Residential Ecological Design for Central Texas
Landscapes designed for the way this region actually works
Symbiosis works with homeowners across Central Texas to design landscapes that capture water, build soil, and support native habitat. We work on properties of all sizes, from urban lots in Austin to larger suburban parcels throughout the Hill Country and beyond.
A Suburban Austin Yard, Redesigned From the Ground Up
This project in Austin replaced a conventional front lawn with a fully functioning native landscape. The design addresses water, soil, and plant community as a connected system rather than a set of individual choices. It is a useful example of what this process looks like on a typical residential property.
Learn More About the Full Project Here.
What Changes About Your Property:
Most residential landscapes in Central Texas are designed against the climate rather than with it. They require constant inputs to survive: irrigation, fertilizer, herbicide, and seasonal replanting. A Symbiosis design replaces that cycle with a landscape that becomes more stable and more productive over time.
Water Use Comes Down
Native and adapted plants establish deep root systems that access soil moisture conventional turf cannot reach. Combined with thoughtful grading and water harvesting, a designed landscape significantly reduces the irrigation demand on your property.
The Soil Starts Working
Conventional lawn care interrupts the biological processes that make soil productive. A native planting design layered with mulch and organic matter rebuilds that biology over time. The result is ground that holds water better, supports plant health without chemical inputs, and improves with each passing season.
Your Yard Stays Alive Through The Summer
Heat, drought, and alkaline soil are not problems to be managed around in this region. They are the baseline conditions. Plants and systems selected for this climate do not struggle through summer. They are built for it.
The Property Supports Something larger
A landscape built around native plant communities provides habitat, food, and corridor connectivity for local wildlife. This happens as a function of good design, not as a separate goal added on top of it.
How We Work With You:
Every project begins with a design. From there, you choose the level of involvement that makes sense for your property and your situation.
Design and Installation
We handle the design process and manage full installation of your new landscape. This is a good fit for homeowners who want a complete, professionally executed result without coordinating the implementation themselves. Our team sources native plants, prepares the soil, and installs the system according to the finished design.
Design Only
We produce a complete, detailed design for your property that you can implement on your own timeline and at your own pace. The deliverable is a thorough document: planting plans, water strategy, soil recommendations, and implementation guidance. Many clients start here and return to us for installation support later.
How It Works:
Every project follows the same general sequence, though the details vary depending on your property and which path you choose.
Step 1:
Submit Your Project Details
Fill out a short form telling us about your property, your goals, and your general scope. This gives us enough context to have a productive first conversation.
Step 2:
Good Fit Call
A member of the Symbiosis team will reach out to schedule a brief call. This is a chance for both sides to ask questions, confirm that the project is a good fit, and discuss next steps before any commitment is made.
Step 3:
Design Process
Once we move forward, our designers work through a thorough site analysis and produce a complete ecological design for your property. This includes planting plans, water strategy, soil recommendations, and implementation guidance.
Step 4:
Delivery and Implementation
Your completed design is delivered as a full documentation package. From there you implement on your own, or we move into the installation phase together depending on the path you have chosen.
Residential Work Across Central Texas:
The following projects represent a range of residential properties we have worked with across the region. Each one began with a site assessment and a design process specific to that property’s conditions, goals, and constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Symbiosis work on smaller suburban properties, or only large scale projects?
We work on residential properties of all sizes across Central Texas, including standard city lots and suburban parcels. Residential design is a core part of what we do.
Where does Symbiosis Operate?
We serve a defined area of Central Texas, generally running from the northern Austin metro south to the San Antonio area, west to the Hill Country around Fredericksburg, and east toward the Cuero area. If you are unsure whether your property falls within our service area, submit a form and we will let you know. Properties outside our service area may be eligible for design only services depending on the project.
What types of work does Symbiosis handle on residential projects?
Our residential design work covers the full range of ecological landscaping and site improvements. This includes native planting design, lawn removal, food forests, vegetable gardens, pollinator habitat, and tree healthcare. On the infrastructure and construction side we work on rainwater harvesting systems, drainage and earthworks, hardscaping such as patios and walkways, and constructed elements like pergolas and shade structures. Most projects draw from several of these areas rather than a single category, and the design process is what determines how they work together as a system.
I have an HOA. Can you still work with my property?
In most cases, yes. Texas state law limits what HOAs can prohibit when it comes to water conserving and native landscaping. We are familiar with the HOA approval process and can help you navigate the documentation and submission requirements as part of the design process. The specifics vary by association, and we will discuss your situation during the good fit call.
Is a native landscape more or less work to maintain than a conventional lawn?
The honest answer is that it depends on the timeline. A newly installed native landscape requires more attention during the establishment period, typically the first one to two growing seasons, as plants develop their root systems. After that, a well designed native planting is significantly less demanding than conventional turf: no fertilizer, no herbicide, far less irrigation, and no seasonal replanting. The ongoing cost of maintaining a native landscape is generally lower than what most homeowners spend keeping a conventional lawn alive through a Central Texas summer.
How long before we see results?
Meaningful establishment typically happens within the first growing season. The landscape will look noticeably different by the end of year one, and substantially more mature and filled in by year two. Native plant systems are not instant, but they are not slow either by regional standards. The soil improvements that underpin the design compound over time in ways that a conventional lawn cannot replicate.
What does a residential design cost?
Design fees vary depending on property size and project complexity. We will discuss investment range during the good fit call once we understand the scope of your project. Installation costs are scoped separately and depend on the design, plant selection, and site conditions. We are happy to give you a general sense of range before you commit to anything.
Do I have to commit to full installation, or can I just get the design?
Design only is a complete, standalone offering. You receive a full documentation package and can implement at your own pace, on your own timeline, or bring in your own contractors. If you decide later that you want Symbiosis to handle installation, that conversation is always available.
Can you work with an existing landscape, or does the property need to start from scratch?
Most properties we work with have some existing elements worth keeping. The design process begins with a thorough site assessment, and decisions about what stays, what gets removed, and what gets added are made based on what serves the overall system. Starting from scratch is not a requirement, and in many cases existing trees, grading, and established plants become important parts of the finished design.
Ready to Transform Your Landscape?
If you want a landscape that works with nature rather than against it, we would love to help. Your land can become more productive, beautiful, and resilient with the right plan and implementation.