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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Utah

LANDSCAPING QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find clear answers about yard installation, xeriscaping, retaining walls, Utah-native plants, park strip conversions, drainage, project planning, and working with Coonhound Landscape Specialties.

General Landscaping Questions

Coonhound Landscape Specialties provides residential landscape installation and specialty landscaping services for Utah homeowners. Our primary services include complete yard installations, xeriscaping, retaining walls, park strip conversions, Utah-native planting, retention ponds, drainage improvements, and landscape renovations. Each project is planned around the property, the homeowner’s priorities, and how the outdoor space will be used.

No. Coonhound Landscape Specialties is based in Bluffdale, but we also serve Herriman, Riverton, Draper, Sandy, South Jordan, and surrounding communities. Project availability may depend on the location, size, timeline, and scope of the work.

Our primary focus is residential landscaping. We help homeowners improve unfinished, outdated, inefficient, and difficult-to-use yards. For a commercial or specialty property, contact our team to discuss the scope and determine whether the project is a good fit.

Yes. Planning the entire yard allows grading, drainage, irrigation, retaining walls, planting areas, turf, and decorative materials to work together. This creates a more cohesive finished landscape and helps prevent completed work from having to be changed later.

Yes. We can update overgrown, outdated, water-intensive, or poorly functioning landscapes. A renovation may include reducing lawn, rebuilding planting areas, adding retaining walls, improving drainage, converting park strips, or introducing native and water-wise plants.

Yes. Complete yard installation can be a strong fit for newly built homes and unfinished properties. Contact us with the property address, construction timeline, and any available site plans so we can better understand the project.

Estimates and Project Planning

Call 801-979-2960, email [email protected], or complete the estimate request form on our website. Include your project address, the type of landscaping you are considering, your preferred timeline, and a few current photos of the property.

Helpful information includes the property address, current photos, the areas you want to improve, known drainage or grading concerns, desired features, your preferred timeline, a general investment range, and any HOA requirements. You do not need every detail figured out before reaching out.

Costs vary based on property size, access, grading, materials, irrigation needs, retaining walls, plant quantities, drainage work, and project complexity. The most accurate estimate comes after the property and project scope have been reviewed.

The timeline depends on the size of the project, property conditions, material availability, weather, scheduling, and the number of landscape features involved. We will discuss the expected schedule once the scope is clearly defined.

Weather, soil conditions, material availability, design changes, permit requirements, site access, and unexpected conditions beneath the existing landscape can affect the schedule.

A general investment range is helpful because it lets us align recommendations with realistic priorities. You do not need an exact amount. A broad range can help determine whether the project should be completed at once or divided into phases.

Yes. Some properties benefit from a phased approach. The full yard should still be considered early so grading, drainage, access, irrigation, and retaining structures support future phases.

Complete Yard Installation

The scope varies by property, but it may include site preparation, grading, drainage planning, irrigation, turf areas, trees, shrubs, native plants, decorative rock, mulch, planting beds, retaining walls, and park strip landscaping.

Grading affects how water moves across the property. Poor grading can contribute to standing water, erosion, uneven lawn areas, and water flowing toward structures. Elevation and water movement should be evaluated before finished landscape elements are installed.

Yes. Landscape renovation may involve removing old materials, simplifying difficult areas, replacing unhealthy plants, reducing unnecessary lawn, improving the layout, and introducing more appropriate features.

Yes. Plant selection, lawn size, irrigation layout, edging, mulch, rock placement, mature plant size, and access all influence maintenance. A lower-maintenance yard still requires care, but thoughtful planning can reduce unnecessary work.

Xeriscaping and Water-Wise Landscaping

Xeriscaping is a landscape design approach that reduces unnecessary water use while maintaining plant life, visual interest, and functional outdoor areas. It may include drought-tolerant plants, Utah-native plants, efficient irrigation, mulch, decorative rock, hardscape features, and practical turf areas.

No. A thoughtful xeriscape should still include color, texture, shade, seasonal changes, and living plant material. Decorative rock can be part of the design, but it should not automatically become the entire landscape.

Yes. Grass can remain in areas where it serves a practical purpose, such as play areas, gathering spaces, or high-use sections of the backyard. Less useful lawn areas can be converted to lower-water landscaping.

No landscape is completely maintenance-free. Xeriscaped yards may require less mowing and watering, but plants still need care, weeds need to be managed, and irrigation should be checked periodically.

Yes. Many homeowners begin with a park strip, side yard, front planting area, slope, or section of lawn that is difficult to irrigate. A partial conversion can reduce water use while preserving functional lawn elsewhere.

Utah-Native Plants

Yes. Utah-native and regionally adapted plants can be incorporated into complete landscapes, xeriscapes, park strips, planting beds, and other residential projects.

When placed correctly, native plants can provide seasonal interest, support local pollinators, and fit naturally into water-wise landscape designs. Native does not automatically mean maintenance-free, so sunlight, soil, irrigation, mature size, and placement still matter.

We consider sun and shade, soil conditions, water availability, wind exposure, mature size, seasonal appearance, maintenance expectations, proximity to structures, and the overall landscape style.

Yes. Native plants can be combined with structured planting beds, lawn areas, ornamental grasses, decorative materials, and regionally adapted plants to create a polished residential landscape.

Retaining Walls

Yes. Retaining walls can support elevation changes, manage sloped areas, define planting spaces, reduce erosion, or create more usable sections of a residential yard.

A retaining wall is designed to hold back soil and manage changes in elevation. A decorative garden wall is typically shorter and used mainly to define a planting bed or add visual structure.

Yes. A properly planned retaining wall can create flatter, more functional sections of a sloped property for lawn, planting beds, pathways, seating areas, or other landscape features.

Water buildup behind a retaining wall increases pressure and can contribute to movement, cracking, bulging, or premature failure. Drainage should be planned as part of the wall installation.

Permit requirements vary by city, wall height, location, and project conditions. HOA approval may also be required. The applicable municipality or association determines the final requirements.

Park Strip Conversions

Yes. We can replace difficult-to-maintain park strip lawn with a more water-wise design that may include decorative rock, mulch, appropriate plants, and updated irrigation.

Park strips are narrow, exposed areas surrounded by pavement. They often experience reflected heat, overspray, uneven irrigation, foot traffic, road debris, and faster moisture loss.

Suitable options may include low-growing perennials, ornamental grasses, drought-tolerant shrubs, groundcovers, and selected native plants. Visibility, pedestrian access, utilities, irrigation, and city requirements should all be considered.

Rebate and incentive programs vary by city, water district, and current program requirements. Verify eligibility and receive any required approval before removing lawn or beginning construction.

Drainage and Retention Ponds

We can evaluate landscape conditions that may contribute to standing water and discuss possible improvements. The right solution may involve grading, drainage routes, soil conditions, retention areas, irrigation adjustments, or changes to the surrounding landscape.

Common causes include low areas, improper grading, compacted soil, runoff from neighboring properties, downspout discharge, excess irrigation, blocked drainage routes, and changes made during previous landscaping.

A retention area is designed to collect and manage water within a designated section of the property. Residential solutions vary in size and design, and some can be integrated as planted landscape features.

Yes. Appropriate plants can help integrate a drainage or retention feature into the landscape. Selection should account for how often the area receives water, how quickly it drains, and whether conditions alternate between wet and dry.

No responsible landscaper should make that guarantee without evaluating the source, elevation, surrounding properties, soil, and existing infrastructure. The goal is to identify practical improvements and reduce recurring problems where possible.

Preparing for Your Project

Yes, when the property is part of an HOA. Some associations regulate plant types, lawn coverage, decorative materials, retaining walls, park strips, fencing, and visible front-yard changes.

Yes. Underground utilities should be properly located before excavation or digging. Private irrigation, lighting, drainage, or homeowner-installed lines may need to be identified separately.

That depends on the project and stage of work. You may not need to be present every day, but you should remain available for questions, approvals, access issues, and decisions that could affect the finished result.

Preparation may include removing personal items, relocating vehicles, securing pets, unlocking gates, identifying private utility lines, confirming HOA approval, and providing clear access to the work area.

Still Have Questions About Your Yard?

Every property is different. Tell us what you are planning, share a few photos, and we will help you determine the right next step.

Request an Estimate
Call 801-979-2960