Preparing your property for landscape construction is the step most homeowners skip, and it is the one that causes the most delays, cost overruns, and frustration once work begins.
Call 811 before any ground is broken. This is not optional in Colorado. Utility lines run shallow in many Front Range neighborhoods, and a crew hitting a gas or irrigation line adds days to your project and money to your bill. We always confirm this is done before mobilizing equipment.
Walk your property and document what stays and what goes. Take photos. Mark trees, shrubs, or existing hardscape you want preserved. If you have a mature spruce or a flagstone path you want to keep, mark it clearly before the crew arrives. Do not assume it is obvious. We have seen too many "keep that" conversations happen after something is already removed.
Pull out your HOA guidelines if you live in a managed community. Many neighborhoods in the Longmont, Erie, and Brighton areas have approval requirements for construction projects, fence installations, and even plant material choices. Getting that approval before your install date saves weeks.
Landscape construction requires heavy equipment in most cases. Skid steers, compact excavators, and material deliveries need a clear path to the work area. Measure your gate opening before your consultation. A standard residential gate is 36 to 48 inches. Many machines need 60 inches or more to pass through without removal.
Move vehicles out of the driveway for the duration of the project. Concrete, boulders, and base material arrive on large trucks that need room to stage and unload. Blocking that access slows the crew down and adds time to your project.
Colorado clay soil makes grading and excavation harder than it looks on paper. In dry years, that clay bakes to near-concrete hardness by mid-summer. If your project is scheduled for late summer, expect that soil conditions will affect excavation time. This is not an excuse. It is a real variable we account for in our scheduling and pricing.
The single biggest source of project problems is a client who had one idea and a contractor who had a slightly different one. Before the crew shows up, review the plan one more time. Confirm grades, drainage directions, plant locations, and material selections. If something changed since your consultation, say so. A five-minute conversation before work starts is worth far more than a change order mid-project.
Set your irrigation system to off and note where your shut-off valves are located. We will need access to them. If your system is older or has zones you are unsure about, let us know during the pre-construction walkthrough. Damaged irrigation lines during construction are a common issue, and knowing the layout in advance helps us avoid them.
Budget for a small contingency. In Colorado, construction projects regularly turn up unexpected conditions once the ground is open. Old tree roots, buried concrete, drainage issues that were not visible from the surface. Experienced contractors plan for the known. Contingency money covers the surprises.
We have managed landscape construction projects across Northern Colorado since 2004, and the projects that go smoothly are almost always the ones where the homeowner came prepared. If you are ready to start planning your project, call us at (303) 774-9449 or contact us online.
