Landscaping Archives - Santa Rita Landscaping

Different Types of Gravel for Your Landscaping Project

Written by Santa Rita Landscaping on October 28, 2025. Posted in Landscaping.

Choosing the right rock for your yard can transform an outdoor space into something practical and visually appealing. Arizona homeowners often ask which types of gravel for landscaping will create the best balance of function, durability, and beauty.

Santa Rita Landscaping LLC provides expert residential landscaping services to Tucson and Phoenix area property owners. Below, you’ll learn what guides our expert advice on gravel selection.

What Makes Gravel a Smart Choice for Arizona Landscapes?

Gravel thrives in our desert climate because it conserves water, withstands the sun, and resists erosion during monsoon rains. It also reduces maintenance by keeping weeds at bay and blending seamlessly with native plants like cacti or agave. The key lies in selecting the right landscaping gravel types for each project.

Why Use Crushed Stone for Driveways and Paths?

When strength matters, homeowners rely on crushed stone for landscaping. This angular material locks together tightly, preventing shifting and rutting. That makes it the best gravel for driveways, parking pads, and high-traffic walkways.

Crushed granite in a “3/4 minus” blend compacts firmly, delivering long-lasting results that hold up to vehicles and Arizona’s extreme weather.

How Can Pea Gravel Add Comfort and Charm?

Smooth and rounded, pea-sized stones create an inviting surface that feels softer underfoot than angular gravel. Many homeowners choose pea gravel for gardens because it works beautifully as a mulch, providing drainage while adding natural color.

Others prefer pea gravel for patios because it offers a casual, relaxed look. With proper edging or stabilizing grids, it stays contained and creates a barefoot-friendly gathering space.

Where Do Decorative Gravel Options Make the Biggest Impact?

Arizona’s unique desert tones shine when you incorporate decorative gravel options. Choices include mid-tone crushed granite for groundcover, bold lava rock around succulents, or river rock for dry creek beds and drainage accents.

A thoughtful design might pair one dominant gravel with a striking accent for contrast. Work with a landscaping design expert who specializes in blending textures and colors so yards feel cohesive and never cluttered.

Which Gravel Types Handle Drainage Best?

During heavy desert downpours, the right stone protects your landscape. River rock and cobble work well in swales and splash zones because their rounded shapes direct water away from structures. Larger riprap offers powerful erosion control for steep grades or drainage channels. These practical solutions look natural while keeping your property safe.

How Do You Decide Between All the Gravel Choices?

Your decision depends on function, comfort, and style.

Use angular crushed stone where stability is essential, pea gravel where softness matters, and decorative blends where beauty takes center stage. For driveways, choose compaction. For gardens, think drainage. For patios, weigh ease of use against long-term maintenance.

Call Santa Rita Landscaping LLC for Expert Gravel Solutions

The team at Santa Rita Landscaping LLC has helped Arizona homeowners select from the best types of gravel for landscaping for more than 35 years. Look into our other posts on topics like the benefits of hardscaping for our yard.

Call our team today at (520) 623-0421 in Tucson or (602) 686-0292 in Phoenix to discuss an amazing landscape that thrives in Arizona’s desert climate.

5 Expert Tips for Landscape Lighting Placement

Written by Santa Rita Landscaping on August 28, 2025. Posted in Landscaping.

Outdoor lighting can make residential landscaping features stand out long after the sun goes down. However, many homeowners don’t know where to place landscape lighting for optimal results. Learn expert-approved tips in this guide from Santa Rita Landscaping LLC.

Why Should You Install Outdoor Landscape Lighting?

Who says outdoor lighting is strictly reserved for festive holiday displays? Professionals can install various bulbs around your property to enhance your landscape. Some of the biggest benefits for homeowners include:

Increased safety: Deck and pathway lighting reduce tripping hazards and improve your property’s security.
Improved curb appeal: Highlight beautiful outdoor features like fountains, flag poles, trees, and more.
Greater ambience: Spend more time outside and feel at peace under the soft glow of landscape lights.

Partner with experienced landscapers for the best results. Professionals use high-efficiency bulbs and expert design angles to give your exterior the ultimate nighttime appeal.

The Top 5 Spots for Landscape Lighting

Strategically installing outdoor lights makes your landscape look appealing even after the sun goes down. Find out where to place landscape lighting around your property with these expert ideas:

1. Beneath Your Home’s Eaves

Downlighting can be a striking way to illuminate portions of your home, such as the garage or other entryways. Installing lights that shine down from the roof’s eaves not only helps you navigate these areas at night but also makes your house clearly stand out from the street. This can deter intruders from approaching your home as well.

2. Along Pathways

The stone pathway leading to your garden should be visible at all times of the day. Pathway lighting is a subtle yet effective way to showcase walking areas around your property. Experts know how to space each bulb accordingly for ambient light with energy waste.

3. Near Unique Outdoor Features

Do you have a rock sculpture, statue, or other intriguing feature propped outside your home? Make it stand out with accent lighting. Landscapers can angle the bulb correctly so the light shines on certain focal points.

4. Near Trees or Plants

Perhaps you want to show off your flower beds or greenery around your home. Uplighting allows you to illuminate plants so they catch your eye. As the name implies, the light fixture is set on the ground and angled upward.

5. Next to Water Features

Ponds, fountains, and other water features set your landscape apart from the rest. Why should you only show them off during the day? Get creative with your outdoor lighting to make these features a focal point of your property.

For instance, uplighting can make waterfalls or fountains even more striking, or professionals can install LEDs directly inside the water to brighten ponds or pools at night.

Enhance Your Curb Appeal With Professional Landscaping Solutions

Now that you know where to place landscape lighting, why wait any longer to get started on your outdoor landscaping design project? Partner with Santa Rita Landscaping LLC for personalized solutions. Our team has years of industry experience and promises to leave your property looking better than ever.

How Long Does It Take To Grind a Tree Stump?

Written by Santa Rita Landscaping on July 28, 2025. Posted in Blog, General, Landscaping.

Stump grinding is a standard tree service in Tucson, AZ. The stumps represent the byproducts of tree removals, and property owners sometimes choose to remove them at a later time. So, how long does it take to grind a stump?

We provide top-tier arbor care at Santa Rita Landscaping LLC. If you’re searching for answers about how long to grind a tree stump, consult our guide below.

Why Grind Tree Stumps?

Stump grinding uses specialized equipment to quickly break down a tree’s remains. As the machinery works its way across the wood, it turns it into mulch and sawdust. The grinder eliminates the stump above ground as well as six to eight inches of material under the soil.

People sometimes leave stumps on their property to decompose naturally. The rotting process is slow, and the stump could add a rustic touch to the landscape. However, you might consider removing it for the following reasons:

The stump is currently rotting and attracting pests.
The tree’s remains take up space for landscaping or construction projects.
The stump and exposed roots create tripping hazards in your yard.
A new plant now grows from the stump.

What’s the Average Time for Stump Grinding?

Are you asking questions like “How long does it take to grind a stump?” before scheduling the service? In many cases, the process takes 30 to 60 minutes. However, no two situations are identical, so completing your project may take more or less time.

To better understand stump grinding timelines, consider the following factors that can affect or influence project times.

Equipment

The type of grinder you use to remove a stump is perhaps the biggest factor in determining removal timelines. If you rent a grinder to handle the task yourself, the equipment won’t have hydraulics. As such, you’ll need to rely heavily on manual labor, which will increase the time it takes to remove the stump.

On the other hand, hiring a tree care company to provide the service leads to faster results. Professionals use commercial-grade machinery with hydraulics.

Stump Condition

Rotting wood is usually softer than healthy wood. So, grinding a rotting stump won’t take as much time as grinding a fresh stump.

Wood Type

Tree species also contributes to stump grinding times. Common trees like maples, oaks, and other hardwoods have denser stumps. Softwoods, such as spruce and pine trees, break down more easily.

Stump Size

Stump size and grinding time go hand-in-hand. The bigger the stump you have to grind, the longer the process will take.

Get Rid of an Unwanted Tree Stump Today

How long does it take to grind a stump? The process can take up to an hour, but your project’s timeframe may vary depending on several factors.

Still, you can receive swift and effective tree care services at Santa Rita Landscaping LLC. Our full-service landscaping solutions include stump removal, custom landscape design, and arbor care. We also provide accurate stump grinding time estimates for each client’s unique situation.

To request services in Tucson, AZ, call (502) 623-0421 or reach our team in Phoenix at (602) 686-0292 today.

The Difference Between Tree Pruning and Tree Trimming

Written by Santa Rita Landscaping on May 28, 2025. Posted in Blog, Landscaping.

Many homeowners use “tree pruning” and “tree trimming” interchangeably, but did you know these techniques aren’t quite the same thing? It’s important to know the difference to ensure that you get the results you want from your tree care company.

Below, learn the difference between tree pruning vs. trimming, then call our team for professional tree service in Tucson, AZ.

What’s the Difference Between Pruning and Trimming?

How does tree pruning compare to trimming? The short answer is that trimming is akin to giving your tree a haircut, while pruning is like giving your tree an entirely new hairstyle. Essentially, trimming is for minor touch-ups and pruning is best for more drastic enhancements.

Here’s how these techniques differ in more detail.

What Is Tree Trimming?

Does your tree look a bit rangy and raggedy? Maybe it’s too bushy or the ends of the branches are growing at weird angles. If you don’t like how your tree looks, tree trimming is the perfect technique for you.

Arborists primarily perform trimming for aesthetic reasons, just like you might get a trim at the barber to freshen up your look. Tree companies can use trimming to shape your tree, control its growth habit, and make it look more manicured. As an added benefit, regular pruning helps prevent harmful insects from making their home in your tree.

Wondering when to trim trees? Arborists recommend trimming in late winter or early spring to avoid harming tender new growth.

What Is Tree Pruning?

If you’re looking to get more drastic results for your tree, consider pruning. What is pruning, and what’s the difference between tree pruning vs. trimming?

This technique entails removing weak, dead, or diseased branches to improve your tree’s overall health. Pruning can involve shaping your tree to improve its structure or removing branches from a crowded canopy.

Arborists know how to prune trees using a variety of techniques, including:

Canopy raising: This technique involves removing the lower branches to gradually raise your tree’s canopy.
Canopy thinning: Canopy thinning entails removing crowded branches in the center of the tree’s canopy to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration. The technique can also strengthen your tree against strong winds and destructive storms.
Canopy cleaning: Canopy cleaning removes dead, weak, and diseased branches so they don’t impact the tree’s health.

Like tree trimming, experts recommend pruning your tree from late winter through early spring. However, a skilled tree company can perform pruning any time of year if necessary.

Need Reliable Tree Care in Tucson? Call Our Expert Arborists

Now that you’ve learned the difference between tree pruning vs. trimming, which service do you need? Both trimming and pruning offer benefits for your tree, from improving its beauty to keeping it healthy and strong.

If you can’t decide between pruning or trimming, call the certified arborists at Santa Rita Landscaping LLC. We’re experts at pruning roses, trees, hedges, and more. To schedule your tree service in Tucson, contact us at (520) 623-0421 today.

Commercial Landscape Maintenance Checklist for Spring

Written by Santa Rita Landscaping on March 30, 2025. Posted in Landscaping.

After a harsh winter, you might need to tackle multiple projects to prepare your business for spring and summer. Don’t forget to make time for your commercial landscape maintenance checklist.

Our experts in landscape maintenance in Tucson, AZ, are ready to serve you. We can suggest several tasks for you to consider to make your commercial property as enticing to customers as possible.

Inspect for Winter Damage

If you live in an area with snow and ice during winter, you may have some property damage to deal with once the snow melts. You could have broken branches from the weight of ice, or snowblowers might have gouged areas in the grass. Perhaps a snow plow hit a retaining wall, and the damage wasn’t visible until the spring thaw or your underground irrigation system had frozen lines that burst during winter and now need replacement.

Clean and Prepare the Property

Spring cleanup is a key service our landscapers provide. Some of the work we do for you includes:

Remove fallen twigs and sticks
Rake any leftover leaves
Look for hardscape damage
Clean up wind-blown trash

If you have areas where you want new retaining walls or would like to replace gravel with mulch, we’re the team for the job.

We inspect the lawn and trees for early signs of winter diseases. By spotting these issues now, we can begin treatment immediately to minimize the spread.

Add Mulch and Fertilizer

A key step in a commercial landscape maintenance checklist is adding mulch. A fresh, thick layer of mulch can prevent weeds from gaining a foothold, reducing maintenance requirements. Fresh mulch also improves aesthetics, creating a property that’s inviting for customers.

For lawn or garden areas, fertilization is important in the spring. Giving grass, flowers, and trees the nutrients they need for spring growth yields greener landscaping.

Bring in New Landscaping Elements

If you have ideas for improving the look of the property, we can help bring your vision to life. Whether you want to plant new trees, add areas of grass, or bring in new hardscaping, we’ll put your plans in motion.

Spring is the best time to create new landscaping elements, as it gives your new plants time to establish themselves during this natural time for growth.

During our slow winter season, we can discuss future landscaping projects. This will enable us to order materials and plants so everything is ready to go as soon as spring arrives.

Let Santa Rita Landscaping Prepare Your Property for the Growing Season and Beyond

At Santa Rita Landscaping, our experts take the stress out of preparing your property for spring. We’ll speak with you to develop a commercial landscape maintenance checklist that’s tailored to your property and your business needs. Our experts handle mowing, pruning, mulching, and weed control so you can create an area you’ll be proud to show off to customers.

To set up an appointment to discuss commercial landscaping ideas for your property, call us today at (520) 623-0421.