Arterra Landscape Design/Build
  • About Us
    • Sustainability Practices
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Xeriscape Designs
    • Dog Friendly Designs
    • Irrigation Installation
    • Smart Landscape Systems
    • Landscape Lighting | LED Low Voltage
    • Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations
  • Portfolio
  • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

The Front Range's
​Landscaping Resource

10 Best Perennials For Colorado

3/27/2023

0 Comments

 

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. 
0 Comments

Quintessential Fire Pits

4/30/2020

2 Comments

 
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. 

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. 
Modern gas burning outdoor fireplace and wooden pergola.
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:  
Rustic wood burning fire pit for stone patio
Traditional Wood Burning Options:
​
Fire pits and fireplaces
Perfect for rustic mountain homes styles, people who enjoy a hands-on connection to building fires, and those who appreciate the old fashioned allure of a campfire -- stand alone fire pits or built-in wood burning fireplaces provide a finishing touch that adds joy to time spent outside. 
Self contained gas burning fire feature for patio made from black metal.
Gas fire features:
​
Stand-alone gas fire pits 
Providing fuss-free heat for hand warming, s'mores roasting, and gathering with family and friends, gas fire pits will never overflow with ash or produce high floating sparks like a wood fire. They are easy to use and can be covered or stored during any period of nonuse. 
Patio heater with red finish
Patio heaters (flame heaters)
Often tall and sleek, these easy-to-move gas burning elements compliment modern home styles and eliminate smoke for satisfying flames with a few clicks of a button. Depending on the model, these might produce less radiant heat than a traditional fire pit. However, the heat output is more easily controllable than wood burning fires. ​
Professional Consulting For Your Best Fit
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. 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. 
​

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.  ​​
More About Consultations
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. ​
Request a free consultation
2 Comments

Dog Friendly Landscapes

3/30/2020

2 Comments

 
Your Pup Deserves A Space to Enjoy
Homeowners and their four legged family deserve an outdoor space that offers room to play and unwind without concern of the safety of your pet or landscape. 

We take great pride in designing stylish and durable landscaping where your four-legged friend can frolic without destroying plants and perennials.
Arterra Landscape Principal, John Majeski with his family pet, Rosie in Colorado.  John Majeski, with beloved late companion, Rosie.
Arterra Landscape Design/Build's owner and principal, John Majeski, is a long time dog lover and owner. He understands it can be challenging to create a space that is both beautiful and suited to the needs of your canine companion.

​Your four-legged friend probably needs to enjoy the freedom of taking a few rowdy laps around the yard, chasing a ball, and playing freely without causing worry that he or she could destroy delicate landscape elements or accidentally escape your yard for a neighborhood adventure.

Explore Dog Friendly Landscaping
​Conceptualizing and designing a landscape that truly considers your dog’s behavior and needs is something we delight in. In fact, we’ve brought joy to a number of dogs and their guardians throughout the Denver metro with our unique designs. 

​In general, dog friendly landscape designs tend to include turf grass, quality fencing, ground covering, shade bearing trees and pergola structures, and protection built around your sensitive plants or garden beds. 


​Request a complimentary consultation for your dog-friendly landscape today.
Denver dog-friendly landscape design with turf grass, stone walkway and rock and gravel ground covering. Low voltage outdoor lighting features accent this design.
Dog-friendly run with low-voltage lighting.
 Thoughtful Design Solutions
Before offering design solutions, John talks to you about your dog’s behavior and habits. A custom dog friendly landscape plan is thoughtfully informed by your pup’s habits, personality, size, and temperament by our licensed landscape architect. ​
Here are a few examples of what we mean: 
  • High energy dogs that run up and down your fence line need space for their daily romp without the risk of devastating a flower bed. Raised planters and discreet fencing or mesh wire are often good deterrents. 
  • If you live with a chronic digger, river rock, pea gravel, and turf solutions may prevent a backyard from taking on the look of a prairie dog sanctuary. You might also consider leaving a small, hidden patch of bare ground in your space for your digger’s delight. 
  • Dog breeds stereotyped for aggressive behavior may need tall, unbreachable fencing to ensure peace of mind for the neighborhood. Elegant materials can be used to ensure that boundary fences flatter your home and work within your Homeowners Association guidelines and bi-laws. 
  • Small dogs can be clever escape artists, so unbreachable fences and gates are a solid investment for your peace of mind and pup’s safety. One attractive fencing option for smaller dogs could be traditional rail fencing with tasteful and secure modern wire mesh. 
Denver dog-friendly side yard landscape design with turf grass, stone walkway, tall wooden fencing and gravel ground covering. Dog run idea.Durable dog run for a side yard in Arvada, Colorado.

​HOA Compliant
​We take care to work with any design restrictions that your homeowners association may enforce, while also taking great pride in helping create an outdoor oasis that is meant for your whole family to enjoy. 
​
Learn more about us and request your free consultation for your dog-friendly landscape design today.

Request a complimentary estimate

2 Comments

Sustainability Through Xeriscape Design

2/24/2020

5 Comments

 
Reduce Outdoor Water Consumption
Rustic xeriscape design with gravel walkways, shade creating pergola, and fire pit.
Many of us make new year's resolutions to create our best life through improved health, finances, and relationships. But how often do we consider the opportunity to make improvements that benefit our home happiness and our home and landscaping's environmental footprint?
If finances and sustainability matter to you, Xeriscape design renovation should be a top consideration for homeowners in Colorado's the Front Range.
See Our Sustainability Practices
What Is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping, also sometimes called “smart-scaping” or “drought-tolerant landscaping,” is a set of landscape design principles to benefit areas susceptible to drought or concerned with water conservation, like Colorado's drought-prone Front Range. This style of landscape utilizes water conserving techniques such as the inclusion of drought-tolerant plants; ground covers such as bark, mulch, or rock; and efficient irrigation to create sustainable and functional beauty that also reduces water bills and consumption. 

Designs can range from rustic alpine to vibrant xeriscape garden to minimalist zen meditation aesthetics and anything in between. 
Colorful garden xeriscape with shrubs, boulders, blossoming perennials, and a gravel walkway.
Explore Water Wise Designs
Photo of a rustic xeriscape with alpine trees, green shrubs, stone walkway and mulch ground covering.
Water Wise Landscape Designs Rooted In Colorado
Did you know that the Water Department of Denver is credited for coining the word “xeriscape” back in 1981? Really! Denver Water combined "landscape" with “xeros” (the Greek word for “dry”), to make it easier to talk about a style of landscaping suited to the Front Range and other semi-arid regions. 

How It Works & Materials To Use 
Ask your landscape architect to select plants adapted to the Denver metro’s general weather patterns. (If you have lived near the Mile High City for at least a season or two, you’ll notice how quickly the weather can turn from 70 degrees one day to snowing or below freezing the next!) Your plants need to be adapted to withstand these extremes, and they shouldn't require copious amounts of water remain healthy. 

A skilled landscape architect like our award winning designer will create a beautiful plan that is aesthetically pleasing with more than just a drab span of sand or rocks to replace your lawn. Ideally you want to enjoy a beautiful space that is designed to require minimal water consumption and minimal maintenance. 

Arterra owner, John Majeski, approaches xeriscape designs considering your area’s average rainfall and what grows indigenously in your area. Instead of expansive sod lawns, he incorporates natural materials like turf grasses, native plants like deciduous shrubs or pine trees, and wildflowers that are hardy enough to sustain the varied temperature swings seen in our region.

Some of John’s favorite plants to work with include roses, ornamental grasses, boxwood, and certain cacti. 

Will Xeriscaping Save Me Money? 
The costs of xeriscape design and installation range depending on the size of your space, materials used, and variety of plants incorporated. Installation costs are typically on par with more traditional landscapes that rely heavily on sod and perennials, but the long term savings from less intensive maintenance and water consumption typically pay off after several years making your landscape more sensible for your finances and the environment.
When Should I Install A Xeriscape?
While spring is always the most ideal time to install and renovate gardens and lawns, you can generally install xeriscapes anytime throughout the year (weather permitting).

Work With Us
Arterra is now booking landscape design and construction projects for the spring and summer on a first come, first served basis. We give you accurate, fair, and custom quotes based on a site visit to your property with your personal lifestyle and home’s features in mind. 
Contact Us Today
5 Comments

Landscape Designs

1/13/2020

22 Comments

 
Specialists in Custom Landscape Designs
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. 
Picture of a residential landscaping design with a stone patio, wooden pergola, and shade creating trees for the Front Range climate.
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?).
Picture of a Denver metro residential landscape design featuring a red stone patio with raised brick fire features and a self contained fountain.
Considering A Project? 
Start planning your spring renovation or new landscape project now. Not sure how much to plan to allocate for your dream space? We’ve been doing this for nearly two decades and can help provide you with an honest estimate depending on what features and materials you want to work with.  
 
Contact us today to start a conversation about your dream landscape and design project! Consultations are free and we are now booking a limited number of clients for Spring and Summer on a first come, first served basis. 

Explore some examples of our hand-drawn landscape design renderings here, and explore our photo gallery.

Learn more about our services
22 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Our Specialities
    Services

    Archives

    May 2023
    March 2023
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019

    Request a Quote

    Author

    Marketing staff contribute to our blog with thoughts from our principal, John Majeski. 

    RSS Feed

Connect for landscape design inspiration:

Picture
Picture

Website by CKreative, LLC
© 2022 Arterra Landscape Design/Build Company
720-436-6340 | rosie123.me@gmail.com 
Privacy Policy
  • About Us
    • Sustainability Practices
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Xeriscape Designs
    • Dog Friendly Designs
    • Irrigation Installation
    • Smart Landscape Systems
    • Landscape Lighting | LED Low Voltage
    • Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations
  • Portfolio
  • Contact Us
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy