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How much does a backyard landscape cost in Arizona?
How much does a backyard landscape cost in Arizona ?
One of the most asked questions we get here at Arizona Living Landscape & Design is: How much does a backyard landscape cost in Arizona ? This is a difficult question to answer but we will try to explain some of the general guidelines we go by.
The purchase and design of a backyard landscape or front yard landscape is much like the purchase of a new home. There are so many options that the final landscape cost can vary dramatically. Consider a new home build has a base price of $100K. When you start adding options such as lot size and location, optional rooms, upgraded counters, flooring, appliances, water softeners and filtration, roof tiles, front elevations, fireplace, surround sound, etc., the price can quickly jump another $50K or even $80K. The average person moves every 5-8 years but they still want all of the upgrades to make it a home they can enjoy.
The same goes with a backyard or front yard landscape cost in Arizona or anywhere. You spend much of your time in your yard and you want it to feel like home. You want to enjoy the space you live in and want your backyard to be an extension of your home. Picking the right landscape design and options the first time is crucial for maximum enjoyment, low maintenance, and flexibility. Unfortunately, some people focus on the price and look for the “cheapest” contractor, therefore sacrificing quality, aesthetics, and long-term enjoyment. You cannot trade in a landscape if you do not like it or if it does not meet your long-term goals without a high cost.
The right landscape contractor will be able to guide you and help you with answers to your questions and tell you if something will not work and why. Arizona Living Landscape and Pete have many years of experience working with homeowners to help them make the right decision. We have many repeat customers and referrals because of the quality of our work and our knowledge of the industry and Arizona specific landscape design.
Now that you hopefully understand the home analogy, I will list some of the most common “add-ons” found in the purchase of a backyard landscape:
- Grass: sod or synthetic
- Decorative patio extension: concrete pavers, travertine pavers, flagstone, concrete, colored concrete, stamped concrete, etc.
- Hardscape features: built-in BBQ, Fire Pit, Pony Wall, Gazebo, Seating area or Seat Wall, Planters, cultured stone versus stucco finish, travertine counters on your BBQ area versus flagstone or tile or concrete, etc.
- Automatic irrigation water system: drip system for plants, optional second line for trees, sprinklers for grass area.
- Tree and plant material: desert adapted plants for low maintenance or tropical plants which require more maintenance and water.
- Landscape rock and boulders.
- Low voltage landscape accent lighting.
- Retaining Walls – block with stucco or cultured stone finish, stack block options such as Pavestone or Belgard wall systems.
- Block walls – regular fence block, larger 8x8x16 block, Pavestone or Belgard wall systems, rough finish face versus flat block, stucco finish.
- Pool
- Pool decking: concrete pavers, travertine pavers, kool deck, tile, stone, etc.
- Border around grass area: curbing, pavers, etc.
- Anti-siphon valve
- Automatic irrigation timer: 4 station, 6 station, etc.
- Electrical
There are so many options available, and when someone receives a quote from our company, we thoroughly examine each option as to educate the homeowner on the option’s benefits and to identify its overall importance to the success and longevity of the project. We also design a yard that you can grow with so you can add or change things to meet all of your wants and dreams as your are financially able to while still giving you the yard you want within your budget.
We offer nine different landscape packages for our customers to start with and unlike most landscape contractors we will do as much or as little as our customers want us to do. We can add or remove options to meet your needs and still fit within your budget in most cases or design a completely custom yard with all of your wants.
Give us a call on your next Arizona landscape project or fill out our contact form for a free quote and design.
Arizona Desert July Plant Guide
Arizona Desert July Plant Guide
It’s July and it is hot and humid and Arizona residents spend their days watching the storms roll in. Even though this is the hottest time of the year here in the Phoenix, Arizona desert, there are some things we can plant. Our Arizona desert July plant guide will help you keep your plants alive through the summer months and prepare you for your fall harvest of plants and vegetables.
Most of our summers are very hot and dry and many of our plants will be struggling without the much needed rain. When we do not get rain from our summer monsoon our soil builds up with salt and you can see it in the plants. The tips of your leaves on trees like the Ash tree, Citrus trees, and many other varieties will begin to brown from the salt build up. Your palm trees will get sun burnt on the prongs, especially the Sago palm. The rain washes away the salt with a nice, deep watering. So for hot, dry summers make sure you are watering deep to wash the salt from the roots. Shallow watering only makes the problem worse. Don’t worry, the nice, cool fall weather will be here soon.
What to plant:
Pumpkins – You can plant pumpkins in Arizona just in time for Halloween. For small pumpkins, plant Baby Bear, Jack Be Little or White Baby Boo. They have 4-5′ long vines. You can plant a white pumpkin called Casper. It is an 8-10pound pumpkin. Other ideas include Cinderella, a red French heirloom or Balck Futzo, or Japanese heirloom. You can also plant squash and cantaloupe for a fall harvest.
Native Crops – buy desert adapted seeds of melons, squash, tepary beans, and amaranth. Some melon options include: Isleta Pueblo, Navajo Yellow and Oodham Ke:li Ba:so (“old woman’s knees). This thrives in the low desert and produce sweet and tasty pale green flesh. Go to NATIVESEEDS.ORG, BURPEE.COM OR HIGHMOWINGSEEDS.COM. Radishes and short season kale can also be planted now.
Corn – Mid month is when you want to plant your seeds for fall sweet corn.
Sunflowers – These giant beauties do great in our Arizona summers. Plant Mammoth variety for for edible seeds. Autumn Beauty, Red Hedge or Sonja are great for cut flowers.
Palms and Bermuda grass- You can continue to plant your palms and bermuda grass lawns.
Maintenance:
Solarize soil – You can solarize your garden soil this time of year if weeds and disease have infested your garden for an organic solution. Spread 2″ of manure on top of the soil and soak with water. Cover the bed loosely with a sheet of thick, clear plastic to allow the sun through. Bury the plastic edges or weigh them down so they cannot blow away. Leave it for 6-8 weeks. The nitrogen in the manure and the water and sun will heat up and kill most of the weeds seeds and pathogens. Just in time to prepare for your fall garden. Don’t worry about the earthworms. They will go deep to get away from the heat.
Prevent citrus rinds from cracking – Citrus rinds become tough without adequate moisture and cannot expand as the fruit swells. To avoid this water mature citrus trees every 10-14 days in the summer. Water long and deep. Water young trees every 5-10 days. Apply water to the drip line (outer edges of canopy), and move emitters or hoses as the canopy spreads. Make sure the water soakes 3′ deep with each watering for mature trees. This long deep watering will allow the roots to take in the water and then dry out in between for a very healthy tree and great tasting fruit.
Alumawood Pergola Design
Alumawood Lattice Pergola
The hottest trend in backyard landscape design is the addition of a lattice pergola. They are a great way to extend your backyard living area, and provide shade and beauty to your yard. You can attach it to your home to extend the patio or build a stand alone structure to cover a patio, BBQ area or pool. The lattice top protects you from sun exposure by 40-60% without blocking the fresh air and breezes. Unlike wood, the Alumawood pergola won’t crack, peel, warp, or rot. They won’t be affected by termites, and never need painting or sealing. They come in a rich wood texture design and a variety of popular colors to choose from. Give us a call to design your custom Alumawood pergola. Arizona Living Landscape & Design 480-390-4477
Patio Design Guide
Patio Design Guide
Do you have an ugly patio or a yard that needs a little facelift? Our patio design guide can help guide you in choosing your options to spruce up that backyard or give your front yard a facelift. There are many options to choose from here in the Arizona desert when you are considering a patio design. We have standard earth tone concrete pavers, natural stone travertine that comes in a variety of colors, sizes and finishes, or natural flagstone sheets mined here in Arizona.
A standard 3 piece paver patio is a great option to make your yard stand out. You can use paver stones to create a paver patio, walkway, extended sitting area out in your yard, paver entryway, and paver borders. The 3 piece design creates a random pattern of varied sizes for a great look. Standard concrete pavers have unsurpassed strength and flexibility and provide unlimited possibilities to complement and enhance your yard. They can be installed in 2 piece also, depending you what you like. They come in earth tone colors and are a hot trend in landscape design. Concrete pavers can withstand weather, water and traffic. They are designed to withstand freeze – thaw conditions and are a good choice for hot or cold climates.
Travertine pavers are a natural stone paver and come in a variety of colors and sizes. They are a durable paver and require little to no maintenance. Travertine pavers are a good choice for pool decking, patios, and courtyards. Travertine pavers come in a textured and porous finish, smooth and shiny polished finish, or smooth and matte finish. Travertine pavers are cool to the touch, durable, resistant to scratches and staining, and long lasting.
A flagstone patio is beautiful anywhere in your yard. We can install your flagstone over top of your existing patio and extend it out into your yard with mortar in between the flagstone. Flagstone can also be installed in a sand base as individual sheets with 1/4 minus stone in between for a patios or BBQ base. Flagstone is a natural stone that is mined here in Arizona. It is porous and beautiful. Flagstone does not need to be sealed, although many people prefer to do so. It can be used as a natural stone. Stains can simply be scrubbed off with a hard bristle brush.
Backyard Landscaping Ideas
Backyard landscaping ideas for your Arizona yard
Artificial Grass –  artificial grass is a great solution for your Arizona backyard landscaping. It has come a long way from the old fake grass. You can get a small splash of green in your yard with virtually no maintenance, no water, no mowing. If you are looking for some entertainment, let us install an artificial grass putting green. Challenge your friends and have fun entertaining in your new backyard. |
 Fountain or water feature – the sound of water trickling down a fountain will add a sense of relaxation to your yard. It is also a focal point for your design to dress up a corner or section of your patio. You can use the water feature to create a small area to sit in and relax. |
 Outdoor Kitchen and BBQ – install a custom built-in BBQ complete with counter space, fridge, trash area, and drawers for utensils. Extend the indoors out with an entertainment area designed to flow from your house out to your yard. Arizona is the perfect place for outdoor entertaining. Add a a gazebo, patio, and fire pit for the perfect outdoor area. |
 Paver patio – create a patio out of pavers with walkways away from your house patio. You can create intimate areas to enjoy your yard and relax. Paver patios is wonderful solution to typical concrete. Paver patios are durable and offer a variety of colors and patters to please almost everyone. Pavers are very affordable and do well in our desert lifestyle. |
 Fire Pit – Add a fire pit to your backyard patio. We can custom build a gas or wood burning fire pit. The fire pit can be round, octagon, square, you name it. The firepit can be designed with a various materials for the top and sides. You can have a basic pit with stucco sides or add cultured stone for beautiful, custom look. The top can be in stone, flagstone, or pavers. It can be as big or small as you desire. Gas fire pits area as easy as turning on a switch with no smell or smoke. |
 Misting System – an outdoor misting system will be one of the best investments for your backyard landscaping if you are a summer resident. They provide comfort and cooling so you can enjoy your backyard throughout the year. A professional misting system can be installed around the pool, patio, or an extended patio area. The options are endless. |
Winter Rye Grass Over Seeding
Considering winter Rye grass over seeding? It’s that time of year again to consider over seeding your bermuda lawn with Rye grass. This is usually done in October once the temperatures get to low 70’s/60’s at night. There are several benefits of over seeding your lawn with Rye grass. The biggest benefit is having a nice, beautiful lawn all winter long. I personally like the look of Rye grass lawns over the Bermuda yards we have in Arizona. Winter Rye grass over seeding also helps to keep weeds at bay in your lawns. Yards that go dormant often have weeds in the spring from the rains. The Rye grass helps to keep the weeds under control. Dormant lawns are tracked in your house from your shoes and on your pets and tend to make a big mess. If you had a weed problem last summer in your bermuda lawn, late Feb. is a good time to put pre emergent in your grass to prevent the weeds from coming back in the summer. This will keep the seeds from germinating and turning into weeds. Do not use pre emergent in your lawns towards the end of the summer if you plan to over seed or your winter Rye grass will not take.
Winter Rye grass does not need a lot of water but it does take more then a dormant lawn would. You also have to keep it mowed during the winter and need to fertilize to keep it lush and green all winter. In the spring, you will cut the Rye grass to about an inch to stress it so the Bermuda grass can come back in. In May you can start to fertilize the Bermuda lawn to keep it healthy during the summer months. If you have weeds, this is the time to use weed and feed to fertilize and treat the weeds.
Check out this step by step guide to winter Rye over seeding
Small Backyard Landscaping with Synthetic Lawn
Are you looking for small backyard landscaping ideas? In this project the customer had a small backyard with an Arizona room around the patio. She wanted a clean, easy to maintain backyard landscaping that she could see from her Az room or sit out in
the grass and enjoy the water from her fountain. Arizona Living Landscape installed synthetic grass in the center of the yard with curved lines. We built a wall that covered up her air conditioner in her backyard to help with the noise from the air conditioner and hide the ugly equipment. In her backyard landscaping we installed flagstone stepping sheets for a walkway around and down the side to the front of the house set in rock.
We installed some mounding for depth and boulders with plantings around a 3 tiered fountain in the corner of the yard for a focal point from the Arizona room. Over time these plants will spread and create a flowing flower garden around her fountain that will attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies. The rest of the backyard landscaping has meandering hills with boulders and desert type plants with a tropical look for a no fuss, low liter, low maintenance backyard.
Firecracker Penstemon
Firecracker Penstemon – Penstemon eatonii
The Firecracker Penstemon is a great plant in our Arizona desert for winter color. It has dark green foliage with deep red/orange flowers that bloom late winter to spring. This plant attracts hummingbirds and other birds. It is an evergreen plant that has low litter and is great poolside. It grows to 2’x 2′ and can be grown in full sun to partial shade and is hardy to 0 degrees. This plant looks great planted next to boulders or with contrasting colored plants like the Angelita Daisy or Desert Marigold.
Firecracker Bush – Hamelia Patens
Firecracker Bush –Hamelia patens
The Firecracker bush has brilliant red/orange flowers that attract hummingbirds. It is a semi-evergreen bush, medium growing bush with summer blooms . It does well in full sun or partial shade. It grows 4′ x 4′. Low litter, no thorns, and hardy to 25 degrees.
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