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Xeriscape

Southwest Swale Way

by Heather Day / July 8, 2023

Intelligent Drainage & Rainfall Celebration

Front entry by driveway featuring crushed limestone mulch planted with colorful native plants, accent beds of dark Whittlesey mulch, dry creek bed accents of Brazos and washed river rocks, and a front walk of sawn limestone pavers and poured-in-place concrete leading to and coordinating with the driveway

At Native Edge, we thrive on designing landscapes that not only enhance the beauty of a property but also address practical challenges. Southwest Swale Way was a project that focused on intelligent drainage solutions while celebrating the natural element of rainfall, and enhancing the client's desired southwestern style. Join us as we delve into the details of this remarkable project and discover how we transformed a problematic swale into a stunning landscape feature.

Phase 1: Enhancing Functionality & Aesthetics

In the first phase, we adjusted the irrigation system, began laying the dry creek beds, and installed the sawn limestone slabs, crushed limestone rock mulch, and limestone boulders that were excavated from the site to create a patio space off the back steps and enhance the appearance of the septic field. Native grasses and tradescantia pallida are beautifully incorporated into this space.

Phase 2: Celebrating Rainfall & Creating Visual Delight

Building upon the success of Phase 1, the second phase of the project focused on enhancing the aesthetics of the landscape while emphasizing the celebration of rainfall.

The home's front high voltage utility area has been replanted with native plants that will grow to conceal the utilities while still allowing for accessibility.

The existing overwhelmed downspouts were replaced with rain chains, which not only effectively managed the water flow but also added a touch of rustic elegance that matched the home's style. To work in tandem with the rain chains, limestone slabs were installed beneath them to act as splash pads. The limestone slab beautifully matches and enhances the existing architecture of the home, as well as the materials used throughout the landscaping.

The splash pads are designed to help guide the runoff to a catch basin beneath the gravel to two 12” box drains that pipe into the drain system behind the retaining wall. The installation of mixed limestone block retaining walls with brick caps seamlessly integrated with the architectural elements of the property and employed leftover building materials from the home.

We added a poured-in-place concrete path from the entry walk extending from the sawn limestone pavers to the utilities at the side of the house to tie into the existing driveway, adding visual interest but also practicality.

The existing excavated limestone boulders were strategically repositioned throughout the landscape to not only serve as functional components but also as visually striking features to the modified design of the dry creek pathways and planted areas.

Excavated limestone boulder detail

The swales were further enhanced with a mix of washed river gravel and Brazos River gravel, creating a natural stream-like appearance while maintaining proper water movement. These pathways meander throughout the yard and lead down to the wildflower prairie at the very back of the property.

The beautiful clusters of oaks in the back were viewed as an opportunity to create native planting areas and give ease to mowing, maintenance, and irrigation, while also making these stunning trees a focal point in the design. These areas were mulched with dark Whittlesey mulch to provide visual contrast and tie in to the other landscaped accent beds around the property.

A beautiful mixture of hardscapes: dark Whittlesey mulch, sawn limestone pavers, limestone boulders excavated from the site, and a blend of washed river rock and Brazos river rock

To extend the enjoyment of the yards into the evening, we installed landscape lighting with ten unique fixtures. This included front yard foundation well lights and backyard downlights, known as “moonlighting” that beautifully and naturally illuminates the landscape features, creating a captivating ambiance that imitates the moon.

The Southwest Swale Way project exemplifies Native Edge's expertise in addressing drainage challenges while creating visually stunning landscapes. By intelligently managing water flow, incorporating rain chains, and designing functional swales, we successfully transformed a problematic area into an aesthetically pleasing feature. The use of natural materials, such as limestone boulders and diverse top dresses, added texture and visual interest.

Contact us at Native Edge to explore how we can transform your outdoor space into a sustainable oasis that celebrates both functionality and natural elements.

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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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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Georgetown Native Nook

by Dillon Tuttle / November 21, 2020

After these homeowners moved from a modern house in east Austin out to the hill country of Georgetown, they wanted to modernize their landscaping without clashing with their new home. The pre-existing, overgrown beds provided a great shape, so the designer decided to reenforce them with metal edging, and fill them with drought tolerant perennials and structural plants that look great year round. The old plantings had become untamed, shrouding the home and leaving little room to breathe. The new xeriscape was designed to be minimal and sporadic, leaving plenty of room for the new plants to grow into the space. Pea gravel and river rock where the chosen top dressings instead of traditional mulch to keep with the modern theme of the landscaping. Outdoor lighting was added to create depth throughout the property. Not only were they added against the home, they were added to every tree in the front yard, lighting the entire area with a warm, welcoming glow.

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Wooten Backyard Living

by Dillon Tuttle / October 3, 2020

These homeowners were looking to up their hosting game by modernizing their property to create the ultimate entertainment space. A custom outdoor kitchen was added with a top of the line Delta Heat grill and a special nook for a Big Green Egg. Flagstone was added to create asymmetrical walkways throughout the yard that extended into a ring around the fire pit. Four rectangular trellises were added along the fence and shed, with an all metal pergola located at the back of the pool. This unique structure immediately draws the eye and adds a playful, artistic element to the rest of the space. The use of various sized rocks, gravel, and flagstone give a rough texture that creates a symbiosis with the metalwork. Silver Falls Dichondra creates a beautiful contrast to the rocks and can be found all over the property along with various other grasses, ferns, and agave. A large area of gravel rests on the side of the house, giving the client room to park a recreational vehicle. In front, a privacy fence was added along one of the property lines, leading into a drought resistant, eco-friendly section of yard. This fence, coupled with a giant boulder, doubles as a safety precaution in case drivers miss the turn and run into their lawn. This updated landscaping adds an effortless flow for guests to move from the front yard to the back while creating a very open, welcoming feel to all who enter.

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Zilker Native Chic

by Rodney Stoutenger / September 12, 2018

This yard was transformed from a bland builder basic to a fun and lush xeriscaped entry way. To make the yard feel bigger, we removed the driveway and used gravel from end to end, creating an open, borderless planting and patio space across the entire front yard. For extra security and privacy, a fence was added along the front, which features an automatic gate for easy use as they come and go. With the limestone facade being one of the customers least favorite features of the house, we planted fig ivy vines to grow and cover it.

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Midtown Commons Lounge Courtyard

by Rodney Stoutenger / August 13, 2018

These customers thought their space was too small to utilize in the way they wanted. We introduced the idea of small spaces needing to be simple, yet impactful in every material and placement chosen. To make the space feel larger, we emphasized the visual height of the space with tall pottery, trellis work, and an herb planter wall, while taking advantage of unused space under the stairs to create storage. The large concrete patio pavers also assist with the illusion of a larger space. The entire space centers around a custom designed iron planter and fire pit combo for night time lounge entertaining.

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Brentwood Family Escape

by Rodney Stoutenger / January 10, 2017

Our customers for this project were a young, active family new to Austin with a keen eye for design and a love of the outdoors. The main goal of this project was to implement an outdoor living space while also providing an area for their dogs and kids to be active. 

Starting in the front yard, we added a walkway to connect with the street to create a welcoming entrance for guests.  Next we focused on extending their indoor living space into the backyard by implementing elements that they would draw them outside. The new patio and fire pit, built-in seating opportunities, an outdoor shower, and an adjustable louvered pergola help keep the space comfortable for everyday use. A rain water catchment and a raised garden and herb wall create opportunities to interact with their landscape. The inclusion of the custom built play area gives the kids a separate place to play while mom and dad entertain. 

The home was a new construction, with unique yard layout that left us with a series of corners. These customers were conscious of choosing environmentally friendly options to work with nature in their space rather than combat it. We were able to create movement within the yard and soften the structures with native plantings that added energy to the space.  

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Oak Hill Country Estate

by Rodney Stoutenger / October 17, 2016

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This became more than another landscape installation, this became about family! We were first contacted by this amazing husband and wife team back when the in-laws were first invited into their home! The homeowners being custom home builders made this project a fun and personable collaboration! We designed this landscape with the same core principals they built their home with; sustainability - but more importantly, love and family.

After seeing the plans for the in-law suite and guest house, we instantly felt their connection with their design and concept to be built around the family. By connecting the main house to the guest house with an open air breezeway, outdoor kitchen, and pool - we knew we would be able to capture some amazing details thought the space, and create destination areas amongst the landscape for the family to enjoy for years to come!

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Crestview Rustic Oasis

by Rodney Stoutenger / March 18, 2016

Iron Planter Detail

What we love most about our landscapes is having fun! That is why it is always so great to be a part of a project with such personality!
These homeowners were a fun couple, with great history - picking up electric art and sculptures along the way! Every piece having it’s own story! When we started on our landscape design here, we knew we had to be able to tell a story throughout the landscape.
We created this landscape as a frame to a photo on the wall; to only showcase the customer’s great finds and adventures.
We used simple, timelines materials in order for the landscape style to transition with the homeowners throughout the seasons, and throughout the years to come!

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