If you’re planning a landscape project in Loveland, you’ve probably noticed that not every material holds up equally well here. Colorado’s Front Range throws a lot at outdoor spaces: intense sun, freezing winters, alkaline soils, and unpredictable weather swings. The wrong material choice can mean cracked patios, faded surfaces, and repairs sooner than you’d like.

At J & S Landscape, we’ve spent over 40 years designing and building outdoor spaces across Northern Colorado. We’ve learned which materials thrive in this climate and which ones simply don’t cut it. Whether you’re envisioning a flagstone patio, a boulder retaining wall, or a low-maintenance gravel pathway, choosing the right materials upfront makes all the difference in how your landscape looks and performs for years to come.

This guide covers the top materials for Colorado landscape builds in Loveland, with practical insights on what works best for our unique conditions.

Understanding Loveland’s Unique Climate and Soil Conditions

Before picking materials, it helps to understand what you’re working with. Loveland sits in a semi-arid zone along the Front Range, which means we deal with:

• Cold, snowy winters with frequent freeze-thaw cycles
• Hot, dry summers with intense UV exposure
• Low humidity year-round
• Alkaline clay-loam soils that drain poorly and expand when wet

These conditions create specific challenges. Freeze-thaw cycles can crack materials that absorb water. Clay soils shift and heave, putting stress on patios, walkways, and retaining walls. And our alkaline soil pH affects everything from plant health to how certain materials weather over time.

The good news? When you choose materials suited to these conditions, your landscape can handle whatever Colorado throws at it. The key is selecting products that resist moisture absorption, tolerate temperature extremes, and work with our soil rather than against it.

Natural Stone Options for Durability and Aesthetic Appeal

Natural stone is one of the most popular choices for Colorado landscape builds, and for good reason. It’s tough, it looks beautiful, and it handles our climate remarkably well. Here are the options we recommend most often.

Flagstone and Sandstone

Flagstone is a go-to material for patios, pathways, and entryways in Loveland. Colorado Red and Buff flagstone, quarried right here in the state, offer striking earth tones that complement our natural surroundings. The natural cleft surfaces provide texture and grip, which is especially useful when surfaces get wet or icy.

What makes flagstone ideal for our climate is its density. Quality flagstone resists water absorption, so it holds up through freeze-thaw cycles without cracking or spalling. It also handles our intense sun without fading, keeping its rich color for decades.

Sandstone works similarly well, offering warm hues and natural variation. Both materials create that seamless transition between home and yard that makes outdoor spaces feel connected rather than tacked on.

Colorado Moss Rock and Boulders

For retaining walls, water features, and focal points, locally sourced stone provides both function and character. Colorado moss rock has a weathered, lichen-covered appearance that looks like it’s been in place for centuries. Glacier boulders, Alpine river rock, and black amphibolite each bring their own textures and colors to the landscape.

These stones are built to endure. They’ve already survived millennia of Colorado weather before ending up in your yard, so you know they can handle whatever comes next. We use them for everything from boulder walls that retain slopes to decorative accents around plantings and water features.

Concrete and Pavers for Patios and Walkways

Concrete gets a bad rap sometimes, but modern concrete and paver options offer serious versatility for Loveland landscapes. When installed properly, these materials deliver stable, low-maintenance surfaces that stand up to our variable weather.

Stamped concrete allows you to mimic the look of natural stone, brick, or even wood at a lower cost. We’ve installed stamped concrete patios and stairs throughout the Boulder and Loveland areas, and when done right, they’re hard to distinguish from the real thing. The key is proper installation with adequate expansion joints and a quality sealer to protect against moisture and UV damage.

Concrete pavers and retaining wall blocks offer another excellent option. Unlike poured concrete, individual pavers can shift slightly with soil movement, reducing the risk of cracks. They come in countless colors, shapes, and textures, so you can create anything from a traditional cobblestone look to a sleek modern design.

Cobblestone pavers, in particular, work well for driveways and high-traffic walkways. They’re incredibly durable and drain well between joints, which helps with our clay soil drainage issues.

One thing to keep in mind: surface preparation matters enormously with any concrete or paver installation. In Loveland’s clay soils, we always recommend a proper gravel base to improve drainage and reduce heaving. Cut corners here, and you’ll be dealing with uneven surfaces within a few years.

Gravel and Decomposed Granite for Low-Maintenance Landscapes

If you’re looking for materials that are both affordable and water-wise, gravel and decomposed granite deserve a close look. These options fit perfectly with the xeriscape approach that makes so much sense in our semi-arid climate.

River cobble in varieties like Oak Creek and Canyon Gray adds natural beauty to beds, borders, and dry creek features. The smooth, rounded stones work well around plantings and create visual interest without requiring irrigation or maintenance.

Pea gravel offers a more uniform look and works great for pathways, patios, and play areas. It drains quickly, suppresses weeds, and won’t heave or crack like solid surfaces can.

Decomposed granite (DG) is another popular choice. It compacts to create a semi-solid surface that’s stable enough to walk on but still permeable. DG works especially well for casual pathways, garden areas, and transitions between different landscape zones.

The big advantages of these loose materials:

• Permeability: Water drains through rather than pooling, which helps with our poor-draining soils
• Low maintenance: No sealing, staining, or major repairs needed
• Flexibility: They conform to slight ground movement without cracking
• Cost-effectiveness: Generally less expensive than stone or concrete installations

Of course, loose materials do shift over time and may need occasional replenishing. They’re also not ideal for every application. But for the right spots in your landscape, they’re hard to beat.

Drought-Tolerant Mulch and Ground Cover Materials

Ground cover might not be the flashiest part of your landscape, but it plays a crucial role in plant health and water conservation. In Loveland’s dry climate, the right mulch and ground cover materials can significantly reduce irrigation needs while keeping your beds looking sharp.

Wood mulch in natural or dyed colors helps retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. A 2-3 inch layer around plantings can reduce watering needs substantially. Just be sure to keep mulch pulled back from plant stems to prevent rot.

Rubber mulch offers a longer-lasting alternative, though it doesn’t improve soil health the way organic mulches do. It’s popular for play areas and spots where you want a set-it-and-forget-it solution.

Compost and amended topsoil work as ground cover in planting beds, improving our challenging clay soil while retaining moisture. We often recommend a compost layer topped with decorative mulch for the best of both worlds.

For areas where you want living ground cover, native and drought-tolerant plants are the way to go. We’ll provide options that allow you to enjoy the lasting beauty and exceptional value of flowers and other plantings that live longer, providing season after season of joy. Native ground covers establish deep roots, require minimal water once established, and create habitat for pollinators.

Pairing quality mulch with the right plantings creates landscapes that look lush without demanding constant attention or excessive watering.

Retaining Wall Materials Built for Colorado Weather

If your property has any slope, retaining walls aren’t just decorative. They’re essential for controlling erosion, creating usable space, and managing water flow. In Loveland’s snowy, windy conditions, these structures need to be built to last.

Segmental retaining wall blocks are engineered specifically for structural applications. They interlock without mortar, which allows slight movement during freeze-thaw cycles without cracking. Quality blocks also resist moisture absorption and UV fading, maintaining their appearance for decades.

Natural boulder walls offer a more organic look that fits beautifully in Colorado landscapes. Form and function, strength and beauty. When you want it all, J & S Landscape delivers. We can secure your property and enhance your landscape with locally sourced materials. Boulder walls handle tremendous lateral pressure and actually improve with age as lichens and moss colonize the stone.

Rip rap works well for slopes and drainage channels where you need erosion control but don’t require a formal wall structure. These larger, angular stones interlock naturally and allow water to pass through while holding soil in place.

A few things to consider when planning retaining walls:

• Walls over 4 feet typically require engineering and permits
• Proper drainage behind the wall is critical to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup
• Foundation depth needs to account for our frost line
• Quality materials cost more upfront but save money over the life of the wall

Choosing Locally Sourced Materials for Sustainability

There’s a strong case for using locally sourced materials in your Loveland landscape project, and it goes beyond just reducing your carbon footprint.

Regionally quarried stone is already adapted to our climate. Materials that formed in Colorado’s geology are naturally suited to our temperature extremes, soil chemistry, and weather patterns. They also blend aesthetically with our natural surroundings in a way that imported materials often don’t.

Local suppliers like Crystal Landscape Supplies, Mountain Vista, TimberRock, and Colorado Materials in the Loveland and Fort Collins area stock a wide range of Colorado-sourced products:

• Natural stone (flagstone, moss rock, boulders)
• Soils and amendments
• Mulches and ground covers
• Gravel and river rock
• Pavers and retaining wall blocks

Benefits of buying local:

• Reduced transportation emissions and costs
• Materials that match the regional aesthetic
• Easier to get additional product if you need it later
• Supporting local businesses and the regional economy

When we work with clients on material selection, we almost always start with what’s available locally. In most cases, you can find exactly what you need without shipping materials across the country.

Conclusion

Choosing the right materials for your Colorado landscape build comes down to understanding what our climate demands and selecting products that deliver both beauty and longevity. Whether you’re drawn to the natural elegance of flagstone, the versatility of concrete pavers, or the low-maintenance appeal of gravel and decomposed granite, there’s a solution that fits your style, budget, and property.

The materials we’ve covered here have all proven themselves in Loveland landscapes. They handle our freeze-thaw cycles, tolerate our alkaline soils, and look great through Colorado’s nearly 300 days of sunshine.

At J & S Landscape, we’ve been helping homeowners throughout Boulder, Weld, Laramie, Adams, and Broomfield Counties create outdoor spaces that last. With over 40 years of experience, we know which materials work best for each application and how to install them properly for our unique conditions.

If you’re planning a landscape project in Loveland or anywhere in Northern Colorado, we’d love to talk through your options. From patios and pathways to retaining walls and complete outdoor living spaces, our team can help you select materials that look beautiful and perform for years to come. Reach out to J & S Landscape today for a consultation, and let’s bring your vision to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best materials for Colorado landscape builds in Loveland?

The top materials for Loveland landscapes include flagstone, sandstone, Colorado moss rock, concrete pavers, gravel, and decomposed granite. These materials withstand the Front Range’s freeze-thaw cycles, intense UV exposure, and alkaline clay soils while maintaining durability and visual appeal for years.

Why does flagstone work well for patios in Colorado’s climate?

Flagstone is ideal for Colorado patios because its density resists water absorption, preventing cracking during freeze-thaw cycles. Colorado Red and Buff flagstone offer natural cleft surfaces that provide excellent grip when wet or icy, and they resist UV fading, maintaining rich color for decades.

How do I prevent my patio from cracking in Loveland’s freeze-thaw cycles?

Choose materials with low moisture absorption like quality flagstone or interlocking pavers. Proper installation is critical—always use a gravel base for drainage in clay soils, include adequate expansion joints for concrete, and apply quality sealers to protect against moisture penetration.

Is gravel a good option for xeriscaping in Northern Colorado?

Yes, gravel and decomposed granite are excellent xeriscape materials for Loveland’s semi-arid climate. They’re permeable, allowing water to drain through rather than pool, require minimal maintenance, and won’t heave or crack. River cobble and pea gravel add natural beauty without irrigation needs.

What type of retaining wall materials last longest in Colorado weather?

Segmental retaining wall blocks and natural boulder walls perform best in Colorado. Blocks interlock without mortar, allowing movement during freeze-thaw cycles without cracking. Boulder walls handle tremendous lateral pressure and improve with age as lichens colonize the stone.

Should I use locally sourced landscaping materials in Colorado?

Locally sourced materials offer significant advantages for Colorado landscape builds. Regionally quarried stone is naturally adapted to local temperature extremes and soil chemistry, blends with natural surroundings aesthetically, reduces transportation costs, and supports the regional economy.