The Best Trees to Plant in Utah for Modern Landscape Design

May 20

Do you feel stuck selecting the best trees to plant in Utah for a modern landscape design? Trees are one of a yard's most prominent and eye-catching visuals. They offer privacy, ambiance, shade, beautiful aromas, and more when lush and healthy. Often, trees that are misplaced in a landscape design will die or need to be cut down. Roots can interfere with pipes and branches, and debris can fall onto roofs, leading to damage, or even worse, an entire tree can fall onto a home. In this guide, Land Design contractors share the best trees to plant in Utah that support your landscape design and tips for keeping them healthy—pairing functionality with beauty.

Climate and Soil are King

The Salt Lake City and Park City landscapes challenge a diverse climate and unique soil conditions. Seasonal variation influences not only temperature ranges and precipitation patterns but also the conditions in which trees can thrive.

Utah's soil is as varied as its climate. Valley soils are often sandy and quick to drain, while mountain soils can be rocky and thin. Calcareous (high in calcium carbonate) and saline soils are also common in certain areas, posing challenges such as nutrient lock-up and toxicity to plants not adapted to these conditions. These soil types require specific amendments and care to become viable for planting.

Given the predominance of arid conditions and the variability of soil types, selecting drought-resistant and native species is crucial for sustainable landscaping in Utah. Native trees and shrubs are ideally adapted to the local environment and require less water, fewer fertilizers, and fewer pesticides. Trees such as the Utah Juniper and Blue Spruce and shrubs like Sagebrush are well-suited to the local climate and can thrive with minimal intervention. Incorporating these plants into modern landscape designs ensures a lower maintenance garden, supports local biodiversity, and conserves resources.

Understanding Utah’s climate and soil is essential for success in landscaping plans. By choosing suitable trees and plants that are best adapted to the local environment, you can create a beautiful, sustainable, and resilient outdoor space.

Best Trees for Modern Landscape Design in Utah

Creating a modern landscape design in Utah's unique environment means selecting trees and shrubs that thrive under local conditions and contribute to a contemporary aesthetic. Integrating evergreen shrubs, deciduous trees, and ornamental trees can bring your outdoor spaces year-round visual interest and functionality.

Evergreen Shrubs

Types Suitable for Utah’s Climate:

Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma): This native shrub handles drought conditions well and provides dense foliage for privacy screens.
Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum): Similar to the Utah juniper but with a slightly more columnar growth, perfect for structured designs.
Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo): A small, rugged pine that is adaptable to a variety of soil types and is excellent for adding texture.

Benefits in Modern Landscape Designs: Evergreen shrubs offer several advantages in modern landscape designs. Their year-round greenery provides a constant backdrop, essential for maintaining aesthetic consistency throughout the seasons. They are also low maintenance, requiring minimal pruning and care once established, and can serve multiple functions, such as creating privacy, defining borders, and acting as windbreaks.

Deciduous Trees

Selection That Complements Modern Designs:

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides): Known for its striking white bark and fluttering leaves, it brings dynamic movement to any garden.
Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii): Offers spectacular fall color and a fast growth rate, making it a popular choice for modern landscapes.
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana): This tree has a smooth, muscular appearance and provides unique textural contrast and brilliant fall colors.

Aesthetic Benefits During Different Seasons: Deciduous trees add a temporal element to modern designs. In spring, they offer fresh foliage and flowers; in summer, they provide shade; and in autumn, they display vivid colors. Their changing appearance keeps the landscape visually engaging throughout the year and allows for creative layering in design.

Ornamental Trees

Highlighting Trees That Enhance Modern Aesthetics:

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum): Available in several varieties, these trees bring fine texture and dramatic color to smaller spaces typical of modern design.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): Known for its beautiful spring blooms and elegant form, perfect for adding a focal point.
Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'): This striking tree provides a bold blue-green hue that contrasts well against neutral modern color schemes.

Tips on Placement and Spacing: In modern landscape design, the placement and spacing of ornamental trees are crucial for achieving the desired aesthetic effect. It’s important to position these trees where they can be focal points, viewed from both inside and outside the home. Spacing should allow each tree to grow without overcrowding, maintaining the clean and open feel characteristic of modern design.

By carefully selecting and positioning these types of trees, homeowners and designers can craft a visually compelling and environmentally compatible landscape that embraces modern design principles.

Planting and Maintenance Tips

Creating a stunning and sustainable landscape in Utah starts with proper planting and diligent care. Here are essential guidelines to ensure healthy growth and lasting beauty in your modern landscape design.

Best Practices for Tree Planting in Utah

Right Time to Plant: The best times to plant trees in Utah are spring and fall. These seasons provide moderate temperatures that help roots establish without extreme cold or heat stress.
Choosing the Right Location: Consider the mature size of the tree to avoid overcrowding and ensure it has enough space to grow both above and below ground. Avoid planting too close to buildings, power lines, or other structures.
Preparing the Soil: Amend Utah’s native soil, which can be dense and poor in nutrients, with compost or a well-balanced soil mix to improve its texture, nutrient content, and drainage capabilities.
Planting Technique: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but just as deep. Ensuring the tree is not planted too deeply is crucial; the top of the root ball should be level with or slightly above the surrounding soil surface to prevent waterlogging.
Watering After Planting: Thoroughly water the tree after planting to settle the soil around the root ball and eliminate air pockets. Mulching around the base can help retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Ongoing Care Tips

Watering: Newly planted trees need regular watering to establish their roots. After establishment, watering needs may decrease, but monitoring soil moisture is essential, especially in Utah’s dry climate. Utilize drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the root zone where it’s most needed.
Pruning: Prune during the dormant season to shape the tree and remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. This helps maintain the tree’s structure, health, and appearance.
Disease and Pest Prevention: Regularly inspect trees for signs of stress, disease, or pests. Early detection is key to managing potential issues. Use appropriate fungicides or insecticides, considering organic options to minimize environmental impact.

Seasonal Care Variations

Spring: Assess winter damage and start regular watering as the temperatures rise. Apply a slow-release fertilizer to support new growth.
Summer: Continue watering, especially during hot, dry spells. Mulch can be particularly beneficial in summer, keeping roots cool and moist.
Fall: Prepare trees for winter by reducing watering and allowing trees to harden off. It’s also a good time for major pruning and planting new trees.
Winter: While active maintenance is reduced, occasional checks during warm spells ensure the trees are not stressed by the cold. Avoid mechanical damage from snow removal equipment or deicing salts.

Add Beautiful Trees to Your Yard

By carefully selecting trees well-suited to Salt Lake City and Park City’s specific climate and soil conditions—like the resilient Utah Juniper and the elegant Quaking Aspen—you can ensure that your landscape survives and thrives. Trees add more than aesthetic value; they offer practical benefits like enhancing privacy, providing shade, and even reducing energy costs by moderating local climate conditions around your home. Equipped with our insights into the best tree planting and maintenance practices, you are well-prepared to create a lush, healthy, and sustainable outdoor area.

Integrating evergreen shrubs, deciduous trees, and ornamental trees into your modern landscape design requires a thoughtful approach tailored to Utah's unique environmental specifics. This is your opportunity to transform your outdoor space into a visually stunning and highly functional modern design that harmonizes with Utah’s natural beauty. Whether you are embarking on a new project or looking to enhance an existing landscape, choosing the right trees is crucial to ensuring your space is beautiful and resilient.

To maximize the potential of your landscape project, consider working with a professional landscape architect. A skilled architect can help you create a comprehensive design that incorporates your specific site's ideal trees and plants, ensuring a seamless blend of form, function, and sustainability. **Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our expert landscape architects**, and start turning your vision for a modern, elegant outdoor space into reality.

Andrew Means