Austin Xeriscape Design Specialists

Kevin Wood Landscapes is your Austin xeriscape design specialist. Xeriscape is a type of landscape design that was originally developed for drought-afflicted areas.  Over the years it’s grown in popularity and is used all over the country, even in water-rich areas. Almost any landscaping style can be achieved with xeriscaping. The principles can be applied to all or part of your yard, and is perfect for the Austin, Texas area environment.
 

Benefits of Xeriscape​

• Water Conservation – In most of North America, over 50% of residential water used is for landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by 50-75%.
• Less Maintenance – Aside from some occasional pruning and weeding, maintenance is minimal. Watering requirements are low, and can be satisfied with simple automatic irrigation.
• No Fertilizers or Pesticides – Xeriscape utilizes native plants eliminating the need for chemical supplements and protection. Your native soil gives the plants everything they need to thrive.
• Improves Property Value – When you drought-proof your landscape your property value increases.
• Wildlife Habitat – Using native plants, shrubs, and trees offer a familiar and varied habitat that attracts local wildlife.
   

Xeriscape Plants

One of the primary principles behind xeriscape is using plants that are native to the area. The climate in Austin is humid subtropical with mild winters and hot summers. It’s also more prone to higher amounts of rainfall and flooding when it does rain. It’s important to design your xeriscape landscape with native species that are adapted and for the region’s climate and soils to get the most out of your landscape.

• Native Trees – Native trees add shade and aesthetic value to your landscape. Live Oaks (evergreens) do well in central Texas. The Desert Willow and Bigtooth Maple are also great native tree choices.
• Native Shrubs – Give your landscape natural structure and color with Texas Sage. The shrub provides massive amounts of purple flowers several times during the growing season. Pride of Barbados and Thyrallis will not disappoint either.
• Native Perennials – Plants that come back every year are hard to beat. The red and purple flowers on the Batface Cuphea resemble the winged animal it’s named after. Lamb’s ear is great for adding color and texture without flowers.
• Native Vines – Adding a native vine to your pergolas, garden walls, trellises or other structure is a great way to add a new dimension to your Austin xeriscape landscape. Texas Wisteria has a high heat tolerance and does best in sun to partly shaded areas. Its bluish-lilac flowers that bloom in the Spring have a lovely fragrance. Mexican Flame Vine is perfect for providing cover for chain-link fences. The vine has orange flowers and spreads out to 10 feet or more.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to xeriscaping possibilities for your Austin landscape. Give us a call and we’d be happy to discuss all the xeriscape design options for your yard.