Find useful information to help you create an attractive earth-friendly landscape. Good planning and design will lead to a landscape that reflects the character of central Texas, conserves resources, and protects our environment.
Getting Started
1. Read background information on creating a green garden
2. Map your property
- Manually draw or use online tools to map existing structures, vegetation, utilities, etc.
3. Evaluate your site
- Look at sunlight, slope, and drainage
4. Check your soil depth and type
- Amend the soil, if needed
- Consider raised beds if soil is compacted or shallow
5. Call before you dig
- Call 811 to identify underground utilities before planting or building
6. Come up with a plan
- Save existing desirable plants
- Plan to keep water on the land: Rain Gardens
7. Choose the right plants
- Plant native and well-adapted species to attract wildlife: Native and Adapted Plant Guide
- Avoid invasive plants
- Use a diversity of species
8. Get inspired
- Visit local gardens
- Consult the Landscape Design templates
Landscape Professional Training
- Training Videos
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- View the 2020 Grow Green Landscape Professionals Training playlist
- View the Grow Green Landscape Professionals playlist
- Training Presentations
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2020:
- Design – Lessons Learned, Helen Ivor-Smith, Environmental Survey Consulting
- Permeable Paver Installation & Maintenance, David Hasness, Keystone Hardscapes
- Tree Care and Diagnosis, Daniel Priest, Development Services Department
- 8 Principles of Landscape Design, Merrideth Jiles, City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department
- Plant Selection Tips, Crystal Murray, Far South Grower’s
- Designer’s Toolbox, Merrideth Jiles, City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department
- Austin Water Rebates, Chris Charles, Austin Water
2019:
- Introduction to Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Paige Oliverio, Urban Patchwork
- Rain Gardens - Design & Installation, Tom Franke, Watershed Protection
- Rain Gardens - Plants & Maintenance, Susan Kenzle & Darcy Nuffer, Watershed Protection
- Rainwater Harvesting, Billy Kniffen, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (retired)
- Passive Cistern Design handout, Staryn Wagner, Watershed Protection
- High Efficiency Irrigation and Holistic Water Management, Brenton Donnell, Innovative Irrigation Technologies
- Drainage Utility Fee & Discount Program, Kellsey Schilly, Watershed Protection
- Benefits of Nature, Dr. Cindy Klemmer, Parks & Recreation Department
- How Trees Grow, Paul Johnson, Texas A&M Forest Service
- Tree Regulations & Critical Root Zone, Cinthia Pedraza, Development Services Department
- Attracting Wildlife, Kelly Simon, Texas Parks & Wildlife
- Fruit Tree Pruning, Greg Mast, Central Texas Food Bank
- Gray Water, Robert Stefani, Austin Water
- Irrigation Technology, Johnny Anderson, Rachio
- Reducing Wildfire Risk in Landscapes: Tools & Resources, Mark Baker & Mark Stinson, Austin Fire Department, Wildfire Division
2016:
- Spring and Summer Weather Outlook, Lauren Stanley, Stanley Studios Architecture + Metalwork
- Urban Nature: Propagating Green Roofs, Jonathan Garner, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center the University of Texas at Austin
- Introduction to the Sustainable Sites Initiative, Heather Venhaus, Regenerative Environmental Design, LLC
- High Performance Urban Ecosystems, Staryn Wagner, Watershed Protection Department
- Leaky Cisterns: Better Than Good, They're Great!,
- Connecting Systems and People Using Urban Ecological Planning and Design, Katie Coyne, Asakura Robinson Company
- Sensible Landscaping for Central Texas, Kirby Fry, Southern Culture
- Water Conservation Rebates and Programs, Brett Briant, Lower Colorado River Authority
- The Drought Survivability Study, Forrest Cobb, Texas A&M Institute of Natural Resources, Amy Uyen Truong, Texas A&M Institute of Natural Resources
- Efficient Irrigation Techniques, Matthew Stamm, Cougar Irrigation
- Rain Gardens: Plant selection, Susan Kenzle, RLA, LI, ISA, Darcy Nuffer, RLA, LI, LEED AP - City of Austin, Watershed Protection Department
- So You Want to Build a Rain Garden… What have we learned so far?, Tom Franke - City of Austin, Watershed Protection Department, Michelle Adlong - City of Austin, Watershed Protection Department
- Plant Selection for the Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, James Plyer, Native Texas Nursery
- Trowel and Error: Overcoming the Challenges of Providing Native Plants (and sometimes not), John Clement, Watershed Protection Department
- Dealing With Invasive Plants in Residential and Commercial Landscapes, Liz McVeety, Parks & Recreation Department
- Perils and Pleasures of Pruning, Keith Brown, Austin Tree Experts
- Myths and Fact About Trees, Vincent DeBrock, Heritage Tree LLC
- Trees and Soil: Why Landscapers are Key for the Urban Forest
- Festival Beach Food Forest Case Study, Meredith O'Reilly, 4-H CAPITAL Project/Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Supporting Wildlife with Habitats and Integrated Pest Mana, Robinson Sudan, New Leaf and Pollinator Partnership
- Role of Pollinators/IPM, Christopher Sanchez, City of Ausitn Parks and Recreation Department
- Straw Bale Planting Demonstration
- Cathy Downs, Hill Country Master Naturalist, Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas Program
- Milkweeds and Monarchs Made
- Firewise Design Considerations, Sarah Dooling, University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
- A Future Vision of Design Practice in the Context of Uncertainty, Rapid Change and Inequities
2015:
- Environmental BMPS for Firewise Landscaping, Ryan Hebrink, Watershed Protection
- Mitigating to Preserve High-Value Trees, Michael Embesi, City of Austin Arborist
- Wildland Fire: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Lucien Ball, Austin Water Utility
- Fire Effects on Native Landscaping, Michelle Bertelsen, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Landscaping for Wildlife in the Wildland Urban Interface, Meredith Gray, Parks and Recreation
- Gray Water: Navigating Through City Code, Robert Stefani - Conservation Program Specialist, Austin Water
- Gray Water: Projects and Irrigation Connections, Chris Maxwell-Gaines, P.E. - Innovative Water Solutions, LLC
- Reclaimed water: Using Bulk Fill Stations, Bill Kemp - Caracara Farm
- Design: Earthworks and Landscape Design for Water Conservation, Betty Lambright - As Right As Rain
- Soil: Contractor Use of Soils, Jared Pyka - ValleyCrest
- Water Conservation: Water Conservation Landscape Programs, Chris Charles - Water Conservation Associate Austin Water
- Creekside Landscaping - Riparian Restoration, Ana Gonzalez, Watershed Protection Department
- Green Infrastructure Working Group - Integrate Nature Into the City, Erin Wood - Watershed Protection Department
- So You want to Build A Rain Garden - So You Want to Build a Rain Garden, Tom Franke, EIT & Michelle Adlong, Watershed Protection Department
- Turf Problems and IPM - Lawn Problems an integrated pest management approach, Daphne Richards, County Extension Agent—Horticulture Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Ants: Identification, Biology and Management - Ants: Identification & Management, Wizzie Brown - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Mosquitos - Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM), Sabrina V idaurri, MS, RS, City of Austin/Travis County Health Department
- Plants Running Hot & Cold - Plants Running Cold, Hot & Dry, Denise Delaney, City of Austin Watershed Protection
- Austin’s Tree Regulations - Austin's Tree Regulations, Michael Embesi, PDRD Tree Program
- Landscaping with Trees for Water Conservation - Designing for Trees for Drought, Vincent Debrock
- Native Plant Combos - Native Plants for Texas Landscapes, Andrea DeLong-Amaya, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Professional Pruning - Professional Prunning, Laura Schuman, Parks & Recreation Department
- Plants for Rain Gardens & Bioswales - Plants for Biofiltration Systems, Elizabeth McGreevy, Roc + Solid Land Design
- Big Picture Local Food System - Austin's Sustainable Food System is a Local One, Edwin Marty
- Alternative Ways to Water - Alternative Gardening and Watering Methods, Meredith Gray, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Chris Sanchez, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
- Rainwater Harvesting - Rainwater Harvesting for Grow Green Professionals, Dick Peterson
- Sustainable Landscaping with Tough Herbs - Sustainable Landscaping with Tough Herbs Colleen, Dieter, Red Wheelbarrow
- Landscaping for Wildlife - Landscaping for Wildlife, LaJuan D. Tucker, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Additional Resources
- Irrigation, Rain Gardens, & Rainwater Harvesting
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Learn how to water efficiently:
Use shallow planted areas to absorb and filter rainwater:
- Rain Gardens (City of Austin)
- Earth-wise Guide to Rain Gardens
Collect and reuse rainwater:
- The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting (Texas Water Development Board)
- Hire a Pro
- Home Landscaping & Wildlife Habitats
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Explore the City’s resources to help you create your earth-wise garden:
Home landscaping from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:
Create a yard that supports local wildlife:
- Low Impact Development (LID)
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Design techniques that reduce runoff and protect water quality:
- City of Austin Criteria Manuals
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- Technical Criteria Manuals for the City of Austin Land Development Code
- Environmental Criteria Manual – Section 1.6.0 (Design guidelines for water quality controls)