The Challenges
Stacey and Sean Matthew, a young couple from Austin, sum up the challenge of their backyard in three words: “Too much grass.”

Despite its charm, Austin’s hot and dry climate is not ideal for a blanket of turfgrass stretching from fence to fence across their backyard. “It was disheartening to see the amount of water required to keep the grass alive in such a hot climate,” Sean Matthew explained.

The wall-to-wall grass in the couple’s existing backyard led to high demands for both water and maintenance.

Water wasn’t the only drawback. “We would spend over an hour mowing the lawn each week, only to be too exhausted to enjoy the outdoors,” he added.

Their vast lawn was also a missed opportunity. Aside from a crowded covered patio and a solitary fire pit adrift in the grass, their yard lacked meaningful outdoor living amenities, despite having ample space.

Seeking to conserve water, reduce maintenance, eliminate the lawn, and make better use of their yard, the couple turned to LawnZ for help.

THE VISION

Stacey and Sean Matthew already had the bones of their design in mind. A pool was a top priority (as we said, Austin gets hot). So was a modern prefab shed to keep their lawn mower, pool equipment, and other knick-knacks out of sight but within reach.

A patch of grass would remain for their two dogs to enjoy, but overall they would slash their lawn, replacing it with gathering spaces and drought-tolerant planting. “Our goal was to take the hour and a half of lawn mowing down to 20 minutes and use the other 70 minutes to jump in the pool,” Sean Matthew explained.

All told, the couple envisioned what Sean Matthew described as “an oasis, an extension of our living space where we could enjoy time with our friends and family.”

Staying cool is essential in Austin. This design offers several options: a pergola canopy, dappled shade from trees, a moveable umbrella, or a refreshing dip in the pool.

The Design
From their vision, LawnZ crafted a design that perfectly captured both the look and functionality Stacey and Sean Matthew were aiming for.

A pool takes center stage on one side of the yard, surrounded by a drought-tolerant mix of succulents, grasses, and silvery desert shrubs. The reduced lawn area extends along the opposite side, separated from the pool by a spacious concrete deck. A new storage shed anchors the rear of the yard, subtly concealed by an oak tree positioned in front of it.

In a departure from the original vision, the fire pit area was placed just off the pool deck to encourage frequent use and keep it close to the action. This location also benefits from an adjacent understory tree, which adds a soft, shaggy contrast to the crunchy gravel ground cover.

To unify the design, LawnZ incorporated a small but key concrete planter at the center of the yard, acting as the focal point with spaces radiating outward in all directions. The planter’s warm neutral hue complements two wood benches arranged in an L-shape nearby.

Overall, the design ensures seamless flow between spaces, providing easy circulation and an open, interconnected feel throughout the yard.

A cluster of grasses and a canopy tree help draw attention away from the storage shed, while the pool’s simple, clean design complements the clients’ modern style.

Stacey and Sean Matthew enjoying their new backyard landscape, featuring a new concrete planter that also serves as a backrest for a rustic modern bench.

The Installation
Stacey and Sean Matthew took advantage of LawnZ’s Pro Matching service to quickly connect with a contractor for their design installation.

Before breaking ground, they collaborated with their contractor to make a few final adjustments, including adding lighting, modifying some stone paths, and incorporating additional drought-tolerant and Texas native plant species (the more natives, the better!).

Instead of a separate wood cooking deck, they chose to extend their concrete pool deck along the back of the house, enhancing the connection between the cooking and poolside lounge areas. Despite these minor changes, “the spirit of the design remained perfectly aligned,” said Sean Matthew.

With their pool builder coming in under budget, they were also able to extend both the pool and the surrounding concrete patio.

The new concrete planter creates a cozy nook for intimate conversations, while its modest size ensures there’s enough space around it to maintain an open, interconnected feel throughout the yard.

The New Yard
With the installation complete, Stacey and Sean Matthew are delighted with their new yard. “We love the lush ambiance and the tranquility provided by the gentle sound of the bubbling pool,” says Sean Matthew.

The orange patina on the pool coping and built-in planter complements the auburn fencing and echoes the warm neutral tones prevalent in the regional landscape.

Lush indeed: drifts of tall grasses sway along the back of the pool, providing a striking contrast to the structural forms of agaves and cacti. As Sean Matthew puts it, where the old yard was merely “a place to mow,” their new yard is now “a place to host, relax, read, and simply be.”

“We actually have a reason to be in the yard now,” he explains. If that isn’t a testament to the value of landscape design, we don’t know what is.

Crunchy gravel, comfortable chairs, and an understory tree create a cozy, rustic fire pit area. This space adds value by providing a unique experience compared to the other gathering areas in the yard.

Designing Your Low-Maintenance Backyard for Outdoor Living

Yardzen’s award-winning online landscaping design service is available to clients across all fifty states in the U.S. Our process starts with a thorough understanding of your space, design ideas, aesthetic preferences, and budget to ensure a smooth building experience with no surprises.

Our expert designers will then craft a personalized vision for your yard, presenting it through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and detailed plant and material lists. Your design will achieve the look, feel, and functionality you desire while staying within your budget.

Once your design is finalized, we can connect you with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to bring your vision to life (if you’re not planning to DIY).

Ready to enhance your curb appeal or transform your backyard with a professional design that perfectly fits your vision? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!