3 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Landscape Design

There are 3 common mistakes we see homeowners make when planning their landscape design on their own – not considering your climate, drainage/irrigation, and maintenance requirements. To save you time, money, and frustration, we get into it here.

Outdoor Design Ideas with Texas Native Plants & Hardscapes

Enhance your outdoor living experience with native plant landscaping and hardscaping ideas in Central Texas. Learn how to incorporate limestone retaining walls, flagstone patios, granite walkways, and sandstone water features into your design.

How to Break up the Monotony of Working From Home

Chances are good you or someone you know works from home. The pandemic left a permanent mark on American society with many employees forced to work remotely, and now doing so happily, and voluntarily. But working from home has its drawbacks. One – it can become monotonous when you’re stuck in the same space for hours on end.

One way to break up the monotony is to create an outdoor work or living space. When you work and live at home, it’s helpful to create different spaces to break up your day. Create individual spaces for regular routines and rituals like: your morning coffee, checking emails, planning, research, and an afternoon break.
Plus, more time outdoors has proven health benefits like
  • Improving your mood
  • Improving energy levels
  • Relieving stress
  • Resting your eyes and brain
  • Enhancing memory

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Set up an Outdoor Office

Consider setting up an outdoor office space where you can work in the fresh air and natural light. Invest in a sturdy outdoor table and chair set, and make sure you have access to a power source if you need it. If you’re worried about the elements, invest in a sunshade or outdoor umbrella to provide some shade.

But what could you do with an outdoor workspace? 

  • Take calls and host coaching sessions
  • Check emails
  • Laptop work
  • Writing and editing

Create a Cozy Seating Area

If you have a patio or deck, add some comfortable outdoor furniture, like a sectional, lounge chairs, or even a hammock, to create a cozy seating area. You can also add a fire pit or outdoor heater to keep you warm during chilly days or nights. This will create a relaxing atmosphere and provide a change of scenery from your indoor workspace.

  • Create a “thinkery” for meditation and brainstorming
  • Invite your coworkers for a meeting or lunch
  • Entertain and socialize after hours

 

Install an Outdoor Kitchen

Take your lunch outside! Consider installing an outdoor kitchen, which can include a grill, sink, and storage space. Cooking outside can provide a break from indoor cooking, and it’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors. You can also add a bar area and outdoor refrigerator to make your outdoor space feel like a second living room. Enjoy the fresh air, a more enjoyable break, and an easier cleanup.

Create a Garden Space

Supercharge your creativity and productivity. Creating a garden space is a great way to transform your backyard into an oasis. A variety of plants and flowers adds color and texture to your outdoor space, and your mindset. You can also add a small vegetable garden or herb garden, which can provide fresh produce for your meals. Being surrounded by greenery and nature can also help you feel more relaxed and refreshed. Which is proven to improve productivity. We work best when we’re less stressed!

Aromas like Jasmine, Rose, Geranium, and Lavender, in addition to many others, can go a long way to refresh your mind and arrest body fatigue.

II. Gardens at Verde Vista, Georgetown, TX

Add some water features

Adding a water feature, like a fountain, pond, or small waterfall, can create a relaxing atmosphere and provide a soothing sound. Water features can also attract birds and other wildlife, which can be a great distraction from work. Just make sure to maintain and clean the water feature regularly to prevent any unwanted pests or bacteria.

What can you really get done outside?

  • Phone calls (use your earbuds to help with ambient noise)
  • Host meetings or brainstorming sessions
  • Write or draw
  • Anything you do on a laptop
  • Make a plan: whiteboard + stand = mobile planning station
  • Take a break!

Transforming your backyard into an outdoor living space can provide a much-needed break from the monotony of working and living in the same place. By creating a cozy seating area, installing an outdoor kitchen, creating a garden space, setting up an outdoor office, and adding some water features, you can create an oasis that will help you feel more relaxed and refreshed and be more productive.

 

Contact us here to get on our calendar for your complimentary landscape design consultation today. It’s that time of year, space fills up quickly!

We proudly serve Austin and its greater metropolitan areas including Liberty Hill, Leander, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Salado, Bertram, and Lago Vista!

Landscaping for New Homeowners: The Benefits of Professional Landscape Design and Construction in Texas

Moving into a new home is an exciting experience, and customizing the landscape design to fit your family’s needs and style is one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. But any Texan can tell you there are a few things you should know and options to consider when building a new home and installing landscaping in Texas – like the occasional rock; indigenous, water-friendly plants; and outdoor living options, because we can! With an abundance of natural elements to work around or integrate, and a variety of options on the table, professional landscape designers are often the best option to help you make the right choices for your property and to meet the needs of your lifestyle.

A Finished Look

Get a Custom Landscape Design for a Finished Property When You Move In
One of the primary benefits of hiring a professional landscaping contractor for your new home is the ability to have a finished landscape design. Why let the feeling of “we’re finally home” be tainted by remnants of construction (and the reminder of work to come) lining the driveway? A custom home deserves a custom landscape design. This can ensure your outdoor spaces are both functional and beautiful, like an extension of your home. A professional contractor can help you create an outdoor living area that meets all of your needs. Because it’s where core memories are made, whether you’re entertaining guests to enjoying family time together.
Travisso, Leander, TX
Personalized to Your Needs
Every family is unique, and so are their needs when it comes to outdoor living. A professional landscape designer will work with you to create a customized outdoor space that is tailored to your lifestyle. This includes factors such as the size of your family, your outdoor activities, and your personal style preferences. Think outside the box! Your home is where you live.
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kid zones
  • Training areas
  • Host of the party
  • Outdoor kitchens
  • Golf greens
  • Poolside landscaping
  • Zen and meditation gardens
  • Outdoor workspaces
Gardens at Verde Vista, Georgetown, TX
Gardens at Verde Vista, Georgetown, TX
Gardens at Verde Vista, Georgetown, TX

Functional Designs

Functional for Family and Friends
Your outdoor space can be much more than just a pretty lawn and garden. With the right design and construction, it can serve as a functional living space for hosting family and friends. This includes features such as outdoor kitchens, fire pits, seating areas, and even swimming pools. A professional contractor can help you make the most of your outdoor space and create a space that you will be proud to show off.
Backyard patio extension and firepit
Year-Round Landscape Design Trends
Living in Texas means that you can enjoy outdoor activities almost all year round. A professional landscaping contractor can help you create a design that is suitable for all seasons. This includes features such as patio heaters, outdoor fireplaces, and even outdoor fans to keep you cool in the hot summer months.
Complement the Home’s Design Aesthetic
Your landscape design should complement your home’s style and design aesthetic. A professional landscaping contractor can help you select the right plants, flowers, and hardscape features to create a cohesive look that enhances your home’s curb appeal. This will not only make your home more beautiful but also increase its overall value.

Money-Wise Landscaping

Get a Higher Return on Your Investment
Investing in a professional landscape design and build company is a wise decision when it comes to water usage, property value, and getting the most from your initial investment. A professional contractor can help you design a landscape that uses water wisely and is sustainable in the long term. And can help balance concepts like xeriscaping, indigenous plants, and your unique preferences. They can also help you select the right plants and features that will increase your property value and provide a high return on investment.
Natural stone walkways and sideyard landscape design

If you’ve recently moved to Texas and are looking for a professional landscaping contractor, look no further. Our team of experts can help you create a custom landscape design that is personalized to your needs, functional, and beautiful. From outdoor living spaces to hardscape features, irrigation, landscape lighting, and construction crews, we can help you create the outdoor living space of your dreams. Contact us today to learn more about our landscape design and build services.

Serving Austin and its greater areas including Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Marble Falls, Burnet, and Salado, Texas

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6 Most Important Steps to Designing a Landscape

When designing a residential landscape, the most important step is to put a plan on paper. A master plan is developed through the ‘design process’: a step-by-step method that considers the environmental conditions, your desires, and the elements and principles of design. Our design team develops a master plan that will save time and money and is more likely to result in a design you’ll love for years to come. The goal is to organize the natural and man-made features in your yard into an aesthetic, functional, and environmentally sustainable landscape.

The Landscape Design Process

There are five main steps in the design process:

  1. conducting a site inventory and analysis
  2. determining your needs
  3. creating functional diagrams
  4. developing conceptual design plans
  5. drawing a final design plan

 

The first three steps establish the aesthetic, functional, and horticultural requirements for the design. The last two steps then apply those requirements to the creation of the final landscape plan.

The process begins with a site inventory and analysis of soil, drainage, climate conditions, and existing vegetation. This is a critical step for both plant selection and placement and for locating family activities and functions. It’s important because the same climate conditions that affect the plants—temperature, humidity, rain, wind, and sunlight—also affect you, the user.

The next step is to make a list of your needs and desires—this helps our design team determine how your yard and landscape will be used. The site and user analyses will also help establish a theme for the form and style of your design. The functional diagram is then used to locate the activity spaces on the site and from this diagram a conceptual plan is developed.

aerial image of white house with new landscape design installed with large pavers for a front walkway, steel walled raised beds for plants, and a seating area in the backyard
Cohesive design plans from front to back

The last step is a final design that includes all the hardscape and planting details that are necessary for installation. Throughout the design process there are six important things to consider:

  • Understand the site for plant selection and activity location.
  • Remember the user by considering what you want and need.
  • Create a style theme to help determine shapes and organize spaces.
  • Create and link spaces by designating activity areas and linking them with elements.
  • Structure the plantings by using massing and layering techniques.
  • Highlight important points such as transition areas and focal points.

Understanding Your Site

A thorough inventory and analysis of the site are important to determine the environmental conditions for plant growth and the best use of the site. Topography and drainage should also be noted and all drainage problems corrected in the proposed design. A good design will move water away from the house and reroute it to other areas of the yard. Climate concerns begin with temperature: plants must be able to survive the average high and, most importantly, the average low temperatures for our region. Using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (planthardiness.ars.usda.gov) as a starting point to choose plants appropriate for your zone.

Remember The User

The users are you, your family, the family pets, and visitors, and each has its own needs. There are four things to consider:

  1. How do you currently use the yard?
  2. How do you want to use the yard?
  3. Aesthetically, how do you want it to look?
  4. What is your maintenance style, hands-off or hands-on?

It is very important to consider how you currently use the yard. For example-which entry is used by whom, where do the kids play and where does the dog usually run? Thinking about how you currently use the yard, and how you want to use the yard in the future, determines the need to re-organize old spaces into new spaces and amenities. It is also important to remember the vehicles used by your family; driveways and parking are space intensive.

Creating A Stylized Theme

There are many different landscape design themes- from simple to complex our landscape designer will speak with you about your personal style and take into account the style of the home and existing landscape.

Landscape design installed for home on Lake Travis with a southwestern style
Landscape designs styled to match your home

Create and Connect Spaces

The yard is an extension of the home where various activities occur. A yard can generally be divided into three areas: public (the front yard), private (the back yard), and service (typically the side yard). The location of activity areas depends primarily on the type of area, the size of space needed, the type of activity, and the desired proximity to other activities and structures.

Your spaces may include the front entry that welcomes you and your visitors to your home, an outdoor living area for cooking or entertaining, a patio or deck, a play area, a dog run, a secret garden/relaxation area, a vegetable garden or hobby area, and a trash/compost/work area. 

Outdoor rooms are typically linked by pathways, steps, walkways, or openings with gates or arbors that encourage exploration and use of the entire yard. These spaces can also be linked by visual features such as a creek bed (wet or dry) that meanders through or beside several spaces, or a garden wall that begins at a patio, moves along a turf area, and ends along a planted area.

aerial image of backyard with new landscape design with different areas blocked along the fenceline for sitting, plants, raised beds, and gravel walkways.
Backyard landscape design and installation in Austin, TX

Using similar hardscape features and repeating plants pulls the eye around the garden. Important points along the way can be emphasized with plantings or features that draw attention and encourage movement in a particular direction. Moving along the path takes a person from one area to the next and allows the user to have various experiences. In an informal garden, the curves and bends of the path should partially conceal what lies ahead. This provides a sense of mystery that promotes exploration and discovery of the landscape.

 

Structuring the Plants

Plants provide structure in landscapes in the same way as the walls of a building. Shrubs can act as walls in a space and the branches of trees form a ceiling canopy overhead. Once the shape of a plant bed has been established, the plants should be grouped and layered to achieve visual unity and the desired amount of enclosure. The size of a plant mass will depend on the total size of the yard, the size of the individual plants in the mass, and the emphasis or impact desired from the plant material.

Highlighted Features & Focal Points

Important points in landscape design should be highlighted by the use of unique plants, distinct structures, or garden ornaments. Marking thresholds or entrances to spaces can be done with gates, arbors, and steps, or through the use of unique and colorful plants. Some styles have signature elements, such as a type of statuary or water feature, that are the hallmark of the style. Other important places in the yard are focal points, which are used to visually organize a landscaped area.

narrow backyard in Austin, Texas with new landscape design, poolside landscaping, an outdoor shower, and a modern aesthetic
Modern landscape designs for yards of any size

Your yard is an essential natural resource that adds value to your home and enjoyment to your life. It contributes to a desirable, healthy community. In many urban areas private yards represent the last remnants of green space, we think about how your yard fits into the bigger picture and what it can do to have a positive impact on the environment in your neighborhood. 

Are you ready to transform your yard into a reflection of your personality? Team up with our expert design team to create a home and life you love. Contact us today to schedule your in-person consultation.

 

Serving Austin and its greater areas including Leander, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Marble Falls, Burnet, and Bertram