Landscape Design in Houston, TX
A design-first approach to your yard. Saul's Home Improvement pairs conceptual drawings, scaled CAD plans, and 3D renderings with our 20+ years of Gulf Coast build experience. Design fees waived when we build your project.
Our Houston landscape design thinks before it builds
The biggest mistake homeowners make is calling a contractor before they call a designer. You end up with a patio here, some plants there, and five years later the yard still does not feel like one cohesive space. A proper landscape design solves that by mapping the whole property up front, then executing in phases your budget can absorb.
We run a design studio inside our contracting firm. Our designers walk the site with you, sketch concepts by hand, build the chosen direction out in CAD, and produce 3D renderings so you can see the yard as a finished space before a single shovel moves. The design locks every later decision (material, grade, drainage, irrigation, lighting, planting) into one cohesive plan.
- Hand-drawn concept sketches before any CAD work starts
- Full Lumion 3D walkthrough of your finished yard
- Phased build schedules that respect real-world budgets
Here is how Saul's design process works from start to finish
A full master plan typically runs 4 to 8 weeks from discovery call to signed drawings.
- 01
Discovery Interview
A 60-minute conversation about how you live outdoors, what you want the yard to do for you, and the budget range you are comfortable working in.
- 02
Site Survey
We come out with laser levels, take tree inventory, map utilities, document drainage flow, and photograph every elevation. This becomes the base drawing.
- 03
Concept Sketch
Two or three hand-drawn concepts on trace paper, each exploring a different layout or style direction. We present in person and adjust in real time.
- 04
CAD Master Plan
Scaled plan drawing in AutoCAD or SketchUp, 1/8 inch to the foot. Every bed, hardscape edge, tree location, and utility called out.
- 05
3D Renderings
Lumion walkthrough animations and still renderings so you can stand at the kitchen window and see the view of your future yard.
- 06
Build Package
Phase-by-phase budget, construction drawings, plant list, and build sequence. You can hand this to any qualified contractor, or let our crews build it.
Here are the landscape design styles we execute
Modern & Contemporary
Clean lines, large-format slab pavers, minimal plant palette dominated by architectural specimens like agave and sotol. Steel edge restraints, corten planter boxes, and a tight color story. Works best with the contemporary glass-and-stucco homes popping up in the Heights and Rice Village.
Traditional & Southern
Symmetric boxwood parterres, brick walkways, knot gardens, and classic Southern Living plants: hydrangeas, camellias, azaleas, and magnolias. The right fit for Colonial, Georgian, and New Traditional homes in West University and River Oaks.
Native Texas / Hill Country
Decomposed granite paths, dry creek beds, Texas limestone, live oak canopies, and pollinator-focused plantings. A design language that reads as genuinely Texan instead of generic Sun Belt.
Mediterranean
Stuccoed walls, terracotta tiles, olive trees, gravel courtyards, and water features with tile work. The obvious choice for Spanish Colonial and Italianate homes in Bellaire and the lots along Memorial Drive.
Modern Farmhouse
Black metal accents, gravel paths, wildflower meadows, cedar fencing, and a kitchen garden. The fastest-growing style in Cypress and Tomball thanks to its blend of functional and photogenic.
Why Hire a Design-Build Firm
One Point of Accountability
Designer and builder answer to the same project manager.
Real-World Pricing
Design stays inside budget because our builders weigh in early.
Faster Build
No re-bid round. Design approval flows straight to mobilization.
Here is what landscape design costs in Houston
Tiered design packages scaled to project complexity. Build fees waive the design fee.
A conceptual plan for a focused outdoor room starts at $500. A scaled CAD master plan with plant list runs $1,200. Full master plan with 3D renderings and phased construction drawings tops out at $2,500 on typical residential lots. Estate-sized properties are quoted custom.
Price Variables:
- Project Scope
- Deliverable Detail
- Revision Rounds
- Build Credit
Fee Waived on Builds
Every dollar of the design fee credits back to the build contract when Saul's is the contractor. Most homeowners end up paying for design only if they are shopping bids with multiple builders.
Start DesignWe design landscapes across Greater Houston
Designers meeting clients across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
Questions homeowners ask about landscape design
Do I really need a landscape design?
Not for a small standalone project like a patio or a single bed refresh. But for anything that touches grading, drainage, irrigation, lighting, and multiple hard surfaces, a design keeps every trade coordinated and keeps you from making expensive mistakes. It also gives you a phasing roadmap to spread budget across two or three years.
What is the difference between a designer and a landscape architect?
A landscape architect is a licensed professional who can sign structural drawings for commercial work, retaining walls over state-regulated heights, and civil-scale projects. A landscape designer focuses on residential work and produces equally detailed plans. For 95 percent of home projects, a designer is the right fit. For estate-scale walls or commercial civil work we partner with a licensed LA.
How long does a full master plan take?
4 to 8 weeks. Discovery and survey take the first week. Concepts take 2 to 3 weeks with two revision rounds. CAD plan and rendering takes another 2 to 3 weeks. Rush timelines of 3 weeks are possible with expedited fees.
Can I use the plan with another contractor?
Yes. You own the drawings once the design fee is paid. We provide a clean bid set that any licensed contractor can price. Many of our design clients end up hiring us for the build because the on-paper-to-install workflow is tighter, but the plan is yours to use either way.
Do you work with swimming pool builders?
All the time. We coordinate with pool companies, build the hardscape and planting around their pool deck, and make sure grading flows off the new coping to a proper discharge. If you are starting from scratch, we bring a pool designer to the first meeting so the yard and pool get designed as one project.
Can the design include a phased build?
Most of them do. We group elements into logical phases: phase 1 drainage and hardscape, phase 2 pergola and lighting, phase 3 planting and finish details. Each phase is fully priced so you can commit a year at a time without losing the big-picture cohesion.
Do you work with architects and interior designers?
Constantly. We are a regular collaborator for custom-home architects in Houston and for interior designers running whole-property renovations. We slot into whatever design review process the team already uses and share CAD files in whatever format the rest of the team needs.
