Landscaping and Landscape Design in Bastrop, TX
512 Luxury Landscape Design is based in Bastrop, on Loop 150, so Bastrop jobs are close to home. We design and build yards for Lost Pines lots with deep sand and tall pines, and for new homes that start as bare dirt. We lay out patios, pergolas, concrete, and steel with wildfire in mind. We plant for sandy soil and set up drip irrigation that fits the city's watering rules. Owner involved, free estimates, and a crew that knows this ground.
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Landscaping Built for Bastrop and the Lost Pines
Bastrop is where we are based, and it is a very different place to build a yard than Austin. The town sits on the Colorado River, a little over 30 miles east of Austin, at the edge of the Lost Pines. Instead of limestone and sticky black clay, much of the ground here is deep sand over a clay subsoil. Tall loblolly pines shade many lots. And since the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, every homeowner here knows what a wildfire can do. The town is also growing fast. The Census Bureau estimates the city grew from about 9,700 people in 2020 to about 13,400 in 2025, and a lot of those new homes come with a bare lot. Good landscaping in Bastrop plans for all of it: sand, big pines, fire season, and water rules. We have designed and built outdoor spaces since 2018, and we build Bastrop yards to look good and stay safer.
Landscaping Services in Bastrop, TX
BUILT FOR SAND, PINES, AND FIRE SEASONOne in-house team can take your Bastrop property from bare ground or thick brush to a finished outdoor space. Here is what we build, starting with the work that matters most on sandy, pine-covered lots.
Hardscaping & Masonry in Bastrop
Stone and pavers make sense here. After the 2015 Hidden Pines Fire, a Texas A&M Forest Service case study found that half of the homes destroyed had attached wooden porches or decks. We build paver patios, stone walkways, and seating walls that will not burn. Deep sand shifts under a weak base, so we compact the base in layers and lock the edges so pavers stay put.
Custom Concrete in Bastrop
The Texas A&M Forest Service lists driveways, walkways, and patios as good fuel breaks in the zone 5 to 30 feet from a home. That makes concrete driveways and concrete patios a smart upgrade in Bastrop. Where clay sits under the sand, we reinforce the slab and cut control joints so it handles the soil moving. Inside city limits, driveways and patios usually need a city flatwork permit, and we handle it.
Landscape Design in Bastrop
We plan Bastrop yards in zones. Right next to the house, we use gravel, stone, and low, spaced-out plants instead of pine bark mulch. Farther out, we space tree crowns and keep grass short. Our xeriscape design pulls from plants that already grow in the Lost Pines, like yaupon, American beautyberry, and post oak, which handle this sandy, acidic ground.
Landscaping in Bastrop
Sand drains fast and dries out fast. New sod needs good soil prep and steady water to root. We build drip irrigation into most Bastrop yards, because the City of Bastrop bans sprinkler watering from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. all year, while drip lines are exempt. When we add new trees or dig near old pines, we keep trenches and heavy equipment off the root zone.
Patios & Pergolas in Bastrop
Bastrop summers are long. The nearby Smithville weather station averages about 124 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter. A covered patio or a steel pergola makes a back yard usable through all of it. Inside city limits, the Bastrop Development Code treats a pergola as an accessory structure. It cannot sit in the front yard. It must stay at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines on most in-town lots (10 feet on rural residential lots), and it counts toward your lot's impervious cover. We place it right the first time.
Welding & Steel Fabrication in Bastrop
Bastrop's development code caps front-yard fences at 54 inches and requires them to be at least half open. A welded wrought iron fence fits that rule and still looks sharp. On acreage off SH 21 or SH 95, a custom metal gate finishes a long drive. Steel also will not burn the way a wood fence can.
What Landscaping Costs in Bastrop
We price every Bastrop yard on its own, so we do not post flat numbers. A few local things move the cost. Lot size matters, since many homes here sit on large wooded lots. How much brush and yaupon needs thinning counts too. So does the ground: deep sand needs more base work under pavers, and clay subsoil needs more reinforcement under concrete. Permits and reviews can add steps, from a city flatwork permit to a county development permit or an HOA architectural review. A small bed and sod refresh sits at the low end. A full new-build yard with a patio, pergola, and iron fence sits much higher. We walk your property and give you a clear written estimate for free.
From Tahitian Village to Hunters Crossing, we build Bastrop yards that handle sand, pines, and fire season.
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What Landscaping in Bastrop Has to Deal With
Bastrop sits in the Lost Pines, a narrow belt of loblolly pines about 13 miles across. The pines grow here because of the soil: light, sandy topsoil over heavy clay. Common county soils like Padina and Silstid are deep, well-drained sands that run acidic. After a heavy rain, water can sit for a while on the clay below. Bare sand also washes away fast on a slope. That is the opposite of Austin's thin soil over limestone, and it changes everything from paver bases to plant choice. The weather adds its own pressure. The nearby Smithville station averages about 37 inches of rain a year, with a wet May and October and a dry July. Freezes come every winter. We grade for heavy spring storms and water by drip through the dry weeks of summer.
Wildfire is the other big factor. The Bastrop County Complex Fire started on September 4, 2011. It burned about 32,400 acres and destroyed 1,660 homes, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. The Hidden Pines Fire burned about 4,582 acres in 2015. We follow Texas A&M Forest Service guidance. We keep the first 5 feet around the house lean with rock and low plants, and use patios, walkways, and driveways as fuel breaks. Parts of northeast Bastrop County are also Houston toad habitat. The county's Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan is voluntary. Even so, turning a wooded lot into open ground there can break federal law, so we plan around the trees instead of clear-cutting. Neighborhoods add their own rules. Tahitian Village bans clear-cutting and requires engineer-stamped plans for retaining walls over 3 feet.
- Deep, acidic sand over clay drains fast on top and holds water below, so we compact paver bases in layers and plan drainage for the clay layer.
- Loblolly pines stressed by drought or construction draw bark beetles, so we keep equipment and trenches off pine root zones.
- After the 2011 and 2015 fires, we design with firewise zones: rock and low plants near the house, then hardscape fuel breaks.
- The City of Bastrop bans sprinkler watering from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. year-round, and many homes outside town are on Aqua Water Supply Corporation, which sets its own drought stages.
- Inside city limits the Bastrop Development Code, adopted in April 2026, sets fence heights, pergola setbacks, and tree permits. Outside town, Bastrop County requires a development permit for grading and paving.
Why Bastrop Homeowners Choose Us
You want a crew that knows sand, pines, and fire season, and that is close by when you need it. We are based in Bastrop, we design and build in-house, and the owner stays on the job from the first walk-through to the final cleanup.
Based Right Here in Bastrop
Our business address is on Loop 150 in Bastrop. Your project is close to home for us, which makes site visits and follow-up easy.
Firewise-Minded Layouts
We place patios, walkways, and gravel where they help as fuel breaks, and we keep flammable mulch and plants away from your walls.
Full-Service Design and Build
One in-house team handles design, planting, stone, concrete, shade, and steel. Nothing gets lost in a handoff between separate companies.
Safe Hot Work During Burn Bans
We weld gates, fences, and pergolas in-house. When a county burn ban is on, we follow its rules for welding: wet ground, a fire watch, and no outdoor hot work on Red Flag Warning days.
Permits and HOA Reviews Handled
City flatwork permits, county development permits, and architectural reviews in places like Tahitian Village and Pine Forest are part of the job. We prepare the plans and paperwork.
Owner Involved on Every Job
The owner stays involved from the first walk-through to the last detail, so you get straight answers and reliable follow-through.
Our Customer Reviews
- Jesse DeNucci Austin Homeowner
Excellent service and professionalism along with a personal touch neighborly kindness. It says a lot when you can hire a company that takes as much pride in their work as this company.
- Amelia Johnson Austin Homeowner
I couldn’t be happier with the work 512 Luxury Landscape Design did on my backyard. They designed a stunning outdoor living area complete with a fire pit, custom stonework, and gorgeous plant selections.
- Norma Miller Austin Homeowner
512 Luxury Landscape Design added a patio extension which included a pergola cover. The owner was easy to communicate with, stayed on top of things and did not let the job drag on, and ensured the job was completed to satisfaction. It was a pleasure.
Landscaping in Bastrop, TX FAQs
How do you make a Bastrop yard more fire resistant?
We follow the zones the Texas A&M Forest Service recommends. In the first 5 feet around your home, we use gravel, stone, and low, spaced-out plants, and we keep pine bark mulch and firewood away from the walls. From 5 to 30 feet, patios, walkways, and driveways act as fuel breaks, grass stays short, and tree crowns get room between them. We also favor stone, concrete, and steel over attached wood decks. No yard is fireproof, but a good layout gives embers far less to catch on.
Do I need a permit for a patio, driveway, or fence in Bastrop?
It depends on where you live. Inside city limits, driveways and patios usually need a City of Bastrop flatwork permit. The Bastrop Development Code caps front-yard fences at 54 inches, at least half open, and side and rear fences at 6 feet. In unincorporated Bastrop County, the county requires a development permit for grading, paving, and filling. Many neighborhoods also have an architectural review. We check what applies to your lot and handle the paperwork.
Can I clear trees and brush on my lot in the Lost Pines?
Usually some, but plan it with care. Parts of northeast Bastrop County are Houston toad habitat, and turning a wooded lot into open ground there can break the Endangered Species Act. The county's Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan is a voluntary way to get coverage. Inside city limits, removing a large protected tree needs a city permit. Neighborhoods like Tahitian Village ban clear-cutting. Removing dead trees and thinning yaupon and cedar is often allowed and helps with fire safety too.
How do you build patios and plant in Bastrop's sandy soil?
Much of Bastrop sits on deep, well-drained sands like Padina and Silstid, which run acidic and shift under a weak base. For pavers, we compact the base in layers and lock the edges. On lots with clay under the sand, we reinforce concrete and plan drainage so water does not sit on the clay. For planting, we mix in soil where needed and lean on plants that already thrive here, like yaupon and American beautyberry, watered by drip.
What are the watering rules for a new yard in Bastrop?
On City of Bastrop water, in-ground and hose-end sprinklers are banned from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. all year. Drip lines, soaker hoses, and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are exempt, and a new landscape gets a break during planting and its first 10 days. Many homes outside town are on Aqua Water Supply Corporation, which sets its own drought stages and watering days, so we set your controller to match. If you want to irrigate from a private well, check with the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District first.
Which Bastrop neighborhoods and nearby towns do you work in?
We work across Bastrop, from historic homes near downtown to Hunters Crossing, Tahitian Village, Pine Forest, and The Colony, plus wooded acreage along SH 21 and SH 95. We also serve nearby Cedar Creek, Smithville, Paige, and Elgin. Bastrop has dozens of homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, many in the older blocks around downtown, so older homes there often call for a quieter, period-friendly design. Wherever you are, we start with a free visit to your property.
