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Texas Gardening Lawn Care

Question Regarding Lawns/ Lawn installation... Design

Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I have noticed that in the Austin area, many of the homeowners, builders, and landscapers install grass right to the foundation of the house along the sides and rear yard. Is there a reason why grass/ lawn is installed this way versus leaving the area along the rear and sides of the house open for low growing foundation shrubs etc.?

Featured Answer

dchall_san_antonio

3 years ago

Lynn, what you are planning is also fine. Houses with grass up to the foundation on all four sides look a little austere to me. My neighbors across the street have slowly pulled out all the shrubs that the previous owner had installed close to the house. Actually pulling them out was an improvement, but that's not always the case.

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Comments (9)

Anna Bees
3 years ago
As far as I know it shouldn't be done that way
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked Anna Bees
girlnamedgalez8a
3 years ago
To control erosion.
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked girlnamedgalez8a
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
It's a matter of personal choice.....it makes no difference otherwise. Builders may do so because it is cheaper to put in a lawn than it is to dig, prepare and plant foundation beds.

Very common with midwestern farmsteads of a certain age :-) Few of those ever had "foundation plantings".
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
Original Author
3 years ago
Interesting...

Many of these neighborhoods have H.O.A.'s that require lawn and landscaping up front, but I am guessing the builders of these homes have put in the perfunctory lawn in the back and side as suggested for "erosion control" and it is "cheaper to put in a lawn than it is to dig, prepare and plant foundation beds".

Our builder adds some lawn to the sides and rear of the home. My plan is to suggest they move the lawn 7' away from the home so I can add foundation plantings. I am kind of glad that they do not put in the plantings because if I have no control over what goes in, there is a good chance that I would rip out, gift , and replace the plantings...
humbertomcneary humbertomcneary
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I recently moved into a new house and want to install a lawn, but I don't understand anything about it at all, so I decided to find some information on the forums. I think I should contact a landscape designer, but I'm not sure I can afford to hire one. How much do the services of such a specialist cost? By the way, this probably sounds funny, and I don't have a lawn yet, but I've already found some great gardening tools for lawn and garden maintenance. So, I want to know your opinion about a weed trimmer from this buying guide to know whether it's a necessary tool or a lawnmower is all I need. Thank you in advance!
dchall_san_antonio
3 years ago
Humberto, please start a new topic so we can address your situation without getting mixed up with this other situation. When you open the new topic, please tell us where you live and what you are looking for in a lawn. For example you might want a place for your chihuahua and three little girls to play. Also mention if there is much shade on the lawn area.
dchall_san_antonio
3 years ago
Builders and landscapers do what the owner tells them to do. I see many homes with turf up to the buildings. It's just a choice.
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
Original Author
3 years ago
dchall-

My plan was to have beds for foundation plantings on the sides and rear of the property near the house. Being new to Central Texas/Texas, I was unsure as to if there was a practical/functional reason for grass placement right up to the house foundation ... It appears that there is not...

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