design in Orléans include?

A full plan for your property: layout, grades, drainage, materials, planting and lighting, plus a 3D view so you can see it before it’s built. If we’re building it too, the same team carries the plan through construction.

Is clay soil a problem for patios and retaining walls?

It can be if the base isn’t built for it. Clay holds water and heaves with frost, so we dig deeper, use more base material, and plan drainage so water doesn’t sit under the patio or behind the wall.

My backyard stays wet after it rains. Can you fix that?

Often, yes. It usually comes down to grading, soil and where the water has to go. We look at the whole yard and build drainage into the design instead of treating it as a separate patch job.

How long does a backyard project take?

Smaller projects can be done in a couple of weeks. Full backyards with patios, walls and planting take longer. You’ll get a realistic schedule before anything starts, and we’ll keep you posted if weather moves things around.

When should I book for next season?

Earlier than most people think. Spring fills up fast in Ottawa, and we only take on a limited number of projects each year. Fall and winter are the best time to get the design done so you’re ready to build as soon as the ground is.

Do you help with material selections?

Yes. We’ll walk you through interlock, natural stone and other options, show you samples, and give you a straight answer on cost, maintenance and how each one holds up through Ottawa winters.

Do you only work in Orléans?

No. We work across Ottawa, including Orléans, Rockcliffe Park, Manor Park, Westboro, Kanata and Manotick. If you’re not sure we cover your area, just ask.