When it comes to boosting curb appeal, you don’t always need a massive budget or a professional crew. In fact, many Utah landscaping transformations happen over just one weekend—and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
If you’re ready to upgrade your outdoor space, these easy DIY yard upgrades will inspire you to grab a shovel, a bag of mulch, or a load of decorative rock. Below are 5 real-life before and after landscaping success stories from Salt Lake City that prove just how far a single project can go.
1. Sunnyside Avenue: Curb Appeal Reboot with Mulch and Curved Borders
Before: A patchy lawn with uneven edges and outdated straight borders
After: Smooth, curved edges filled with bark mulch and decorative chat gravel
This Salt Lake City curb appeal makeover cost under $300 and required just a few tools and an eye for curves. The homeowners used mulch and landscape rock from DIY Landscape Supply to outline garden beds and create contrast that instantly modernized the yard.
✅ Weekend Win: Added curved bender board borders and mulch in one day
2. Sugar House Backyard: Defined Garden Beds with Mulch and No Power Tools
Before: A cluttered backyard with undefined planting zones
After: Crisp mulch-edged garden beds framed by bender board
This DIY project shows that even low-maintenance landscaping in Utah can look designer-worthy. Using just bark mulch, bender board, and hand tools, the family carved out sleek garden edges that made their plants pop—and their backyard instantly more usable.
✅ Weekend Win: Edged and mulched 3 planting areas for under $150
3. Murray Ranch: Luxury Look with Gravel Edging
Before: A basic yard with grass growing right up to the concrete walkway
After: Clean gravel bands lining all paths, mimicking high-end resorts
A strategic use of gravel created a clean, symmetrical, and expensive-looking finish. These homeowners chose grey chat from DIY Landscape Supply to create linear lines that framed their grass, making it look intentional and upscale.
✅ Weekend Win: Laid 4 gravel strips in 2 days—no sod removal required
4. Rose Park Rental: Drought-Friendly Curb Appeal with Rock and Cactus
Before: A thirsty lawn that couldn’t survive Salt Lake City’s summer
After: A drought-tolerant landscape featuring gravel, cactus, and native plants
This transformation not only improved aesthetics but also reduced water bills. With decorative gravel and xeriscaping, this yard became a maintenance-free, eco-friendly standout in the neighborhood.
✅ Weekend Win: Replaced front lawn with gravel and rock mulch for under $400
5. Liberty Wells Front Porch: Flower Bed Makeover with Mulch and Edging
Before: Sparse flowers and weeds overtaking a narrow bed
After: Defined planting zones with fresh mulch and perennial flowers
A bag of mulch and a few flats of drought-tolerant plants turned this tiny flower bed into a welcoming entrance. The sharp edge and uniform mulch made it feel intentional and refreshed.
✅ Weekend Win: Total time: 6 hours. Total impact: dramatic.
What These Projects Teach Us
Each of these weekend landscaping projects in Salt Lake City proves one key truth: You don’t need to tear up your yard or spend thousands to make it beautiful.
From gravel yard ideas to DIY mulch beds, these fast wins deliver:
- Higher curb appeal
- Less watering and maintenance
- A more cohesive, finished look
Whether you live in Sugar House, Murray, or Rose Park, one weekend and the right materials can completely redefine your outdoor space.

Visit DIY Landscape Supply to find affordable mulch, gravel, and decorative rock—delivered across Salt Lake City.
Make next weekend the start of your landscape glow-up!
FAQs
Q: What’s the easiest landscape upgrade for beginners?
Mulch or gravel borders around existing planting beds are beginner-friendly and provide huge visual improvement.
Q: How much material do I need for a small front yard project?
Most small yards use 1–3 cubic yards of mulch or 2–4 tons of gravel. Use an online calculator to estimate based on square footage and depth.
Q: What’s the best rock for curb appeal in Utah?
Chat, grey fines, blonde chips, and crushed granite are popular choices for their clean, modern look.
Q: How quickly can materials be delivered in Salt Lake City?
DIY Landscape Supply offers fast delivery—often same or next day depending on location and quantity.