Landscaping services in Austin, explained job by job
Landscaping is a word that covers a Tuesday mow and a $30,000 backyard. This page sorts the menu: what each service includes, how it is priced, when it is scheduled, and which one actually solves the problem you have.
The services fall into five groups. Maintenance, which is mowing, edging, feeding, weed control, bed care and seasonal cleanups on a schedule; this is where most Austin homeowners start and where property managers stay. Trees, which is trimming, removal and stump grinding, done by climbers and bucket crews under the city's tree ordinance. Installation, which is design, planting, sod, mulch and lighting; the work that changes what the yard is. Hardscape, which is patios, walkways, steps and retaining walls in the limestone and flagstone the Hill Country is made of. And water, which is irrigation repair and audits by a licensed irrigator, drip conversions and the xeriscape jobs that cut the bill for good.
Pricing follows the group. Maintenance is a visit price or a monthly price on a written scope. Tree work is priced per tree after someone has looked at it, because a 40-foot pecan over a garage is a different job from a 40-foot pecan in an open field. Installation and hardscape are quoted by the square foot of the area and the materials chosen, and design work carries a plan fee that is credited against the install. Irrigation is a service-call rate plus parts. In every case the walk-through comes first and the price goes on paper before anything is scheduled.
Timing matters more here than in most of the country. Sod and trees go in from October through March so roots are established before the first 100-degree week. Live and red oaks are pruned between July and January to avoid the oak wilt season. Pre-emergent goes down in February and again in September. Patios and walls are built in the cool months when the crews can work a full day. Mowing and irrigation run year-round. A good estimate tells you not just the price but the month.
What this site does not do: claim licences it does not hold. Texas has no landscaping licence. Irrigation work is done by a TCEQ Licensed Irrigator and chemical applications by a TDA-licensed applicator, each held by the contractor doing that work, and the licence guide explains who needs what.
What the crew brings to it
One walk-through, one price
Soil, shade, slope, trees and sprinklers looked at in person; the estimate is itemized and free.
Scheduled for the season
Sod, trees and planting in the cool months; oaks pruned in the oak-wilt window; patios built before the heat.
The right crew for the group
Mow crews, climbers, installers, stonemasons and a licensed irrigator, matched to the job rather than one truck for everything.
Permits checked first
Tree diameters measured against the city's thresholds; wall heights kept under four feet unless an engineer is involved.
Plants that live here
Natives and adapted plants chosen for Blackland clay or Hill Country limestone, and for the watering rules.
Nothing hidden on the sheet
Materials, plants by name and size, labor, haul-off and any permit, each on its own line.
Landscaping services around Austin: 2026 prices
| Job | Range | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Mowing visit, typical lot | $45 – $75 | Lot size, edging, frequency |
| Full lawn program, monthly | $150 – $300 | Services included, lot size |
| Tree trimming, per tree | $300 – $1,200 | Height, access, how much comes off |
| Tree removal, per tree | $500 – $3,500 | Size, location, crane, permit |
| Landscape design plan | $500 – $3,000 | Yard size, detail; credited to install |
| Planting and bed installation | $8 – $20 per sq ft | Plant sizes, soil work, drip |
| Limestone or flagstone patio | $18 – $40 per sq ft | Stone, base, access |
| Sod, installed | $1.00 – $2.00 per sq ft | Grass type, prep, removal of old lawn |
| Irrigation service call | $85 – $150 | Plus parts; licensed irrigator |
Ranges for Austin and the surrounding Williamson and Hays County towns in 2026, to help you plan. The written estimate after the walk-through is the price; it is itemized, free, and good for 30 days.
On the job
Questions about landscaping services
Can one crew do everything?
No, and you would not want one that tried. Mowing, climbing, stone and irrigation are different trades with different equipment and, for irrigation, a licence. The right crew is sent for each part of a job, and one estimate covers all of it.
Do you charge for the estimate?
No. The walk-through and the written estimate are free and carry no obligation. A detailed design plan is the exception; it carries a fee that is credited against the installation.
How far out are you booking?
Maintenance usually starts within a week or two. Tree work is a week or two except after storms. Installations and hardscape are scheduled by season, often two to six weeks out in the cool months.
Do you work with HOAs?
Yes. Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock and most newer subdivisions have architectural review for front-yard changes, and the submittal is part of the quote.
What about rentals and property managers?
A good share of Austin's yards are rentals. Managers get a written scope, a monthly price and photos after each visit, and tenants do not have to be home.
Is there a travel charge for Georgetown or Kyle?
No. One price list across the service area, from Georgetown down to Kyle and out to Dripping Springs.