Landscaping your yard can be exciting—until it turns into an expensive headache. Across Salt Lake City, homeowners often unknowingly make decisions that seem harmless at first… but end up costing thousands in repairs, replacements, or even complete do-overs.

Whether you’re planning a full backyard makeover or just refreshing your flower beds, knowing what landscaping mistakes to avoid can save you time, money, and frustration. In this post, we’ll cover real examples of DIY landscaping fails, explain why they happen, and share how you can avoid these common landscaping errors.

1. Overplanting in the Wrong Places

One of the most expensive yard mistakes in Utah is planting trees or shrubs too close to foundations, fences, or utility lines. That little evergreen might look cute now—but in five years, it could crack your driveway or invade your home’s drainage system.

Why it happens: Many homeowners underestimate how large plants will grow and don’t account for root systems or branch spread.

How to avoid it:

• Research mature size before planting
• Maintain a 5–10 ft buffer between structures and large plants
• Stick to Utah-native plants for better growth and easier maintenance

2. Ignoring Soil Conditions

Salt Lake City has a range of soil types, from clay-heavy foothills to rocky valley plots. Ignoring your yard’s soil health is a landscaping mistake Salt Lake City professionals see constantly.

Why it happens:
People assume any bag of “topsoil” or fill dirt will work. But poor drainage and low organic content lead to stunted plants and constant watering.

How to avoid it:

• Test your soil before planting
• Add screened topsoil and compost to build healthy ground
• Buy bulk materials locally from reliable suppliers

Need premium soil delivered? Check out DIY Landscape Supply for compost, topsoil, and garden soil blends trusted across Salt Lake.

3. DIY Retaining Walls Without a Drainage Plan

Nothing looks worse—or fails faster—than a poorly built retaining wall. We’ve seen homeowners in East Millcreek spend over $6,000 redoing DIY walls that collapsed after one winter.

Why it happens:
Many underestimate the power of water buildup and skip basic wall drainage techniques.

How to avoid it:

• Use proper gravel backfill and drainage pipe
• Build walls with the correct slope and height ratios
• Consult a pro for anything over 3 feet high

4. Laying Sod on Top of Weeds or Hardpan

Fresh sod looks amazing—for about a month—until the roots fail to establish. This happens often in new builds or flip homes where contractors try to cut corners.

Why it happens:
Skipping soil prep and laying sod directly on compacted or weed-covered ground leads to shallow roots and dead patches.

How to avoid it:

• Till and level soil before sod installation
• Apply a layer of topsoil and compost
• Water deeply to help roots grow down, not sideways

5. Overusing Weed Barrier Fabric

This is one of the most misleading “solutions” in landscaping. While it sounds like a good idea, weed barrier fabric often causes more problems than it solves.

Why it happens:
People believe fabric blocks all weeds, but it usually breaks down, traps moisture, and still allows aggressive weeds to grow through.

How to avoid it:

• Use mulch, gravel, or chat fines as natural weed suppression
• Pull weeds manually or spot treat organically
• Skip fabric in flower beds and let soil breathe

Want to upgrade your mulch game? Explore premium bark mulch and decorative gravel from DIY Landscape Supply.

6. Skipping Edging or Containment

One of the most common landscaping errors is underestimating how fast mulch, gravel, and soil will spread without edging. It might look great on day one, but within weeks, your flower beds are spilling into the lawn.

Why it happens:
Homeowners skip borders thinking they’re optional. But edging defines space and keeps things clean.

How to avoid it:

• Install bender board, bricks, or steel edging
• For low-cost projects, use chat fines as a neat, durable separator
• Re-edge beds annually as part of seasonal yard prep

7. Not Planning for Water Flow or Snow Melt

In Salt Lake City, landscape disasters often come from poor water management—not just irrigation but rainfall, snowmelt, and slope runoff. Without proper grading or French drains, water ends up pooling near homes or flooding beds.

Why it happens:
DIYers focus on looks, not flow. Landscaping should always work with the land, not against it.

How to avoid it:

• Grade your yard away from your home
• Use gravel trenches or dry creek beds to move water
• Avoid planting in low spots unless it’s a rain garden

FAQs

What’s the most common landscaping mistake in Salt Lake City?
Overplanting or poor soil prep. These lead to dying plants, overwatering, and expensive rework.

Is weed barrier fabric a good idea?
Not usually. It breaks down over time and can trap moisture. Mulch or gravel works better long-term.

Can I build a retaining wall myself?
Yes—for small walls under 3 feet. Just make sure you include drainage rock and proper slope.

How can I save money on landscaping?
Buy materials in bulk from local suppliers. Avoid contractor markups and DIY where possible with the right prep.

Where can I get gravel, mulch, and topsoil delivered in Salt Lake City?
DIY Landscape Supply delivers across the Salt Lake Valley and offers everything from chat fines to compost.

Ready to avoid costly landscaping disasters? Start with the right materials. Order bulk mulch, topsoil, gravel, edging, and more from DIY Landscape Supply—Salt Lake City’s trusted source for quality landscaping products.