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Landscaping in Round Rock, TX

Round Rock yards sit on two very different kinds of ground: sticky black clay on the east side and thin soil over limestone on the west. 512 Luxury Landscape Design plans for both. We design and build patios, pergolas, stonework, concrete, and steel, and we lay out plants and drip zones that fit the city's two-day watering schedule. One in-house team, the owner on every job, a 4.8-star Google rating from 28 reviews, and free on-site estimates.

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finished front yard with a green lawn, planting beds, and shrubs
Landscaping for Round Rock Homes

Landscaping Built for Both Sides of Round Rock

Round Rock is named for a big limestone rock in Brushy Creek, and that rock is a good clue to what sits under your yard. The city straddles the Balcones Escarpment. East of I-35, much of the ground is deep, black Blackland Prairie clay that swells when wet and cracks when dry. West of I-35, the ground turns to thin, rocky soil over limestone. A patio base, a fence post, or a planting bed has to be built for the ground it sits on. Water is the other big factor. The city asks every customer to water no more than two days a week, and drought stages cut that further. The town has also grown fast, from about 2,800 people in 1970 to a city estimate of more than 143,000 today. Many homes still have the builder yard they came with. Good landscaping in Round Rock fixes that for the long haul. We have designed and built outdoor spaces since 2018, and we plan every Round Rock yard around its soil, its water, and its HOA.

Landscaping Services in Round Rock, TX

BUILT FOR CLAY, LIMESTONE, AND TWO-DAY WATERING

One in-house team can take a tired Round Rock yard and rebuild it from the ground up. Here is what we do, starting with the work that clay soil and water rules make most important here.

Landscaping in Round Rock

Blackland clay takes in water very slowly once it is wet, and it runs off fast. So we start most yards with land grading that moves storm water away from the house and out of your beds. We work compost into the clay before new sod installation, so roots can go deeper and the lawn does better on two waterings a week. The city even offers a rebate for core aeration and compost on single-family yards. On limestone lots in the west, we bring in soil where the rock sits close to the top.

Landscape Design in Round Rock

Round Rock's watering schedule covers drip lines too, not just sprinklers. So a good plan groups plants by how much water they need. Our irrigation design and installation puts beds on drip and keeps spray heads for the lawn. The city requires a permit for a new lawn irrigation system on city water, plus a backflow prevention form, and we plan for both. Our xeriscape design cuts thirsty turf in favor of tough, native plants. The city's Smart Irrigation rebate covers some of these upgrades, like drip conversions and WaterSense controllers.

Hardscaping & Masonry in Round Rock

Clay that swells and shrinks will push a weak wall out of line. We build retaining walls with drainage stone and weep paths behind them, so water does not build up pressure against the wall. That matters on sloped lots near Brushy Creek and on the hilly west side. We also build outdoor kitchens, paver patios, and fire pits. In Round Rock, an outdoor kitchen counts as an accessory structure and needs a building permit, which we plan for.

Patios & Pergolas in Round Rock

July highs here average in the mid-90s, so shade decides whether you use your back yard. We build covered patios and steel pergolas that hold up to Central Texas sun and storms. The City of Round Rock requires a permit for a covered patio and for a pergola. Accessory structures cannot sit in an easement or within the 5-foot side and rear setbacks. We measure those lines before we design, so the plan passes the first time.

Custom Concrete in Round Rock

On east-side clay, a thin slab over loose fill is asking for cracks. We compact the base, add steel reinforcement, and cut control joints so concrete driveways and patios can handle the soil moving. The city does not require a building permit for driveways, walkways, or driveway extensions on your lot. The concrete apron in the street right-of-way is the exception, and we check what it needs before we pour.

Welding & Steel Fabrication in Round Rock

Looking for a fence company in Round Rock? We weld our own wrought iron fences and custom metal gates in-house. Round Rock does not require a building permit for a home fence. The city does suggest you check height and materials with Code Enforcement, and your HOA may have fence rules of its own. We set posts deep in concrete so clay movement is less likely to lean the line.

What Landscaping Costs in Round Rock

We price every Round Rock yard on its own, so we do not post flat numbers. A few local things move the cost. Which side of town you are on matters: clay lots need more base, drainage, and reinforcement, and limestone lots need more rock digging and imported soil. Tearing out an old builder yard and its sprinkler system adds work. Permits add steps for covered patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and new irrigation. An HOA review can add time. Big trees count too, since working around protected trees takes more care. A bed and sod refresh sits at the low end. A full back yard with a covered patio, outdoor kitchen, and iron fence sits much higher. We walk your property and give you a clear written estimate for free.

From Teravista to Brushy Creek, we build Round Rock yards for clay, limestone, and two-day watering.

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Built for Round Rock

What Landscaping in Round Rock Has to Deal With

The Balcones Escarpment runs north to south through Williamson County, and Round Rock sits right on it. East of I-35, much of the ground is Blackland Prairie clay like Houston Black, the Texas state soil. The USDA describes it as very slow to drain once wet. When it dries out, it opens cracks up to 4 inches wide and at least a foot deep. That movement heaves fence posts and patios and leaves water standing in a dug planting hole. West of I-35, the story flips. Soil is thin and rocky over limestone, so beds dry out fast and digging hits rock. The weather pushes both extremes. Williamson County gets about 36 inches of rain a year, and July highs average near 95 degrees. Freezes still come. Freezes still come. In February 2021, highs in Austin stayed at or below freezing for five days in a row.

Water rules shape every plan here. Round Rock's main supply is Lake Georgetown, backed by Lake Stillhouse Hollow, the Edwards Aquifer, and Lake Travis. The city asks everyone to water on two assigned days a week based on the last digit of the address, before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. In Stage 2, that drops to one day. In Stage 3, only hand watering is allowed. Some neighborhoods, like Brushy Creek, are on their own utility district with their own schedule. Trees have rules too. Trees have rules too. On most home lots, the city protects only very large "monarch" trees, like a live oak 36 inches across or a post oak 24 inches across. Its tree manual warns against pruning oaks in spring and fall because of oak wilt. We design around all of it, from grading on clay to drip zones and tree protection.

  • Deep Blackland clay east of I-35 swells, cracks, and drains slowly, so we grade for runoff, raise beds, and reinforce slabs and walls.
  • Thin, rocky soil over limestone on the west side means imported soil, raised beds, and more rock work when we dig.
  • The city's year-round standards ask for two watering days a week, and drip irrigation follows the same schedule, so we design yards to thrive on less.
  • Covered patios, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and new irrigation systems need a City of Round Rock permit, and accessory structures must stay out of easements and 5-foot side and rear setbacks.
  • On most home lots, only very large monarch trees are protected, and oaks face oak wilt risk, so we fence root zones and time any oak pruning with care.
landscaped front yard with lawn, shrubs, and planting beds
Why 512 Luxury Landscape Design

Why Round Rock Homeowners Choose Us

You want landscapers who know the difference between an east-side clay lot and a west-side limestone lot, and who will stand behind the work. We are based in Bastrop and bring one in-house team to your Round Rock project, with the owner involved from the first walk-through to the final cleanup.

  • One Team Designs and Builds

    The same in-house team plans your yard and builds it. Nothing gets lost in a handoff between a designer, a concrete crew, and a fence company.

  • Built for the Ground You Have

    We check whether your lot is clay or limestone before we design. Then we set bases, drainage, and planting to match, so your patio and beds hold up.

  • Designed for Two-Day Watering

    We group plants by water need, put beds on drip, and set your controller to your assigned days, so the yard stays healthy under Round Rock's schedule.

  • In-House Welding and Steel

    We weld iron fences, gates, and steel pergolas ourselves. You get custom metalwork that matches the rest of the yard, from the same team.

  • Permits and HOA Reviews Handled

    City permits for covered patios, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens, plus HOA architectural reviews, are part of the job. We prepare the plans and paperwork.

  • Owner Involved, Free Estimates

    The owner stays involved on every job. Your first on-site visit and written estimate are free, with no pressure.

Testimonials

Our Customer Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 28 Google reviews

Questions & Answers

Landscaping in Round Rock, TX FAQs

  • How often can I water a new lawn or garden in Round Rock?

    On City of Round Rock water, the year-round standards ask you to water no more than two days a week, on days set by the last digit of your address. Watering should happen before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Drip lines and soaker hoses follow the same schedule. In Stage 2 you get one day a week. In Stage 3, only hand watering is allowed, on that one day. Hand watering with a hose is allowed at any time in normal conditions, which helps new sod root. Homes on a utility district like Brushy Creek MUD follow that district's rules, so we set your controller to match.

  • Do I need a permit for a patio cover, pergola, or outdoor kitchen in Round Rock?

    Yes. The City of Round Rock requires a building permit for covered patios, pergolas, gazebos, and outdoor kitchens. These structures cannot sit in an easement or inside the 5-foot side and rear setbacks. A new lawn irrigation system on city water also needs a permit and a backflow prevention form. Driveways, walkways, and home fences do not need a building permit, but a driveway apron in the street right-of-way is handled differently. We check what applies to your lot and handle the plans.

  • Why do patios and fences move on the east side of Round Rock?

    Much of Round Rock east of I-35 sits on deep Blackland Prairie clay, like Houston Black. This clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, opening cracks up to 4 inches wide. That movement can heave fence posts and crack a patio built on a thin base. We compact the base in layers, reinforce concrete, and set fence posts deep in concrete. We also grade the yard so rain runs away from slabs and the house. West of I-35, the ground is thin soil over limestone, which moves less but is harder to dig.

  • Can I remove or trim a big tree in my Round Rock yard?

    Check first. On most home lots, Round Rock protects only very large "monarch" trees, such as live oaks 36 inches across, pecans 34 inches, cedar elms 25 inches, and post oaks 24 inches, measured 4.5 feet up. The city also bans topping or over-pruning a protected tree. Ashe juniper, hackberry, and chinaberry are never protected. The city takes resident tree removal requests through its online permit portal. Oaks need extra care. The city's tree manual says to avoid pruning oaks in spring and fall because of oak wilt, and to paint fresh oak cuts. When we build near a big tree, we fence its root zone and keep heavy equipment and deep trenches out of it.

  • Can my HOA stop me from putting in a xeriscape?

    Not outright. Texas Property Code Section 202.007 says an HOA cannot ban drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf. The HOA can ask to review your plan first, but it cannot unreasonably deny it. Round Rock's drought plan also says an HOA cannot make you put in or water new grass while drought limits are in place. Many Round Rock neighborhoods have design rules, so we draw a clean plan with a plant list that is easy for the review board to approve.

  • Which parts of Round Rock do you work in?

    We work across Round Rock's three home ZIP codes: 78664, 78665, and 78681. That includes older blocks near downtown and Brushy Creek, plus communities like Teravista, Paloma Lake, Walsh Ranch, Vista Oaks, and Fern Bluff. We work on both sides of I-35, from the prairie clay out toward Old Settlers Park and the Dell Diamond on Palm Valley Boulevard to the limestone hills on the west side. Some of these areas are served by their own utility districts, so we check your water provider and HOA rules at the first visit.

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