Your Dream Starts with
Custom Landscape Design
Southern Landscape provides custom landscape design services in Austin, TX, blending master planning, Texas horticulture, and professional installation to create sustainable outdoor environments. For over 40 years, we have crafted thousands of lush, functional outdoor spaces across Austin, and no two are ever the same. We believe that a truly exceptional property begins with an exceptional plan, designed around your lifestyle, your property, and the long-term health of your landscape.
Ready to envision your dream outdoor space?
Where Texas Horticulture Meets Master Landscape Design
Creating an enduring Central Texas landscape requires more than just a green thumb—it demands an understanding of local ecology and a strategic eye for design. Our signature landscape design services combine artistic vision with sophisticated water management, soil health, and climate-adapted plant selections to build a thriving ecosystem from the ground up.
The Southern Landscape team features highly skilled landscape designers and horticulturalists working in tandem. Together, we create visual harmony that is sustainable, intelligent, and uniquely tailored to the challenging Austin environment. We prioritize native and adapted species that offer year-round interest in color, form, and texture while standing resilient against the Texas climate.
Our Collaborative Landscape Design & Build Process
On-Site Discovery & Comprehensive Site Analysis
We begin by walking your property to evaluate its unique natural characteristics—including sunlight patterns, soil composition, slope, and existing elements. More importantly, we listen to your goals to ensure our master plan serves how you intend to live, relax, or entertain in the space.
Landscape Design & Visualization
Using cutting-edge 2D and 3D design software, we generate detailed renderings so you can realistically visualize your new environment and how it will mature over time. During this phase, we curate design sample boards showcasing proposed materials, textures, and plant palettes.
Budget Development
Based on the materials and layout selected, we develop a clear budget with you. We routinely design and phase master-planned projects ranging from $10,000 to well over $1,000,000.
Professional Installation, Soil Prep, & Contracting
Once a thorough, transparent contract is signed, our professional crews bring the blueprint to life. Long-term landscape health begins below the surface, so we focus heavily on expert grading, drainage, and rich soil amendments. We then meticulously install every plant, tree, and lawn area, integrating state-of-the-art irrigation systems to safeguard your investment from day one.
Landscape Design, Installation & Landscaping Services in Austin
Southern Landscape offers more than landscape plans. We provide complete landscape design, installation, and landscaping services in Austin, helping homeowners bring every part of their outdoor vision to life. From the first design concept to the final plant installation, our team considers how each element will look, function, and mature in the Central Texas climate.
Our landscaping services include planting design, native and adapted plant selections, tree installation, lawn areas, garden beds, grading, drainage, soil preparation, and irrigation integration. Every detail is planned with long-term performance in mind, so your landscape is not only beautiful on day one but built to thrive through Austin’s heat, weather patterns, and seasonal changes.
Whether your property needs a complete landscape transformation or a phased design and installation plan, we create outdoor spaces that balance beauty, sustainability, and everyday use.
Explore Our Landscape Design Gallery
See our expertise in action and get inspiration for your project. Our Landscape Design Project Gallery showcases a diverse portfolio of transformed outdoor spaces, highlighting our commitment to meticulous planning and exceptional design execution. Let our past projects inspire your future outdoor living.
Our Comprehensive Outdoor Services
While landscape design is a specialty, our capabilities extend far beyond. Southern Landscape offers a full suite of services to bring your entire outdoor vision to life, from initial concept to ongoing maintenance.
Why Austin Homeowners Trust Southern Landscape
For four decades, Austin homeowners have relied on Southern Landscape to elevate their properties. When you choose us, you benefit from:
- 40+ Years of Local Expertise: An unmatched understanding of Austin’s unique terrain, climate, and HOA guidelines.
- A Proven Portfolio: From sprawling Hill Country estate transformations to intimate urban sanctuaries, our living works of art speak for themselves.
- End-to-End Accountability: A single, dedicated team managing everything from the initial design rendering to the final site cleanup.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Austin Landscape Design Services
Do you handle Austin HOA approvals and city permitting for landscape designs?
Yes. Navigating Austin-area Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and municipal permitting can be complex. With over 40 years of local experience, we design explicitly within local impervious cover limits, tree preservation ordinances, and neighborhood architectural guidelines. We can provide the formal 2D/3D design plans and material samples required to streamline your HOA approval process.
How do your landscape designs handle Austin’s watering restrictions and droughts?
Every landscape we design prioritizes water conservation without sacrificing beauty. We integrate smart, state-of-the-art irrigation systems—such as drip irrigation and weather-sensing controllers—and specialize in xeriscaping principles. By combining strategic grading with drought-tolerant native Texas plants, we ensure your outdoor space thrives under Stage 1 or Stage 2 Austin water restrictions.
Do you design deer-resistant landscapes for the Austin Hill Country?
Absolutely. Deer pressure is a major challenge for homeowners in Westlake, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, and the surrounding Hill Country. Our horticulturalists curate custom plant palettes utilizing native, deer-resistant species that foraging wildlife naturally avoid, ensuring your investment remains lush and beautiful.
What is the best time of year to start a landscape project in Central Texas?
While planting is highly successful during the cooler fall and early spring months, landscape design and planning should happen year-round. Starting your design process in the winter or mid-summer ensures that engineering, HOA approvals, and budgeting are fully finalized, allowing our installation crews to break ground at the absolute optimal planting time.
What is the difference between a basic landscaper and a design-build landscape architect firm?
A basic landscaping service typically handles routine yard maintenance or simple plant installations. As a custom design-build firm, Southern Landscape provides comprehensive master planning. This means we handle complex environmental factors—such as structural drainage, terrain grading, soil rehabilitation, and long-term horticultural planning—and then physically build and plant the entire design ourselves for seamless execution.
How long does the landscape design and installation process typically take?
Timeline varies by the complexity of the project. Generally, the initial discovery, site analysis, and 3D visualization phase takes 2 to 4 weeks. Once the design and budget are finalized and approvals are secured, the physical installation can take anywhere from a few days for single-phase planting to several weeks for large, multi-acre master estates. We provide a clear timeline estimate prior to breaking ground.
How do you select the plants for my landscape?
Central Texas weather can be brutal, which is why we specialize in Texas horticulture. Our team features highly skilled designers and horticulturalists who prioritize native and climate-adapted species. We select plants that offer year-round interest in color, form, and texture while remaining highly resilient against Austin’s heat, drought, and seasonal changes.
Can my landscape project be completed in phases?
Absolutely. We understand that a complete outdoor transformation is a major investment. We frequently design comprehensive master plans that are strategically broken down into phased installation steps. This allows you to build your dream landscape over time while ensuring the final result is cohesive and intelligent.
Do you handle both the design and the actual installation?
Yes. Southern Landscape is a full-service design-build firm, offering end-to-end accountability. Our team manages the entire lifecycle of your project—from the initial 2D or 3D design renderings and material curation to the grading, soil preparation, irrigation integration, and final plant installation. You work with a single, dedicated team from start to finish.
Why is soil preparation and drainage so important in Austin?
Long-term landscape health begins below the surface. Austin’s unique terrain often features heavy clay or rocky limestone soils, coupled with intense weather patterns. We focus heavily on expert grading, drainage solutions, and rich soil amendments before a single plant goes into the ground. This protects your investment and ensures your new landscape has the foundation it needs to thrive.