Barton Hills Landscapers | Landscape Design & Construction
Local Landscapers for Barton Hills Yards and Gardens
Barton Hills is one of central south Austin’s most loved neighborhoods, and GardenGOAT has helped homeowners here improve their outdoor spaces for over 10 years. It sits between Zilker Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt, just minutes from downtown but feeling far away. The rolling, wooded hills that give Barton Hills its name are beautiful, but they also make landscaping harder.
Most homes here were built from the 1940s through the 1960s. You will find original bungalows and nicely updated properties on small to medium lots. Big live oaks, pecans, and cedars shade much of the neighborhood. They keep things cooler in the Texas heat, but the heavy shade limits what can grow underneath. The hilly ground means slopes, uneven yards, and drainage problems come up in almost every project. Parts of the neighborhood sit on the Edwards Aquifer protection zone, which adds extra rules for landscape planning.
Whether you live near Barton Hills Elementary, on the winding streets above Barton Springs Pool, or closer to the greenbelt trailheads, GardenGOAT knows how to work with Barton Hills’ hills and tree cover. We create outdoor spaces that feel natural, useful, and welcoming.
What Barton Hills Neighbors Are Saying
The biggest challenge in Barton Hills is the land itself. The hills create slopes that need careful grading, terracing, and drainage work. Without it, water pools near foundations or washes out planting beds during heavy rain. Many yards here drop a lot from front to back. That calls for creative fixes like stepped patios, dry creek beds, and French drains. The heavy shade from big oaks, pecans, and Ashe junipers makes it hard for grass to grow. Homeowners often do better with shade-loving groundcovers, native ferns, and smaller plants instead. The large tree roots also crowd out new plantings nearby. The soil changes across Barton Hills. Lower areas have clay, while higher ground has rocky limestone. One yard can have two very different soil types. Parts of the neighborhood sit on the Edwards Aquifer protection zone, so designs must protect water quality and manage runoff. Austin’s watering rules also mean you need smart irrigation planning.
We work with homeowners all across Barton Hills. Our projects range from homes on Barton Hills Drive and Homedale Drive to the quieter streets near Barton Hills Elementary School. We also work near the Barton Creek Greenbelt access points, along Barton Skyway, and on the winding roads through the hills. Nearby landmarks include Zilker Park and its botanical garden, the famous Barton Springs Pool, and the trails along Barton Creek that hikers and bikers love. We also serve nearby south Austin neighborhoods like Zilker, South Lamar, Bouldin Creek, and Travis Heights. Whether your home looks out over the greenbelt, sits on a shady cul-de-sac, or has a sloping front yard that neighbors admire on their walks, we bring the right skills to the job.
Barton Hills has a strong identity built over decades. The landscaping here matches that feel: natural, laid-back, and respectful of the land around it. The homes were built in the 1940s through 1960s on lots that are smaller than nearby Barton Creek or Westlake, usually 5,000 to 9,000 square feet. That means every bit of outdoor space must be well planned. Being so close to Zilker Park and the greenbelt gives Barton Hills a deep connection to nature. The best landscapes here lean into that instead of fighting it. Native plants like inland sea oats, cedar sage, turk’s cap, and possumhaw holly do great in the shady conditions. Many homeowners prefer a natural garden look over a formal, trimmed style. Since lots are small and the ground varies, creative hardscape works best. Think flagstone paths through shade gardens, small raised decks, and cozy patios tucked into hillsides. Irrigation should be zoned carefully to handle the mix of sun, shade, and slope on each property.
Our Landscaping Services in Barton Hills, TX
Our Hardscaping Services in Barton Hills, TX
Patios
Patio Covers
Concrete Overlay
Walkways & Pathways
Driveways & Sidewalks
Outdoor Kitchens
Retaining Walls & Borders
Fire & Water Features
Our Wood Working Services in Barton Hills, TX
Drainage & IrrigationServices in Barton Hills, TX
Our Landscape Design Process in Barton Hills, TX
Barton Hills offers the best of both worlds — central Austin convenience with a greenbelt neighborhood feel. GardenGOAT designs landscapes that take advantage of Barton Hills’ hilly terrain, mature oaks, and proximity to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Here’s how we work:
We’ll discuss your Barton Hills property — from managing slopes and shade to adding outdoor living features that complement the neighborhood’s natural, greenbelt-adjacent character.
- Discuss goals for your Barton Hills property
- Review slope, shade, and greenbelt proximity considerations
- Confirm budget range and project timeline
We assess your Barton Hills lot’s topography, mature tree canopy, soil type, and drainage patterns. Many Barton Hills properties have significant elevation changes that require thoughtful terracing and retaining wall design.
- Assess topography, canopy cover, and drainage patterns
- 2D Plans & 3D Renderings adapted to your terrain
- $900 – $1,600 design fee is fully credited toward the build when you move forward with us
We refine the design with shade-tolerant plantings, natural materials, and terracing solutions that complement Barton Hills’ wooded, hilly character.
- Select shade-tolerant plants and natural stone materials
- Review a detailed, itemized project breakdown
- Approve the final design with a clear construction timeline
Our crew manages Barton Hills’ narrow streets and sloped lots with precision — protecting mature trees while delivering professional hardscaping and landscape installation.
- Navigate narrow-street access and sloped lot construction
- Protect mature trees during construction
- Final walkthrough and client handoff to ensure your satisfaction
How to Request a Landscape Design Quote
Book a Design Consultation
Give us some basic information about your project. We’ll follow up to schedule your consultation.
Site Visit & Design Planning
We meet on-site to review the space, gather information, and translate your ideas into an initial design.
Review, Refine, and Approve
Get a detailed quote, review the design, and make adjustments before moving forward.
Our Customer Reviews
Nicolas is extremely talented in how he approaches landscape design and installation. I recently built a new house, and he worked in partnership with me and my developer to ensure every detail was worked out. He has a wonderful eye for design, choosing plants and flowers that resonated with me personally while also ensuring we installed what would thrive in our native Austin climate and soil. His lighting design and choices literally make the house glow at night, and he's been faithfully following up to ensure watering schedules are working as planned, replacing plants as needed, and generally making sure I'm happy. He's also a delight to work with! He has a great sense of humor, is extremely fair in his pricing, and is kind in how he shows up every day. I've gotten so many compliments on my landscaping, and I couldn't recommend him more! Nicolas - the true Garden GOAT!
Nicolas and GardenGOAT are the best at what they do! I had a rather unusual project this time around, and I felt like Nicolas genuinely cared about finding the right, outside-the-box solution - and making it work within my crazy timeline. He is friendly, reliable, and truly loves what he does. Highly recommend!
I'm very happy with the result! Pleasing aesthetic look just like how I wanted. Garden Goat has impressed me from the beginning with their presentation and communication till the end. Nicolas, the landscaper and also the owner of the company, has been very helpful and patient not just with our HOA and irrigation permit application process (over a year), but also the after-project care. I used about 5 to 7 vendors in the past for different projects, and I will say Garden Goat has most reasonable price and the best service. Totally recommended!
Working with Nicolas at Garden Goat was a great experience! He is very detail oriented and communicative. He has great suggestions on how to improve existing designs and works hard to make sure the work is done right for the client. Highly recommended for all your landscaping needs!
Garden Goat built a limestone sidewalk and entry for my project and the craftsmanship was excellent.
10/10, Nic was amazing, very patient with us from start to finish (this was our first big landscaping project), responsive, transparent on costs and process. He really helped bring our design to life, gave great advice on adjusting our plans to maximize success given the weird micro climate we are in (Hyde Park) his crew was amazing too, great attention to detail. They were just all around great to work with and our yard looks amazing. Highly recommend!
I've hired Nicholas and the Garden Goat team two times for projects and would happily recommend to others. Two years ago, we had irrigation and sod installed which went very smoothly and the sod and sprinklers have held up great over that time. The couple of small adjustments to the irrigation system that were needed have been no problem for Nicholas and team to take care of quickly. At the end of 2025 after getting a handful of quotes, we hired Garden Goat again for irrigation expansion in the back yard, a new path, and a new deck. After a bunch of back and forth on the design for the deck, I'm very happy with the outcome and can't recommend Jose and his carpentry work enough. The whole process was pretty easy and I was rarely if ever waiting on the Garden Goat team for anything.
Top notch experience from beginning to end. I was in touch with the owner/operator and he was both knowledgeable and humble in his expertise. He asked good questions and made suggestions which helped me clarify my answers. I was actually gone the day they came to do the work, but everything was done exactly how it was planned and we loved how it all looked!
We had a fantastic experience with Garden GOAT! Nicolas, the owner, was incredibly professional, attentive, and detail-oriented throughout the entire process. He took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and made sure every part of the job was done thoroughly. The team worked quickly and efficiently, laying new sod and planting additional greenery in our beds—all with excellent attention to detail. Our yard looks amazing now, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Highly recommend Garden GOAT for anyone looking to improve their outdoor space!
We had an excellent experience with gardenGOAT. They transformed my garden with creativity, care, and real attention to detail. They listened to what we wanted, offered thoughtful suggestions, and delivered. Highly recommend gardenGOAT for anyone looking to elevate their outdoor space.
I had my fence replaced by GardenGOAT and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the process was smooth and stress-free. Nicholas was professional, friendly, and easy to work with and his crew were great. The pricing was very reasonable compared to other quotes I received. The new fence looks fantastic and really transforms my yard. Will use GardenGOAT again in the future!
GardenGoat was incredible to work with. Super thorough and extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He was able to help us fix out landscaping and irrigation issues quickly and his pricing is fantastic. I highly recommend them!
We are so happy with our experience with Garden Goat. This is our second project with them and they have succeeded all expectations! They fixed several landscaping and drainage issues. They were always easy to get a hold of and gave fair pricing. We will definitely use them again in the future!
We had a great experience working with Nicholas and the Garden Goat team! Despite being a smaller project for them, we felt like we were treated with as much priority and care as any big project. Nicholas was very communicative throughout the entire process, offering honest and thoughtful advice, as well as fair prices. We never felt pressure to do more than what we needed and appreciated his and his team’s patience with our questions and modifications. They brought our vision to life, the end result is great. We’d be happy to recommend Garden Goat to others!
I had a fantastic experience working with Garden Goat! Nicholas was extremely communicative from the start, taking the time to really understand my goals for my backyard renovation. He stayed on schedule and within budget, and was available and responsive every step of the way—right up until every detail was complete. I was so impressed with the quality of work and professionalism that I referred two friends during the project! Before & after photos provided - 5 days for project. Thank you Garden Goat !
Nicolas and his team leads, Jose and Ezekiel, from Garden Goat Landscaping did a great job on my yard. We compared three landscaping companies before deciding, and Garden Goat offered a fair price with quality work. The project took about two months, with phase 1 in winter 2024 and phase 2 in spring 2025. They were very easy to work with, listened to my ideas, and provided helpful suggestions on grass, patio stones, boulders, and even a pergola and deck. At one point, Nicolas even redid the pergola because the original version wasn’t secure, which really showed their commitment to quality. They also fixed my old irrigation system and made sure everything was working well. I’m very happy with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend Garden Goat Landscaping to anyone looking for a reliable and easy-to-work-with landscaping team.
We had an excellent experience working with Nicolas and his team to rebuild our elevated pool deck. The team was punctual, hard working and reliable. They were very honest and professional through the process and we are delighted with the results. Thank you Garden Goat!
I've worked with Garden Goat twice now and have been delighted both times. Really easy to work with, communicative and punctual, no hassles and really great work. Will definitely have them back any time we need landscaping or irrigation work in the future!
Nicholas did an amazing job! I love the outcome of my front and backyard. He exceeded my expectations. I got a new driveway, irrigation, sod, plants, firepit, and pathways. I would highly recommend him to everyone!
Nicholas and his team were a pleasure to work with on our side and in our backyard. They removed a huge slab of exposed aggregate and installed lueders and pea gravel. We also had some drainage problems when it rained that they were able to address/fix the issues. We have had several heavy rains since the French drain was installed, and it works beautifully.
The Garden Goat crew have been a GREAT FIND! Nicolas and his super hard working crew are fantastic! Great communication. Show up when they say they’re going to. The guys truly get that each job will change a little as you start and help you tweak things as needed on the fly. They pivot really well. If anything goes wrong, because that’s the reality of projects, they are so quick to fix it! We will be working with Garden Goat on a lot of future projects!! I recommend that you absolutely give them a call and a chance to show you what they can do! Oh! And let’s make sure this is noted… THEY ARE SO NICE! The crew is absolutely delightful to have around.
I hired Garden Goat to install turf and irrigation in my backyard. In the beginning Matt was great with getting us an accurate estimate and was super helpful with the design. He answered any and all questions and has the experience with these types of projects. Once we agreed to the job Nicolas contacted me and set up the install date. Nicolas was personable and also answered any questions with the process. All the workers were great and respectful. If you're looking for turf install or any kind of landscaping these guys were great from start to finish. Thanks Matt, Nicolas and Ezekiel!
Frequently Asked Questions
The ideal time to begin a landscape project in Barton Hills is during the fall or early spring. These seasons offer mild temperatures and optimal conditions for planting, construction, and establishing new landscapes. However, our team works year-round and can guide you on timing based on your specific goals and project scope.
Yes. Every design consultation includes detailed 2D plans and 3D renderings to help you visualize your new outdoor space before construction begins. This makes it easy to refine materials, layout, and features with confidence.
Most of our landscape design-build projects in Barton Hills start at $20,000, with many ranging between $30,000 and $100,000 depending on the size, materials, and scope. Every quote includes a detailed, itemized breakdown so you know exactly where your investment is going. We also credit the full $1,600 design consultation fee toward your build when you move forward with us.
We recommend reaching out 2–3 months before your ideal start date. This allows time for discovery, design, revisions, permitting (if needed), and scheduling. The earlier you get started, the smoother and more efficient the process will be.
We regularly work with HOAs and Architectural Review Committees (ARCs) throughout Barton Hills. Our team is familiar with common HOA landscaping restrictions and design guidelines, and we help streamline the approval process to avoid delays.
Project timelines vary based on size and complexity, but most designs are completed within 2–3 weeks, and construction typically takes 4–8 weeks. You'll receive a clear timeline with your quote, and we manage every phase to keep your project on track and on schedule.
We Also Serve These Nearby Communities
We also serve neighborhoods near Barton Hills including Zilker, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Tarrytown, and greater Austin. View all service areas.
We offer landscaping, masonry and hardscaping, deck building, concrete work, and fencing throughout the greater Austin area.
