© 2026 The Garden Gate & Artistic Pools & Spas. All rights reserved.
Made by Deadon Agency.
At The Garden Gate, we provide and install high quality shrubs, cacti, and trees including specimen plants in Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley.
A specimen plant is a large, rare or uniquely formed plant with visual appeal. They serve as focal points in gardens and landscapes to create visual impact. From multi-arm saguaros, tall fence post and totem pole cactus, and fully grown trees, these plants are selected specifically for you, to enhance the beauty and artistic design of your landscape.
See our approach
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Native plants are the backbone of sustainable, low-maintenance landscapes; tolerant to heat, drought and monsoon rains. We select and place each plant where it will thrive, enhance privacy, and protect views.
Palo Verde, mesquite, ironwood, and desert willow are a few of the trees we offer. They can be sized from smaller 15-gallon and 25-gallon container size to full size 60” box trees that provide immediate impact and shade.
Agaves and aloes, golden barrel cactus, firesticks, desert spoon, red yucca, prickly pear, and ocotillo are selected for their interesting structure and drought tolerance. These plants prefer full sun and minimal watering.
Create habitats with diverse native plants that bloom seasonally to provide nectar and pollen for food, and nesting sites for bees and butterflies. Hummingbirds are attracted to tubular flowers (red, orange and pink) like salvia, honeysuckle, petunia, zinnia and penstemon.
Plant selections are carefully reviewed to meet community and neighborhood guidelines while preserving the core design concept.
Specimen plants are living sculptures selected for size, rarity, or form. These plants are often hand selected for a specific location on the property. Columnar specimens must be wrapped and packed before transportation and handled carefully during installation to ensure they are not scarred or damaged during the transportation and planting process.
Tall fencepost cactus, totem pole cactus, and multi-headed yuccas create bold silhouettes and shadows when night lights are used to illuminate them.
We excavate the planting hole for the root ball large enough to encourage lateral root growth, but no deeper than the root ball to prevent settling. The top of the root ball should sit slightly above the surrounding soil level. We regularly place granular gypsum in the planting hole to improve soil structure, enhance aeration, water infiltration, and root development.
Landscape plans typically show the location of plants, considering the plants at mature size. This provides room for root growth, sunlight and sufficient nutrients for each plant, so they are not competing for resources and growing into each other.
The planting process begins with the landscape designer who inspects the site and selects specific locations for each plant, to ensure they get the correct amount of sunlight or shade. An experienced crew leader coordinates proper plant hole excavation, with oversight from the Project Supervisor.
Our process typically follows this outline:
● Remove oversized rocks from plant hole, loosen soil, and install granular gypsum
● When plants are picked up or delivered, we check for quality, size and ensure they are not damaged – and reject substandard or damaged plants
● Place the shrub, cactus or tree in the plant hole, ensure the plant is installed at the correct height
● Backfill plant hole and gently compact, taking care to ensure the soil covers the root ball without air pockets.
● Hand water all plants so the root does not dry out
● Install drip irrigation and stake smaller trees
We select plants that adhere to HOA and DRC guidelines. Typically, our landscape design is presented with the formal application required by the association before work begins. A typical application may include the application form, project description, landscape design with a list of plants selected, material choices, and contractor information. The key to a quick approval is a professional landscape design that meets the design standards for each community.
All plants provided and installed by The Garden Gate receive a warranty. All shrubs and cacti get a 3-month warranty and trees receive a 1-year warranty. We also provide on-going landscape maintenance service.
A specimen plant is a large, rare or uniquely formed plant with visual appeal. They serve as focal points in gardens and landscapes to create visual impact.
Yes. Drip irrigation is essential for root ball establishment and during extreme heat to prevent stress.
Yes. We source, deliver, and professionally install specimen plants.
Yes, we comply with community guidelines when selecting plants, and ensure they are placed in the correct zone on the property. Many communities require a transition zone along the street where native plants are required and other zones, including private area zones, where regulations on plant selection are more relaxed.
Absolutely—filtering shade trees and layered screening maintain sightlines while adding comfort and seclusion.
Click Start Your Project or call us at (520) 574-7585 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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"Successful, well-constructed pools and landscapes require an experienced team capable of managing all aspects of your project. We provide the experience and professionalism you expect to build your project on time and on budget.
As a ROC licensed pool and landscape contractor we offer a true turnkey solution for your custom pool and landscape project.
We don’t just design pools and landscapes – we design beautiful yards for you, and your family and friends to enjoy for a lifetime."
Tyler Johansen, Director of Business Development
ROC 164986
ROC 328207
ROC 226071
© 2026 The Garden Gate & Artistic Pools and Spas, LLC. All rights reserved.
Made by Deadon Agency.
