A Yard Designed for Florida -- Not Against It
Design fee: $500 to $2,500 (applied to your project as credit). We design with plants that actually thrive here -- native species adapted to sandy soil, salt air, and subtropical humidity. Then we install everything ourselves.
Design That Works With Florida, Not Against It
Most landscape designs fail in St. Petersburg because they are built around plants that look good in a nursery pot but cannot survive a full Florida summer. Azaleas that burn in July sun. Boxwoods that rot in August humidity. Ornamentals that need twice-weekly deep watering in a county that only allows irrigation two days per week.
Our designs start with the environment, not the plant list. What is your soil doing? Where does water go after a thunderstorm? Which areas get 8 hours of brutal afternoon sun and which sit in oak shade all day? What is the salt exposure? How much maintenance are you actually willing to do?
Then we select from Florida-native and Florida-adapted species that are built for these conditions. Plants that laugh at sandy soil. Shrubs that tolerate salt spray within blocks of the Gulf. Grasses that stay green on SWFWMD's two-day watering schedule. The result is a landscape that looks better in year three than year one because everything is thriving, not just surviving.
From Consultation to Finished Landscape
1. Consultation
We walk your property together. You tell us what you want -- more privacy, less maintenance, better curb appeal, outdoor entertaining space, dog-friendly areas. We take measurements, photos, and notes on existing conditions. No charge for the initial meeting.
2. Design Development
We create a detailed landscape plan showing plant placement, bed shapes, hardscape elements, and irrigation zones. You see exactly what goes where, mature sizes at 3 and 5 years, and maintenance requirements. Changes are easy at this stage.
3. Plant Selection
Every plant in the plan is selected for your specific conditions. We source from local Florida nurseries that grow their stock in our climate -- not trucked in from Georgia or Texas where they were grown in different soil and weather conditions.
4. Site Preparation
Existing overgrown plants get removed. Beds get shaped, edged, and amended if soil needs improvement. If irrigation is part of the project, drip lines go in before plants. Proper drainage grading prevents water from pooling against foundations.
5. Installation
Plants go in at the correct depth with proper spacing for mature growth. Root balls get scored to encourage outward growth. Mulch goes down 2-3 inches deep to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Every element placed exactly per the design plan.
6. Establishment Care Plan
New plants need more water for the first 4-6 weeks. We provide a care schedule, set irrigation for establishment mode, and do a follow-up check at 30 days to verify everything is rooting and thriving. Replacements if anything fails during establishment.
Florida-Native Plants That Thrive in Pinellas County
These are our go-to performers for St. Petersburg landscapes. Every one of them is proven in local conditions, available from Florida nurseries, and delivers reliable year-round performance without excessive care:
- Foundation/hedge: Green Island Ficus, Simpson Stopper, Walter's Viburnum, Cocoplum
- Flowering accent: Firebush, Beautyberry, Plumbago, Bulbine, Blanket Flower
- Ornamental grasses: Muhly Grass, Dwarf Fakahatchee, Liriope, Fountain Grass
- Ground cover: Perennial Peanut, Asiatic Jasmine, Beach Sunflower, Oyster Plant
- Salt-tolerant (coastal): Sea Grape, Dune Sunflower, Coontie, Silver Buttonwood
- Shade specialists: Cast Iron Plant, Bromeliads, Peace Lily, Ferns, Caladiums
We mix textures, heights, bloom times, and foliage colors to create visual interest year-round -- not just during one season. A well-designed Florida landscape looks good in February and August, not just during the brief spring bloom that most non-native gardens depend on.
Xeriscaping in St. Petersburg -- Low-Water Landscapes That Look Good Year-Round
Xeriscaping in St. Petersburg is not about replacing your lawn with gravel and cactus. Florida's subtropical climate supports a rich palette of drought-tolerant native plants that produce color, texture, and visual interest year-round while requiring a fraction of the water that traditional landscapes demand. A well-designed xeriscape in Pinellas County can reduce outdoor water consumption by 50 to 75 percent compared to a conventional St. Augustine lawn with non-native ornamentals.
The core principles of xeriscaping that we apply to every low-water landscape design include strategic plant zoning based on water needs, grouping high-water plants near irrigation sources and placing drought-tolerant species in outlying beds. We use extensive mulch coverage -- typically 3 inches of pine bark or cypress -- to reduce evaporation and moderate soil temperature during Florida's intense summer heat. Permeable hardscape elements like paver walkways and decorative stone borders replace water-hungry turf areas while adding structure to the design.
Our xeriscape plant selections for St. Petersburg properties include Coontie palm, which thrives in full sun with virtually no supplemental watering once established. Muhly Grass provides dramatic pink plume displays every October and November while surviving on rainfall alone. Society Garlic delivers year-round purple blooms and fragrant foliage on minimal water. Dune Sunflower spreads rapidly as ground cover, blooming continuously from spring through fall without irrigation in established beds. Each of these species is native or adapted to Florida's USDA zone 10a climate and thrives in Pinellas County's sandy soil.
For homeowners considering xeriscaping in St. Petersburg, the transition does not have to happen all at once. We frequently design phased installations that convert the highest-water-consumption areas first -- typically the front yard and side beds -- while leaving the backyard lawn intact for recreation. This approach delivers immediate water savings while spreading the investment across two or three phases. Many St. Petersburg homeowners start with a front yard xeriscape conversion for $3,500 to $6,000, see their water bill drop by $30 to $50 per month, and then schedule the remaining phases within the first year.
SWFWMD watering restrictions in Pinellas County already limit irrigation to two days per week, making drought-tolerant landscape design increasingly practical. A xeriscape stays green and vibrant within those restrictions without supplemental hand-watering, drought stress, or the brown patches that St. Augustine lawns develop during dry stretches between approved watering days. Read more about our xeriscaping services in St. Petersburg including Florida-native plant selections, pricing, and water savings data.
Ready to Transform Your Property?
From a simple front bed refresh to a complete property redesign, we design and install landscapes that work with Florida's climate instead of fighting it. Consultations are free.
Schedule a ConsultationA Kenwood Front Yard That Stopped Dying Every Summer
A homeowner in the Kenwood neighborhood of St. Pete had replaced their front landscape three times in five years. Each time, they bought popular-looking plants from a big-box store, planted them in the sandy soil, watered diligently for a month, then watched them slowly decline through summer.
The problem was not their effort. It was the plant selection. They were buying species suited for Georgia or the Carolinas -- partial shade plants going into full afternoon sun, shallow-root ornamentals in sandy soil that drains in seconds, and flowering shrubs that cannot handle 95-degree humidity.
We designed a full front bed replacement using exclusively Florida-native species: Firebush for color, Muhly Grass for texture, Simpson Stopper for structure, and Perennial Peanut as ground cover. Added drip irrigation on the existing system. Total project: $3,200 including design, plants, bed prep, installation, and mulch.
That was two years ago. Every plant is still alive and significantly larger than when installed. The Firebush blooms attract hummingbirds from March through November. The Muhly Grass puts on a pink plume show every fall. Zero replacements needed. They water two days per week per SWFWMD rules and everything thrives.
Landscape Design Questions
Design fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on property size and project complexity. This covers consultation, measurements, plant selection, and a detailed plan. The fee is credited toward installation cost if you proceed with us -- effectively making the design free when we do the work.
Full property walk-through, measurements, sun/shade mapping, soil assessment, drainage evaluation, and a discussion of your goals, preferences, and maintenance comfort level. No charge for the initial meeting.
Yes. We prioritize Florida-native and Florida-adapted plants that thrive in our subtropical climate, sandy soil, and salt air without excessive water or fertilizer. Native plants are better for the local ecosystem and require far less maintenance long-term.
Consultation to finished plan: 1-2 weeks. Simple bed renovations take 5-7 days. Complex whole-property designs take 2-3 weeks. Installation scheduling depends on plant availability but most projects are in the ground within 2-4 weeks of approval.
Absolutely. Mature trees, pools, patios, and other existing features become assets in the design. We work with what is already there, using established elements as focal points rather than removing them.
Both. Same team designs it, sources the plants locally, preps the beds, installs irrigation, and places everything. No communication gaps between designer and installer. What we draw is exactly what gets built.
Top performers: Firebush, Muhly Grass, Simpson Stopper, Coontie, Beautyberry, Green Island Ficus, Plumbago, and Society Garlic for sun areas. Cast Iron Plant, Bromeliads, and ferns for shade. Sea Grape and Silver Buttonwood for salt-exposed coastal properties.
Every design accounts for drainage patterns and water needs. We incorporate grading that directs water away from structures. New bed zones get drip irrigation during installation. If a new system is needed, we coordinate that as part of the project.
Build the Complete Outdoor Space
Sod Installation
Fresh lawn to complement the new landscape. Right variety matched to each section of your yard.
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Hardscaping & Pavers
Patios, walkways, and borders that define planting areas and add structure to the landscape.
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Mulch beds, decorative rock, ornamental grasses, and ground covers that complete the design.
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Backyard Remodel
Complete outdoor transformation from start to finish — tear-out to final walkthrough, all under one crew.
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