Utah provides a stunning backdrop for homes but the threat of drought and wildfire, the mountainous terrain of many areas, and the widely fluctuating temperatures present design challenges for many yards.

A natural grass lawn may not be the best option and homeowners are increasingly seeking landscaping ideas to transition away from grass-dominated backyards—not only because they tend to guzzle resources but because they take up so much time.

The best Utah landscaping ideas range from ultra-low-maintenance options like artificial turf and pavers to organic alternatives like mulch and native plants.

Let’s consider the main landscaping challenges and the 10 best landscaping ideas for Utah homeowners…

LANDSCAPING CHALLENGES FOR UTAH HOMES

Utah has always presented homeowners with unique challenges when designing backyards that look the part but don’t involve too many hours of maintenance.

Growing a grass lawn can be challenging because of the large range of temperatures we experience. During a full year, the temperature in Salt Lake City, for instance, typically varies from 23°F to 93°F. Cool-season grasses like those used in Utah generally stop growing when temperatures fall to 50-55°F or rise above 80-90°F. 

So, natural grass can be expensive to maintain and to keep looking healthy. Other challenges include:

• Droughts and water shortages increasingly affect homeowner plans here. Utah is one of the driest states in the nation, which makes growing a traditional grass lawn even more challenging.
• Environmental impact is a factor for many homeowners: grass lawns use fossil fuels to power garden machinery like mowers as well as chemicals for fertilizers, weedkillers, and pesticides/herbicides, not to mention disposing of grass clippings. 
• Wildfires in areas around Salt Lake City are becoming more common each year and are another consideration when planning your yard landscaping.
• The mountainous terrain of Utah is one of the state’s main attractions but, for homeowners in the mountains, it is another obvious challenge for landscaping ideas. Rocky terrain and steep slopes present difficulties for many landscaping designs and installations, including grass—and may increase the associated costs.

With these challenges in mind, alternative Utah landscaping ideas to natural grass are increasingly grabbing the attention of homeowners. Let’s look at the main ones…

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GET A FREE ARTIFICIAL GRASS ESTIMATE IN UTAH

If you’re in Salt Lake City or elsewhere in Utah, the experienced team at Rocky Mountain Turf will break down the costs for you in a free estimate. Contact us here.

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THE 10 BEST LANDSCAPING IDEAS FOR UTAH

Backyard designs are no longer about having the best grass lawn to be the envy of the neighbors. Many creative backyard landscaping options in Utah are available without any need for grass seed, sod or pouring concrete.

Here are 10 of the best landscaping ideas to choose from …

1. Install artificial grass

If you still want the verdant beauty of a grass lawn but not the work, ongoing costs or high water usage, have you seen how realistic artificial grass looks these days?

The best artificial grass is hard to tell apart from the real thing and you may be surprised if you still think of old sports turf when the synthetic variety is mentioned.

High-quality artificial grass properly installed provides the look without the work. It can be used in back, side or front yards and looks lush all year round without any sprinklers. It’s very low maintenance and stands up well to foot traffic.

Although artificial grass gets hotter than real grass, the best products remain manageable even in strong sunshine and summer heat—and turf is pet-friendly and family-friendly.

You don’t need to worry about shade, low winter temperatures, chemical usage or expensive lawn care with synthetic grass.

When it comes to the costs of artificial grass, it stacks up with real grass very well in the long run, saving money about five years after installation despite its higher initial costs.

A final word about the versatility of artificial grass. As well as landscaping turf, artificial grass is often used as a ground surface for kids’ play areas, around swimming pools, and for backyard putting greens, as well as commercially on sports fields.

2. Design your yard around native plants

Been trying to grow tropical bloomers in your yard? That’s not going to work in Utah unless you’re an expert gardener.

For most Utah homeowners without green fingers, it’s best to “go native” and design your yard around low-maintenance plants that can flourish in the climate and conditions without taking up much time, energy or money.

As water shortages and drought become more prevalent across Utah, the attraction of native plants intensifies.

Native plants place no extra strain on resources when managed properly. They are naturally tolerant of drought, generally resistant to threats from local pests, and have adjusted to the soils and wide temperature ranges experienced in most of the state. This means less time watering, fertilizing, and spraying pesticides than with non-natives.

Consider the sun and shade conditions of your backyard before choosing native plants. Here are some options:

• Trees: Bigtooth Maple, Desert Willow, Single leaf Ash, White Fir, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Blue Atlas Caesar.
• Shrubs (Full Sun): Utah Holly, Butterfly Bush, Lilac, Great Basin Sagebrush, Silvery Lupine.
• Shrubs (Shade): Mountain Spray, Snowberry, Backhaw.
• Perennials (Full Sun): Cupid’s Dart, Evening Primrose, Utah Lady Finger, Utah mountain lilac.
• Perennials (Shade): Yellow Corydalis, Geranium, Coral Bells.
• Vines: Clematis, Trumpet Vine, Wisteria.

3. Spread pea gravel

Pea gravel is comprised of small-sized, naturally rounded pebbles in a variety of colors. When used in Utah backyards, especially when combined with other materials, it can add a natural elegance and serenity to the design, while remaining extremely low-maintenance.

Pea gravel originates in riverbeds and nearby gravel pits where the natural weathering action of water rounds the edges of the pebbles. This makes it convenient and practical for yard use. 

Design-wise, the neutral colors of the pebbles (creams, grays, tans, beiges, etc.) work well alongside the verdant green of synthetic turf or real grass.

Pea gravel provides good natural drainage and requires no special maintenance other than the occasional tidy-up and top-up. These benefits and its affordability make pea gravel an attractive landscaping idea for Utah homeowners.

Although pea gravel heats up (and retains its heat) in the sunshine, most times it’s comfortable to walk on barefoot in Utah because of its rounded edges.

4. Use mulch liberally

Whether you’re creating a yard of native Utah plants, need a material around the base of a large backyard tree or need a solution for a shaded area of the yard, mulch may be the answer.

Although inorganic mulches are available, the most common type of mulch in Utah usually consists of tree bark, wood chips, and pine straw. These organic, biodegradable materials add nutrients to the soil and make mulch an attractive eco-friendly option as well as bringing many practical benefits to yard areas.

Mulch is a diverse landscaping material with several different uses. It is very low maintenance and well-suited to the arid Utah climate, regulating temperatures well, trapping moisture, and smothering weeds.

You can spread mulch around native trees and shrubs, plants, and flower beds or combine it with other materials, such as artificial grass, gravel or pavers purely for its natural beauty and aesthetic. 

Mulched areas generally require only an occasional tidy and top-up in springtime as maintenance.

5. Hardscape with pavers

Hardscaping is one of the most obvious Utah landscape ideas if you want to cut down on maintenance. It also adds functionality to your yard—and often adds value to the property too.

Paving stones can be used for more than pathways across backyard lawns. Entire patios, sitting areas, entertainment/barbecue zones, and fire pit areas all look stunning with the right pavers.  Pavers can also be used to accent other landscaping materials, such as artificial grass, mulch, gravel, etc.

Your pavers might be made from stone, red brick, composite or concrete, depending on your design preferences and whether you’re looking for a contemporary, rustic, farmhouse or traditional Utah aesthetic.

You’ll find most options extremely hard wearing and able to stand up to heavy foot traffic without much maintenance: an occasional sweep, rinse down or replacement of a cracked paver at most.

6. Plant an alternative (native) lawn 

Still want a lawn but looking for an alternative to traditional Kentucky Bluegrass, ryegrass or fescue blends—and not convinced about artificial grass?

Try one of the native Utah grasses or other native ground-covering plants that provide viable alternatives to grass.

One option becoming more popular in the US is clover. White Dutch Clover can flourish as a ground covering in most of Utah. With this, you get the verdant green color (with dashes of white) but without the hours of upkeep or expensive lawn care. 

White Duch Clover will establish and spread easily over the area, providing an ornamental lawn area that stands up well to the local climate and soil conditions.

Other possible lawn alternatives in Utah include spotted deadnettle, creeping juniper, and creeping sedum. 

7. Build a rock garden

Rocks, boulders, and crushed rock can play important roles when hardscaping backyards too.

Rock gardens are increasingly popular landscaping ideas in Utah because they replicate the natural environment of many surrounding areas, require next-to-no maintenance, and are very cost-effective—while adding a unique design element to spaces.

Rock gardens are best built on natural slopes for drainage—or you can make one—and may include a few plants for a dash of color. Intersperse carefully chosen rocks and boulders with native plants, leaving adequate space for plant roots. You should experience no problems with sun, freezing weather or drought with this combination—unlike with a standard garden.

Crushed rock can be part of your rock garden or play a different role in Utah backyards as an alternative ground covering to pea gravel. The two are similar in that they are low maintenance but crushed rock is industrially crushed and is coarser than pea gravel.

Crushed rock again works well in tandem with other backyard materials mentioned here like synthetic turf, mulch, etc.

8. Switch to xeriscaping (desert landscaping)

Rock gardens in Utah might emulate the local desert landscaping to some extent—but some homeowners take it a step further and xeriscape their entire yard area. 

Xeriscaping as a landscaping idea for Utah homes makes a lot of sense because it is purpose-built to require little water and to tolerate long periods with no rain. That doesn’t mean you have to settle for a barren appearance, though.

These landscapes combine drought-tolerant plants with rock gardens and hardscapes like walkways, pavers, fire pits, and patios. Some may include mulch and pea gravel too. often combining several of the features discussed above.

Xeriscaping works well in flat yards as well as sloped. As well as the native plants already mentioned, some of the native plants you might want to consider when xeriscaping in Utah include agave, yucca, and spurge.

9. Switch to mountain Landscaping

Utah features several mountain ranges from the Wasatch and Unita ranges near Salt Lake City to the La Sal Mountains in the south.

Mountain landscaping for your backyard, therefore, blends right into the Utah landscape and is another eco-friendly landscaping idea. Natural elements can create a rustic, woodsy feel even in more urban areas.

Typical features of mountain landscaping in Utah backyards include rock gardens, water features, rock-based pathways, flagstone steps, firepits, and mountain-style evergreen trees, such as juniper trees, spruces, firs, and pine trees.

10. A potted garden

Hardscaping or using artificial grass, pea gravel or mulch doesn’t mean you have to give up on gardening and flowers in your Utah backyard—but you might want to consider a less labor-intensive and water-intensive option than flower beds.

If you plan a garden of potted or boxed plants, these can be placed anywhere around your yard to add color and vibrancy to otherwise plain landscapes.

Your choices of pots and flowers are almost limitless but a few low-maintenance but colorful ideas include bee balm, silvery lupine, four o’clock, Wasatch penstemon, and prairie aster. You can also try strawberry, sunflower, violet, and rabbitbrush. These are local flowers and plants that generally stand up well to the climate.

If you include potted plants that are less tolerant to winter’s freezing temperatures, you can bring them inside or take other evasive action with the pots when the temperature plunges.

For a little extra creativity, why not repurpose an old barrel or wheelbarrow as a container for your plants?

FAQs

What are the lowest maintenance landscaping options for Salt Lake City? 

Artificial grass, pea gravel, mulch, xeriscaping, pavers, and native plants all have much lower maintenance requirements than real grass and will work well if you’re looking to cut labor, costs, and headaches in your Utah yard.

Can I get a rebate for low-water landscaping in Utah?

Utah Water Savers offers an incentive program with rebates on offer for residents who remove grass and replace it with certain low-water landscaping ideas. You can check eligibility here.

How can you landscape with artificial grass?

Check out these posts on landscaping ideas with artificial grass and 25 artificial grass ideas to spruce up any yard for inspiration if you’re looking to switch to synthetic turf.

How much maintenance is required with artificial grass?

Artificial grass requires minimal maintenance but should not be installed and simply left year after year. Occasional cross-brushing, hosing down, and removal of debris are recommended to keep your synthetic turf lawn in tip-top condition.

How long does artificial grass last?

Your artificial grass should last a minimum of 10 years and if properly installed and maintained, up to 15 or 20 years. 

CONSIDERING SWITCHING TO ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

If you’re mulling over landscaping ideas for your Utah backyard, feel free to discuss your ideas with one of our artificial turf professionals.