Landscape Design and Installation in Fort Worth
Designed around your property. Built for Fort Worth soil and climate. Not a template from a catalog.
Black Hill Landscaping designs and installs residential landscapes in Fort Worth built around your property's specific conditions. Soil type, sun and shade patterns, drainage, existing trees, and how you actually use your yard all factor into the design before anything goes in the ground. Plants, beds, mulch, and trees are selected and placed based on what will thrive in your space, not what looks good in a nursery display.
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- Custom landscape design based on your property’s soil, sun, drainage, and layout
- Plant, shrub, and tree selection for Fort Worth’s clay soil and climate
- Flower bed construction with soil amendment and proper mulching
- Coordinated with irrigation to ensure everything gets watered correctly from day one
Site-Specific Design
Nutrient Stabilization and Soil Structure
Weed Suppression and Landscape Uniformity
Landscape Design Process for Fort Worth Homes
A landscape that looks good in year one and falls apart by year three wasn't designed. It was decorated. Black Hill's design process starts with understanding your property before recommending anything.
Step 1. Property Assessment
We walk your property and evaluate soil type, pH, compaction, sun and shade patterns throughout the day, drainage flow, existing trees and structures, and how your family uses the yard. Fort Worth’s clay soil and summer heat eliminate a lot of plant options before we even start designing.
Step 2. Design and Plant Selection
Based on the assessment, we design a layout with plants, shrubs, trees, and bed configurations that match your property’s conditions. Every species is selected for Fort Worth’s climate, your specific soil, and the sun exposure in each zone of your yard. You see the design and approve it before we start.
Step 3. Installation
Beds are excavated, soil is amended with compost and expanded shale where needed, and plants are installed at the right depth and spacing for mature growth. Mulch is applied at 2 to 3 inches to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Trees are staked and watered in.
Step 4. Irrigation Coordination
New plantings are integrated with your existing irrigation system or set up with temporary watering to ensure everything gets proper hydration during establishment. Drip irrigation is added for beds and trees where spray heads don’t reach.
Landscape Installation Services in Fort Worth
Black Hill handles every component of a residential landscape installation:
- Plant and Shrub Installation. Native and adapted species selected for your soil, sun, and water conditions. Texas Sage, Red Yucca, Yaupon Holly, Autumn Sage, Turk’s Cap, and other Fort Worth-proven plants installed with proper soil preparation and spacing for mature size.
- Flower Bed Construction. Beds designed, excavated, graded for drainage, and amended with organic matter. Edging installed to define borders and prevent turf encroachment. Seasonal color options available.
- Mulching. Hardwood, bark, or engineered mulch applied at 2 to 3 inches across all beds. Mulch retains soil moisture, moderates temperature, and suppresses weed growth. Refreshed annually or semi-annually based on decomposition and rainfall.
- Tree Planting. Species selected for mature canopy size, root spread, sun/shade requirements, and proximity to structures. Trees are planted at the correct depth, staked for wind protection, and mulched around the base. Drip irrigation connected for establishment watering.
- Soil Amendment. Fort Worth’s clay soil needs help. Organic compost improves aeration and root penetration. Expanded shale worked 6 to 8 inches deep improves drainage in beds that hold water. pH adjustments made where needed for specific plant requirements.
Best Plants for Fort Worth Landscaping
Fort Worth's clay soil, alkaline pH, summer heat, and twice-per-week watering restrictions narrow the field. The plants that thrive here are the ones adapted to these conditions. Choosing the wrong species means constant watering, replacement, and frustration.
Native and Drought-Tolerant Shrubs:
- Texas Sage. Silver-gray foliage, purple blooms after rain. Full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant once established.
- Yaupon Holly. Evergreen, shade-tolerant, low water needs. Works as a hedge or accent.
- Autumn Sage. Red, pink, or coral blooms spring through fall. Attracts hummingbirds. Full sun to part shade.
- Texas Mountain Laurel. Evergreen, fragrant purple blooms in spring. Slow-growing but worth the wait.
Perennials and Ground Cover:
- Red Yucca. Coral flower spikes spring through fall. Full sun. Almost zero supplemental water once established.
- Black-Eyed Susan. Yellow blooms summer through fall. Full sun. Self-seeding.
- Purple Coneflower. Drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly. Full sun to part shade.
- Turk’s Cap. Shade-tolerant, red blooms, attracts hummingbirds. One of the few plants that thrives in Fort Worth shade and clay.
Trees:
- Cedar Elm. Native to North Texas. Drought-tolerant, fast-growing shade tree.
- Desert Willow. Pink or purple blooms, low water. Works as an accent or small shade tree.
- Lacey Oak. Blue-green foliage, moderate size. Good for smaller Fort Worth yards.
Landscaping in Fort Worth's Clay Soil and Climate
Fort Worth sits on Blackland Prairie soil. Heavy clay that swells when wet, cracks when dry, and compacts under its own weight. Most plants from a generic nursery list aren't selected for these conditions. Here's what matters for Fort Worth landscapes:
- Clay Soil. Dense, alkaline, poorly draining. Requires organic amendment (compost) for root penetration and expanded shale for drainage improvement. Without soil prep, new plants sit in water after rain and bake in dry spells.
- Summer Heat. Fort Worth regularly exceeds 100 degrees June through August. Plants need heat tolerance, not just drought tolerance. There’s a difference.
- Watering Restrictions. Fort Worth allows twice-per-week landscape watering year-round. Plant selection must account for limited irrigation. Native and drought-adapted species handle this. Most ornamental varieties from other regions don’t.
- Alkaline pH. Fort Worth soil runs alkaline, which limits nutrient availability for some plant species. Acid-loving plants (azaleas, gardenias) struggle here without constant soil amendment.
Black Hill designs every landscape around these conditions. We don't install plants that need you to fight Fort Worth's environment to keep them alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does landscape installation cost in Fort Worth?
Pricing depends on the scope of the project. Yard size, number of plants, bed construction, soil amendment, mulching, and tree planting all factor in. After a property assessment, Black Hill Landscaping provides a detailed scope with transparent pricing before work begins. Most residential landscape projects in Fort Worth range from a few thousand dollars for focused bed work to significantly more for full-yard transformations.
When is the best time for landscape installation in Fort Worth?
Fall is ideal. Warm days and cool evenings give plants 6 to 8 months to establish root systems before Fort Worth’s summer heat. Spring is also suitable for most species. Black Hill Landscaping can install year-round, but we’ll advise on timing based on what’s being planted.
How deep should mulch be applied?
Two to three inches is the standard for Fort Worth landscapes. Too thin and it won’t suppress weeds or retain moisture. Too thick and it can smother plant roots and trap excess moisture against stems. Mulch should be refreshed annually or semi-annually depending on decomposition rate and rainfall.
How long does a landscape installation take?
It depends on scope. Focused bed work or planting can be completed in a day or two. Full-yard landscape installations with soil amendment, bed construction, plant installation, mulching, and tree planting typically take several days. We provide a timeline before work begins.
Do new plants need extra watering after installation?
Yes. New plantings need supplemental watering beyond your normal irrigation schedule for the first few weeks to establish roots. Black Hill coordinates with your irrigation system and provides watering guidance specific to the species installed and the time of year.
Will my new landscape work with Fort Worth's watering restrictions?
Yes. Fort Worth allows twice-per-week landscape watering year-round. We select plants that can thrive within this schedule once established. Native and drought-adapted species are prioritized because they require less supplemental water long-term.