$45,000–$70,000 · 4 weeks
Live oak shade garden, Fair Oaks Ranch
Fair Oaks Ranch, Fair Oaks Ranch · finished 2025 · led by Marisol Ortega
Landscape Design · from $12–$22 per sq ft
Native planting design for Hill Country yards
Native-first is a rule here, not a style. At least 70% of the plants in every Pecan Hollow plan are Texas native or proven-adapted species, chosen for Edwards Plateau soil, deer pressure and summers that run past 100 degrees for weeks. That's why we can put a 3-year warranty on the plants.
A planting plan is more than a list of tough plants. It's layering, so beds look full in year two instead of year five. It's bloom timing, so something is flowering from March to November. And it's right plant, right place: Turk's cap in the shade under your live oaks, cenizo on the hot west wall, inland sea oats where the dry creek bed runs.
Who it's for
Who native planting design is for
Anyone tired of replacing plants every summer. Homeowners with heavy deer pressure in Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch and Helotes. People who want birds, bees and butterflies back in the yard. And anyone whose water bill spikes every July.
It works on its own, as a planting-only plan you install yourself, or as part of a full design-build project where we also handle the soil, drip and installation.
Materials and options
Plants we rely on, by situation
| Situation | Go-to plants | Deer resistance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full sun, rocky soil | Cenizo, autumn sage, zexmenia, damianita | High | Thrive on caliche with good drainage |
| Dry shade under oaks | Turk's cap, inland sea oats, cedar sage, horseherb | Medium–high | Replace failed lawn under canopies |
| Grasses and masses | Lindheimer muhly, Gulf muhly, little bluestem | High | Pink and silver fall color |
| Small trees | Texas mountain laurel, Mexican plum, possumhaw | Medium | Protect trunks from bucks in fall |
| Shade trees | Cedar elm, Chinquapin oak, Lacey oak | Medium | Avoid red oaks in oak wilt areas |
What it costs
What native planting design costs
$12–$22 per sq ft
of planted bed, installed with soil prep, drip and mulch
Most native beds cost $12 to $22 per square foot installed, depending on plant sizes and how much soil work is needed. That includes bed prep, compost, drip lines, plants and 3 inches of mulch. A planting plan on its own, for you to install, is $950 to $1,600.
Buying larger plants costs more up front but fills the bed faster. We'll show you both options in the proposal: one-gallon perennials for budget, five-gallon for impact, and the difference in how the bed looks at year one.
Timeline
How long it takes
Planting plans take one to two weeks; most installs take three to eight days.
- Site walk45 minutes, free
- Planting plan1–2 weeks
- Bed prep and drip1–3 days
- Planting and mulch2–5 days
- Establishment watering guideHanded over at walkthrough
Best time to plant in the Hill Country
Fall is best. Planting from late September through November gives roots the whole cool season to grow before the next summer. Spring, from March through mid-May, is second best. We plant in summer when we have to, with extra watering, and the warranty still applies as long as the irrigation is on and running to the schedule we leave you.
Case study
Live oak shade garden, Fair Oaks Ranch
A failing lawn under four heritage live oaks replaced with a deer-resistant native shade garden, drip irrigation and tree uplighting, designed in 3D.
Read the case study“Seeing it in 3D sold us. The deer walk right through it and leave it alone, and the oaks at night are the best part of the house.”
Questions
Native planting design questions
Are native plants really deer-proof?
Nothing is deer-proof when deer are hungry enough. Plants like cenizo, autumn sage, Lindheimer muhly and Mexican feathergrass are rarely eaten. We plan around your deer pressure and use cages on young trees for the first two falls.
Will a native bed look messy?
Not if it's designed with structure. We use clear edges, evergreen backbone shrubs and massed plantings so beds read as intentional. Seasonal cutbacks in February keep grasses and perennials tidy.
What does the 3-year plant warranty cover?
If a plant we installed dies within three years and the irrigation was running to our schedule, we replace it. It doesn't cover deer browse, freezes below the plant's rated hardiness, or plants removed or moved by someone else.
Can you work with plants I already have?
Yes. We tag what's worth keeping on the site walk, often mature shrubs and trees, and design around them. Keeping established plants saves money and gives new beds instant structure.
Where we build this most
Further reading
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.