Southwest Austin

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Project Description:

This Southwest Austin client wanted to build a pool with surrounding landscaping influenced by the Line Hotel in Downtown Austin. The client obtained construction drawings from a local designer and brought in Maas Verde to complete three key phases of the project.

During Phase One, we constructed concrete footers for the CMU Wall and pool deck, which required precise measurements and careful coordination with the pool and deck builders to ensure everything connected properly.

In addition, we constructed a CMU Wall on one side of the pool to provide privacy from the neighbors and support an Accoya wood deck. The CMU Wall was constructed with custom-welded steel cubbies to store towels and clothing for friends and family enjoying the new pool!

Phase Two included using masonry to create boulder terraces leading up to the pool from the client’s house, using 85 cave blocks, each weighing 2,000 pounds. The pool is at a higher elevation than the house, therefore when looking from the back porch towards the pool, the boulder terraces are all you can see, which creates an experience of a “hidden pool”. During the next planting season, the client wants to install native plantings in each level of the terraces to create a natural swimming pool experience.

During the final phase, Phase Three, we installed 290 linear feet of code-compliant, 5-foot tall, iron safety fencing with three, 4-foot-wide gates around the pool.

Anderson Mill

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Project Description:

This project in Northwest Austin employed an ecological solution to stormwater runoff pooling on the front sidewalk, as well as refreshing an aged landscape. A very large Arizona ash tree had died and had been removed, leaving the remaining landscape bare and sunbaked. Some invasive nandina and Ligustrum shrubs had dominated what was left. The clients preferred a native Hill Country look – lush flowering perennials amidst limestone outcrops – and had shared photos that inspired them via Pinterest.

This customer had three main objectives:

1) Come up with a solution to the pooling issue.

2) Update a few points in the landscape that had become overgrown and unsightly

3) Remove turf grass to reduce mowing.

Resolution:

To solve the pooling issue, we excavated two rain garden swales on either side of the front sidewalk. Water from the front downspouts was redirected into the swales, too. This allowed rainwater capture from the front sidewalk as well as the roof. The extra moisture held by the soil in those areas will benefit the plants around them. Masonry was used not only for function but for aesthetics as well. Hill Country limestone lines the pools, and various stepping-stone paths were placed in the gardens to aid in access.  A substantial amount of the turf grass was removed, and beds created and mulched.

Project details:

By the numbers:

330 sq. ft.: rain garden swale area.

1,905 sq. ft.: St. Augustine turf grass removed.

1,270 gallons: approximate rain garden capacity.

990 gallons: rain captured from impervious surfaces in 1” rain event.

640: new native plants installed.

29: native plant species used.

Rain Garden Fix for Drainage, Access and Inviting Backyard

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Frontyard

Priorities: Resolve Unwanted Pooling – Increase Room For Foot Traffic
Challenges: Manage Stormwater Ecologically
Solutions: Regrade Stone Work – Install Rain Garden

This residential project constitutes a great example of an ecological solution to a common problem. 

The homeowner was struggling with misgraded drainage. In any rain event, water would backflow onto the driveway and pool in foot trafficked areas. The adjacent lawn formed a moderate berm, offering no drainage.

The client needed the drainage problem solved, and wanted more room for walking on the driveway sidewalk and front patio — especially for their aging parents.

Maas Verde first removed the concrete sidewalk and regraded the area toward a focal point in the middle of the yard. We then laid a new, wider sidewalk and extended the patio with masonry using sawed limestone slabs. 

Finally, we removed the grass berm and replaced it with a rain garden planted with native grasses and other species. In concept, the plantings capture natural runoff from the stonework, and soil berms help maintain the structure. 

a rain garden, patio, and lawn chairs

By the Numbers

200 sq. ft.: rain garden swale area.

650 sq. ft.: St. Augustine turfgrass removed.

990 gallons: approximate rain garden capacity.

540 gallons: rain captured from impervious surfaces in 1” rain event.

317: new native plants installed.

12: native plant species used.

18-Month Update!

This rain garden is now a full-fledged native habitat. Using only rainwater and Stage 2 restrictive irrigation (one day per week), this homeowner has fostered a sanctuary for hummingbirds, bumble bees, and even a curious fox (caught on Nest Cam)!

a collage showing a thriving rain garden

Backyard

Priorities: Beautify the backyard and add a living space.
Design: Alternative to a high maintenance lawn area.
Features: Cream limestone slabs, stacked pancake boulders, Desert Willow, wildflower meadow, and succulent garden.

The client wanted to have an inviting, low maintenance landscape suitable for gatherings with a walking path throughout various gardens.

Maas Verde removed Saint Augustine turfgrass and replaced it with a gravel path and several garden sanctuaries.

Cut limestone was added to cover and extend an existing concrete porch to create an outdoor grill and living area.

2,700 sq. ft: Saint Augustine turfgrass removed.

2″ Thick cut limestone added to extend porch.

26: native species planted.

Here’s Why Land Management is so Critical in Texas

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Land management is super critical for the ecology of our beautiful state, and the onus is on private land owners, and we want to help you!

Did you know that 97% (+/-) of the State of Texas is privately owned?

Why is land management so challenging and what are the opportunities? The agriculture and ranching culture has been an important part of land ownership in Texas. As the scientific discipline of ecology has emerged over the last five plus decades, the idea and practice of being a “land steward” has become more commonplace. 

The three quotes below from Aldo Leopold, a renowned naturalist, philosopher, and ecologist showcase how important it is for humans to respect our local ecology.  

“Individual ethics is the basis of land conservation. It is hard to make a man do a thing which does not spring naturally from his own personal sense of right and wrong.”

“A land ethic reflects the existence of an ecological conscience.”

“Conservation can accomplish its objectives only when it springs from an impelling conviction on the part of the private landowners.”

Being a land steward is more than just trying to bring back native grasses on an overgrazed piece of property. It is a set of ethics and morals one lives their life. Land management is a life-long, multi-generational commitment to promoting biodiversity, ecological resilience, and ensuring the security of ecosystem services for all biological life. 

As a landscape management firm, we at Maas Verde do our best to uphold these values in our personal and professional lives. 

Some of the services we provide in the area of land management are the following.

  • Maintain 1-D-1 Wildlife Management Plans to maintain a property owner’s property tax valuation
  • Implement and document land management activities to achieve desired outcomes
  • Assist in green infrastructure construction and maintenance
  • Wildlife and plant surveys

Have any questions about land management, please feel free to drop us an email at te*@*******de.com

 

Consider This Before You Trim Your Trees

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Hey property owners!  We love trees and being a part of maintaining and growing a healthy urban canopy. Did you know that the national average for damages to homes during inclement weather is $8,296?  Ensuring the health of a tree is critical for its survival during severe storms and protecting your property. 

Trees play a critical role in our urban environment (especially in Central Texas) for maintaining temperatures in the summer, storing carbon dioxide, erosion control, wildlife and aesthetics value for humans. It is estimated that Austinites save on average $18.9 million annually on their energy bill (USDA). The same United States Department of Agriculture study found that of the 33.8 million trees within the City of Austin, the most common tree types are ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), sugarberry (Celtis), and Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana). 

Trees need proper care and maintenance so they do not spread disease or risk infection. Some trees, such as live oaks and red oaks, are susceptible to oak wilt. The City of Austin requires these two species of trees to only be trimmed July 1 – January 31, as that is when oak wilt is less active. For most all other species of Texas trees, they can be selectively trimmed at any time of year.

There are a variety of reasons why a tree might need to be trimmed:

  1. The tree is invasive and is non-native and should be removed
  2. The tree is causing foundational/structural/roof damage to the house or other buildings
  3. To prevent the spread of tree diseases
  4. Removal of dead limbs to prevent potential safety hazards

Tree trimming done improperly can expose the tree to disease. Trimmed limbs on live oaks and red oaks require a sealant to prevent infection.  Improperly trimmed trees can also be detrimental to their overall health, which is why it is always recommended to contact an expert. At Maas Verde, we are conservative with tree trimming to ensure the trees overall, long-term health.  Tree trimming should be a multi-year maintenance effort, which better ensures the long-term health of the tree.  

Tree cabling and other techniques can also be used for trees as they age to help ensure they survive heavy wind and rain events and to protect its structural integrity.  When we are on site for tree trimming, we also pay attention to details such as making sure root collars are properly exposed, and look at the entirety of the site to assess the health of an individual tree. 

Invasive species cost the US over $137 billion annually, so it is important to bring in an expert to reduce costs for invasive species removal.  Both Chinaberry, ligustrum and Chinese Tallow, to name a few, are common in Central Texas and are just a few of the non-native, invasive species that can cause damage, prevent the growth of our native trees and outcompete other critical native plants.

The Mite Destroying Our Plants

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Landscape maintenance is crucial in preventing the spread of diseases like rose rosette disease, which is a virus spread by a very small mite. Symptoms of this disease include a thickened, abnormally thorny stem, crinkled & shortened red leaves, and multiple reddened stems growing out of one node, leading to a bunching/dense cluster, which is an indicator of the virus.

Plant health is important to Maas Verde and our clients and this disease is lethal to roses and there is no known cure. The rosette virus is transmitted by a small mite, which can hop from plant to plant with the help of wind.  Because the virus is systematic, so the best way to combat the virus and to prevent the spread is to remove the infected roses as early as possible.

To address the rose rosette disease issue, Maas Verde took proactive measures. When removing the infected plants, we made sure to clean our tools with bleach to prevent further infection and removed the entire root ball. Through these efforts, we were able to slow the spread of the virus, highlighting the importance of proper landscape maintenance practices in controlling plant diseases.

Hill Country Conservancy Violet Crown Trail Butterfly Garden

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Project Description

The Violet Crown Trail is a first-of-its-kind project in Central Texas. A trail system that will eventually link Zilker Park with Hays County, planning began in 2006. Called “the first regional trail system” in the region, it now covers 13 miles from Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Maas Verde worked as a subcontractor to reclaim an area used for construction staging during trail installation. Scope included rehabilitating the disturbed area by decompacting and amending the soil, planting a native seed mix, and setting up a temporary irrigation system to encourage seed establishment.

We also designed and installed a butterfly garden, using native plants and boulders. The temporary irrigation helped the plantings receive the water they required to become established. This was fed by a 600-gallon water drum, which required complex calculations to construct above-ground.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

HardscapingIrrigationLandscape DesignLandscape InstallationNative Ecology ExpertiseTrail Design

Brentwood Austin Residential Landscape Design

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Project Description

Maas Verde Landscape Restoration was hired to create a custom landscape design and irrigation system for this Brentwood, Austin-area home. The team designed plans and dimensions, creating a screen for the A/C unit, and planted a fruit tree garden. The irrigation system was designed to support the pre-existing landscaping as well as the new additions. During the construction of the irrigation system, it was discovered that the City of Austin had a significant clog in the water connection causing very low water availability. The Maas Verde team was persistent in addressing this issue with the City and it was ultimately resolved due to our team’s perseverance. After installation of the irrigation was complete, the team installed a pergola 10′ high with 6″x6″ posts to round out the aesthetics and functionality of the new landscape design.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

IrrigationLandscape DesignLandscape InstallationNative Ecology ExpertisePatio & Accessory Construction

Barton Hills Residential Landscape Design

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Project Description

Maas Verde Landscape Restoration worked very closely with this residential client in the Barton Hills neighborhood of Austin, TX to create a custom landscape design. Our landscape design team worked dynamically and designed onsite to ensure that the installation was unique and incorporated the site’s existing natural elements.

We used masonry to construct gravel walkways with artistic limestone rock work as borders with native plantings. The walkways were treated as outlets for stormwater, so accurate grading was a key component of the design. This project is a fantastic example of how well the design process can work when trust exists between the client and landscape designer.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

HardscapingLandscape DesignLandscape InstallationNative Ecology Expertise

Prescribed Burn for Land Management

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Project Description

A controlled or prescribed burn, also known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off, is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration, or greenhouse gas abatement. Maas Verde Landscape Restoration was hired to safely execute a prescribed burn on a property in Central Texas to reduce dead biomass build-up, decrease non-native plant competition, increase the potential for other native species to take hold, increase soil temperature by allowing sunlight to hit the ground instead of dead thatch, and control Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) encroachment.

Because safely executing a controlled burn relies on varied factors like the weather and humidity, it can be a challenge to schedule a burn. The conditions have to be within a certain range in order for a burn to be executed safely and confidently. During the event, clear and consistent communication of safety procedures is critical for a successful outcome.

The Maas Verde team held a safety and procedure meeting before splitting up into groups and using radios to stay in constant communication across the fields. Two ATVs carrying water tanks and sprayers were employed, and drip torches were used to ignite burn lines. One crew was dedicated solely to ensuring the fire did not jump the mowed lines. This client is a repeat client on a cadence of every 24 months for sustainable land management.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

Controlled Burn
Sustainability Education