I think you should ask in Conifers Forum. Of the shrubs and perennials I see no red flags.

It is a bit hard to tell since the backyard one isn't as close up. Maybe split it into two close ups, but I would make sure you have space for some chaises around the future pool area.

Sorry can't answer on the plant side as we have different zone requirements.

Thank you both for taking some time to look at it. Here are bigger photos of the back yard, the first is from the pool backward

The second is from the pool forward

Another thing I have wondered about is a path to the back yard one one side of the house. The only problem is that on the driveway side, we have a pad for our garbage cans, which makes it uninviting for a pathway to the back yard. On the opposite side of the house we have our air conditioning units, which also seems kind of uninviting, but better. At the shortest point, the side with the AC units is only 8-ft to the property line, but I thought we could maybe still have a flagstone path going through there.

Lyfia makes a good point on the pool. Minimum 10' for chaise lounges and circulation. Typically, a pool has to meet zoning setbacks as well. Keep in mind that people typically like to be able to be near the shallow end (for when kids are present), facing the water, and facing the sun at the same time.

These are general comments about the layout. I'm not studying any of the plant materials. For my taste, bed lines are a little loopy at the front yard island and around the house at the top of sheet in first picture. I would smooth these out into simpler, unified arcing shapes. I think you're better off without a semi-circular bench seat separating f. pit area from lawn. Movable seating or pedestal seating of some sort would seem better to me. The trampoline is a major focal element of the back yard, again, making bed lines there a bit loopy for my taste. I think I would rather see the tramp incorporated into the play area and the bed line developed into more of a broad arc. At the back face of the house near the two outside corners, shrubs extend beyond the wall face. To me, it's a misfit look. I would eliminate each corner-most shrub and wrap the corners with a lower, perennial mass.

You have several invasive exotics in the plan. The Norway maple and Hibiscus syriacus will take over your garden. The wisteria is also a problem. (Even American wisteria, W. frutescens isn't native to Utah.) Norway spruce is also showing up uninvited in natural areas. The privet, burning bush, and crimson pigmy barberry, ditto. I strongly recommend using native alternatives to all of these. At least research their impact in your state before you plant them.

Thanks everyone. I really love all the feedback. The pool deck should be easy to control, but for now it is a future component, since we can't afford to put one in right now.

Yardvaark, I see what you mean about it being loopy, although I'm not sure what you mean by smoothing out some of them into simpler, unified arcing shapes.

Carlaclaws, I started pulling up images online for some of the plants and have decided that I am going to need to make changes to some of the plants. Luckily, we have a neighbor who owned a nursery for many years and now buys plants for nurseries. We are going to meet with him to choose plants, and I will mention the idea of keeping with native alternatives.

examples of lines that are less loopy ...

BTW, I think I forgot to say, it seems like creating a pathway connection between driveway area and back yard would be the better option. There are always ways to hide trash containers.

(The drawing shows up minuscule size for me but expands when hovering over it.)

Ah, yes. I see now. Thanks again.

Who did the initial design?

ciaotaylor, it was Paul Keeler at Deseret Land Design