Landscapers in Travis Country, TX
Fresh Landscaping for an Established Greenbelt Neighborhood
Travis Country calls itself Austin's first environmentally planned community. It dates to the early 1970s and sits just off Southwest Parkway, west of MoPac. Its homes sit among rolling greenbelts and hiking trails. Houses went up in stages, from the 1970s into the early 2000s. That long timeline shapes what these yards need today.
Many lots still carry much of their first landscape. Foundation shrubs have outgrown their beds. Old spray heads hit the driveway as often as the lawn. The mature tree canopy the neighborhood is known for has shaded out grass that once had full sun. So Travis Country landscaping often starts as a refresh: keep the trees and plants worth saving, then rebuild the rest.
Water rules matter too. Under Austin Water's current Conservation Stage, an automatic sprinkler system may run on one assigned day a week. Drip lines and hose-end sprinklers get two. That is why we lean on drip, smart controllers, and native plants that can live on that schedule. A yard that only looks good with daily watering is not a good fit for this part of Austin anymore.
Exterior projects here also go through the neighborhood association's architectural review. GardenGOAT draws clear plans and 3D renderings for that submission, and every design is custom to the lot. That matters for fences, decks, and pergolas, which neighbors see from the street. Nicolas and our crew work out of our South Austin shop in 78704.
What Shapes a Travis Country Yard
Travis Country homes went up over several decades. The oldest sections date to the 1970s, and the newest ones to the late 1990s and early 2000s. That means many landscapes and sprinkler systems here are decades old. Common signs are shrubs pressed against the house, beds that have lost their edges, and turf thinning under trees that were small when the house was new. Old sprinkler zones were often laid out for a sunny lawn that no longer exists. We start by mapping what still works. Healthy trees and good plants stay. Tired beds get new soil, new plants, and mulch. Old spray zones get repaired, split, or converted to drip where it makes sense.
For Austin Water customers, the current Conservation Stage limits automatic and manual sprinkler systems to one assigned day a week, before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Drip irrigation and hose-end sprinklers get two days a week, and hand watering is allowed any time. A spray system built for a lawn that ran several days a week can struggle on one day. So we often move planting beds to drip, which puts water at the roots and runs on two days. A smart controller can adjust for weather and stick to your assigned day. Where lawn stays, we group zones by sun and shade so each part of the yard gets what it needs.
Travis Country is managed by the Travis Country Community Service Association (TCCSA), which reviews exterior projects through an architectural committee. Travis Country West has its own association, its own Architectural Control Committee, and written architectural guidelines. Either way, plan on approval before work starts. Fences, decks, pergolas, sheds, and major landscape changes are the usual candidates. We plan for this from day one. Your design packet includes a scaled plan, a material list, and 3D renderings that show the committee what the finished yard will look like. We build review time into the schedule, so no one breaks ground before you have a yes.
Greenbelts wind through Travis Country, a creek runs through the community, and the Barton Creek greenbelt helps define this corner of Austin. If your lot slopes toward greenspace, we look at where storm water runs before we add a patio. Retaining walls and terraces can turn a steep backyard into flat, usable space and slow runoff at the same time. Under the big trees, we avoid cutting roots, pick shade-tolerant plants, and use mulch or stone where grass will not grow. If deer visit your yard, we choose plants they tend to skip. We schedule live oak and red oak pruning outside February through June to lower oak wilt risk.
From First Call to HOA Approval to Final Walkthrough
Older Travis Country yards reward a careful plan. Before anyone digs, we sort out what to keep, what the watering rules allow, and what the architectural committee will want to see. Here is how the work moves.
Tell us what bothers you about the yard today. Maybe a sprinkler zone floods one bed and misses another, or the old deck has seen better days.
- Share goals, problem spots, and a few photos
- Confirm which association guidelines apply to your lot
- Set a budget range and a target season
Nicolas walks the lot to check soil, slope, sun, drainage, and the trees and features already there. We also look at how the old irrigation is laid out. Then we draw the new yard.
- Review of slope, drainage, tree roots, and sprinkler zones
- 2D plans and 3D renderings of your design
- $900 to $1,600 design fee, fully credited toward the build when you move forward with us
We refine plants, materials, and layout with you. Then we package the drawings for the architectural committee and give you an itemized breakdown of the cost.
- Plant list matched to sun, shade, and watering days
- Itemized proposal you can review line by line
- Drawings ready for your HOA submission
Once you have approval, our crew builds with project management from start to finish. We work around the root zones of the trees you are keeping.
- Permits handled when the job needs one
- Licensed plumbers or electricians coordinated if needed
- Final walkthrough, including your new watering schedule
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!
Irrigation and Drainage Upgrades for Travis Country Yards
Landscape Refreshes, Planting, and Tree Care
Retaining Walls, Patios, and Hardscape for Sloped Lots
Retaining Walls & Borders
Patios
Walkways & Pathways
Concrete Overlay
Driveways & Sidewalks
Outdoor Kitchens
Fire & Water Features
Fences, Decks, and Structures Planned for HOA Review
Travis Country Landscaping Questions, Answered
Plan on it for most exterior work. Travis Country is governed by the Travis Country Community Service Association, and Travis Country West has its own Architectural Control Committee and written guidelines. Fences, decks, pergolas, sheds, patios, and large landscape changes are the kinds of projects that go to review. We prepare the plan drawings and 3D renderings for your submission, and we wait for approval before we build. Ask us early so the review time fits your schedule.
Sometimes, but many older systems struggle. Austin Water's Conservation Stage allows automatic sprinkler systems one assigned day a week, before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Drip irrigation gets two days. We check each zone for broken heads, overspray, and weak coverage. Then we suggest fixes, such as new heads, split zones, drip lines for beds, or a smart controller. The goal is a yard that stays healthy on the days you are allowed to water.
Stop fighting for grass where the canopy has closed in. Shade-tolerant native groundcovers, shrubs, and mulched beds do better there and use less water. We keep new soil light over tree roots, and we avoid trenching through root zones. If a tree needs pruning to let in more light, we time live oak and red oak cuts outside February through June to lower the risk of oak wilt. The result is a cooler, lower-care space under the trees.
A slope can become the best part of the yard. Retaining walls and terraces create flat areas for a patio, a seating nook, or planting beds. We also plan for storm runoff, so water moves through the yard without washing out soil or pooling against the house. Tall retaining walls can need a permit, and we handle permits when a job needs one. On gentler grades, stone borders and a dry creek bed are often enough.
It depends on how much of the old yard stays. A focused refresh, like new beds and an irrigation update, costs less than a full rebuild with walls, a patio, and a deck. Most GardenGOAT design-build projects start at $20,000, and many land between $30,000 and $100,000. Your proposal is itemized, so you can see what each part costs and trim if needed. The $900 to $1,600 design fee is credited toward the build.
Call two to three months before you want work to start. Design usually takes two to three weeks, and HOA review adds time on top of that. Most builds then take four to eight weeks. Fall and early spring are the best times to plant in Austin. So if you want new plants in the ground by early spring, start talking with us in the fall. That also leaves time to compare materials and adjust the plan.
Service Areas Near Travis Country
Travis Country sits off Southwest Parkway, west of MoPac, near the shops in Sunset Valley, a separate city surrounded by Austin. The Barton Creek greenbelt helps define this part of town, and the creek also gives its name to the Barton Creek area we serve. We also serve Circle C Ranch, Lost Creek, and across Austin. See every service area.
Looking for one service? Start with landscaping, masonry and hardscaping, deck building, concrete, or fencing.
