A Natural Approach
From Native Texas landscapes to locally-sourced hardscapes, kid-friendly yards to wildlife habitats, our mission is to help restore Austin’s landscape to a more natural state that promotes a healthy ecosystem for our local flora and fauna through the design and installation of sustainable, drought-resistant gardens.
Ecological landscaping is a new approach in our country but is becoming a widespread practice in Europe and Asia. We are adapting methods developed by practitioners around the world as well as people here at home who have developed methods of working with native seeds and plants to build functional ecosystems (check out the work of Larry Weaner, it’s incredible!) to work toward a new model for our landscapes in Central Texas.
This approach—using plants for their function instead of their form, the walls of the house instead of the decorations—is a way of using nature’s solutions as our own. Weeds, drainage issues, erosion, water loss, soil temperature, and many other issues in our landscapes are controlled naturally by beautiful, long-lasting, and cheap native plants. Our plantings are based on existing ecological systems—prairie or savannah in full sun, Woodlands in shade—and after establishment work in similar ways: densely planted communities of native plants crowd out weeds, shading and insulating the soil which reduces soil temps, preventing water loss and protecting root systems of nearby trees. No mulch, no compost, no fertilizer, and once established, little to no water or maintenance needed!
A yard without a speck of lawn can be so much more engaging, interesting, and inviting. Get rid of your lawn mower and let the plants do all that work for you!
GET An ESTIMATE
All estimates are free and flexible according to materials and scheduling.
Reviews
“I cannot recommend Native Son highly enough. You’ll have a beautiful yard and an enjoyable experience getting it done.”
“We have really enjoyed working with Danny! He has been super communicative and personable from the start....[He] was very knowledgeable about what types of Texas plants would work best for our shady yard.”
“Danny listened to what we wanted, never tried to talk us into anything, but was generous with his knowledge. He clearly loves his work—which was also a joy to be around! His estimates on both money and time were astonishingly accurate—he figured it would take five days and it did. The patio he and his crew built is especially beautiful & ingenious, and it was incredible to watch the care with which it was made, making sure everything was level and square every step. We went from an overgrown yard full of invasive plants to a beautiful space that we use every day.”
“Working with Danny felt like a collaboration — he took my list of “must-haves” and created a beautiful oasis....My home’s curb appeal has drastically improved, and I’ve had neighbors stop to compliment the new look....one described my yard as feeling like a resort, another said they felt like they were at the Wildlflower Center, and everyone truly raves about how fabulous it is.”
“HIGHLY recommend Native Son Gardens. They did an amazing job with our front yard makeover. We are SO happy with how everything turned out and we cannot wait for them to return soon for the backyard. ”
“It’s a joy to be outside in both our front and back yards now, despite the Texas heat! Highly recommend Native Son Gardens for affordable, well-designed gardens and yards.”
“From gorgeous, native plants to surround our water feature, to hand built outdoor furniture... the thought and craftsmanship on display was truly stunning.”
“Danny and his team were fantastic to work with: reliable, responsive, and efficient. Danny is friendly, professional, and creative. He really listened to what we wanted for our yard and worked with us on a terrific design. We are incredibly happy with the result!”
“He had a clear vision for our landscape design, knowledge of native plants, and flexibility to adjust as things came together and we saw the need for small changes. He and his team were quick to respond and showed up reliably when they said they would. We’ve received lots of compliments, even from strangers walking by.”
Our Work
Check out the project gallery for photos of some of our work.
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