Salt Lake City sits in a valley framed by the Wasatch Range on one side and the Great Salt Lake basin on the other, giving landscape architects here a distinct set of challenges: arid summers, heavy winter snow load, and dramatic elevation shifts within a single lot. The best firms in the city have learned to design for that range of conditions, building outdoor spaces that are as water-wise as they are livable. The eight firms below have earned strong reputations for landscapes that work with Utah's climate rather than against it.
1. EBD Studios
Overview
EBD Studios brings its landscape architecture practice to Salt Lake City with a design approach rooted in craftsmanship and close attention to site conditions. Their team studies a property's terrain, light, and materials before design begins, resulting in landscapes that feel purpose-built for their location rather than dropped in from a template.
Why They Stand Out
EBD Studios stands out for the depth of intention behind every design decision. They treat the outdoor space as a true extension of the home, balancing hardscape, planting, and grade changes into a cohesive whole. Clients repeatedly highlight their precision and their ability to turn a homeowner's vision into a space that feels both livable and lasting.
2. VODA Landscape Design
Overview
VODA is an urban design firm based in downtown Salt Lake City, specializing in landscape architecture, community planning, urban design, and site design. Their work spans both private landscapes and broader community planning efforts.
Why They Stand Out
VODA's reputation comes from its holistic approach to sustainability and community-scale thinking. Clients who want a landscape considered in the context of its neighborhood, not just its property line, are drawn to their planning-informed perspective.
3. G Brown Design
Overview
G Brown Design, Inc. is an award-winning site and landscape architecture firm serving clients throughout Salt Lake City and the surrounding region. Their portfolio reflects a range of residential and site-specific work.
Why They Stand Out
G Brown Design is recognized for its award-winning body of work and its ability to handle site-level complexity with a practiced hand. Homeowners with challenging lots often seek them out for their technical site expertise as much as their design sensibility.
4. Pendleton Design Management
Overview
Founded by Steve Pendleton in 1985, Pendleton Design Management is one of the most established landscape design/build firms in the Salt Lake City area, with decades of regional experience.
Why They Stand Out
Pendleton's longevity is its calling card. Nearly four decades in the market have given the firm a deep familiarity with Utah's climate and terrain, and clients value the continuity of working with a firm that has weathered the region's design trends and construction cycles.
5. CRSA
Overview
CRSA is a multidisciplinary architecture, planning, interior design, and landscape architecture firm based in Utah, with more than 60 professionals on staff, including licensed planners and landscape architects.
Why They Stand Out
CRSA's scale and range set it apart. Their in-house mix of architects, planners, and landscape architects allows them to take on institutional, civic, and large-scale projects with a level of coordination smaller firms can't match, while still applying a sustainability-first approach to every design.
6. Sage's Way Landscape Design
Overview
Sage's Way Landscape Design creates water-wise, low-maintenance outdoor spaces built specifically for Utah's arid climate, with an emphasis on native plantings, edible gardens, and wildlife habitats across the Salt Lake City and Intermountain West area.
Why They Stand Out
Sage's Way is known for its holistic, organic design philosophy that minimizes water, chemicals, and energy use. Clients drawn to sustainable, low-input landscapes appreciate their focus on gardens that are built to thrive over the long term rather than requiring constant upkeep.
7. Eden's Garden Design
Overview
Eden's Garden Design provides plant-driven landscape designs for residential properties across the greater Salt Lake and Utah County areas, led by a team with a Master's degree in Horticulture.
Why They Stand Out
Eden's Garden Design distinguishes itself through horticultural expertise. Their plant-first approach means species selection and long-term plant health are central to every design, appealing to clients who want a landscape that reads as a true garden suited to Utah's specific growing zones.
8. In-Site Design Group
Overview
In-Site Design Group (ISDG) is a full-service landscape architecture and land planning firm based in American Fork, serving Salt Lake City and clients across several Western states.
Why They Stand Out
ISDG's reach across Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and beyond reflects a firm built for larger, multi-jurisdictional projects. Clients with land planning needs alongside design work benefit from their combined expertise in both disciplines.
