COMPLETE FRONT-YARD DESIGN-BUILD · ST. MARY'S, SALT LAKE CITY
St. Mary's Front Yard Transformation — Belgard Walls, Custom Concrete & Fire Feature
Black Diamond rebuilt this East Bench rambler's front yard from the ground up: full demolition, custom concrete walks and patio, Belgard freestanding wall system, a custom gas fire feature, BioGrass drought-tolerant sod, Glover Nursery plantings, FX Luminaire lighting infrastructure, and new irrigation.
Project Overview
A 1962 East Bench Rambler Gets a Modern Front Court
In Salt Lake City's St. Mary's neighbourhood on the East Bench, mid-century ramblers sit on generous lots with Wasatch views. Many still carry original 1960s planting and irrigation that no longer match how families use the front of the house — or Utah's water reality.
In this St. Mary's neighbourhood property the existing condition was typical: large overgrown evergreens crowding the façade, a collection of cut stumps, patchy high-water turf, and a narrow walk that did little more than get people to the door. The lot sloped gently toward the street and had no defined outdoor living space.
Black Diamond removed the failing plant material and turf, regraded, and rebuilt the front as a contemporary court — a defined entry sequence, seating walls, a gathering fire court, and a landscape that can be maintained with far less water and labour.
Project Gallery
Before, During & After
Scope of Work
What We Built
Custom Concrete
Poured walks, steps, and patio slabs sized for furniture and circulation — the structural backbone of the new front court.
Belgard Wall System
Freestanding walls used as seat walls and spatial definers rather than tall retaining walls, creating a contained outdoor room without blocking mountain views.
Gas Fire Feature
Custom rectangular gas fire feature set into the hardscape as the focal point and gathering anchor of the new front court.
BioGrass Sod
TWCA-qualified drought-tolerant cultivars on the remaining lawn panels — substantially less water than conventional bluegrass once established.
Glover Nursery Planting
Trees, shrubs, and Butterfield Garden ground cover selected for low-water, four-season texture and neighbourhood scale.
FX Luminaire Lighting
Path lights, wall-wash fixtures, and fire-feature accent lighting so the space works after dark.
Irrigation
New system zoned separately for turf and drip beds — the foundation of long-term water efficiency.
Neighbourhood & Value
Neighbourhood Context & Value Impact
St. Mary's and the broader East Bench command a premium because of views, lot size, and proximity to downtown and the foothills. Homes on Wilton Way and nearby streets regularly list and sell in the $1.3M–$1.9M+ range. Buyers in this price band notice three things immediately: the condition of the front yard, whether the outdoor space is actually usable, and whether the landscape looks like it belongs on a $1.3M–$1.8M property.
A finished project like this typically supports a stronger first impression and faster showing-to-offer cycle, documented water reduction versus the prior high-input lawn and shrubs, added functional square footage as an outdoor living room, lower ongoing maintenance, and alignment with Salt Lake City and state water-wise expectations — increasingly a talking point in listings.
Materials & Partners
Common Questions
St. Mary's Landscape FAQ
Ready to transform your front yard?
We serve Salt Lake City, the East Bench, and the broader Wasatch Front. Tell us about your project and we'll put together a plan.