The Garner Ave Project

A Lawn-Free Front Yard Built for Modern Desert Character & Easy Upkeep

The Garner Project is a complete lawn-to-landscape transformation designed for modern desert character, low water use, and real curb appeal in the heart of South Austin.

  • Location: Private Residence

  • Project Type: Residential Design-Build

  • Services Featured: Native and adapted planting, decomposed granite yard and driveway, concrete walkway, boulder accents, steel edging, drought-tolerant groundcover, landscape lighting

Gold-colored stylized plant with three leaves on a black background.
White cottage with green front door, concrete walkway, and xeriscaped yard of decomposed granite and native plants

Project Overview

The homeowners at Garner wanted a front yard that could stand up to the Texas heat, cut down on water and upkeep, and finally match the character of their South Austin home, without having to manage the project themselves. Southern Love Landscaping took it from there, guiding the design from concept to finished build with a clear plan and a dedicated crew. We replaced the thirsty, high-maintenance lawn with a water-wise landscape of decomposed granite, native and adapted plants, and clean, modern hardscape.

The finished yard feels intentional, established, and completely at home in the neighborhood. A crisp concrete walkway leads from the street to the porch, native perennials and ornamental grasses add color and movement, and limestone boulders and cactus give the design a distinctly Central Texas character. It's a front yard that looks great year-round, needs far less water, and welcomes the homeowners home every day.

Drought-tolerant front yard with steel-edged planting beds, prickly pear, native grasses, and limestone boulders

What We Designed & Built

For The Garner Project, Southern Love delivered:

  • A full lawn-to-xeriscape conversion for lower water use and upkeep

  • A modern concrete walkway from the sidewalk to the front porch

  • A decomposed granite front yard and driveway with permeable groundcover

  • Native and desert-adapted planting, including agave, cactus, and blooming perennials

  • Limestone boulder accents set throughout the beds

  • Steel edging to define the granite, planting beds, and pathways

  • Drought-tolerant groundcover and ornamental grasses for texture and color

  • Preserved mature trees to anchor the design and add shade

  • Landscape lighting to highlight the walkway and planting at night

A Closer Look at the Garner Project

White cottage with green front door, concrete walkway, and xeriscaped yard of decomposed granite and native plants
Drought-tolerant front yard with steel-edged planting beds, prickly pear, native grasses, and limestone boulders
Decomposed granite walkway leading to detached garage, edged with native plantings and accent boulders
Wide gravel driveway with steel edging and path lighting alongside a low-water native planting bed
View from front porch across a xeriscaped yard with walkway, native plantings, and young shade trees
Foundation bed with pride of Barbados, ornamental grasses, and silver-foliage perennials along a covered porch
Concrete walkway through native perennial beds with muhly grass, agave, and desert-adapted shrubs
Street-level view of a drought-tolerant front yard with cactus, boulders, and stepping-stone path to the curb
Curbside gravel yard with prickly pear, limestone boulders, and perennial beds under mature shade trees
Front walkway lined with pride of Barbados, native grasses, and silver perennials in a steel-edged gravel bed
Decomposed granite driveway running between a cottage and cedar privacy fence with native border plantings
Concrete entry walk from wrought-iron porch rail through a gravel yard with salvia and limestone boulders

Create a Front Yard You're Proud to Come Home To

The Garner Project shows how the right design turns a tired lawn into a low-water landscape with real curb appeal, handled start to finish so the homeowners never had to manage a crew. As a full-service design build team with licensed pros and hundreds of five-star reviews, Southern Love Landscaping guides you through every step, from your first consultation to the final walkthrough.

Book Your Design Consultation