We specialize in custom landscaping design. 
Great landscaping starts with intentional and creative design work. At Arterra, our licensed landscape architect takes great care in the process behind envisioning your outdoor oasis. John Majeski visits your space to assess things like the land’s grade, existing structural features or trees, weather elements, irrigation needs, and more. 

How do we imagine a space?
First we connect with you to learn more about how you want to use your space. Need a dog-friendly patio, low maintenance space, outdoor sanctuary to read books in the cool mornings and evenings, or want to entertain family and friends while you cook and dine outside? All of this factors into how we conceptualize your landscape design. 

We also consider the style of your home and any challenges or factors (such as privacy from bordering property lines, sloping grades, soil type, sun exposure and wind factors) for your unique location. 

After talking about your dream vision and ideal outdoor space, we assess your property, and chat about your budget before creating a custom, hand rendered landscaping design with built and natural elements. Many of our renovation and new construction projects include hardscapes such as stamped concrete walkways, patios, pergola shade structures, garden beds, water features, fences and, of course, automated irrigation systems (less work outdoors equals more relaxation in it, right?).

Trees for Style and Sustainability
Trees are often an important part of landscape design since they offer benefits for people and the planet: trees add cooling shade and privacy to outdoor spaces, and they also help improve air quality by producing oxygen and storing carbon. However, not all trees are created equal when it comes to thriving in the Front Range. 

Favorite Evergreens
We love working with trees to add wind and privacy screens. See which ones are our favorites and read about their respective merits below:

The Emerald Arborvitae For Shade
Our top choice for suitability to Colorado’s landscape is the Emerald Arborvitae. This narrow, dense evergreen is great for creating privacy with added screening to buffer thee rail-and-wire fencing that is popular in neighborhoods from Arvada to Cherry Creek. It also tolerates shade well when planted in East or West facing configurations.  

The Spartan Juniper For Full Sun
For spaces bearing the heat relentless direct sunshine, the Spartan Juniper is a narrow and upright evergreen to weather hot summers and add a cooling layer of shade to help you and your pets enjoy your space more comfortably. 

A Few More Favorites
Some of our landscape architect’s favorite non-evergreen trees are the Aristocrat Pear, Serviceberry, Autumn Blaze Maple, Amir Maple, Winter King Hawthorn, and Newport Plum. 
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Trees We Don’t Often Select 
There are a few shortcomings of trending favorite trees out there to be aware of. For example, oak trees are a trending favorite by appearance, but they take years to grow to maturity (a consideration especially when renovating landscape to increase home resale value). 

Another signature look in Colorado is the Aspen tree, beloved for their subtle bark color and delicate leaves. While this native species thrives naturally in the mountains, we do not recommend planting these seedlings unless working with a sizable property that provides ample space for these invasive root systems to sprawl. Planting saplings near homes and in smaller spaces can lead to plumbing and foundation disruptions over time. The variety of Aspens that flourish at the Denver metro elevations are also limited.  

The Takeaway
Include the right trees for your space to reduce wind, dust, excess heat, and street visibility in your outdoor space. We can help you hand select the right varietals to thrive in your space and the best design placement to help you enjoy your space whether you want comfortable patio time during the summer months or an added layer of privacy between your home and property line. 

Ask for a consultation today. 

After winterizing your irrigation systems, you’ll also want to ensure that you have a plan for giving your plants and grass enough hydration to stay alive and healthy between rain and snowfall. We recommend adding a recurring reminder on your calendar to hand-water your greenery, especially if you recently installed a new landscape that hasn’t had time to develop a hardy root system. 

Let us worry about your watering
Arterra is now offering watering services at a reasonable rate. We'll set a schedule for your space's needs and take the hassle out of this chore for you. Contact John Majeski for more info. 

Water Savings Evaluations
For older irrigation systems, now is also the time of year to evaluate whether your entire irrigation system is working properly, replace edging, install new light fixtures, and get ahead of any issues before they arise this spring. 

Arterra’s principal, John Majeski evaluates water systems to help reduce monthly water bills and consults on how to make spaces more Xeriscape-friendly for low-maintenance, highly usable, and attractive spaces. 

Free Consultations
Call John Majeski today to discuss your seasonal landscape maintenance needs: (720) 436-6340.

People never forget to consider their home’s interior lighting options for style and practical needs, but when it comes to a home’s outdoor space, the details of landscape lighting often go overlooked. 

Cost-effective landscape effects with maximum impact
Low voltage landscape lighting is a highly cost effective way to put the finishing touches on a home for added elegance and safety. As you’ve likely seen from some of Denver’s striking neighborhoods, adding a number of well placed spot lights effectively highlights the key features of a well-designed space while also adding a warmer welcome when coming home after dusk and during the shorter days of winter months. Step lights can prevent trips and slips in the dark, and spot lights can also deter would-be prowlers from nearing your home in the wee hours. 

The results of landscape lights are dramatic, offering maximum impact from whatever budget you have. From LED spot lights to deck lights, flood lights, path lights, and submersible pool lights, we consult on how to elevate your space to the next level. 

How outside lighting works: 
Arterra and most professional landscape companies now primarily recommend installing all LED lights over the halogen bulbs previously used. Landscape lights run on a low voltage system in the same way that conventional car batteries do. A small transformer plugs into an outdoor wall socket and converts your home’s 110 volt electric current into the needed 12 voltage rating necessary to safely keep your home lit through, clouds, clear skies, rain, snow or hail (hooded or capped light fixtures are a great option in hail prone regions like the Front Range). 

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More efficient lighting
While typically more expensive to purchase upfront, LED bulbs utilize less energy (just around 3 watts) and offer much greater system efficiency with brighter, more effective lumens, and a longer lifespan. You can operate more fixtures on a lower wattage transformer. 

 Unique and custom offerings
While outdoor lighting may not provide quite the same myriad of options as indoor lighting fixtures, homeowners can still easily customize their outdoor living space with unique lights. (See what we did to highlight elements of a Tudor-style Denver home recently in this  photo album and explore Pinterest for more ideas).

Save on landscape lighting today
Arterra offers consultation in outdoor lighting design and also offers installation services. For those interested in a full landscape renovation project of a space, Arterra is extending a limited time discount of $500 off a landscaping project that includes low voltage lighting. Click here to learn more.

Get help with your holiday lights
Are you thinking about the holidays? Arterra is also offering special packages for holiday lights. If you want to install decorative outdoor lights in October, November or December but don’t have the time or willingness to risk working on ladders to create the perfect twinkling adornment, we can help.
From simple plans to grand treatments, we consult with you on what you want and we’ll take care of the rest, from design inception, to supply shopping, to installation. 
Contact us today to schedule an estimate for your project.

Well constructed gates and fences are an integral part of an overall landscaping plan, adding style and utility (keeping dogs in and intruders wildlife out). But gates and fences can add so much more than function and safety to a home when they are custom designed and built to last. 

Symbolic entry ways
These symbolic entry points and property boundaries set the tone for the experience of coming home and transitioning from wherever the day has taken us to the relaxation and restoration of being home. What do your home's entry points symbolize for you, and do you feel soothed by beauty when you approach your home?