Category: Landscaping

image of back yard play house surrounded by a retaining wall in an elevated section of a back yard

Stone Wall Ideas for Central Texas Landscape Designs

Many homeowners and businesses use stone walls primarily for retaining walls. However, stone walls can add creative flair to any garden with the proper landscaping design, with trees, shrubs, and flowers. Thinking of adding a stone wall to your landscape? Our clients at Best of Texas Landscaping love how they address erosion and protect the foundation of their property. They also use the walls as added privacy or transform them into raised landscape beds to benefit their natural surroundings.

Prevent Erosion

If you’ve already put time and investment into your lawn and property, whether that means fertilization and weed control or landscaping, retaining walls will help protect that investment. The walls, when planned well, redirect water from rain and runoff so it doesn’t pool and affect the critical areas of your lawn and cause erosion. Soil erosion is subtle but powerful.

Walls are made out of durable hardscaping materials like 

  • Sandstone
  • Granite
  • Limestone

Retaining walls are commonly built out of stone blocks. These materials will ensure that your new retaining walls are a lasting investment that benefits your property for decades to come.

Erosion also affects the very foundation of your property. Soil erosion damages your property over time by reducing the stability of the ground that supports the structure of your home.

Enjoy More Functional Spaces

Retaining walls are also an economical investment when they transform an otherwise unrealized investment into a functional space. In addition to affording you with a landscape design that provides for a more enjoyable outdoor space, whether it’s your front lawn or your backyard. Many people use retaining walls as a privacy feature so they feel free to roam their yard in peace without worrying about visibility from the road.

 

The walls can also make a great raised bed for unique and beautiful landscaping. Gardeners love the ability to turn the hills in their backyard into more usable land for planting flowers and trees.

Shorter retaining walls, also called seating walls, can be used to create natural seating. They’re commonly installed around more social areas of the property—such as an outdoor kitchen or around a fire pit.

Retaining wall design is one of the things we love most about building them, and we help customers create pleasing spaces in their yards with them.

Would Your Property Benefit?

Retaining walls are a common and wonderful solution for both maintaining and protecting your home and adding value to the beauty and enjoyment of your property. We love helping customers in the Greater Austin area devise custom retaining wall solutions that are aesthetically pleasing and protect their properties from erosion for years to come. And we always take into account their unique property and vision.

Call to schedule your complimentary consultation at (512)260-1430.

Principles of Landscape Design

Proportion, Order, Repetition, and Unity

The principles of landscape design are tools or guidelines, that designers use to create attractive, pleasing, and comfortable landscapes. The design principles are proportion, order, repetition, and unity.

 

Proportion

Proportion refers to the size of an object in relation to other objects in the landscape. It's essential to consider the proportion of plants and hardscapes when designing a landscape. We all dream of having the perfect outdoor space that is both comfortable and visually appealing. This can be achieved by keeping in mind proportion and scale when it comes to plants, patios, and other hardscapes.

ORDER

Order refers to the balance and organization in the landscape. Order can be achieved by using the more formal symmetrical balance, where the same objects are mirror images of each other, or the informal asymmetrical balance, where the plants differ but the overall weight and size seem to be the same.

REPETITION

The goal of repetition is to create predictable and familiar patterns in the landscape. To achieve this, landscape design elements or specific features can be repeated throughout the space, such as lines, forms, colors, and textures to help create a rhythm in the landscape.

 

UNITY

In landscape design unity refers to the perceived sense that everything is connected or works together to create the whole. Employing a design theme or style helps create a sense of unity in your yard.

For more detailed information on landscape design principles, you can download The Basic Principles of Landscape Design from the University of Florida. 

 

Are you ready to transform your landscape? 

Call us today at 512-260-1430

Are Landscape Remodels Worth the Investment?

By Alicia Witt  |  5/27/22

Like many of us, spending more time at home has probably given you the sudden urge to change your surroundings. You’ve repainted the bedroom walls, hung up some new pictures, and rearranged your furniture one too many times. With summer weather here, and no more indoor space to spruce up, you’ve set your sights on larger grounds: your outdoor space.

Suddenly many great ideas are coming to you – the patio and poolside can use an upgrade and a firepit would be nice. And while you’re at it, why not add an outdoor kitchen since that’s most likely where you’ll be spending the majority of your time? All of these additions seem really tempting, up until you look up pricing. You’re probably starting to wonder: is remodeling a landscape really worth the investment? In this article, we’ll go over a few reasons why a landscape renovation is more than worth it. Let’s get started!

Why remodel your outdoor space?

Aside from the obvious and much-needed change of scenery, there are many great reasons to invest in renovating your landscape: 

Quality of Life

Creating a beautiful outdoor space can have a significant impact on your quality of life and mental wellbeing. According to a 2018 study conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 85% of homeowners reported a greater desire to be home after completing their project, 78% reported feeling an increased sense of enjoyment when at home, and 79% reported a major sense of accomplishment when thinking about their project. 

Other studies have also found that spending time outdoors surrounded by nature can reduce stress, decrease blood pressure and increase memory and attention. Simply put, a well-designed landscape remodel will bring you happiness, something that we can all use a little bit of and that is priceless!

Family Living

Are the kids growing up much faster than expected? Or maybe you couldn’t resist bringing home one more puppy. It happens to the best of us. Instead of shopping for a larger home to accommodate your growing brood, why not renovate your backyard for some extra living space? When going this route, you should start by defining the areas you’d like to see in your yard.

Do you want to keep your vegetable garden? Do you want to add a space for entertaining family and friends? Do you have or want a pool with a lounging space? Can you easily keep an eye on your kids and pets from your patio? Properly planning your backyard remodel will ensure that you maximize your space and create a living environment that can be enjoyed by all for years to come. 

Home Resale Value

Something often overlooked when performing any renovation is how it may increase the resale value of your home. Improving our living environment is nice, but wouldn’t it be great to also see a monetary return on investment?

As with most things in life, first impressions matter, and the façade of your home is no different. According to 99% of NAR members, your home’s curb appeal will have a large impact on attracting potential buyers. So, what does that mean? Think manicured lawn, blooming flower beds, gorgeous steps, and an eye-catching driveway. Additionally, a well-landscaped home can sell for up to 12% more than a home with no landscaping!

Which features should you invest in?

The features you choose to invest in will depend largely on the reason why you are remodeling your landscape in the first place. That said, certain features will increase your home’s value more than others. If that’s a deciding factor for you, we’ve compiled a list based on the NALP-NAR survey mentioned earlier:

Outdoor Kitchen

Barbecues are great, but a fully equipped and personalized outdoor kitchen is even better! If you enjoy hosting get-togethers in your backyard, this is a feature you definitely want to look into. From shelving to mini-fridges and even side burners, there is no reason for you to be running back and forth from the indoors to the outdoors. We offer a wide range of retaining walls, allowing you to build a feature that is 100% you. Should you decide to sell your house, your outdoor kitchen just might seal the deal, and you can expect to recover about 71% of the invested cost. 

Concrete Patio

What’s a backyard without a patio? Whether you’re looking for a spot to lounge while the kids play in the yard, a place for your outdoor dining table, or a space for friends and family to gather, a patio is a must. According to the NALP, walkways, and patios with contemporary, geometric patterns are a growing trend! And with our large selection of concrete pavers and patio slabs, designing your perfect patio is made easy. From traditional to modern and everything in between, you will certainly find a product to match the style of your dreams. 

 

Fire Feature

Nothing says summer more than gathering around a crisp, warm fire after a day of lounging in the pool. But when we think about a fire pit, the image of a cast-iron bowl often comes to mind. Luckily times are changing, and options are growing, making it oh so simple to create a feature that will match your home’s aesthetic. Have a modern design in mind? Why not add a more modern fire pit into the mix? Its ultra-sleek design will certainly make it the centerpiece of your yard. Prefer something a bit more rustic? No problem – we can custom-build your ideal fire feature. Regardless of the style you choose, real estate website Zillow reported that homes mentioning ‘’fire pit’’ in their listing sold on average 3.8 days faster, and for 2.8% more – That equates to $8,400 more on a $300,000 home! It also ranked number one in the American Society of Landscape Architects survey on the most popular outdoor design elements. Finally, whether you’re selling or not, you’ll have something to make your space enjoyable throughout the seasons. 

Curb Appeal

If you’re thinking of selling, now is a great time to spruce up your entrance! The façade of a house usually tells buyers what they can expect once they come in, and a poorly kept front yard can leave potential buyers wondering what else is wrong with your home. A simple way to refresh your lawn is by keeping the grass green, the flowers blooming and adding garden edging and planters to keep everything in place. If you really want to take it up a notch, now would be the time to redo your driveway and follow design trends by laying pavers in eye-catching and unique patterns! You’ll certainly boost your curb appeal and have passersby doing a double-take. 

Landscape Lighting

Often an afterthought when planning a landscape renovation is lighting. But if you’re investing so much in your home’s exterior, wouldn’t you want to enjoy the view even once the sun has set? Not only does lighting increase safety when walking around your property at night, but it can also set the mood for your outdoor space. To really get the bang for your buck, we suggest investing in high-quality lighting that can be set with a timer and is guaranteed to last for years! If you’re in the process of redoing your steps, driveway, or any hardscape project, think about including integrated lighting such as step lights or recessed lighting, and use them to highlight key features of your landscape design. Adding ‘’outdoor lighting’’ to your home’s listing can even speed up the sale by three days. Not 100% sold on the idea? Check out our gorgeous hardscape lighting ideas for inspiration. 

So, is a landscape remodel really worth the investment?

In our opinion, a well-planned and thoughtfully designed landscape remodel is always worth the investment. Whether it be an improved quality of life and mental wellbeing, more space for family activities, or a higher resale value, renovating your outdoor space is sure to bring you long-lasting benefits. So, what are you waiting for?

 

Find out how much your project will cost and treat yourself to the landscape remodel of your dreams!

 

 

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

backyard putting green with text overlay Improve Your Golf Game From Home

Backyard Golf Course

Improve Your Golf Game from the Comfort of Home

With a custom putting green in your own backyard, you can improve your golf game whenever you’d like and enjoy hours of family fun. Our putting greens are completely customizable, so we can create the perfect putting green for any size, shape, terrain, or player level needed. We’ll design your artificial turf golf course precisely the way you like it, so you can bring your putting dreams to life.

NO YARD IS TOO BIG OR SMALL

Synthetic grass-putting greens are the perfect solution for awkwardly-shaped areas of your yard such as a hilled area or narrow side yard. Custom putting greens can be installed to fit any size, shape, or terrain you have to work with, so the design possibilities are virtually endless. We can incorporate features such as contours, bunkers, and tiers to create a realistic and professional putting experience, and our synthetic turf options always simulate the roll and feel of a professional course. Whether you’re a professional golfer or just looking for some family fun, you’ll love having a custom putting green in the comfort of your own home.

PRACTICE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

If you want to turn your Austin backyard into a golfer’s oasis, call Best of Texas Landscapes for an artificial grass putting green installation. Our team of expert designers will work with you one-on-one in order to bring your imagination to life and create the custom putting green you’ve always dreamed of. Improve your short game from the comfort of your own home or create fun for the whole family with artificial grass putting green. To find out more about the options available or to receive a free installation estimate, give us a call today at (512) 260.1430.

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Top Landscaping Trends in 2022

We’ve spent more time at home in the past two years since the Great Depression in the 1930s. So it’s no wonder we have turned our attention to spending more time outside, whether it’s relaxing, dining, entertaining, playing, exercising, or working. The sky’s the limit nowadays. No longer are the backyards regulated for 1-2 outside BBQs, there is a new appreciation for the great outdoors.

Let’s take a look and see what 2022 has in store for you. Whether it’s acres of land or a sub-divided neighborhood, scroll through to see the latest landscaping trends.

Your Front Porch

Lockdowns and restrictions have left people craving connection and community more than ever. Therefore, front porches and gardens are becoming a renewed focus for many families. A place to sit back and watch the world go by or relax with your neighbors while the kids play, porches can offer fresh air and vital connection to the world beyond your fence. You can make yours more inviting with comfy seating, good lighting, and potted plants.

Foliage, Grass, & Groundcover

In 2022 you will also see a big focus on greenery, also called Softscapes. Think of it as transporting yourself to the tropics without ever having to leave your home. Grasses are a popular landscaping choice as they are multi-seasonal and rather low maintenance. You can mix in perennials and bulbs to bring in that pop of color everyone loves.

Outdoor Living

You’ve heard of bringing the outdoors in and bringing the indoors out—but why not both? So much time at home has led to homeowners realizing that blurring the lines between indoors and out extends the living area. When you stop limiting your idea of “home” to the structure on your property and instead consider your entire property your home, you can create a strong sense of place and connection to the natural world.

Landscaping With Curves

This year we’ll see more shy away from strict, rigid lines in favor of more organic shapes and natural designs, as seen in this space by one of our award-winning landscape designers. This works particularly well in smaller gardens, where curves give a softer, more relaxing vibe, delivering a much more interesting space. So, if you’re planning on a new path, lawn, wall, beds, or borders, think curvy! You might even consider introducing curves by way of shapely planters, curved benches, and fire bowls.

With so many new trends and ideas, the sky is the limit with our landscape designers! Are you ready to take the first step toward your dream yard?

 

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