Herriman's bench location creates a terrain pattern common to many southwest Salt Lake County communities: flatter valley-floor lots in the lower subdivisions, transitioning to more pronounced grades as you move east and uphill toward the Oquirrh Mountain foothills. Sloped lots in Herriman's upper neighborhoods frequently require retaining walls, terracing, or grade modification to create usable flat areas — the raw bench slope is often too steep for outdoor living without some structural intervention. We design retaining walls and terracing as integrated landscape elements rather than purely functional structures, so the finished yard looks designed rather than engineered.

Herriman's soils are generally well-draining sandy loam on the bench, but compaction from construction activity is widespread in newer developments. A proper soil assessment before any planting or irrigation work typically reveals layers of compaction that explain why builder-grade grass is already thinning or patchy. Addressing the compaction layer — whether through aeration, amendment, or soil replacement — is often the most important first step in any Herriman outdoor renovation.

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.