Meadowcliff Renovation

Our friends on Meadowcliff Lane have beautiful gardens defined by clean lines and a “less is more” aesthetic. Shade-loving plants and Tejas gravel round out the contemporary design and create a minimal, yet thoughtful garden that is meant to be enjoyed. This residence is zen-like and exemplifies the family’s thoughtfulness both inside and outside their home.

design details

Front Yard Details

The garden was previously landscaped using corten steel planters, adding to the garden’s contemporary design. Heavy shade prevented growth in these areas. We decided to replant them using plum yews and mondo grass, which will thrive in the deeply shaded sections of the garden.

A large Bois D’Arc (or more commonly known as a horse apple tree) was previously planted in the front entranceway. It overwhelmed the space and was a possible detriment to the home. Removing it gave us an opportunity to create a deliberate focal point. We carefully selected a ‘coral bark’ Japanese maple and planted it in a corten steel planter with dwarf mondo at its base. The beds in the vicinity were sparsely planted and Tejas gravel was used in lieu of mulch. The beds in the backyard mirrored those used in the front.

Corten steel planter with dwarf mondo grass, surrounded by Tejas gravel

project goals

Client Needs

Shade-tolerant plants
Front garden tree replacement
Plants that create a clean aesthetic, consistent gardens in both the front and back yard beds
Gravel replacement

Special Requests

Japanese maple selection in the back garden
Overall aesthetic overhaul to match the contemporary style of the home

Back Yard

Their back garden is an outdoor sanctuary overlooking a wooded creek. The home has usable spaces on both sides of the house, including a deck area with a ping pong table and green space for their new puppy. The deck continues through the center of the back yard and includes a fireplace with a seating area overlooking the creek.

The mixed gravel in the beds was changed out for Tejas gravel. Two different size rocks were installed throughout the various beds. Lastly, we selected a ‘bloodgood’ Japanese maple in the right size and shape to anchor the corner bed, parallel to the rod iron fence.

‘bloodgood’ Japanese maple to anchor the corner bed

westlake residence

Our clients on Westlake Avenue have a beautiful, ranch-style contemporary home. After seeing our work in their next-door neighbor’s garden, they felt Tapp Gardens was the perfect partner to bring their vision to life.

While listening to them speak about their gardens, it was easy to see how the outdoor spaces are an important part of their lives. We decided to prioritize fixing drainage issues and planting weather-appropriate plants in each area of their garden.

design details

Front Yard

The gardens in the front yard are minimal and significantly shaded by the large live oak tree. Evergreen plants were chosen for their success in deep shade and for their lovely texture changes. In this case, we planted yews 'pringle', acorus grass, and euonymus coloratus (purple wintercreeper).

Project Goals

Client Needs

New irrigation system
Lay sod to cover a bald patch in the front yard
New plants that thrive in deep shade
Add Tejas gravel path in the courtyard

Special Requests

New trees in the side courtyard to block westerly sun
Relocate a tree in the front garden to the back garden (Fall update)
Back yard updates coming later this year. Check back soon!

Courtyard

The courtyard is a hidden gem with a modern, concrete water feature. We added a Tejas gravel path and planted three 'Autumn Blaze' maples. Not only will these trees shield the homeowners from the harsh evening sun, but they will also provide them with stunning crimson foliage outside their master bedroom during the fall season. We also added ground cover and foundation plantings to soften the perimeter.

Looking Forward

We are excited to continue working in their gardens later this year. We won’t give away too much detail, but this will include adding/transplanting trees, planting beds, and some stonework. Stay tuned for updates!

The ‘Blue Atlas’ cedar tree will be transplanted from the front yard to the back.

A Tejas gravel path was added alongside three ‘Autumn Blaze’ maples.

Sanshire renovation

This is a special property for Tapp Gardens because it’s the second time we’ve designed and landscaped this backyard. It’s a great piece of land and we were excited to hear how the new owners wanted to use it.

Previously, we built a large stone fire pit and flagstone patio, but the new owners had other ideas about how they wanted to experience the backyard. They suggested we remove one hundred percent of the original garden and design the garden anew for their family.

The big request: Try to expand the backyard.

After much debate we did just that. We captured three to five feet more depth and approximately eighty feet in length. This new space required substantial retaining walls to hold drainage material and earth. The upper portion of the contained area needed to be attractive, allow air to flow freely, and keep critters from the creek at bay. For this aspect of the project we designed a "living fence", and we enlisted the help of a trusted fence company to do the installation. Once the old flagstone patio and fire pit were disassembled we repurposed every piece of flagstone on the far side of the property (which saved our clients money!). Raised planter boxes were built using high grade cedar planks, pathways were created to create a walkway from one side of the garden to the other, and gardens were planted.

Design details

Project goals

Client Needs:

Because the current family has several small children, they wanted the outdoor space to feel more relaxed.

a patio for friends to gather
a small lawn for the children to play
planter boxes to grow fruits and vegetables
a wide variety of flowers
no fire pit (safety concerns)

Special Requests:

Would love to relocate one of our trees to fit in this new space
Extend property line towards the creek to capture more space
Dining area, possibly covered (arbor, canopy, etc.)
Reuse previous material in new design, where possible

The original flagstone was repurposed into a pathway that crosses the backyard.

Clear cedar planks were used to assemble three planters for flowers and vegetables.

We were able to meet the client’s request to relocate the Japanese maple into the newly extended backyard space.

A living fence was installed to meet safety needs while still allowing visibility into the beautiful creek below.

mimosa renovation

To this day, this is our favorite Texas native garden that Tapp Gardens has designed and installed. We selected mostly native plants for this garden and utilized a number of plants and shrubs. These elements provide beauty year-round and make the leap between areas of the garden which ranged from sunny to deep shade.

As one of the last cottages on the block, it has a large front lawn. We wanted to accentuate the space with a Texas native garden to make it feel even bigger. The garden emphasizes the depth of the lot and the quaintness of the home.