Landscape Design, Renovation & Installation in Littleton, CO
Residential landscape design, renovation, and installation for Littleton properties, including patios, retaining walls, turf, planting, irrigation, lighting, and fencing planned around the existing features worth keeping and the conditions that need to change.
Tell us about the yard as it stands today and what you would like to renew, and we will follow up with next steps.
Custom Landscapes by Design provides residential landscape design, renovation, and installation for Littleton properties, from one focused improvement to a complete backyard transformation. On an established property, the first decision is not what to remove but what remains useful: mature trees, sound hardscape, functional walls, healthy planting, and irrigation components that can support the new plan. We evaluate those existing conditions first, then coordinate the grade, drainage, surfaces, planting, irrigation, lighting, and fencing needed to make the yard function as one complete outdoor space.
Plan the yard as one connected space
Residential landscape design begins with the way outdoor gathering areas, patios, walkways, and circulation should connect to the house and yard. The plan coordinates existing elevations, grade transitions, drainage, retaining features, lawn or artificial turf, mature trees and planting where present, new trees and shrubs, irrigation, landscape lighting, residential fencing, and privacy.
Utility routes and construction access are considered before selective demolition begins. Useful existing features can remain when they are healthy, sound, and compatible with the new design, but failed features are not preserved simply because they are already there. New elevations, drainage, materials, and systems must connect correctly to every part that remains.
A focused landscape project can solve one defined problem without rebuilding the entire yard. A complete-yard renovation can coordinate broader changes, and one complete design can guide practical phases and construction sequencing when needed. Newer or less-developed Littleton properties can also receive a complete initial landscape installation planned around their actual conditions.
Every service below is available as part of a coordinated yard renovation or as a focused scope, planned around the features, surfaces, and systems that are appropriate to retain.
Where existing concrete is damaged or no longer fits the layout, we coordinate selective demolition and install patios, walks, or steps to meet the elevations that remain. Subgrade preparation, a properly compacted base, drainage, reinforcement, and joints are planned for the application and Colorado freeze-thaw conditions.
Paver patios and walkways can create a durable finished surface while connecting new outdoor living areas to hardscape that remains. Installation includes excavation as needed, subgrade preparation, compacted aggregate base, drainage planning, bedding, edge restraint, and patterns fitted to the property and surrounding landscape.
Where a slope needs support or an existing wall has failed, a retaining wall can create usable transitions and protect the surrounding plan. Demolition, footing or base preparation, wall height, backfill, drainage, and tie-ins to existing grade are coordinated for the actual condition and any engineering requirements.
Artificial turf can provide a defined lawn, play area, dog run, or putting surface where it suits the homeowner's use and the site. The work coordinates removal where needed, subgrade, a compacted free-draining base, edge conditions, seams, and transitions to retained beds, walks, or hardscape.
Planting renovation begins by evaluating healthy trees and shrubs that may remain, then locating new sod, trees, shrubs, and beds around light, drainage, irrigation, mature size, and homeowner goals. Soil preparation and finish grading help new lawn and planting connect cleanly to retained features.
Existing irrigation is evaluated before the landscape changes so useful components can remain where practical and failed or incompatible parts can be replaced. Sprinkler and drip zones, mains, valves, sleeves, coverage, and controls are coordinated with the renewed lawn, planting beds, grade, and hardscape.
A built-in fire pit can anchor an outdoor gathering area when the patio layout, seating, clearances, and property conditions support it. The surround, adjacent surfaces, drainage, and fuel route where applicable are planned together, with underground routing coordinated before finished hardscape closes the ground.
Low-voltage landscape lighting can support circulation, steps, gathering areas, planting, and evening use without assuming every yard needs the same fixture plan. Conduit and wire routes are coordinated before hardscape where possible, then path, step, and accent fixtures are placed, aimed, and shielded for the finished layout.
Residential wood, vinyl, and rail fencing can add privacy, manage access, or replace a fence that is no longer serviceable. Layout uses confirmed boundary information and coordinates gates, equipment access, utilities, drainage, planting, hardscape, and grade transitions, with address-specific requirements identified before installation.
Certification supports informed product selection and installation planning for paver patios, walkways, and connected outdoor living spaces.
View our Techo-Bloc contractor profileOne company for a coordinated renovation
Custom Landscapes by Design serves Littleton from its Parker base. Owner Aaron Sandefur brings nine years in landscaping, including residential landscape design, project planning, and substantial residential landscape construction. The company handles focused residential improvements and complete outdoor renovations.
One team can coordinate selective demolition, grading, drainage, hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting, and fencing as needed for the scope. Coordinating the work through one landscape company helps new systems connect to retained features and creates a clear construction sequence for each phase within the overall plan.
Professional qualifications include QWEL certification, Castle Rock landscaper certification, and authorized Techo-Bloc Techo-Pro status.
Request a free on-site estimate to walk the property with us and define a practical scope for your focused improvement, phased work, or complete backyard renovation.
Renovation, not a patch
A single damaged feature can remain a focused project. When several related problems appear together, such as drainage affecting a patio, grade affecting a wall, or irrigation no longer matching the lawn and planting, a coordinated landscape renovation may be more practical than a series of disconnected repairs.
The renovation plan considers how drainage, grade, surfaces, planting, and irrigation affect one another. It corrects underlying causes instead of covering them with new finishes, while sound existing elements remain when their condition and position support the new plan. An established property does not automatically need a complete renovation.
Coordinate the work below the finish
A renovation sequence protects retained features, gives underground systems room to be installed, and establishes final elevations before finish landscaping closes the site. The exact sequence is adjusted to the property, access, engineering, and scope.
The first phase identifies what stays, protects retained trees and features, performs selective demolition where needed, and establishes construction access. The exact work depends on the property and the defined project scope.
Rough grading, drainage, retaining work, and underlying structural conditions are addressed before finish surfaces. Retaining-wall timing can vary with access, engineering, and the way the wall supports the rest of the construction.
Sleeves, irrigation mains, valves, lighting conduit, fuel routes where applicable, and other underground connections are coordinated while the ground remains open. This avoids cutting through new patios and walks to reach systems that should have been installed first.
Patios, walks, and other hardscape establish final elevations before lawn or artificial turf, planting, irrigation completion, lighting fixtures, fencing, and finish work complete the renovation. Not every project includes every step.
What can remain
Mature trees where present, healthy planting, sound patios and walkways, and functional retaining walls can give a renovated landscape useful structure from the start. Preservation depends on health, structural condition, compatibility with the new design, and homeowner goals. Keeping a failed element is not automatically less expensive once repair, protection, and adaptation are considered.
Features should remain only when they support the renovated landscape. Retained elements are protected during selective demolition and grading, and their fixed elevations, root zones, edges, and connections guide the new work around them.
Outdoor living that fits the yard
A backyard renovation can create comfortable patio space sized for furniture, cooking, and gathering while improving the connection between the house and yard. Fire features, walkways, seating, and landscape lighting can extend how the space is used into the evening when they fit the property and homeowner goals.
Coordinating outdoor-living improvements with other renovation work can reduce duplicated demolition, trenching, or construction access. Patio elevations, furniture layout, fire-feature clearances and fuel routing where applicable, lighting conduit, planting, and circulation can be resolved together before finished surfaces limit access.
A proposal based on the property
Renovation pricing reflects the property's existing conditions, selective demolition, protection of retained features, connections to existing elevations, materials and quantities, access, grade and drainage, and underground systems. Reusing a sound feature can be practical, but repair, protection, adaptation, or replacement decisions depend on its actual condition and the new scope.
A complete plan can organize phased construction while allowing the scope and pricing of each phase to be confirmed before that work begins. A free on-site estimate documents the property and proposed work, leading to a property-specific proposal for the scope you are considering.
What shapes the scope
We document existing patios, walks, walls, planting, turf, irrigation, lighting, and fencing along with grade, drainage, access, and known utility routes. The estimate identifies features that may remain and those that may need repair or replacement based on condition and the proposed work.
The plan starts with how you want to gather, cook, play, manage pets, create privacy, and move between the house and yard. We also discuss maintenance preferences, lawn or artificial turf needs, planting goals, and evening use so the finished layout supports everyday life.
Requirements depend on the property, jurisdiction, association where applicable, and proposed scope. We identify requirements that apply and can prepare project information for the homeowner's submission where appropriate, while approval decisions and timelines remain with the reviewing body or governmental authority.
From site visit to handoff
The on-site visit establishes the homeowner's goals and documents grade, drainage, access, existing features, utilities, and address-specific requirements that may affect the work.
Retained features are selected based on condition, compatibility, and homeowner goals, while the design coordinates everything being repaired, replaced, or added. A focused project receives a complete design for its defined scope and does not require rebuilding the entire yard.
Where the scope requires them, the sequence begins with protection, selective demolition, construction access, and rough grading. Drainage, structural retaining work, sleeves, utility routes, irrigation mains, and conduit are coordinated while the ground is open. Hardscape surfaces then establish the main elevations before lawn or turf, planting, lighting fixtures, fencing, and finish work complete the renovation.
The handoff covers completed spaces and the systems included in the scope, including irrigation programming where applicable, planting-establishment guidance, lighting controls, gates, materials, care priorities, and other installed features.
Landscape transformations
These company-wide examples show how grading, drainage, retaining features, lawn, and planting can transform unfinished or underused ground into a complete outdoor space.
Grading, retaining, lawn, rock, and planting transform unfinished sloped ground into a more usable finished landscape.
A patio, fire feature, seating wall, and planting turn open ground into a coordinated outdoor gathering space.
Verified Google Reviews
“The team did an amazing job from start to finish. They were flexible with the design ask as well as shared input and expertise that made the overall design better. They delivered on time with a great quality finish and we couldn’t be happier!”
“The Custom Landscape team did an amazing job with the new concrete landscaping addition to our patio and backyard. We’ve used them before and there isn’t another company we’d look to for future business!”
“Custom Landscape by Design has a high level of knowledge and skill. I was very pleased with the professionalism and the quality work I received in my yard. Aaron is an excellent landscape designer and very dependable.”
“Custom Landscapes by Design did a phenomenal job fixing our landscaping and a drainage problem caused by another company’s work. Aaron installed French drains, backfilled eroded soil and rock, and restored our existing landscape. I fully recommend his company.”
“Custom Landscapes by Design is a great company and I would recommend it for any landscaping jobs, from irrigation to installation. Aaron in particular is super knowledgeable and friendly.”
“Professional from start to finish with Aaron and his team. Took the time to meet in person and review the plan for our full backyard project. 100% would recommend Aaron to anybody looking to remodel their backyard.”
“I reached out to multiple businesses to get a quote to xeriscape my front yard. I was referred to Custom Landscapes by Design by a neighbor and they were fantastic from the get go. Aaron was very professional, never made me feel like I was being sold something, and was super easy to work with. They just finished the job and it looks amazing. Very happy with my experience!”
No. Features can remain when they are healthy, structurally sound, compatible with the new design, and worth preserving for your goals. The site visit helps determine what stays, what changes, and what is removed, and the renovation design is then built around the appropriate retained features.
Phasing is possible when the design, site, and scope support it. We develop the complete plan first so drainage and underground routes can be handled early, future connection points can be established, and a later phase does not require unnecessary removal of completed work.
Yes. The design can define what stays, what changes, the correct construction order, the current phase, and potential future phases. Future pricing, scheduling, and construction availability are confirmed when each later phase is ready to move forward.
Pricing reflects existing conditions, selective demolition, protection of retained features, repair or replacement decisions, access, grade and drainage, materials and quantities, underground work, and connections to existing elevations and systems. A free on-site estimate leads to a property-specific proposal for the defined scope.
Planning and design can begin before construction. The practical construction schedule depends on weather, ground conditions, access, project scope, required reviews, and material availability, while planting is timed to support establishment. The estimate and design process help determine a workable schedule for the property.
Share the property and what you would like to change, and we will schedule a free on-site estimate for a focused improvement, phased project, or complete landscape renovation.