Landscaping & landscape design in Houston

What landscaping jobs we match

• Landscape design. A plan for beds, trees, lawn, paths and outdoor rooms before anything goes in the ground.
• Front-yard refreshes. New beds, edging, mulch and shrubs for curb appeal.
• Backyard makeovers. Planting combined with patios, paths, drainage, lighting or turf. See pavers & hardscaping and drainage & irrigation.
• Landscaping around a new pool or patio cover. Often the last phase of a bigger backyard project.

Rough cost ranges in Houston

• Angi’s Houston landscaping page (updated July 2026) puts the average job at $3,383, with most between $1,404 and $5,418. Its size table shows roughly $2,220–$5,920 for a 500 sq ft area and $4,440–$11,900 for 1,000 sq ft.^[1]
• The same page says a complete backyard overhaul can reach about $11,000, while front-yard updates stay closer to the low end.^[1]
• Design only: one cost site puts Houston backyard design at $1,225–$10,375, averaging about $4,913.^[2]

These are rough planning ranges pulled from published Houston-area cost guides and contractor websites, not quotes and not HTX Backyard prices. Your price depends on size, materials, access and site conditions.

Houston-specific things to plan for

• Clay soil. Much of the Houston area sits on dense, slow-draining clay. Ask how beds will be amended or raised so roots don’t sit in water after a storm.
• Grade and drainage first. New beds, borders and edging can change how water leaves your lot. Water should move away from the foundation, not toward it or onto a neighbor’s yard. If you already have standing water, fix drainage before planting.
• Heat and plant choice. Ask for plants that handle full Gulf Coast summer sun and humidity, and for a watering plan for the first summer.
• HOA review. Many Houston-area HOAs require architectural approval for landscape changes, especially in front yards. Texas law limits how far an HOA can go: an association can’t ban drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf, though it can ask to review your plan for compatibility and can still regulate things like gravel, rocks and cacti.^[3]

Questions to ask before you sign

• Is the design fee separate, and is it credited if you do the install?
• How will you prepare the soil and handle drainage in the beds?
• What plant warranty do you offer, and what does it require from me (watering, irrigation)?
• Are plant sizes (1-gallon, 3-gallon, 15-gallon) and quantities itemized?
• Who handles HOA submittal drawings, if my HOA requires them?

How we make money: HTX Backyard is free for homeowners. Participating builders pay HTX Backyard a fee when we introduce them to a homeowner. We are a matching service, not a contractor, and we do not perform, supervise or guarantee any work.