Complete Your New Home with Professional Landscaping
Congratulations on building your new home in Alaska! Now it’s time to transform your yard from a construction site into a beautiful, livable landscape. Creating that transformation takes thoughtful planning and the right expertise — especially when it comes to establishing a healthy lawn and plantings that will thrive in our local environment.
Many new homeowners run into challenges like poor grading, compacted soil, drainage issues, and choosing plants that aren’t suited for Alaska’s unique climate. Addressing these factors early can help you avoid costly fixes later and ensure your outdoor space is both functional and long-lasting.
That’s why working with experienced local landscapers is a smart investment. Their knowledge of Alaska’s unique conditions, ranging from climate and soil to wildlife, allows them to design and build landscapes that are both beautiful and built to last, tailored specifically to your home and lifestyle.
Avoid Common Mistakes for New Yard Success
Speaking of getting it right from the start, let's talk about a few common pitfalls homeowners often encounter when tackling landscaping themselves.
Mistake One: Not Having a Clear Plan and Vision
A good landscaping plan is about more than just how things look. Choosing the right grass for our cold winters and knowing how much sun your yard gets are important for a healthy lawn. Soil preparation, including type analysis and drainage, is often overlooked without planning. Even small things like when to plant and thinking about local issues like moose can make a big difference in how well your landscaping starts.
Mistake Two: Overlooking Long-Term Maintenance Needs
Neglecting long-term maintenance is a significant landscaping blunder, leading to added costs and frustration. Different plants have varying upkeep needs that may not fit your lifestyle. It’s crucial to consider factors like pruning for harsh winters, seasonal tasks such as winterizing, and choosing low-maintenance options to manage the intense summer growth.
Mistake Three: Improper Lawn Installation
When installing lawns, homeowners often make these specific pitfalls.
Rushing the process: It's tempting to start enjoying your new lawn right away, but resist the urge! Give new sod or seedlings at least two weeks to properly establish roots before any heavy foot traffic.
Incorrect watering: When it comes to watering your new lawn, maintaining the right balance is essential. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to soggy conditions (especially with Alaska's sometimes wet weather), and be sure to water adequately, particularly during any unexpected dry periods.
Skipping soil preparation: This is a critical step often overlooked. Make sure to clear away all debris, test your soil to understand its specific needs and level the ground properly. Neglecting this can cause poor drainage during spring thaws and heavy rains, hindering healthy root development from the start.
Best Time for Lawn Installation in Alaska
Timing is critical when it comes to starting a successful lawn in Alaska. With a short growing season, it’s important to plant during the right window to give grass the best chance to get established before winter.
Recommended Timing
Early June to early-July:
This is the ideal window for most properties. Soil temperatures are warm enough to encourage strong root growth, and long daylight hours help support healthy, rapid development.
Late July to early August (Without Irrigation):
If you didn’t make the spring planting, it’s still possible to plant later in the season using natural rainfall, but this approach carries more risk. An early frost or a sudden cold snap can interrupt root establishment before the grass is ready for winter.
The Convenience of a Full-Service Landscaping Team
Developing your new yard into a stunning outdoor space, complete with a lush green lawn, involves numerous steps beyond simply planting. This includes thorough planning, soil preparation, utilizing quality materials, allocating sufficient time, and selecting appropriate plants and grass.
For your convenience, many professional landscapers manage every aspect of this process, saving you valuable time and effort. We handle the complexities, allowing you to quickly and easily achieve your dream yard. We strive to make the whole process of building your new yard from start to finish smooth, easy, and perhaps even fun. We love what we do!
Full Design Services:
We prioritize your convenience by offering full design services that remove the uncertainty of landscaping. Using advanced technology and photos of your property, we can create realistic visuals of your completed landscape before installation begins! This means you get:
A clear customized plan
Conveniently tailored to your home and preferences, saving you the time and effort of imagining the final outcome. This includes the strategic placement of garden beds, raised beds, or other planting areas to maximize sunlight, drainage, and aesthetic appeal.
Easy pre-installation adjustments
The ease of making adjustments before work commences, ensuring your vision is met without the inconvenience of changes during installation.
Confidence in your investment
Allowing you to see exactly what your outdoor space will look like beforehand, including thriving garden beds, providing a stress-free experience.
Professional Lawn Installation
A DIY lawn project may sound rewarding, but as previously mentioned, homeowners frequently make common errors leading to less-than-perfect lawns. To think — all that time you could have been fishing or golfing! That’s where hiring expert landscapers becomes a great advantage. We take care of every step, ensuring your lawn gets professional attention from the start while giving you back your free time.
A comprehensive lawn installation process includes:
Soil preparation to create the ideal foundation for healthy grass growth
Premium topsoil application to enhance nutrients and improve drainage
Specialty grass seed mix selection tailored to your property’s specific needs
Effortless Dirt Work
After new home construction, your site is far from ready to create a landscape masterpiece. Clearing and grading aren't just moving dirt; they ensure proper drainage and prevent erosion. Experienced equipment operators can handle all the labor-intensive process of clearing and grading, quickly turning your site into a ready-to-plant canvas. Additionally, to make things easy, they'll handle the topsoil or gravel delivery, getting you exactly what you need to create a strong yard foundation.
Transforming Your Yard After New Construction
If you’ve recently completed your home in the greater Mat-Su area or Eagle River, now is the ideal time to invest in expert landscaping. From hydroseeding and rich topsoil to full-scale yard design and garden beds, a professional touch can turn bare ground into a beautiful, functional outdoor space that complements your home and adds long-term value.
At Walker Landscapes, we take the time to understand your goals and bring them to life with skilled craftsmanship and local know-how. Your outdoor space should reflect your style, support your lifestyle, and withstand the challenges of our Alaskan weather. We care about your home and land, and we’re here to help you make the most of it.
Whether you're dreaming of a complete landscape transformation or need focused services like lawn installation, garden beds, or tree planting, our team will guide you every step of the way — with a process that’s smooth, efficient, and tailored to you.
You’ve built your home — now let’s complete it with a thriving, lasting landscape you’ll enjoy for years to come.
About Walker Landscapes
Walker Landscapes is a trusted landscaping service in the Mat-Su Valley including Wasilla, Palmer, Houston and surrounding areas of Alaska. Our comprehensive services, including landscape design, lawn installation, garden beds, and more, are tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients and the unique Alaskan environment. We are committed to quality and customer satisfaction and transforming outdoor spaces into stunning, functional landscapes that homeowners love.
Jeff Walker — Co-Owner
Seth Walker, Co-Owner
