Landscaping can affect the appeal, beauty and even property value of a home.  There are Utah landscaping designs to meet a variety of tastes, desires and functions, from a cozy, family yard with a playground area for the children to sublime peace in your own Zen Garden.   Landscaping professionals can greatly assist in combining the essentials to create harmony in overall design. Almost every element adds or takes away from the total effect of a design.  There are so many options and possibilities that if you don’t already have that perfect vision in mind, your choices can seem overwhelming!  Here are a few elements to consider that can help transform an entire landscape.

Trees

Trees, those often majestic and stalwart structures, of so many diverse species, have the natural ability to command attention and the overall ambience of a landscape.  A landscape with hardly any trees will produce a very different effect than a landscape crowded with trees.  What kind of trees are you envisioning; tall and vertical or short and spreading?  The form of the tree helps create the visual design lines of the landscape.  Trees with tiny, delicate, feathery leaves, or gigantic sweeping, umbrella-like leaves will evoke very different feelings.  The hardiness of the tree will be important if you live in a zone that has extreme winter weather.

Tropical trees are perfect for year-round warm climate, but will not last through winter weather!  Also, you will have to think about spacing; a very large tree in a small space can overwhelm a yard and make it shrink.  Functionally speaking, trees can provide shade in hot summer months (making your home more energy efficient), and offer privacy by blocking sight and sound.   Trees also have the added benefit of purifying your air, courtesy of Mother Nature.  They offer your home protection from winds and will offer treasured memories to your children who will climb, play in and swing from them.   There are some additional logistical aspects that may be easily overlooked, two of which are how fast the tree grows and how the roots spread.  You will be very disappointed, for example, if you slowly realize that your visions for the oak sapling you have just planted will not manifest until many, many years later.  To achieve results that are desired within a relatively short period of time, consider the growth rate of your tree type.  Landscapers know what fast-growing trees might be best for your purposes.  The Royal Empress, for example, can grow more than 20 feet in less than three years, has beautiful flowers and a good-sized canopy.  Root spread is important, because roots can penetrate and weaken foundations and disrupt underground piping.  Some trees extend roots vertically, or tend to spread them horizontally.  Some have relatively shallow roots; some roots extend to incredible depths.  When thinking about planting trees, be sure to consult a Utah landscaping company for some guidance.

Shrubs

Shrubs, like trees, can offer the benefits of privacy. There are fast-growing varieties, like the Leyland Cypress shrub, which can grow three to four feet every growth season and can grow up to 70 feet.  You can maintain the size you want with pruning.  Shrubs give aesthetics.  They are typically deep green in color shade but can add a splash of refreshing color to the yard with the abundance of flowering varieties available.  They tend to be very hardy, tolerant of a wide range of planting zones, and low-maintenance, needing little watering.

Rocks and Boulders

Landscaping rocks in Utah have a lot of design potential.  They can add structure and definition to a Utah yard.  They are simple, easy to get, and do not require maintenance!  A lovely design done with rocks reflects the great beauties of the natural environment.  Rock has a naturally commanding appeal.  Large boulders act like a central focal point and make the space look wider.  For a simple, non-fuss person who is looking for a low maintenance yard, rock and boulder designing presents a perfect option.  A beautiful rock garden can also be the perfect addition to a lush lawn.  Maybe your rocks will complement a pond or other water fixture or help to construct part of a patio or garden wall.  Rocks can add color and interest with the harmonious balance of grass, plants and flowers.  Consider looking for rocks already on your property, at a construction site or quarry.  If you prefer, you can get a variety of rocks from various Utah landscaping companies.  All States Landscaping has a diversity of textured and colored rocks to meet your design tastes.

Soil and Bark

The type of ground cover you would like in your yard is a key consideration and also forms the foundation for structure and definition.  A primarily concrete cover with stylized brick walkways will produce a very different effect than a yard of green, grassy lawns, or mostly dirt.  Maybe you would like a fantastic mixture of all three.  There are three main types of soil: loam, clay and sand.  Loam is the most sought after kind of soil because it meets the requirements of a diversity of plant life.  A mixture of clay, sand, silt and organic matter, it has a consistency that drains water well.  Loam is the typical dirt you think of – the regular brown stuff.  The darker it is the richer and more fertile it is.  Clay, which can come in different colors, does not drain water so well.  Its small particles that pack closely together make it difficult for air and water to pass through.  Clay keeps water for a long time and bakes in the hot sun.  Sand on the other hand, drains water too quickly for many plants.  Working with soil is a matter of function.  Make sure to understand the needs of the plants you have or want in your yard; that will help you determine what kind of soil you need.  Many desert plants, for example, thrive in sandy soil – for obvious reasons – they are desert plants!  And there are some plants that actually tolerate clay soil well.

Mulching is often used around plant bases to repress weeds, maintain moisture and insulate plant roots.  They can also provide ground cover for special areas like a playground, or a walkway, and add to aesthetics.  Bark mulch is a natural, attractive and popular mulching choice.  You will have to consider how it combines with the ground beneath it.  As decomposition naturally occurs, the bark mulch you use will add to the soil, over time changing the composition.  There are hard barks, difficult to break down and thus lasting longer, and there are barks that decompose quickly.  You can also get bark in different colors.  A designer will be able to help you with some of these choices.

Water

The soothing, calming, peaceful effect of water can completely transform the energy in a landscape.  Whether a quiet, river-rock waterfall tucked away in a secluded area of your flower garden or a central fountain with a prominent statue, water fixtures are fun and powerful ways to transform a landscape.  As beautiful as it is, a water fixture that is poorly placed or that does not fit in with the other design elements of a yard can throw things off.  Consider carefully the placement of a water fixture in connection to the surrounding environment.  Consider whether you want a waterfall that falls silently or if you want to hear splashing.  Could a pond be an option?  Do you want fish and an aquatic garden?  If so, depth, size, temperature, shade and sun are all important factors that can sustain or disrupt a pond’s health and ecosystem.

There are many ways to transform a landscape.  With the design of just these few elements, you have literally hundreds and hundreds of options for landscaping in Utah.  All States Landscaping offers a diversity of services to meet your needs and will offer valuable guidance in creating a design that will make you happy.