Landscape Design Austin, TX
Design That Works With Texas Weather
We design landscapes for Austin's reality, not magazine spreads
Marian Mayer, our founder and lead designer, leads the landscape design process at Waterloo Outdoor Design Build and is deeply involved in every project from initial consultation through installation. When you work with us, you're getting a designer who understands Austin's brutal summers, unpredictable soil, flash floods, and HOA requirements. Not someone copying designs from cooler climates that won't survive July here.
Our design-build approach means we stay with your project through completion. We don't hand you a pretty plan and disappear. When we hit rock during excavation (we always do), we're there to redesign on the spot. When the drainage isn't quite right, we adjust it. What we design is what gets built.
How we design landscapes in Austin
Every landscape design starts with an on-site consultation at your property. We need to see your space in person. Sun patterns throughout the day. Where water pools after Austin's flash floods. Your neighbors' massive oak tree that shades half your yard. The rock that's probably six inches below your soil. All of it.
Then we talk about how you actually want to use your outdoor space. We design with Austin's climate reality front and center:
Summer shade strategies. Pergolas alone won't cut it May through September. We design shade structures that actually make your space usable when it's 100° outside.
Drought-tolerant but not boring. Native and adapted plants that handle Texas heat and look intentional.
Drainage that works. Austin's expansive clay soil and sudden downpours mean drainage isn't optional.
Year-round usability. Your outdoor space should work in February and August.
Types of landscape design projects we do
Whether you're entertaining constantly, need a retreat from Austin heat, want a pool that integrates with the landscape, or a front yard that doesn't look like every other house on your street—we design spaces that fit how you actually live.
Complete property transformations. Front yard, backyard, side yards. The whole thing designed to work together.
Front yard redesigns. Curb appeal that doesn't look like everyone else's. We design front yards that fit your home's style and Austin's climate.
Backyard retreats. Outdoor living spaces designed for how you actually use your yard. Entertaining areas, quiet corners, pool integration, outdoor kitchens, fire features.
Pool and landscape integration. We design the pool area and landscape together so everything flows. Shade for the pool deck, screening for privacy, seating areas that make sense.
Our design process
Our design-build approach is collaborative from start to finish. Here's how we work with you to create your Austin landscape:
1. on-site consultation
We visit your property and walk through your space together. We're assessing sun, drainage, soil conditions, existing plants, and what you're working with. We talk about your vision, how you want to use the space (entertaining? retreat from heat? pool integration?), your style preferences, and your timeline.
2. initial design concepts
Marian creates initial design concepts based on our consultation. This is where Austin climate considerations come in heavy. We're not designing what looks pretty on paper. We're designing what'll actually work in your yard with Texas weather.
3. Design refinement and finalization
We review the concepts together and refine based on your feedback. This is collaborative. You might love the layout but want different plants. Or the shade structure needs to be bigger. Once the design is locked, we finalize material selections (patio surfaces, pergola materials, plant varieties). Everything's chosen with Austin's temperature swings and sun intensity in mind.
4. Installation and completion
Our design-build approach means we're involved through installation. We coordinate with our installation team, adjust when we encounter surprises (rock, drainage issues, that underground sprinkler line no one knew about), and make sure what gets built matches what we designed. Once complete, we walk through together, explain maintenance requirements, answer questions, and make sure you're thrilled with your new outdoor space.
faq's about artificial turf
How long does the landscape design process take?
From initial consultation to final design typically takes 2-4 weeks, depending on project complexity. Installation timeline varies based on scope (a front yard might take 1-2 weeks, a complete property transformation could be 4-8 weeks).
Do you work with HOAs?
Yes. We're experienced working within HOA guidelines throughout Austin. We design projects that meet their requirements while still creating something unique to your property.
What's included in your design services?
Complete landscape design including layout, plant selection, hardscape integration (if you're adding patios, pools, etc.), material specifications, and installation oversight. You work directly with Marian throughout the design process.
Can you integrate my landscape with a pool or outdoor kitchen?
Absolutely. We design pools, patios, outdoor kitchens, and landscapes together so everything works as one cohesive space. This is actually how we prefer to work because the end result is so much better than adding features piecemeal.
What if I want to phase my project over time?
We design with phasing in mind if that's your preference. We create a master plan, then break it into logical phases based on your priorities and budget. Each phase is designed to look complete on its own while working toward the bigger vision.
How do you design for Austin's heat and drought?
We use native and adapted plants that thrive in Central Texas, design shade strategies that actually work in summer, incorporate smart irrigation, and create water-wise designs that still look lush. Everything's selected specifically for Austin's climate.
What if I want to phase my project over time?
We design with phasing in mind if that's your preference. We create a master plan, then break it into logical phases based on your priorities and budget. Each phase is designed to look complete on its own while working toward the bigger vision.
Do you handle permits?
Yes, if your project requires permits (major grading, pool installation, structures), we coordinate that process and ensure designs meet city requirements.
What makes your approach different?
You work directly with Marian throughout the design process. We're hands-on during installation. We design specifically for Austin's climate, not copying designs from cooler regions. And we're a female-owned business with a custom approach, so every project reflects your style and needs, not a cookie-cutter catalog.
Austin neighborhoods we serve
We've designed landscapes throughout the Austin area, from Tarrytown to Travis Heights, Westlake to East Austin. Each neighborhood has its own character, lot constraints, and HOA considerations.
Recent projects in: Tarrytown, Westlake, Rollingwood, Barton Hills, Travis Heights, Clarksville, Hyde Park, Allandale, Crestview, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, Circle C, Steiner Ranch, and surrounding areas.
customized outdoor landscape and living space design
Our team specializes in designing comfortable spaces that don’t just look great and make you feel a certain way. That’s something that you won’t find from any other provider of outdoor landscape design in Austin, TX has to offer. And with Designed for You, you can have the five-star design experience at the lowest price in town. Call us at 512-277-5987 now!