Tag: Landscapes

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.

BOT MARCH BLOG

Creating Your Personal Oasis

Have you ever seen a backyard swimming pool so nice that it felt as though you were swept off to a luxury resort? We have … in fact, we’ve installed a few! A beautiful and functional backyard pool environment is a pleasure to behold. Not only is a pool the perfect place to entertain guests, but it becomes your own, private oasis to escape to at any time.


When renovating your backyard and adding a pool, you want to take into account both your preference on aesthetics and functionality. Consider all of the elements that will go into your new, private oasis. Your luxury pool will be the focal point of the yard, but feel free to gather inspiration from your home when completing the design. Landscaping and hardscaping always work well together, in order to create an attractive, cohesive space around the pool and your yard.

Plants by the Pool

Plants balance the hard surfaces around your pool, with the softening effects of landscaping. They also add liveliness to your oasis through height, color, and movement. If you have existing trees or plants in your backyard, we will evaluate them and do our best to incorporate them into your new design. Besides, why take out what you already have, if it will work within the space? It is important to surround yourself with plants you love;that way when you are relaxing poolside, you’re all smiles.

modern backyard landscape design with horizontal fence, spruce trees along fence line, and in-ground pool

Building Privacy

The last element to bringing YOUR luxury resort to life… privacy! There are an exuberant amount of  ways to add an element of privacy to your backyard oasis. Trees can provide shade for meals or lounging out on the patio. Bushes screen box decks and keep unsightly pool equipment hidden away. Enclosing your backyard with a pergola or walls creates a sense of seclusion and intimacy; keeping distractions and neighbors at bay.

Complete YOUR Oasis

Wouldn’t you love to have your own private, luxury oasis? A place to entertain friends and family? A place to relax and unwind after a long week? If so, give us a call to set up your consultation.

SPRING 2021

Preparing For Spring

A healthy green lawn, colorful flowers, and lush shrubs and trees are key components in an attractive landscape design. Whether you have just moved into a new build or are wanting to spruce up your existing home, focusing on your landscaping is smart.

Good landscape design not only makes your home more appealing but it also adds value. In some instances, landscaping can add a 215% return on your investment. We understand that choosing what elements to include in your landscaping can be a bit overwhelming. That’s what we are here for: to help you choose the best elements that compliment both your style and your home.

Shade Producing Drought Tolerant Trees

We all know Texas gets pretty hot, but that’s not the only thing you need to think about when choosing the proper trees. Drought is  a major concern during certain parts of the year; so you’ll want to consider installing shade producing trees that don’t require a great deal of water

The Lacebark Elm is a small leafed tree that has a unique, exfoliating “lace” pattern bark, which gives it an unmistakable presence. The bark peels off in a puzzle piece pattern, revealing beautiful patterns of multiple underlying colors (grey, green, brown, orange). This tree can handle harsh conditions, including poor quality soils and harsh winds. During the Fall months, the Lacebark Elm tree leaves turn a bright, fiery reddish-orange –  perfect addition to any landscape.

If you are looking for an Oak tree look no further than the Monterrey Oak. This sturdy tree is a medium sized oak that is tolerant to Oak Wilt (a fungal disease that makes the foliage wilt and eventually kills the tree.) It thrives on extra sunlight, which is why it’s perfect for Texas summers. The leaves are a bright and shiny green that transform to a soft shade of yellow in the Fall.

Heat Loving Shrubs

Trees are great investments, but shrubs are also important elements when it comes to landscape design. Shrubs can enhance your curb appeal by accentuating the front of your home; all while creating borders and adding pops of color or texture in flowerbed

The Texas Red Yucca is a hummingbird favorite that produces talk spikes of reddish-pink flowers, whichcontinue to bloom all Summer long. It is also one of the most drought tolerant, flowering succulent plants.

When it comes to ersatile shrubs, the Boxwood is as good as it comes. They bring year round color to your front yard landscape; creating bright moments during those dreary winter months. Their ability to bounce back and withstand regular shearing makes them perfect for hedges and topiaries.

Durable Flowers

Trees and shrubs are beautiful for your yard, but adding some flowers is important for softening up the greenery in your landscape design.

Unfortunately, not all flowers are suited for the sun and heat of Texas; so it is key to know which ones are durable enough to withstand the climate.

Perennial flowers are plants that return year after year. In most cases they die off in the Winter and return to life in the Spring. There is considerable variety when it comes to perennial color; making it possible to have something of interest throughout the year.

For fun and whimsy that will stand the test of time, make sure to include Gerbera Daisies in your flowerbeds or pots. These flowers need full sun; and with proper care, they will thrive.

Columbine flowers are another well suited option. They love the heat, (but will also grow in partial shade) so they work well in flowerbeds with trees and shrubs. They come in many vibrant colors and have an attractive, clover-like foliage. 

HARDSCAPES and NATURE

Hardscapes and Nature

When you think about landscaping you might imagine lush green lawns, vibrant colorful flowers, and wispy grasses blowing in the breeze. It’s not as often that we consider the structures within the setting — your hardscapes.

Hardscapes are an important part of your landscape design. They are paths, walls, patios, and any other “hard” features made of concrete, brick, or rock. Paths and patios can tie your design together; while  adding a fire element such as a fire pit or fireplace can create that cozy or romantic ambiance you’re searching for. There are four main elements you can incorporate into your landscaping: fire, water, earth, and air.

FIRE

One of the most popular hardscape elements is fire. Whether it’s a fireplace or a fire pit, you can be sure this will be THE place of gathering for friends and family. They both offer lighting and warmth once the sun starts to set, and the ambiance will keep everyone gathered around, chatting into the wee hours of the night. Not only are there many different sizes and shapes, but fire pits allow you the choice to burn wood or gas and to have colored glass or decorative rock fill the space – creating a stunning, more modern look.

WATER

Adding a water feature to your hardscape increases the aesthetics tenfold. Not only are they beautiful and mesmerizing to watch, but the sound of water flowing creates a relaxing atmosphere anyone can find serenity in. All you need to complete the flow is a comfy chair to curl up in and a little bit of time to close your eyes and relax.

EARTH

The perfect addition to a hardscape is the surrounding landscape. Adding trees allows for privacy, shade, and even a little burst of color. Bordering pathways with vibrant flowers and other small greenery can expand the hardscape while adding texture and color. You can also, easily, transition from the hardscape into the lawn by incorporating decorative rock or mulch.

AIR

We couldn’t leave out Pergolas! A quickly growing trend, especially here in Texas, pergolas provide shade, lighting, privacy, and a place to hang your favorite flowery baskets. It provides an excellent place to have your patio furniture for outdoor meals or a full outdoor kitchen. Surround your pergola with tall, flowy grasses and you’ll be able to hear the whisperings of the wind as you enjoy the cooler temperatures of your shady oasis. Air elements are all about finding unique ways for the senses to experience natural air and cooling elements; and these are sure to have you covered.

Whether you choose one or multiple elements to include in your hardscape, adding these components will definitely have you spending more time outdoors with your family, friends, and self.