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The Front Range's
​Landscaping Resource

Custom Patios & Stone Work

7/18/2023

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​Patios provide the best foundation for a relaxing and enjoyable outdoor living space while reducing your landscape’s water and maintenance needs.
​
Live better and more sustainably with a home patio designed for your lifestyle. 
50% of the water used by local single family homes goes outdoors.
The water we use to irrigate our landscapes comes from the same supply of treated drinking water available in limited supply."  - Source: Denver Water
How Patios Reduce Home Water Bills: 
More patio space means reduced lawn and less organic material to irrigate and care for. In the semi-arid Front Range, stewarding water resources is important even in years where our state receives more rain than usual. 
Outdoor Living & Long Term Water Savings
A custom patio not only provides you with the dream space to accommodate outdoor seating, lounging, cooking, and hot tub time, but it also decreases your landscape's water needs with long term payoff. Learn more about sustainability through xeriscape design. 
​Custom stone work for walkways and steps brings a level of Front Range majesty and elegance to any home while being a much more durable option than wooden or brick alternatives.  
Patio Styles We Specialize In: 
  • Stamped concrete patios & walkways
  • Paver patios
  • Stone walkways
  • Interlocking concrete pavers
  • Rustic flagstone and siloam stone patios 
Our Favorite Materials for Patios: 
River rock and siloam stone are two of our favorite materials to work with when creating custom stone work. We have the supply connections, heavy duty equipment, and skilled craftsmanship to design and construct lasting and beautiful stone work at any scale. 
A custom pave stone patio with outdoor seating, and hot tub in Arvada, Colorado.
​Additional home oasis features like pergolas and gazebos create shade and enjoyment during hotter weather and can dramatically level up the style and aesthetics of an outdoor oasis. 
See More Hardscape Designs
Sustainable Material Repurposing
When appropriate, we can also explore material repurposing for existing paver or flagstone patios that need leveling or updating. This helps reduce your costs and the environmental footprint of a project. Curious about our sustainability and materials recycling practices?
Our Sustainability Practices
Full Service Landscape Design and Construction
We also specialize in helping homeowners choose from ecologically appropriate plant selections to steward water through Xeriscape design and pollinator gardens that are beautiful, easy to maintain, and water wise. 
Learn more about Xeriscaping
Get Expert Design & Construction Support
Thinking about renovating or updating your home landscape? We’re here to help as the highly rated licensed and insured experts for Colorado’s Denver Metropolitan. 

Email us today to schedule a complimentary consultation of your space. We book projects on a first come, first served basis, so now is the perfect time to start a conversation. 
Email Us To Schedule A Consultation
A custom stamped concrete patio and walkway with flagstone path and wooden pergola for a home in Leydon Ranch, Colorado with xeriscape design.
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Home gardening with raised planter beds

5/25/2023

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Colorado's Front Range has a short and intense growing season, but planting some veggies and fruits at home increases your sustainability and self sufficiency while maximizing use of our region's most precious resource: water.
50% of the water used by local single family homes is spent outdoors, on average, according to Denver Water.

Why not grow food with that water? 
​
Benefits of Home Gardening:
  • It's fun and connects you with nature.
  • Produces food that tastes better than store bought produce. 
  • Uses outdoor water efficiently and sustainably. 
  • It's one way to strengthen community resilience and self sufficiency.
  • It is part of our nation's heritage, especially during challenging times (keep reading to learn about "Victory Gardens.")​
Heirloom tomatoes grown by Arterra Principal in Arvada, Colorado.
Tomatoes grown by Arterra Principal in 2021
Garden Bed ​Design Solutions For Best Results: 
If you've ever tried container gardening in individual pots or planters, you know the disappointment of seeing plants wither and sizzle in Colorado's baking summer sun as the soil dries out.
Raised planter beds are by far the superior option for successful home gardening. 
Why Raised Garden Beds: 
  • Aesthetics: raised beds are far more attractive than planting directly into the ground. 
  • Health & Soil Quality Control: avoid toxins, heavy metals, and dense clay in yard soil. Control soil health by filling raised garden beds with fertile, amended soil and compost derived nutrients to for a thriving garden. 
  • Convenience & Ergonomics: reduce back and knee strain from stooping low, and enjoy more ergonomic accessibility for planting, weeding, and harvesting with planter boxes that are 12-24" inches tall. 
  • Built In Seating: depending on your bed construction, you could enjoy added moments of nature therapy and maximize outdoor seating using sturdy, flat borders on the tops of your raised garden beds. 
  • Resource Sustainability: growing some food instead of all grass or ornamental plants with the water you use outdoors is ecologically responsible in a semi-arid climate like Colorado. Also, the less we buy all of our produce from mass production sources that require extensive transportation and refrigeration to reach us, the better for the planet and local economy. 
  • Increased Self Sufficiency: when you plant a few things for yourself and your family to enjoy, you rely a little less on the availability of foods and fluctuating prices at the big box grocery stores while getting a bit more connected to nature. 
Imagine if the abundance our neighborhoods could see if we all grew a few edible things like herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, berries, or fruit trees, etc." 
Interesting Food Facts: (Did You Know?) 
During World War I, facing the threat of food insecurity, President Woodrow Wilson publicly called for Americans to grow food at home. Americans responded to the call considering it a civic duty as they planted and cultivated what we history books have referred to as "Victory Gardens."​
Read more about this moment in history from the Smithsonian's online library or this 2020 article from the New York Times.
Why wait for a Presidential call to increase community resilience?
Grow food and share your abundance with friends and neighbors this year.
More Gardening Facts: 
  • Plants store carbon. Growing more plants reduces your carbon footprint. 
  • Home grown produce often tastes better than anything available at the store because so much of our food is grown in nutrient depleted soil by producers who embrace short term profit over regenerative practices like crop rotation to maintain soil health. At home, you control soil's health. Depending on where you live in the Denver metro, resources like Compost Colorado, Scraps, Denver Compost Collective and Wompost, make it easy to participate in resource looping for high quality composted soil amendments.
  • Composting reduces methane gas that organic material would produce in the anaerobic conditions of a landfill, so you can feel good on many levels when you use and support a local composting service or try a DIY method at home. Explore classes from Denver Urban Gardens if you feel inspired.
Raised Garden Box Design & Construction: ​
​Our licensed landscape architect primarily uses wood to construct custom dimension raised garden beds for homeowners in the Denver metro.
A sturdy constructed custom raised planet bed for vegetables and strawberries in Arvada, Colorado.
Wooden Raised Planter Bed
​Other design options we recommend include: 
  • Dry stacked Siloam stone creates beautiful artisan, light brown tones elegant for any front or side yard. 
  • Galvanized tubs are an industrial and efficient option that we can help customize for drip irrigation. 
The materials we recommend for your project will depend on a variety of factors like your home’s style, HOA constraints, budget, and sensibilities for durability and style. 
See Design Garden Examples
A close up photo of a programmable drip irrigation tube for a raised planter box in Denver, Colorado.
Programmable drip irrigation saves time, money, and water.
Automated Watering Systems: 
Home gardening should be made as low maintenance as possible.
That's why we design and install zoned and programmable drip irrigation systems to keep plants thriving without daily hand watering needs, saving you time and often money in the long run. 

Irrigation Design & Installation Features: 
  • Multi-zone and WiFi-controlled irrigation systems
  • Drip irrigation tube zones
  • Micro-spray features with adjustable nozzles 
  • Zoned irrigation for other landscaping features with varied water needs (like lawn and trees).
Learn more about Irrigation Solutions
Green House Installation
If you really want first rate efficiency with home gardening, investing in a green house or hoop house can help extend the growing season and buffer against abrupt temperature swings and weather occurrences (like snow and hail storms) common in Colorado each  Spring and Fall. 

Consider whether you are just trying your hand at gardening or seriously investing in long term sustainability with a custom green house for garden control and outdoor winter meditation time. Ask us about pricing and options for your home's style and your budget using the link below. 
Request a complimentary consultation
Tips for What To Plant: 
A few of our favorite veggies for first time home gardeners living in the Front Range include: 
  • Tomatoes (select an heirloom variety for the best flavor)
  • Peppers of all varieties, especially Hatch and Chile peppers
  • Hardy greens like kale and spinach
  • Squash (zucchini and Delicata) and corn (note that these take up space)
  • Culinary herbs (like basil, rosemary, and parsley)
  • Strawberries and raspberries
If you are a bit more comfortable with gardening and want to plan for future abundance, fruit trees like apples, pears, and cherries are another great investment. Our licensed landscape architect can advise about the Espalier method for space-conscious fruit production. 
DIY Gardening Resources: 
Many local garden centers offer their expertise on plant cultivation, and there is also a plethora of online resources for gardening in High Desert Zone 5 (the Denver Metro's gardening zone). 
  • Garden in a Box: the CSU extension program offers Garden in a Box annually. 
  • Individual Starter Plants: Nurseries like Echter's Nursery and Garden Center, O'Toole's Garden Center, and more will also offer high quality starts for vegetables that grow well in our region. Also watch your local farmer's market for starts at the beginning of the season. 
  • Soil Health Support: CSU extension also has a resource and free consultations, soil samples, etc. to help you navigate pesticide free ways to navigate pests. 
Not Ready to Try Your Green Thumb? 
Other Sustainable Ideas: 
Consider searching for a local CSA to support small local farms in community, adding resilience to the local economy and ensuring a source of income for small farmers who steward local fertile land, preserving it from development. 

You can also explore cultivating a drought tolerant pollinator garden, or xeriscape design to reduce water consumption and cultivate pollinator friendly native plants. 
Xeriscape garden design for a backyard to save water in Arvada, Colorado.
Water Wise Flower Garden Designs
Explore Pollinator & Xeric Gardens
Final Thougths: ​Self Sufficiency & Clean Produce
During times of increasing uncertainty and growing environmental crises, growing some of our own veggies and fruits increases our self sufficiency, connects us to neighbors and nature, and reduces transportation emissions.

Home grown produce also gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what potentially harmful  chemicals and additives been used or avoided in the process of growing tasty treats like tomatoes and berries. 

Know What Conventional Produce Is the Most Toxic: 
Learn about the "Dirty Dozen" List of fruits and vegetables that should be eaten organic due to their absorption of pesticides and sprays. 
Let us know what questions you still have in the comments below! Will you be trying your hand at home gardening this year? 
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10 Best Perennials For Colorado

3/27/2023

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Selecting Drought Tolerant Plants and Flowering Perennials

​What are the ten best outdoor flowering perennials and evergreen plants to grow in the Denver metro? 
​
We have a number of favorite perennials that are ecologically appropriate for Colorado's Front Range semi-arid climate, but the plants that will thrive best in your unique space depend on a variety of factors that an expert should help assess to avoid costly failed plantings and wasted outdoor water. 
Photo of best drought tolerant perennial shrubs for Denver's Metro.
Our Design Selection Process 
Our owner and licensed landscape architect, John Majeski, assures the proper plant selections for your home oasis based on a complimentary consultation that assesses:
  • your home’s unique weathers patterns,
  • sun and shade exposure,
  • home style and your lifestyle,
  • maintenance preferences,
  • family safety and pet habits,
  • wildlife interaction,
  • soil type and property slope,
  • plant maturation timelines, 
  • zoned drip irrigation needs to keep your plants optimally hydrated with minimal effort and maximum water savings using WiFi control. We use high quality systems like Rain Bird. Learn more about drip irrigation systems.  
​Each of our custom design plans starts with a complimentary consultation that carefully considers the above key elements along with how much maintenance you are willing to put into your landscape. 
John made a beautiful landscape design keeping our ideas in mind and we were in love with his drawing... We always get compliments for our backyard and it's all thanks to John and his crew."
​- Ammu D. 
Our Short-List of Favorite Perennials
​Every landscape design should customized for the home and those living there, but a few of our favorite perennials that we often use across design categories include: 
Perennial roses for Colorado and fescue grass.
Rose varieties for the Front Range
Flowering Perennials
Pollinator Attractors/Supporters
Full-sun perennials that offer ​fragrance and color in a semi-arid climate: 
  • Hyssop
    (Smells like bubble gum.)
  • Roses  
    (A classic and fragrant favorite.)
  • Red hot pokers
    (Bright, conical shaped blossoms.)
  • ​Day lilies​
    (Fragrant, delicate and beautiful.)
Young Fescue Grass for a drought tolerant yard in Arvada, Colorado.
Newly Planted Blue Fescue Grass
​Ornamental Grasses
Appealing Water Wise Foliage 
These full-sun ornamental grasses add texture and color requiring minimal water: 
  • Karl Foerster reed grass​ 
    (A popular hybrid feather reed grass with pink to purple summer blossoms.) 
  • Maiden Grass​ 
    (Attractive ornamental grass with fine silver blades that turn golden after frost.)
  • Blue Fescue  
    (Shout and delicate flowering grass with evergreen and semi-evergreen varieties.)
Picture of a young Globe Spruce Evergreen Perennial Shrub for Colorado home landscape.
Globe Spruce Evergreen Shrub
​Evergreen Shrubs 
Year Round Color and Texture

These full-sun shrubs provide year long greenery with minimal water needs: 
  • Winter Gem Boxwood 
    (An excellent shrub for small hedges that can acquire a golden hue in the cold of winter but return green in spring.)
  • Spanish Gold Broom
    (Dense and upright evergreen stems with spring blossoms that look like bright yellow pea blossoms.)
  • C​o​tone​a​ster​
    ​​(A deciduous evergreen that produces white and red berries.) 
John has a creative mind and eye, along with knowledge of plants in our environment. we are very happy with the finished product and have received numerous compliments."
​- Happy Homeowner review left through Team Dave Logan

Other Nuances to Consider 
There is great species diversity among each of the above genuses. Each species matures to varied sizes with time and requires distinct amounts of sun exposure, water, and maintenance. Furthermore, sloping spaces, salty or clay prone soils, spaces prone to wildlife or pet traffic, and many other factors should be thoughtfully considered before selecting the best perennials for your unique landscape. 
Modern Xeriscape style plant selection and design for a front yard in Denver, Colorado.
Modern Xeriscape Design With Raised Garden Beds
Don’t Risk the Guesswork:
Invest in Professional Consultations For Expert Results 

We offer over 18 years of expertise consulting and designing beautiful, ecologically appropriate master landscaping plans specifically adapted for the Front Range’s high altitude, semi-arid, and often extreme climate. 
Complimentary Consultations Available
Professional Plant Selection & Master Plan Guidance
Before creating any landscape design plan, we consider all of the important factors around your outdoor space -- from weather elements​ (especially sun and shade exposure)​, to timelines of plant maturation and expected foliage and blooming, to complimenting the style of your home​, honoring any requirements from your homeowners association, anticipating the behavior of people and animals who may frequent your space, and most importantly-- bringing life to the ​dreams of how you want to enjoy your outdoor oasis.
Work With Us
We provide complimentary consultations for design-only and design-and-build landscaping services to homeowners in the Denver metropolitan. 
Smart Landscapes
Explore Gallery
Plant selection for pollinator gardens in Denver, Colorado.
Pollinator Garden Xeriscape Design for Colorado
Are you ready to enjoy a home oasis that saves water and is easy to maintain? 
Take the guesswork out of plant selection, placement, and irrigation needs.
schedule your complimentary consultation
Learn more about our Wifi Controlled home irrigation and lighting systems here. 
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Tree Care in Colorado

9/26/2020

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​Trees are vital to our ecosystem’s soil and air quality. Denver’s semi-arid climate and extreme temperature shifts can make it challenging to maintain healthy trees and shrubs especially in the first year or two after planting.
Picture of Colorado Aspen trees changing color in fall.
​Properly trimming and pruning woody plants is both an art and a science, so hiring an experienced professional to do the job is safer and wiser since they have the tools and know-how to do the job correctly and quickly. 

Professionals like our trained landscape architect can also educate you about best care practices for maintaining freshly planted trees in Colorado's semi-arid Front Range climate.  
​

Why Tree Care Matters
Yearly pruning promotes more abundant flowering and foliage the following spring, allowing plants to efficiently put their energy into growth and maturation. Renewal pruning can be done three to five years apart depending on the plant type and age. Even shrubs will need at least some pruning every few years, so be sure not to skip this essential landscape maintenance service if you want a healthy and beautiful space. 
Picture of trees and shrubs trimmed for optimal growth in the Denver metro.
When To Trim And Prune 
Regular care to your hedges, flowering shrubs and ornamental trees keeps your landscape healthy and looking at its best throughout the seasons. Tree trimming is also a safety measure to keep your home and property in top shape. It is generally best to schedule this service between late fall and early spring before new growth or blossoms emerge. 
​Pruning trees in the summer isn’t healthy because it causes too much stress on the tree. Healthy tree limbs should be pruned in winter when a tree is dormant for best results. Dead, diseased or bug infested branches should be removed as they are identified fall through spring since these could damage your home or harm a neighbor if they break and fall due to heavy winds or snow. 
Trimming Vs. Pruning
​
Pruning removes unnecessary or damaged branches or corrects and maintains a tree structure so that it isn’t growing over your property boundary lines or towards utility lines. 
​Trimming promotes healthy growth, especially in young trees, shrubs and hedges.  

​Both services are important practices to maintain healthy ornamental trees, fruit trees, and shrubs.
Picture of yellow flowering shrubs ready for trimming.
​​If you aren’t a seasoned gardener, it can be risky to do this work on your own and might cost you the replacement of several plants. Under-pruning a plant won’t give it the needed boost for growth, but over pruning often causes stress, reduces foliage production, and increases susceptibility to pests and disease if cuts aren’t made correctly. 

Call our licensed landscape architect today to schedule a free consultation of your space. We every month of the year serving homeowners in the Denver metro. 
Request a complimentary consultation
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maximizing spaces with retaining walls

8/21/2020

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When Retaining Walls Make The Most Sense For Your Space
Regardless of size, if your outdoor space has sloped grades or a lackluster entryway, retaining walls add depth and functionality to your landscape design. 
Photo of raised pavestone garden beds with an elegant and modern xeriscape design in Leydon Ranch, Arvada, Colorado.
Some of our past clients have come to us out of frustration maintaining a lawn that is hard to mow on a steep incline, or wanted to maximize a small space by adding perennials or raised garden beds. 

Just like any project, we start by visiting your space, hearing how you want to enjoy your time outside your home, and then crafting a hand rendered design customized to your space and needs. ​
​​We often work with individually selected siloam stone and river rock to create grand steps and entryways for stately homes in the Front Range.

​We also have a wide variety of high quality paver stones we choose from when creating retaining walls for modern and cottage homes, gardens, raised flower beds, and more. 
Photo of rustic siloam stone path and steps for a mountain xeriscape in the Denver metro of Colorado.
Photo of an elegant cream colored stone retaining wall for a tall, backyard raised flower bed with roses and tulips in Denver, Colorado.
Photo of a terraced front yard using river rock retaining walls and custom outdoor stepped staircase for a stately mountain mansion using ground covering for a drought resistant landscape in Arvada, Colorado.
See More Hardscape Designs
Email us today to schedule an appointment for your free consultation and estimate.

Please note that Spring and Summer are peak season for landscaping construction, and we do work all year (as long as snow isn't on the ground). Reach out with plenty of lead time in advance of your project for a first-come-first served reservation on our books. 
​
Request a free consultation
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  • Portfolio
  • Services
    • Xeriscape Designs
    • Dog Friendly Designs
    • Irrigation Installation
    • Smart Landscape Systems
    • Landscape Lighting | LED Low Voltage
    • Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations
  • Contact Us
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  • About Us
    • Sustainability Practices
    • Careers
  • Testimonials