Cherrywood Charmer

by Dillon Tuttle / May 5, 2023

The home owners of the Cherrywood Charmer were seeking an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sensitive landscape that would complement the existing large custom deck, which is used both as a peaceful refuge and for some entertaining. This project involved a full-property landscape renovation as the landscaping around the home had been largely untouched for twenty years. It had been in a state of decline in recent years, accelerated by the recent Austin freeze.

The design solution in the backyard focused on expanding the idea of the peaceful refuge by installing meandering paths through diverse plantings intended to draw the user into the landscape, highlighting the presence of the large shade tree that is central to the sense of privacy and enclosure of the space, and implementing a large, calming water feature. The stone borders and pathways are comprised of nicotine limestone sawed chop block that beautifully compliment the impressive three-pump water feature.

We also installed a custom key hole garden made from red cedar with built in trellis supports and a nearby slimline rainwater cistern for produce gardening and irrigation.

In the front yard, our focus was an update to the existing landscape to increase curb appeal and provide a sense of connection with the backyard landscape. New bed lines were defined to capture the areas in which lawn would thrive, and native and adapted planting were implemented along the perimeters of the landscape to draw the eye of passersby. A new railing was also added to the front porch to provide better accessibility for the home owners.

The Cherrywood Charmer is now a beautiful and sustainable landscape that reflects the homeowner's vision and the expertise of Native Edge Landscape.

National Wildflower Week: Using Native Wildflowers in Landscaping

by Heather Day / May 1, 2023

Native Edge Landscape is committed to being a sustainable and environmentally conscious landscape design company that focuses on creating responsible outdoor living for a sustainable future. With National Wildflower Week taking place from May 1-7, we wanted to feature one of our projects that uses native wildflowers instead of grass, and discuss the benefits of doing so.

The property we're highlighting is also in an HG Magazine feature and showcases a beautiful and functional landscape that incorporates a variety of native wildflowers. By using native wildflowers, we were able to create a landscape that is not only visually stunning, but also supports local ecosystems and reduces the need for maintenance and watering.

One of the biggest benefits of using native wildflowers in landscaping is their ability to attract and support local wildlife. Many native wildflowers are specifically adapted to support local pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, which are essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems. By incorporating these plants into our landscapes, we can help support the local ecosystem and ensure that these essential pollinators have the resources they need to thrive.

Another benefit of using native wildflowers is that they require less maintenance and watering than traditional grass lawns. This is because native wildflowers are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, so they are better able to withstand drought and other environmental stressors. By reducing the amount of water and maintenance required, we can create landscapes that are more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

In addition to their environmental benefits, native wildflowers also add a unique and beautiful aesthetic to landscapes. By using a variety of colors and textures, we can create a landscape that is visually stunning and helps to create a sense of place that is unique to the local environment.

At Native Edge Landscape, we are passionate about creating responsible landscapes that support local ecosystems and reduce our impact on the environment. By using native wildflowers in our designs, we can help create landscapes that are not only beautiful but also sustainable and environmentally responsible.

As National Wildflower Week approaches, we encourage you to consider incorporating native wildflowers into your own landscaping designs. Not only will you be supporting local ecosystems and reducing your impact on the environment, but you'll also be creating a beautiful and unique landscape that is sure to impress. Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable and environmentally responsible landscape designs.

[click to view the Houzz Portfolio for this project]

[click to view the Native Edge Portfolio]

Best of Houzz 2023 Winner

by Heather Day / February 15, 2023

AUSTIN, TX, February 15, 2023 – Native Edge Landscape of Austin, TX has won a “Best of Houzz” award for Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design, including the all-in-one software solution for industry professionals. The fifteen year-old landscape design firm with a focus on sustainable practices and exclusively native plants was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 3 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Best of Houzz awards are given annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro's overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2022.

“Best of Houzz 2023” badges appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help the more than 65 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts on Houzz to identify popular and top-rated home professionals for their projects.

"On behalf of the entire team at Native Edge Landscape, we are honored to receive the 2023 Customer Service award from Houzz. This marks the fifth time we have been recognized for our exceptional service, and we are thrilled to have won a total of seven Best of Houzz awards,” said Rodney Stoutenger, president and founder of Native Edge Landscape. “We are grateful for the opportunity to share our dedication to sustainable landscape design with the Houzz community and to connect with homeowners who share our passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces that reflect their unique needs and preferences. Thank you to Houzz for this recognition and for providing a platform that allows us to showcase our work and connect with clients who appreciate our commitment to exceptional service and sustainable design."

"We are thrilled to highlight incredibly talented and customer-driven pros from the Houzz community through the Best of Houzz awards," said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. "At Houzz, we strive to support professionals from building their brands and attracting clients, to managing their business efficiently and profitably, and collaborating with clients. The Best of Houzz awards provide a distinctive mark of credibility for homeowners looking for pros on Houzz. We congratulate all the winners for everything they’ve accomplished in 2022 and look forward to seeing their work and positive reviews in the year ahead."

You can see more of Native Edge Landscape’s work on Houzz at https://www.houzz.com/pro/nativeedge

Corten Steel: Your Next Custom Project

by Rowan Marney / June 4, 2022

Corten Steel can give your space a rustic yet modern feel while lasting for years.

Living in Austin, you're bound to see Corten Steel incorporated into landscaping. Not only does it look nice, it lasts longer than any other material you could use for raised planters. Let's take a look at all the benefits, as well as view some examples where Corten steel has helped elevate a space.

South Austin Suburban Sanctuary

by Erin Spencer / January 6, 2022

These homeowners came to us with the desire to turn their basic grass lawn into a fun hangout space. In the new design, they wanted a large patio, a gathering place for a fire pit, native plantings, outdoor lighting, and a grassy area to accommodate yard games and the family dog all while addressing some drainage concerns! A designated space was left to accommodate the future hot tub; Designer Erin included pre-built steps in her plans when designing the layout of the patio so that they would have easy access in the future.

A cut out was added to the deck to leave an area for a water feature to be installed, and to give the deck additional interest and sharp angles to mirror zig-zag bridges found in traditional Asian style landscapes. The Gabian wall was added to help define the space while also giving a variation of texture from patio to lawn. The water feature itself was inspired by the Japanese bamboo “deer-scarer”; Erin’s interpretation uses the corten metal instead of the traditional bamboo. The issues and concerns with drainage were addressed with a French Drain and dry creek bed with also gave interest and a sense of movement to the landscape. Our final task was to add a small planting area to the front of the home to dress up the entry and bring a cohesive feel to the entire home.

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Hilltop Haven

by Dillon Tuttle / December 11, 2021

These homeowners have a beautiful hill country property and were looking to match the aesthetic of the home with an updated landscape design. The primary goals for this project included completing the landscape left unfinished around the existing pool, replacing as much lawn as possible with native plants to attract pollinators and birds, and reimagining the front yard hillside. Custom entry stairs and a bridge were added with steel raised planters to give dimension to the sloping walkway to include a formal path to the front door for guest parking at the street. The bridge gives a clear path over a dry creek drainage system made with river rocks, giving excess water a clear path to follow that avoids important areas of the home and landscaping. We added a custom address marker as well as a few bubbling boulder water features in the front and back yard to provide interest and water source for wildlife.

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Mid-Century Ranch Makeover

by Dillon Tuttle / October 8, 2021

This mid-century ranch makeover was designed to create an exciting outdoor living space to compliment the homeowners’ in-ground pool and outdoor movie theatre. We wanted the unique style of the home to extend into their outdoor space. Architectural plants paired with the movement of softer flowers and grasses blend into a visually striking and relaxing space for this young family to entertain and enjoy! Texture was a big influence in this landscape with a mix of hardscape and foliage to fuse the space into a modern rustic charm. Windmill palms, cacti, and yuccas were paired with flowering perennials and ornamental grasses to provide seasonal bursts of color and amplify the southwestern ambiance.

Cafe lights and hitching-post towel racks were selected for a cozy and eccentric Austin flare. Artificial Turf was installed to replace the pre-existing pea gravel to soften the landscape and create a more pet-friendly backyard for their dog to play in. An outdoor kitchen with a raised countertop for extra seating was built within access of two doors for hosting and cleaning convenience. With this backyard makeover, the hosting possibilities are endless!

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Mount Bonnell Native Oasis

by Dillon Tuttle / June 24, 2021

We have had the pleasure of working on multiple projects for this property over the past few years! It has been great to watch the property change and turn into the native oasis it is today! The most important aspect of this property that the owner wanted to maintain was that all the plantings were native to Central Texas. The back of the property was filled with native plantings around the pool, and the property owner wanted a cohesive look with her beds in the front yard that had become overgrown. We removed the old plants and added in some of the same native plantings that were found in her back yard. Yaupon Holly was added along the property line to provide extra privacy from the neighbors and flowering natives were clustered to make the property more pollinator friendly!

Another request from the owner was that we make the property more inviting during the evenings. We added in some outdoor lighting to highlight the trees, as well as lighting that illuminated the pathway up to the house and around the back of the property. This added a dreamy element to the space, making the property more inviting to guests.

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Georgetown Wildflower Wonderland

by Erin Spencer / June 1, 2021

Located in downtown Georgetown, this family transformed their front yard into a wildflower wonderland! They envisioned a welcoming entrance with seating and native landscaping to host both guests and pollinators on their property. They wanted to ditch their grass yard in favor of colorful native plants that would create a charming scene for friends and neighbors alike. They dreamed of a gathering space in their front yard that looked out over their native plantings, so we added a seating area with cafe lights and raised steel planters so that the plantings could be enjoyed while seated. Black star gravel was added for furniture and plant contrast, making them pop against the home and landscaping. This family now has a relaxing area to gather, host friends, and watch the pollinators visit their beautiful wildflowers!=

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Tarrytown Wraparound

by Rodney Stoutenger / January 30, 2021

This young family came to us looking to transform their yard into an area where they could easily entertain their guests. They were looking to add a seamless wraparound patio that meshed with the look of their existing home and garage. Concrete was chosen as the base of the patio, and was then topped with limestone slabs. A short retaining wall was added along the edge of the patio in the back to give the space more definition. Raised planters along the garage and a custom outdoor kitchen extend their living space to the outdoors. The designer chose to add lighting along the edge of the retaining wall giving the space a low, warm blanket of light. Bougainvillea was planted along the garage climbing upwards, providing a pop of color against the light coloring of the home. Holly trees were chosen to line the backyard fence, as well as the side yard along the street. This helped to provide a green wall of privacy and soften the stone facade.

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