Several site conditions are specific to Davis County and shape how we design outdoor projects here. Canyon winds out of Farmington Canyon and Parrish Canyon create consistent wind exposure on the Kaysville and Farmington benchlands — windbreaks and wind-tolerant plant selection matter more here than in more sheltered Holladay or Draper microclimates. Low-lying areas near the Great Salt Lake and Davis County's western communities — Syracuse, Clinton, and the Clearfield flatlands — can carry elevated soil salinity that limits turf species selection and affects irrigation system efficiency.

The county's rapid residential growth has also left many newer lots with compacted soil, minimal import topsoil, and builder-grade landscaping that's already underperforming by the third summer. A proper soil assessment before any planting or irrigation work often reveals why a lawn is struggling despite consistent watering — and what it would actually take to fix it rather than just maintain it.

There are two types of landscape design firms: those that design and hand plans off, and those that design and build. Pitt Landscape & Construction is the second type. Our design process produces plans we install ourselves. Every grading decision, every retaining wall layout, every irrigation zone — designed with full knowledge of what it takes to build it correctly in Utah's specific climate and soil conditions.

The practical difference for you as a client: one team to coordinate, one contract, and no translation errors between the designer's intent and the installer's execution. When a landscape project has concrete flatwork, a retaining wall system, pavers, full irrigation, and softscape all designed and installed together, the result is a coherent property — not a collection of features added by different crews.

Our landscape design and installation practice covers the full range of hardscape and softscape work that transforms a property. On the hardscape side: concrete flatwork (patios, driveways, walkways, pool decks), retaining walls (interlocking block, natural stone, concrete), paver systems, and drainage. On the softscape side: trees, shrubs, perennials, sod, and xeriscape-appropriate planting. Supporting systems: irrigation design and installation, outdoor lighting, and grading.

Landscape architecture — the engineered design drawings — is included in our process wherever the site requires permitted work. Retaining walls over four feet in Utah typically require engineered drawings. Our general contractor license allows us to produce and permit those drawings without subcontracting to a separate architect.

Utah landscapes fail — or succeed — based on decisions made during design, not installation. The three conditions that determine long-term performance in the Salt Lake Valley:

Freeze-thaw cycling. Ground temperatures in the valley swing from single digits in January to 95°F+ in July. Concrete, paving, and retaining structures that are not properly detailed for this range will fail within a few years. We specify freeze-thaw-rated concrete mixes, appropriate base depths, and compaction standards for every hardscape installation.

Clay-dominant soil. Much of the valley has tight clay soil that drains poorly and expands when wet. Drainage routing and base preparation are engineering decisions, not afterthoughts. Getting them wrong results in settling, frost heave, and water intrusion against structures.

Drought and water restriction. Utah's watering restrictions are increasingly strict, and water costs are rising. Irrigation systems designed with zone sequencing, cycle-soak programming, and xeriscape-appropriate plant selection reduce water use and keep the landscape healthy through dry seasons without constant manual intervention.

Every landscape design-build engagement at Pitt Landscape & Construction begins at your property. We assess your site conditions — existing grade, drainage patterns, access constraints, and current hardscape — then discuss your goals and produce a design that addresses all of them before any installation begins.

We have completed more than 450 standard-scope landscape projects across the Salt Lake Valley since 2007, representing over $10 million in completed landscape work. Our service areas include Salt Lake City, Sandy, Draper, South Jordan, Murray, Riverton, Herriman, Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Bountiful, Farmington, Lehi, and Park City. Contact us to schedule a consultation for your property.