$100,000–$150,000 · 7 weeks
Hill Country terrace, Boerne
A backyard that fell 14 feet from the house, turned into two limestone terraces with a flagstone patio, a cedar pergola and native planting.
Seguin · Near the Guadalupe River · 2025
Pecan grove backyard, Seguin
A flat half-acre under five mature pecans that held water for days, regraded with a French drain, new Zoysia, garden beds and a cedar fence.
Puddles of standing water across a backyard lawn after rain, Seguin 
During construction: Puddles of standing water across a backyard lawn after rain, SeguinHealthy lawn under mature trees after regrading, Seguin 
Finished: Healthy lawn under mature trees after regrading, SeguinCedar fence enclosing the yard of a cottage, Seguin 
Detail: Cedar fence enclosing the yard of a cottage, SeguinClose-up of a dense, fine-bladed new lawn, Seguin 
Detail: Close-up of a dense, fine-bladed new lawn, Seguin
The brief
What the clients needed
Rachel and James D. bought a 1970s house in Seguin for its five mature pecan trees. The half-acre backyard was dead flat clay, and after any real rain water stood against the back of the slab for three or four days. The lawn was a mix of weeds and bare dirt, and a sagging wire fence let their two dogs out.
What we built
Jen Alvarez's backyard design starts with water. The yard was regraded with a laser level to fall 1 to 2% away from the house, toward a 140-foot French drain that runs along the low side and empties through a pop-up emitter near the street ditch. The two downspouts were tied into solid pipe to the same line.
With the water handled, 4,800 square feet of Palisades Zoysia went in on the sunny half of the yard, and 600 square feet of new beds with steel edging and hardwood mulch ring the pecans where grass never grew. A 210-foot, 6-foot cedar privacy fence on steel posts and a steel-framed double drive gate keep the dogs in and let a trailer through.
Materials
Materials and specs
| Drainage | 140 linear ft French drain, 4 in perforated pipe in washed gravel, pop-up emitter |
|---|---|
| Grading | Laser-graded to 1–2% fall away from the house |
| Sod | 4,800 sq ft Palisades Zoysia on 2 in of compost-amended soil |
| Beds | 600 sq ft, steel edging, shredded hardwood mulch, Turk's cap, inland sea oats, Mexican plum |
| Fence and gate | 210 ft cedar privacy fence on galvanized steel posts, 12 ft double drive gate |
Timeline
5-week build
- Design and render2 weeks
- Grading and French drainWeek 1
- Fence and gateWeek 2
- Beds and irrigation repairWeek 3
- Sod and walkthroughWeeks 4–5
What the client said
“We got 4 inches of rain in an afternoon in June and the yard was dry by the next morning. That alone was worth it. The dogs haven't gotten out once.”
Services used
Services on this project
Portfolio
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A 30% slope down to a lake view, stabilized with three low limestone terraces, 38 lit steps and a composite deck with cable rail.
Free · 45 minutes · no obligation
Start with a free site walk
Forty-five minutes on your property with a designer. You'll leave with honest numbers and a clear next step. A fixed-price proposal with a 3D render follows within two weeks.