As the owners of this Utah home pondered their future landscape, they had a clear goal: Create a fun space they’ll never have to leave. This property outside of Salt Lake City has room to entertain groups of any size. It also has a river and numerous plantings. Sunline Landscapes, based in Bluffdale, Utah, was brought in to install and maintain this complex site. Their efforts led to them winning a 2025 Gold Award of Excellence.
“Winning this award means a great deal to our entire team, but especially to the crews who are out there putting in the work every week,” says Taylor Anderson, systems development and growth manager. “They are the ones paying attention to the small details, adapting to the changing needs of the property, and consistently delivering the level of care it takes to maintain a landscape of this scale. Having that work recognized nationally reinforces that their effort, skill, and attention to detail do not go unnoticed. It also reflects our core purpose, ‘To create an environment that inspires and brings people together.’”
With over 30,000 square feet to maintain, this property was designed to have distinct rooms that connect the whole site.
“The scale of the property is one of the biggest challenges we manage week to week, but it’s also the level of detail within that scale,” Anderson says. “Each area of the landscape is unique and requires a different type of care, from specialty plant material and detailed garden spaces to water features, pathways, gathering areas, and large expanses of turf.”
The river was already in place before the install, making it a highlight of the new design. From a maintenance standpoint, the river and pond features require constant attention to keep the pump running and the water clear of debris. These steps also keep the fish healthy. And it’s not just the homeowners who are affected by the river. City residents have public access that requires the river to be in good shape. A large waterfall was installed near the pond to add another layer to the backyard.
Certain areas of the home required careful planning to ensure smooth maintenance. One example is the playground area, where synthetic turf has been installed to eliminate mowing. Turf wash is used 2-3 times per year to keep the grass clean.
Understanding each area is key to keeping the landscape consistent and anticipating problems before they appear.
“Because our construction team originally built the project, we are able to work closely across teams when improvements are needed, making sure new additions or adjustments blend seamlessly with what is already there,” Anderson says.
In the original design, Sunline focused on making the workflow efficient for the maintenance team.
“That connectivity allows our crews to move through the property efficiently and follow a natural progression during each visit,” Anderson adds.
Before each season begins, the team reviews the property’s needs and creates a weekly plan for each crew to ensure consistent results. If problems come up, they can shift priorities with minimal disruption.
The home’s design features many hard edges and angles, which continue near the pools and other hardscape areas. Annual plantings help soften the feel while adding bright, tropical colors for relaxing by the pool. Specimen trees, perennials, and groundcovers line the walkways and waterfall path to add more greenery.
Interested in participating in the Awards of Excellence? Contact the NALP Awards team!
