Irrigation System
Jim Puffer Landscape installs automatic irrigation systems that are designed with precision to ensure 100% total coverage. As a company we feel it is imperative to separate the planter bed areas within the irrigation system from the lawn area. Lawn areas typically require three times as much water as do planter areas.
We also recommend that all irrigation materials used within a landscape be commercial grade Rain-Bird brand products. Rain-Bird heads in planter areas should be pop-up design heads and not riser shrub heads. Pop-up heads in planter areas need to be installed closer than normal (approximately 5'-9' centers). This is done so that heads will never need to be raised down the road, thus preventing expensive alterations and maintenance to the sprinkler system. Lawn area heads should be either pop-up spray heads or pop-up large radius heads. These heads also need to be spaced closer than normal, thus producing 80-100% overlap to ensure that there are no brown spots in the lawn.
We also install Rain-Bird's finest timer, filter, automatic valves, hose bibs, and valve boxes. Pure virgin black polyethylene pipe is installed in both the main lines and lateral lines. This high quality pipe has a 50 year manufacture warranty that guarantees the pipe against freezing, rot, or corrosion. One-half inch polyethylene funny pipe with funny ells are installed on all heads to provide flexibility to the heads. Drip irrigation is recommended for planter-grow boxes on a separate independent valve. Trenches for pipe and wire are dug at a minimum depth of 12"-18" so that pipe and wires are protected and can not be easily damaged. Some landscape companies actually sub-contract the irrigation system to a sub-contractor. We at Jim Puffer Landscape believe that the irrigation system is the fundamental heart of the landscape and should never be sub-contracted.
Rock Retaining Walls, Staircases, Keystone Retaining Walls
Rock retaining walls have become increasingly popular in Utah typically because rock retaining work is normally significantly cheaper than concrete foundation walls, ties or keystone. Aesthetically, rock retaining walls are much more natural and require less technical engineering. If rock is desired, Jim Puffer Landscape has a rock division where rock can be installed. Rock walls not only retain but are also designed and installed with great creativity and effect. Rock staircases can also be implemented to give greater character and personality to a landscaped yard. Water features built with rock also add great character to a yard. Prices may vary depending on rock color, size, and the location from where the rock is shipped. Jim Puffer Landscape is also well versed in the installation of keystone which is a concrete block retaining system. Geo-grid as well as anchoring rods are necessary with block retaining walls to promote integrity and strength to the wall.
Dry Stack Walls, Flagstone, Cobble Patios and Pathways
Originating in Europe, dry stack flagstone walls have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially the east coast. Jim Puffer Landscape is well qualified, trained and experienced in the installation of dry stack walls which have become part of our signature landscapes. Dry stack walls used as an accent set your home's landscape apart from the ordinary.
Flagstone or cobble patios, pathways, and fire pits can also be incorporated in creating simplicity and class with a taste of old Europe.
Grade work
Our grade work typically consists of the removal of weeds and undesirable debris, the cutting of existing grades, the ripping of the existing ground, the movement of top soil throughout the property as well as the berming and mounding of top soil.
Border
Border is used to separate the lawn from the planter beds, thus keeping the lawn from encroaching into the planters. Two types of borders are recommended. The first is Ryson metal edging which is a powder coated metal border that is ¼" thick and 4" in depth. It is very heavy in weight and is of extremely high quality. This metal border is bent into position to fit planters throughout the landscape. Metal stakes are used to secure the border to the ground. By using this product, the border is less noticeable and a cleaner look and appearance is achieved. We, at Jim Puffer Landscape believe that the border should be an accent to the landscaping and not a focal point. Metal border installed correctly achieves this concept.
Some of our clients may request cement border as an edger and separator. Cement border is available in many styles and colors, including texture stamping. We, at Jim Puffer Landscape can install metal border or cement curbing.
Soil Pep Mulch and Pre-emergent Herbicides
Prior to plant installation, Jim Puffer Landscape recommends that soil pep conditioner be tilled into all planter beds. Most of our competitors simply place soil pep or bark mulch on the top of the planter bed, where it usually blows away and not effective in weed control. We also recommend that herbicides (see Puffer Maintenance Manual) be installed monthly to prevent weed germination.
Evergreen and Deciduous Trees
Another division of Jim Puffer Landscape is our new 12 acre tree farm located in West Layton where we are currently planting and growing many varieties of deciduous trees. These trees are of the highest quality. We also hand select and purchase trees from Oregon and local reputable nurseries to ensure high quality.
In regard to evergreens, many of our clients desire narrow, columnar, layered evergreen conifers. This look is unique and clean and typically a homeowner will not have to worry about these trees growing too large and out of proportion since these trees grow very slowly. In the higher elevations of Utah, both narrow, columnar, layered spruce and fir grow natively and many Utahns have grown to love this look. Unfortunately however, these trees are not available for sale through Utah nurseries. Therefore, through great work and research Jim Puffer Landscape is able to find both narrow columnar layered spruce and fir in Northern Idaho, very close to the Canadian border.
As a company, we have been fortunate to purchase several hundred of these trees which are available for sale. Each spring and fall we have approximately 200 of these trees shipped to our tree farm, where they are cared for, until they are needed.
Shrubs/Perennials
All of our flowering shrubs, evergreen shrubs and perennials are of the highest quality. These plants are personally hand selected by Jim Puffer himself to ensure our clients will receive the very best select plants available in the nursery industry. Many of our plants purchased through various nurseries have been grown right here in Utah and are acclimated to our environment, which in turn, will give the plant a better chance of survivability.
Grow Boxes
Many of our clients simply want a few garden boxes to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peas, and green beans. There's nothing like harvesting your own fresh garden vegetables and doing it with little maintenance. Jim Puffer Landscape constructs 4'x 8' (12" High) grow boxes out of 6"x 6"x 8' pressure treated timber. The boxes are reinforced with helix spikes to promote security and strength. Because the ties are pressure treated they will last for many years, giving you a lifetime of garden enjoyment.
Playgrounds and In-ground Trampolines
Jim Puffer Landscape can assist you in the recommendation and installation of all playground equipment and playground sand or bark. In-ground trampolines have also become increasingly popular in recent years, because homeowners do not have to go out and periodically move the trampoline because of lack of sun exposure under the trampoline. If an in-ground trampoline is desired, three kinds of installations are available based on the kind of trampoline you may have. These three types of installation include the following: #1) A cement footing and foundation wall can be installed for rectangular or octagon trampolines. #2) Metal corrugated rings are available for completely circular trampolines. #3) Treated wood panels can be built and installed for octagon trampolines. Whichever your style of trampoline, Jim Puffer Landscape can assist you with the pros and cons and expense of each product installation.
Water Features and Pondless Waterfalls
The ambiance sound of water can be extremely therapeutic and refreshing to one's inner self and give great personal enjoyment. Jim Puffer Landscape has created some of the most spectacular water features in Utah. The design and creativity of a water feature as implemented by the Puffer team is critical. Of all the components in landscaping, water features have the most options in expense because there are so many ways that water features are being constructed. Unfortunately, many water features, especially residential ones are installed and built with poor quality products and consequently do not function properly or operate after a short period of time. Some become so high in maintenance that they become a burden. It is our opinion at Jim Puffer Landscape that if you cannot afford to put in a water feature using high quality materials and workmanship, which would add many years of enjoyment without huge maintenance issues, then don't do it.
Jim Puffer Landscape believes that the best way to design and install a water feature is to do so by using high quality materials that may be more expensive than typical traditional materials. For example, many of our competitors use PVC liners verses gunnite because these liners are less expensive. However, these PVC type liners almost always leak eventually.
Quality rock, reinforced with steel and a non-shrink concrete product known as gunnite, a good quality filterization system with isolation valves, with a concrete vault may escalate the final price of a quality water feature. Pumps also vary greatly in price. Pumping systems that run on higher rpms typically will only last a couple of years. The pumping systems that Jim Puffer Landscape installs run on lower rpms because we have the expertise in installing inverters and start capacitors. By doing so, the expense of running the feature is greatly diminished because the pump requires less power. The longevity and lifetime of the pump also changes significantly. Culinary auto-fills which inject water into the feature as water evaporates are also critical components that come standard in a Jim Puffer Landscape water feature.
It is also essential to point out that Jim Puffer Landscape recommends that two pumps be installed in a water feature. One for the filterization system (this pump is normally a small pump that simply keeps the water clean), and one for volume (this pump is typically a larger pump that adds to the aesthetic of the water feature).
The saying, "you get what you pay for" is very relevant with water features. We recommend that the customer become educated and take the time to compare. Do your due diligence and you'll make the right decision if a water feature is good for you and for your family.
Landscape Lighting
Twelve volt low voltage landscape lighting can create great personality to a landscape. The ability to highlight trees and pathways as well as the ability to create shadows and silhouettes can also give great enjoyment at a small cost per month since the system is completely all low voltage.
A lot of residential home lighting systems are of poor quality and do not last long because the fixtures are cheap plastic products. Sometimes, the fixtures might be of high quality, but the bulb itself is too low in wattage or burns out often creating a maintenance nightmare. Solar lights create very little light if any.
Jim Puffer Landscape uses high quality halogen light fixtures manufactured by Kitchler of Kim. We also use a high quality direct burial twelve-gauge cable and we install this cable 12-18" deep.
The design itself of the landscape lighting is also critical. Some lighting systems installed by other contractors or do-it-yourselfers, can be distracting. Often, too many lights are installed which results in a "Disneyland" look. Other times, when too many pathway lights are installed, the look becomes that of a runway at the airport. Some lighting systems use too much wattage on a light bulb and therefore the lighting is too bright and distracting. And of course, there are the obvious dim look lighting systems which do not highlight much of anything. Some lighting is completely out of proportion and unbalanced.
Jim Puffer Landscape is well trained, experienced and skilled in the installation of landscape lighting. We ensure that your landscape lighting system is installed correctly with high quality products so that your landscape lighting system will meet your lighting expectations.
110V Power for Christmas Lights
Jim Puffer Landscape is skilled and competent in installing outlets throughout your landscape if desired. These 110 volt plugs can be great in lighting Christmas trees or in providing power to light transformers or fountains.
Some of our past commercial signature projects
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Denver Broncos Medical Center (Denver, CO)
- Logan Court House (Logan, UT)
Chili's (Logan, UT)
- Ogden Medical Center (12th Street, Ogden, UT)
- Ogden Business Depot-several buildings (Ogden, UT)
- Main Building 551 Building 552 Building Fresenius Building Flex Building
- Ogden Regional Medical Center (Ogden, UT)
- U of U Medical Center (Ogden, UT)
- Great Harvest Bread (South Ogden, UT)
- Riverdale Shopping Center (Riverdale, UT)
- Washington Terrace City Center (Washington Terrace, UT)
- Clearfield City and Justice Center (Clearfield, UT)
- Buffalo Ranch (Farmington, UT)
- Fairfield Jr. High School (Kaysville, UT)
- Layton Fire Station (Layton, UT)
- America First Credit Union (Layton, UT)
- Orbec (Layton, UT)
TRW (Layton, UT)
- Grease Monkey (Syracuse, UT)
- Jensen RV (Kaysville, UT)
- JUB Engineering (Kaysville, UT)
- Time for Families (Kaysville, UT)
- KSG (Kaysville, UT)
- Medical Supply (Kaysville, UT)
- Centerville Medical Center (Centerville, UT)
- Sky Property Condominiums (North Salt Lake City, UT)
- The Gateway-Water Features (Salt Lake City, UT)
- SLC City Center (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Embassy Suites (Salt Lake City, UT)
- 53rd State-Water Features (Salt Lake City, UT)
- U of U Gardner Hall (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Paradise Bakery Plaza (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Carriage Crossing Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Dixon and Associates (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Christopherson Travel (Sandy, UT)
- Tuscan Garden Works (Sandy, UT)
- Copper View (Sandy, UT)
East Midvale (Sandy, UT)
- Taylorsville Recreation (Taylorsville, UT)
- Lowes (West Valley City, UT)
- Medical Center 98th (South Jordan, UT)
- Medical Center 78th (South Jordan, UT)
- Excel Fitness Center (South Jordan, UT)
- Boondocks Fun Center (Draper,UT)
- Eagle Springs East Solitude (Solitude, UT)
- Eagle Springs West Solitude (Solitude, UT)
- U of U Medical Center (Stansbury, UT)
- Tooele High School (Tooele, UT)
- Copper Canyon Elementary (Tooele, UT)
- St. George Post Office (St. George, UT)
- St. George Social Hall (St. George, UT)
- St. George Police Station (St. George, UT)
- St. George Post Office (St. George, UT)
- Purgatory Jail (Hurricane, UT)
- Castle Dale Medical Center (Castle Dale, UT)
- LDS Churches (many locations)
Major Commercial Contractors we do work for
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Big D Construction
- EK Bailey Construction
- EMJ Construction
- Gordon Jones Construction
- Herm Hughes Construction
- Layton Construction
- Okland Construction
- Union Pointe Construction
- Wilcox Construction
Major Residential Contractors we work for
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Chris Martineau Construction
- Jerry Larsen Construction
- Darrell Buxton Construction
- John Sharf Construction
- Bob Stevenson Construction
- Chris Todd Construction
Major Architects we work for
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MGBA
- The Grassli Group (Lennard Grassli)
- Gillies-Stransky-Brems-Smith
- Brent Morris
- Nuszer-Kopatz
- Urban Design Associates (Bob Lein)
- John Maas
- MHTN
- Dixon and Associates
- Paul H. Keeler
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