# Landscape Design Tooele County | YLC Landscaping

> Custom landscape design in Tooele County: plant selection, hardscape and lighting layout, and water-wise plans built for Utah soils. Free on-site consultation.

URL: https://ylclandscaping.com/landscape-design/

![Landscape designer sketching a yard plan on site with a homeowner in Tooele County, Utah](/images/misc/landscape-designer-sketching-a-yard-plan-on-site-w.webp)

Tooele & Salt Lake valleys

# Custom Landscape Design for Your Tooele County Home

Last updated: August 29, 2026

Custom landscape design with plant selection, hardscape and lighting layout, and water-wise options suited to Utah's climate and soils.

-   ★ 4.6 on Google (28 reviews)
-   ✓ Licensed & insured
-   ✓ 8+ years, family-owned
-   ✓ From $500

Get a Free Estimate

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

Call or text (385) 549-3038

[tel:+13855493038 →](tel:+13855493038)

★★★★★ 4.6 (28 Google reviews)

Licensed & Insured

Fast Response Mon–Fri

1,000+ Utah customers served

## What a landscape design gets you

A good yard starts with a plan, and a plan starts with somebody standing in your yard. We walk the property, look at where the sun lands through the day, where the wind comes from, how the ground falls, what soil we’re dealing with and what water source feeds the irrigation. Then we listen to how you actually want to use the space: kids, dogs, entertaining, low maintenance, growing things, or simply not looking at bare dirt any more.

From that we produce a plan showing bed lines and lawn shapes, hardscape like patios and walls, planting with species named rather than “shrub”, edging, lighting where it matters, and hydrozones so the irrigation makes sense. It is a working document, not a pretty picture. Our own crew builds from it.

That last part matters more than it sounds. When the designer and the installer are different companies, the plan gets reinterpreted in the field. Usually toward whatever is easiest that day. Because we build what we draw, the grade the patio was designed for is the grade it gets, and the plant list is one we know establishes here rather than one that looked good in a catalogue.

Design is also where budget conversations happen most usefully. While we are still drawing, you can trade a larger patio against more planting, or decide to phase the back yard to next season. Making those calls on paper costs nothing. Making them mid-build costs real money.

### What’s included

-   On-site consultation and full site measurement
-   Sun mapping, wind exposure and microclimate assessment
-   Soil and water-source review before anything is specified
-   Named plant, tree and hardscape selections suited to Utah
-   Hydrozoning so irrigation groups plants by water need
-   Bed edging, gravel and mulch treatment
-   Lighting layout where it’s part of the scope
-   A plan that feeds directly into installation

## Common problems a design solves

### A yard that was built piecemeal

Beds added one summer, a patio the next, sprinklers moved twice. Nothing is wrong exactly, but nothing quite works together and half the yard is watered the same as the lawn. A design puts a coherent structure back over the top of it.

### Plants that keep dying in the same spot

Usually one of three things: the wrong species for alkaline soil, a hot dry corner that needs a tougher plant, or a bed on a lawn irrigation zone getting far too much or far too little water. All three are design problems, not gardening problems.

### Water bills nobody can explain

Wall-to-wall turf on spray heads is expensive to run in a Utah summer. A design that keeps a usable lawn panel and converts the rest to hydrozoned, drip-irrigated beds cuts consumption significantly without making the yard look bare.

### Not knowing where to start

Big empty yards are paralysing. A design breaks the project into stages with a sensible order: grading and irrigation first because they’re the hardest to retrofit, then hardscape, then planting.

## What affects the price

Design fees generally track the complexity of what you’re asking for:

-   **Property size** and how much of it is in scope
-   **Grade change**, drainage issues and anything structural
-   **Hardscape content**: patios, walls and lighting need more detail than planting alone
-   **Revision rounds** and how settled you are on direction
-   **Whether it feeds an install**. The fee is commonly credited when we build it

## Where we design

We design across 

Grantsville

[/service-areas/grantsville/ →](/service-areas/grantsville/)

, 

Tooele

[/service-areas/tooele/ →](/service-areas/tooele/)

, 

Stansbury Park

[/service-areas/stansbury-park/ →](/service-areas/stansbury-park/)

, 

Erda

[/service-areas/erda/ →](/service-areas/erda/)

 and 

Lake Point

[/service-areas/lake-point/ →](/service-areas/lake-point/)

, and on scheduled runs into 

South Jordan

[/service-areas/south-jordan/ →](/service-areas/south-jordan/)

, Herriman and Eagle Mountain where water-wise retrofits are the most common request.

For background reading, our guides cover 

what to expect from a professional landscape design

[/guide/what-to-expect-professional-landscape-design/ →](/guide/what-to-expect-professional-landscape-design/)

, 

the best drought-tolerant plants and trees for Utah

[/guide/best-drought-tolerant-plants-trees-utah/ →](/guide/best-drought-tolerant-plants-trees-utah/)

, and 

water-wise versus traditional lawn

[/guide/water-wise-vs-traditional-lawn-utah/ →](/guide/water-wise-vs-traditional-lawn-utah/)

.

Transparent pricing

## How much does design cost in Tooele County?

Every job is different, so we price on site rather than off a phone call. These ranges give you a real starting point before we come out.

$500 – $3,500

per design

Design fees are commonly credited toward installation when you proceed with us. Size, complexity and the number of revisions drive the range. Payment by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or check.

Why YLC

## Why choose YLC for design?

### Designed by the people who build it

A lot of designs get drawn by someone who never sees the site again. We install what we draw, so we do not specify things that fall apart in the field or blow the budget at the last minute.

### Utah plants, not catalogue plants

Alkaline soil, Zone 6 and 7 winters, and dry, windy summers rule out a lot of what looks good in a design magazine. We pick species that actually establish and stay alive here.

### Water planned from the start

We hydrozone the plan, grouping plants by water need, so irrigation is efficient rather than a compromise. That means lower bills and healthier plants for the life of the yard.

### Design that respects the budget

We tell you what each element costs while we are still drawing, so you can trade off a bigger patio against more planting rather than finding out at bid time.

### Phasing built in

If you want the yard in stages, we design the whole thing then sequence it so grading and irrigation go in once and the rest follows as budget allows.

### Fee credited toward the build

When you proceed with installation, the design fee is commonly credited toward the work, so the planning stage is not money spent twice.

How the bids differ

## A design you can build vs. a drawing you cannot

Plenty of landscape plans are drawn by someone who never returns to the site. That shows up at bid time.

|  | YLC design | Drawing-only design |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who builds it | Designed by the crew that installs it, so nothing specified is unbuildable | Handed to whoever bids it, problems discovered on site |
| Plant selection | Species proven in alkaline soil, Zone 6/7 winters and dry wind | Catalogue plants that struggle here |
| Water | Hydrozoned at design stage so irrigation is efficient by default | Irrigation retrofitted around the planting afterwards |
| Budget | Element costs shared while the plan is still being drawn | Total revealed at bid time, plan reworked |
| Phasing | Whole yard designed, then sequenced so grading and irrigation go in once | Each phase designed and dug separately |

The process

## How our design work runs

1.  01
    
    ### Consultation
    
    We walk the property, talk through how you actually use the space, and note sun, wind, slope, existing trees and the water source you're working with.
    
2.  02
    
    ### Measure and map
    
    Site measurement, sun mapping and a read on the soil and microclimates. This is the part that stops a plan from looking good on paper and failing in the ground.
    
3.  03
    
    ### Concept and revisions
    
    You get a plan showing bed lines, hardscape, planting, lighting and hydrozones. We revise it with you until it fits your budget and how you live.
    
4.  04
    
    ### Straight into install
    
    Because we build what we design, nothing gets lost in translation. The crew installing your yard is working from the plan we drew with you.
    

Our work

## Recent design projects

 

Reviews

## What customers say about our design

4.6 stars across 28 Google reviews from homeowners across the Tooele and Salt Lake valleys.

★★★★★

> "YLC is a family-owned business. The wife came to learn what we wanted and prepared a detailed bid. The husband oversaw and worked hard on our project. They removed our old lawn, installed flower beds and edging, moved sprinklers, added a drip system, and installed new grass. The finished product is beautiful."

Ralph Rino

Google Review

★★★★★

> "YLC has been very helpful planting our yard, installing our sprinkler system and adding trees. They work hard, stick with promised timelines, and have great suggestions for gardening needs!"

Jan Matthews

Tooele County

★★★★★

> "From estimate to completion communication was great, and the work was done quickly but thoroughly. And bonus - what nice people to have around!"

Kate Lambert

Google Review

Reviews shown are from our verified Google Business Profile.

Got questions?

## Design questions, answered

Do I need a design before installation?

For a small job like a sod replacement or a sprinkler repair, no. For a full yard, a redesign, or anything involving hardscape and grade changes, a design pays for itself. It stops expensive mid-build changes and makes sure the irrigation, drainage and planting all agree with each other.

Is the design fee credited toward the work?

In most cases yes, when you go ahead with installation through us. We confirm how that works in writing on your estimate so there is no ambiguity later.

How long does a landscape design take?

Typically a couple of weeks from the site visit to a plan you're happy with, depending on scope and how many revisions we go through. Larger properties and designs involving significant hardscape or grade work take longer.

What do I actually receive?

A plan showing bed lines, lawn areas, hardscape, planting with species named, edging, lighting layout where relevant, and hydrozones for irrigation. It's a document you can build from, including with someone else if you decide not to use us.

Can you design a water-wise or Localscapes-style yard?

Yes, and it's an increasingly common request. Localscapes principles, a central open shape, defined activity zones, planting beds and paths, work well here, and grouping plants by water need means the drip and spray zones make sense. Converting qualifying turf may also be rebate-eligible through Utah Water Savers.

Will you design around the trees I already have?

Yes. Mature trees are worth keeping. We work with the shade they cast, protect their root zones during any grading or hardscape work, and choose understorey planting that tolerates dry shade rather than fighting it.

Does Utah's alkaline soil limit what I can plant?

It narrows the list rather than closing it. Alkaline-tolerant and adapted species do best, and amendments broaden the options. We would rather specify a plant that thrives with normal care than one that needs constant intervention to survive.

Can you design just part of the yard?

Absolutely. Plenty of people start with the front yard, a park strip conversion, or a back-yard outdoor living area. We'll still look at the whole property so today's design doesn't box in what you do next year.

How much does landscape design cost?

Designs generally run from around $500 for a focused area up to roughly $3,500 for a large or complex property. The estimate is free and we agree the fee before any drawing starts.

### Still have a question?

Call or text us Monday to Friday, 8 to 6. We'll give you a straight answer, no pressure.

Call (385) 549-3038

[tel:+13855493038 →](tel:+13855493038)

 

Get a Free Estimate

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

## Related services

![YLC Landscaping crew installing a full new-build yard on bare builder dirt in a Utah subdivision](/images/misc/landscaping-crew-installing-a-full-new-build-yard-.webp)

### New-Construction Landscape Installation

Complete blank-dirt-to-finished-yard installs for new-build homes: grading, irrigation, sod, trees, edging and gravel in one coordinated project.

[New-Construction Landscape Installation →](/new-construction-landscaping/)

![Newly planted shade tree staked in a Utah front yard with a fresh mulch ring](/images/misc/newly-planted-shade-tree-staked-in-a-utah-front-ya.webp)

### Tree & Plant Installation

Professional tree, shrub and plant selection, placement and installation with proper bed prep and mulch for healthy establishment.

[Tree & Plant Installation →](/tree-plant-installation/)

![Decorative gravel bed with clean steel edging separating it from a green lawn in a Utah front yard](/images/misc/decorative-gravel-bed-with-clean-steel-edging-sepa.webp)

### Gravel & Edging

Decorative gravel and rock plus clean bed edging: steel, poly and concrete curbing for low-water, low-maintenance Utah landscapes.

[Gravel & Edging →](/gravel-edging/)

![YLC Landscaping crew completing landscape design on a Utah property](/images/hero/finished-designed-utah-landscape-with-layered-plan.webp)

Free on-site quotes, Mon–Fri 8–6

## Ready to get your design quoted?

Free on-site estimate with an itemized bid. Mon–Fri 8–6, across the Tooele and Salt Lake valleys.

Get a Free Estimate

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

Call or text (385) 549-3038

[tel:+13855493038 →](tel:+13855493038)

-   Licensed & insured
-   Itemized, line-by-line bids
-   Family-owned since 2018