Garden and Landscaping
The goal of Houston garden and landscaping design is to transform a property from a plane residence into a true work of art that speaks of luxury Houston outdoor living and enhanced curb appeal. The job of Exterior Worlds is to get a sense of the burgeoning vision our clients already have of what they want, then put feet to vision and build those images into concrete realities in the form of an impeccably balanced and aesthetically superior three-dimensional landscape.
Garden and landscaping design begins with the home and revolves around it as a central focal point of visual and thematic eminence. The size of the home must be complimented appropriately in the size of outdoor elements that we build around it. Its architecture must be respected by choosing a landscape design style that appropriately matches its historical or artistic origins. Its individual details should also be complimented in the many decorative elements we create throughout the yard.
While the lawn itself is not technically a part of any one particular garden, it does serve as the foundation for the entire softscape aspect of both the front and back yards. San Augustine is the most common grass found all over theHouston area landscape, but it has some drawbacks that we recommend people take into serious consideration when budgeting their landscape design. San Augustine tends be very hard on bare feet, so it is not the best grass for kids to run and play on. Also, in dry months and the hottest parts of the year, it is not uncommon for entire patches of San Augustine to die—leaving unsightly brown spots scattered all over the yard.
This is why we recommend that many homeowners consider having us plant something more resilient and aesthetically pleasing, such as Zoisa grass. Zoisa grass, for example, has a lush emerald color, needs less rainfall than San Augustine, and is much easier on the feet.
Another important element of garden and landscaping design is hardscape of any kind—particularly patios. Patios are meant to draw crowds and provide a gathering area for events and special occasions. People do not want to see a patio simply run out into the grass and disappear without any type of decorative element to transition the inorganic surface to the organic realm beyond. Hedges, flowers, and even small bushes and trees can be planted along patios to create the sense that even the most sophisticated of masonry designs is one with the Earth and a trusted companion to all living things in the yard.
Trees are also very important to the success of any Houston landscape design project. It does not matter how large or small a yard is, there needs to be some kind of trees growing in it—even if it is trees of a smaller species we have to plant ourselves. Trees provide a world of opportunity for planting both large gardens and small flower beds that differentiate zones of interest and establish perspective and entire networks of relationships between landscape elements. The right combination of garden design and tree services can make a large lot look like four unique, yet connected, outdoor realms, and a small yard look almost twice as large as it actually is.
While the swimming pool itself does not directly impact the aesthetic of garden design, it can literally make or break and entire landscape design depending on how it is done. The pool must be proportional to both the home and the surrounding property both in size and form. A landscape professional should design the plans for the pool in relationship to the rest of the landscape master plan, and then he or she should subcontract a pool company to handle the actual construction of the swimming pool.
Garden design plays a major role in all forms of Houston masonry work and outdoor architecture construction. Outdoor kitchens are typically bordered with hedges or flowering plants. Outdoor fireplaces are often erected with planters built into the patios themselves. Courtyards and outdoor rooms depend on a blend of vegetation and hardscape for the success of their intended aesthetics.
