Landscape design & build for Denver

Yardzen designs everywhere in the U.S. and the Denver area is one of our favorites. Denver is growing, and for good reason. With stunning mountain views, abundant sunshine, a comfortable climate, and more outdoor adventure potential than just about anywhere, Denver is a dream for those inclined to be outside.

EXPLORE DESIGN PACKAGES
Denver front yard with plants
Climate & Terrain

Denver rests on high altitude plains at the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains. The arid climate is surprisingly dry, making it easy to enjoy time outdoors. The dryness also makes drought tolerance and fire safety a concern for landscape designers.

Design & Build

Whatever your landscape vision may be, Yardzen is ready to make it a reality, working with you to craft a landscape design that achieves the look, feel, and function you are dreaming of, then connecting you with a vetted contractor from Yardzen’s Pro Network to get your design built.

DENVER, COLORADO DESIGN GALLERY

POPULAR AMENITIES IN DENVER YARDS

How Yardzen Works

Simple and thorough online process

Take a style quiz, share videos and photos of your existing outdoor space, and learn about the costs in our Yard Builder™ tool. Our design team will help you at every step of the process.

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The easiest path to a final design you’ll love

Review your first design in our online Feedback Studio. You’ll be able to share feedback before we start incorporating your changes. A live design review call is also available to help get your project ready for installation.

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Built by someone you (and Yardzen) trusts

We’ll translate your 3D design concepts into a detailed CAD plan that’s ready to install. Next, we’ll connect you to a vetted, Denver area landscape contractor who can bring your dream yard to life.

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Custom designs for your unique outdoor space

We've built a database of plants, trees, and groundcovers that match to Denver’s planting zones, sun/shade/water requirements, aesthetic, and essential features like native plants. Using satellite and aerial imagery, coupled with your photo, video, and factoring in your details, we can create the outdoor space of your dreams.

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WHICH YARDZEN PACKAGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Take our YardBuilder quiz to find out.
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1. Tell us about your unique outdoor space

2. Answer a few questions about your dream yard

3. Get a personalized design package recommendation

Denver front yard with walk way and plants

DENVER LANDSCAPING FAQS

What are popular design styles in Denver?

Landscape designs in Denver draw inspiration from the plains and mountain ecosystems that surround the city. Native grasses like Big Bluestem and Little Bluestem feature heavily, punctuated with flowering grassland perennials or structural shrubs like Panchito Manzanita. Trees often feature evergreen conifers, though Cottonwoods and the native Rocky Mountain Maple are also popular.

Being an arid climate, and the home of xeriscaping, low water and drought tolerant designs are becoming increasingly popular, as well. These designs feature many species native to the regional plains ecosystem, with a few tough and drought tolerant species sourced from mountain plant communities.

What are some favorite plant species in Denver?

The best plant selection in Denver foregrounds water conservation, habitat provision, and fire safety, while also achieving the look and feel a client is aiming for.

When browsing, we recommend starting with native species – because they’re adapted to the local climate, they typically need the least help to thrive.

Looking for some specific tips? Here are a few of the most popular species (native and introduced) that we see in Denver projects:

→ Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’:

A tall, upright grass that is a staple in Denver designs. Not native, but it’s tough and low maintenance.

→ Perovskia atriplicifolia:

Another extremely popular species. It’s tough and forgiving; taking cold, heat, dry, and wet conditions, and is popular with pollinators, despite not being a native.

→ Aquilegia caerulea:

The Colorado state flower. Small, self-seeding, and very popular.

→ Acer glabrum:

A great native option for a deciduous tree.

→ Picea pungens:

Likely the most common tall evergreen tree in Denver. Many people prefer ‘Fat Albert’ cultivar.

→ Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera:

Pretty much any cottonwood can grow in Denver, but this one, the Plains Cottonwood, is a great one to start with. One of the few trees native to the western plains, it offers great yellow fall color and grows very quickly.

→ Ericameria nauseosa:

Great in low water landscapes, prized for its yellow flowers, and often planted with Russian Sage.

→ Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’:

Extremely popular due to the way it flowers (looks kind of like eyelashes). Also goes really well with Big Bluestem and Little Bluestem.

→ Arctostaphylos x coloradensis ‘Panchito’:

Native to Western Colorado and the Utah desert. This is an excellent species to provide evergreen structure, and contrasts nicely with grass-heavy designs.

→ Prunus besseyi ‘P011S’:

A very popular spreading shrub with lovely flowers and fall color.

What factors do I need to pay attention to with Denver landscapes?

An arid climate and frequent drought make water conservation a high priority for landscape design in Denver.

Landscapes must also accommodate winter snowfall, offering slip-resistance, low maintenance, and resilience to carry through till the snow melts.

As recent regional wildfires have shown, fire is also a serious concern, particularly as you approach natural wooded areas

When should I get started on my landscape project?

Now! Any time of year is great to begin work on a landscape project.

Utilizing the winter to work through the design phase sets you up to get on contractors’ books early in the build season, so you can have your design installed and ready to enjoy in time for summer.

Do you design for wildfires?

We are happy to work with clients to develop designs that meet their level of comfort around fire safety. Choosing fire-resistant plant species and following best practices for fire safe landscape design are options that our designers are happy to employ at a client’s request.

While design can help reduce your risk of fire damage, it’s important to note, there are no fire-proof plants, and maintenance is the most important determinant of a landscape’s fire safety.

Denver backyard with hanging lights

 

Highly suggest Yardzen. The online process made everything super easy and efficient. Thank you to the entire Yardzen team.

Shannon M., Yardzen client

Yardzen creates local landscape designs in and around Denver:

Berkley, Northglenn, Commerce City, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Lakeside, Mountain View, Edgewater, Lakewood, Dakota Ridge, Glendale, Holly Hills, Aurora, Bow Mar, Littleton, Sheridan, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, and Greenwood Village.

Explore other Colorado landscape designs by Yardzen

Aurora, Lakewood