Denver, CO 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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? 

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? 

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. 

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 landscape 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 Denver Metro 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. 

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. ​

The perfect deck or patio invites you to relax and restore outside after a stressful day. 

If your outdoor spaces need revitalizing, we can help. Offering more than 18 years of experience creating custom designs for Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, Golden, and beyond, Our award-winning licensed landscape architect takes the uncertainty and guesswork out of your project with proven expertise. 

Arterra Landscape Design/Build delivers excellent customer service and high-quality workmanship while serving as a general contractor to reduce communication between builders. 
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Whether you want a new wood or composite deck, stamped concrete walkway, or brick inlaid patio, we’ll create the perfect design to suit your home's needs and see that it is built to last. 

Request a free consultation for your project today.

What kind of statement does your property’s perimeter make, and how do you feel seeing it when you come home? Fences and gates add personality and safety to your home. Check out the custom fence gate we designed and constructed for a Denver metro homeowner.

We are here to help you wade through a sea of options and consider what fencing style fits your needs, family, and budget. Here are a few the residential fence styles we like best:

Vinyl fencing
High quality vinyl fences replicate the look of painted wood from a distance and require less maintenance, but they can also become brittle during cold snaps and may acquire weathering stains over time.

Why We Enjoy Fire
Any patio in the Front Range is made complete by an outdoor fire feature to warm your morning or make sunset watching even more cozy and enjoyable. 
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Outside Fire Features For Home
Outdoor fire features add comfort, style, and function to home. Whether you pride yourself in creating warm and welcoming spaces, or simply cherish personal time outside with something to drink and a good read, the perfect fire feature helps you enjoy outdoor living when temperatures dip low. 

Styles of Patio Fire Features
There are a variety of ways to safely incorporate fire elements into your outdoor oasis. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor fire features for Front Range homes:  

Considerations For The Best Fire Feature For You

• Space Size: Consider the size of your space, whether you’re more comfortable starting a wood or gas fire, and who will be sharing your space with you. Needless to say, hot objects and open flames always require alertness to prevent accident or injury.
• People and Pets: The habits and needs of young children, people who are unsteady on their feet, and household pets should be considered when choosing the fire feature style that’s best for your situation. 
  
  

​Professional Consultations
Still not sure which fire feature style would be best for your home? We provide consultation to help you weigh the pros and cons of various fire features for your circumstances and home’s design style.  ​​

Designing Deluxe Landscapes
Arterra not only specializes in designing spaces with fire features, but also low-voltage outdoor lighting, water features that wow, dog friendly spaces, and drought-tolerant xeriscapes and gardens. 

Ask for a free consultation for our licensed landscape architect today. ​

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. 

​Our 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 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.

​Trees We Typically Avoid Planting
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. 

Looking for the best support for maintaining your trees in Colorado? Consult a certified arborist. The Rocky Mountain chapter of ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) has tips and an online directory to support your search. 

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?

Arterra’s Principal, John Majeski designed the above custom privacy gate for a family near Denver’s botanical gardens. 

The difference is in the details
The sealed natural pine wood with touches of western red cedar accent and classic metal handle add style and contrast for visual appeal against a plain stucco fence. 

Materials we prefer 
Some of our favorite materials for creating fence gates are ornamental iron and wood. Western red cedar has a beautiful tenor and ages well with our treatment of a high quality oil based sealer to prevent splitting and shrinkage in Colorado’s dry climate. Composite fences may also be a durable option for those who want a maintenance free fencing solution. 

Check out some beautiful gate ideas on Arterra Landscape Design/Build Pinterest.