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What We Have Learned Building
in Houston.

54 articles on the questions we are actually asked — what a design costs, which pergola material lasts in this climate, why we stopped planting boxwoods, and when turf goes in. Written from Houston yards rather than from a catalogue.

A row of young Eagleston hollies planted along a wood fence above a low clipped shrub border, beside a rectangular pool with a gray tile deck
Latest · Landscape Design

What Actually Holds Up a Tile Patio in Houston

Outdoor tile is unforgiving of what sits underneath it. The slab, the membrane, and the movement joints decide whether it lasts, not the tile itself.

Read the article September 22, 2026 · 4 min read · By Chris Gosselin

More articles

53 articles, newest first

  • Aerial view of the front of a modern white brick house, with a concrete plank walkway and paver landing set in gravel, clipped hedge rows edging the lawn, and planted beds against the house
    Landscape Design · 3 min read

    What Commercial Grounds Maintenance Actually Looks Like in Houston

    A tenant, customer, or board member judges a commercial property in the two seconds between the car and the door. Here is what a scheduled grounds contract actually covers, and why reporting matters as much as the mowing.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • The front garden of a large brick house in Houston after a Texan Landscape Group installation, with a clipped lawn, two raised stone planter beds of young shrubs, and a concrete plank walkway set in gravel leading to the door
    Landscape Design · 4 min read

    What Actually Happens on a Houston Lawn Maintenance Visit

    A landscape is finished the day it is installed and never again. Here is what a routine residential maintenance visit in Houston actually covers, and why the rhythm changes with the season.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A row of young Eagleston hollies planted along a wood fence above a low clipped shrub border, beside a rectangular pool with a gray tile deck
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Fencing Materials That Actually Hold Up to Houston Humidity

    Wood fencing is still the most common choice in Houston, but it is also the choice with the shortest realistic lifespan here. What replaces it depends on what a homeowner actually wants to maintain.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a fenced synthetic turf soccer pitch built by Texan Landscape Group in Houston, with painted white and red markings, goals at both ends, perimeter netting, and benches along one touchline
    Turf & Putting Greens · 4 min read

    What a Backyard Pickleball or Basketball Court Needs Underneath

    A sport court surface is only as good as what is compacted underneath it. In Houston's clay, that base decides whether the court plays true for twenty years or cracks within five.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A freeform pool with a stacked-rock waterfall, a white-rock bed planted with banana and agave, a black rectangular planter, and a concrete deck against a wood fence and tall trees
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 4 min read

    Composite Decking vs Wood: What Actually Survives a Houston Summer

    Wood decking has a maintenance schedule most homeowners underestimate until they are living it every summer. Composite trades a higher upfront cost for skipping that schedule entirely.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A cedar pergola roofed in clear panels over a large paver patio against a red brick wall, with deep sectional sofas, a low wood coffee table, and a pool beyond
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 4 min read

    Outdoor Showers: The Plumbing Decisions Nobody Talks About

    An outdoor shower looks like a simple add-on. The drainage and water line decisions behind it determine whether it works well for years or becomes a problem spot in the yard.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A Texan Landscape Group backyard in Houston with a turf lawn under a mature live oak, a treehouse and swing built into the tree, and a circular paver terrace holding a hexagonal gas fire pit ringed by navy Adirondack chairs
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 4 min read

    Gas or Wood Fire Pit: Which One Actually Fits a Houston Backyard

    The choice between gas and wood comes down to burn bans, maintenance tolerance, and how the fire pit actually gets used, not just which looks better in a photo.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a narrow Houston side yard built by Texan Landscape Group, with a pool and raised spa, a turf and paver grid deck holding loungers, and a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen against the house
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 5 min read

    Outdoor Kitchens in Houston Heat: What Holds Up and What Doesn't

    An outdoor kitchen built for a mild climate does not survive a Houston summer. Here is what materials, ventilation, and cover decisions actually matter.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a Houston backyard where a row of tall columnar Eagleston hollies screens the property line, with a white polycarbonate patio cover over the pool deck and a turf lawn beyond
    Plants & Planting · 4 min read

    Xeriscaping in Houston: Cutting Water Use Without Losing Curb Appeal

    Xeriscaping has a reputation for gravel yards and cactus. Done right in Houston, it looks nothing like that, and it cuts a real cost most homeowners underestimate.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a large turf lawn behind a tile-roofed Houston house, with a rectangular pool and spa, a turf and paver grid deck holding loungers, and mature trees along the boundary
    Landscape Design · 4 min read

    Why Smart Irrigation Controllers Cut Houston Water Bills in Summer

    Most Houston irrigation systems run on a fixed schedule that ignores rain, humidity, and heat. That single fact is costing homeowners real money every summer.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of the front of a modern white brick house, with a concrete plank walkway and paver landing set in gravel, clipped hedge rows edging the lawn, and planted beds against the house
    Landscape Design · 4 min read

    What Goes Under a Houston Driveway or Paver Walkway So It Does Not Shift

    The pavers on top are the part everyone sees. The eight to twelve inches underneath are the part that decides whether they still look good in five years.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • The front garden of a large brick house in Houston after a Texan Landscape Group installation, with a clipped lawn, two raised stone planter beds of young shrubs, and a concrete plank walkway set in gravel leading to the door
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Why Retaining Walls in Houston Need to Be Engineered, Not Guessed

    Houston's expansive clay pushes on a retaining wall in ways most of the country never deals with. Here is what actually keeps one standing.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a curved synthetic putting green with three cups and flags and a longer fringe collar, wrapping the deck of a bright blue pool
    Turf & Putting Greens · 6 min read

    What’s Under a Putting Green (and Why It Matters)

    The base, infill, and drainage under a synthetic putting green decide how true it rolls. Here is what goes in below the surface, layer by layer.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of the front of a modern white brick house, with a concrete plank walkway and paver landing set in gravel, clipped hedge rows edging the lawn, and planted beds against the house
    Plants & Planting · 5 min read

    How Much Sun Does Your Yard Really Get?

    A simple way to map light across your yard before choosing plants — and why “full sun” on a plant tag means something different in Houston.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A Texan Landscape Group backyard in Houston with a turf lawn under a mature live oak, a treehouse and swing built into the tree, and a circular paver terrace holding a hexagonal gas fire pit ringed by navy Adirondack chairs
    Landscape Design · 7 min read

    The Complete Guide to Landscape Design in Houston

    Landscape design advice written for other climates will kill your yard. What Houston homeowners need to know about cost, styles and clay before designing.

  • A row of young Eagleston hollies planted along a wood fence above a low clipped shrub border, beside a rectangular pool with a gray tile deck
    Plants & Planting · 6 min read

    Native Texas Plants That Handle Drought

    Native plants that survive a Houston summer without constant irrigation — and why “drought tolerant” still means watering through the first year.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A row of trees uplit at night in a raised planter along a dark fence, with linear lighting washing a stone-paved terrace in the foreground
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    Landscape Lighting Design: Why Layers Beat Floodlights

    One bright floodlight flattens a yard. Three layers of light — path, feature, and ambient — make it usable after dark. Here is how the layers work.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a fenced synthetic turf soccer pitch built by Texan Landscape Group in Houston, with painted white and red markings, goals at both ends, perimeter netting, and benches along one touchline
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 8 min read

    Why Houston Yards Are Being Rebuilt Before Kickoff

    Seven matches at NRG Stadium and an estimated half-million visitors. Why Houston homeowners were calling landscape contractors that summer, and what to build.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A black louvered aluminum pergola attached to a white siding house over a gray paver patio, with a horizontal slat screen, charcoal outdoor seating, and ornamental grasses along a wood fence
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    Why Some Patio Roofs Leak at the Edges

    Leaks at the wall, the gutter, or the panel seams usually are not the roof failing — they are slope, flashing, and drainage details. What to check.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • The front garden of a large brick house in Houston after a Texan Landscape Group installation, with a clipped lawn, two raised stone planter beds of young shrubs, and a concrete plank walkway set in gravel leading to the door
    Plants & Planting · 5 min read

    Why Boxwoods Fail in Houston, and What We Plant Instead

    Boxwoods look right and die anyway. Why they struggle in Gulf Coast heat and clay, and why Dwarf Yaupon Holly is the swap we now specify in Houston beds.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a freeform pool and raised spa behind a brick house, with a wide concrete deck holding loungers and a white-rock planting bed edged in stone and planted with tropicals
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    Why Pool Decks Crack in Houston Soil

    Houston’s expansive clay swells and shrinks with moisture, and that movement shows up in pool decks. What causes cracks and how to build against it.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A large cedar post-and-beam pergola with open rafters and ceiling fans over a turf and paver checkerboard patio, with wicker seating, planted borders, and a pool to one side
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Getting a Houston Yard Ready for Hurricane Season

    What to check on trees, drainage, structures, and loose objects before a Gulf storm — a practical yard checklist for Houston homeowners.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A side-by-side comparison: on the left a cedar post-and-beam pergola with a flowering vine trained over its rafters above lounge seating, and on the right a black cantilever cover attached to a brick house over a paver patio
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min read

    Pergola or Covered Patio: Which Fits You?

    A pergola filters sun; a covered patio keeps rain off. How to choose based on how you will use the space, and what each does to the light indoors.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a narrow Houston side yard built by Texan Landscape Group, with a pool and raised spa, a turf and paver grid deck holding loungers, and a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen against the house
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    Coordinating Pool Decking With Your Patio

    How to make pool decking and patio surfaces read as one outdoor room — matching, complementing, and the transitions that give it away.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a large turf lawn behind a tile-roofed Houston house, with a rectangular pool and spa, a turf and paver grid deck holding loungers, and mature trees along the boundary
    Turf & Putting Greens · 6 min read

    Artificial Turf vs. Real Grass in Houston

    An honest comparison of artificial turf and real grass in Houston heat, shade, and clay — upkeep, drainage, dogs, and where each one actually wins.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A freestanding cedar pergola with open rafters and a solid back panel over a bluestone patio, with a wicker sofa and armchairs, planters of climbing vines, and concrete plank steppers set in turf alongside
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Best Season to Start an Outdoor Project in Houston

    How Houston’s seasons affect construction, planting, and scheduling — and why the best time to start planning is rarely the best time to build.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • An attached patio cover on a white brick Houston house, framed in black steel with a warm wood-plank ceiling, recessed downlights and two ceiling fans, sheltering an outdoor sofa set on the slab
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    How Long Should a Patio Roof Last?

    What actually determines how long a patio cover lasts in Houston — footings, fasteners, flashing — and the ten-minute annual check that protects it.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A cedar pavilion with a dark metal roof and vines climbing its posts, with striped chaise lounges on the paver deck beside a pool and a folded white umbrella
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    How to Refresh an Aging Pool Deck

    Cracked, dated, or uneven pool decking — when cleaning is enough, when to resurface or pave over, and when the slab has to come out.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • The front garden of a large brick house in Houston after a Texan Landscape Group installation, with a clipped lawn, two raised stone planter beds of young shrubs, and a concrete plank walkway set in gravel leading to the door
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Signs Your Yard Has a Drainage Problem

    Standing water, mosquitoes, mulch that washes out, cracks at the slab — the early signs your yard’s drainage is failing, and what each one is telling you.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a narrow Houston side yard built by Texan Landscape Group, with a pool and raised spa, a turf and paver grid deck holding loungers, and a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen against the house
    Turf & Putting Greens · 7 min read

    When Spring Works for a Houston Turf Install

    Spring suits most Houston turf installs, and for some yards it does not. The 2026 cost picture, why drainage decides it, and the signs your yard is a fit.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Plants & Planting · 2 min read

    100 Native Plants for Harris and Adjacent Counties

    One hundred natives picked for two things at once: they grow in Harris County gumbo, and they feed birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. The full list.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A freestanding black aluminum pergola with a wall-mounted television beside a rectangular pool and spa at a modern white house, with dark Adirondack chairs on the deck
    Landscape Design · 5 min read

    Five Questions to Ask Before Any Outdoor Project

    Five questions that settle scope, drainage, permissions, timeline, and responsibility before work starts — and prevent most project disputes.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A cedar pergola roofed in clear panels over a large paver patio against a red brick wall, with deep sectional sofas, a low wood coffee table, and a pool beyond
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    Do Polycarbonate Panels Get Hot Underneath?

    What it is actually like under a polycarbonate patio roof in Houston heat — tint, airflow, glare, and the details that decide whether it is comfortable.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a freestanding cedar pavilion with a dark solid roof beside a rectangular pool and raised square spa, with loungers on the deck and stepping stones crossing the lawn
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    Slip Resistance Around Pools: What Matters

    Texture, finish, joints, and drainage decide whether a wet pool deck is safe. What to look for, and the finishes to avoid around water.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A Houston house at twilight with its windows lit, a wide concrete plank walkway crossing the lawn from the street, mature live oaks overhead, and lamp posts and uplighting washing the facade
    Landscape Design · 6 min read

    Landscaping Around Big Oak Trees

    How to plant, pave, and light around a mature live oak without damaging the roots that keep it alive — and what to avoid inside the root zone.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • The view out from under a black aluminum louvered pergola attached to a white house in Houston, across a gray porcelain paver patio with charcoal outdoor seating, a horizontal slat screen, and ornamental grasses along the fence
    Landscape Design · 6 min read

    Planning an Outdoor Space in the Right Order

    Drainage, structures, hardscape, then planting and lighting — the sequence that stops finished work from being torn out and redone.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a black-framed pergola roofed in warm wood slats over a gray paver patio built by Texan Landscape Group in Houston, with striped chaise lounges and wicker armchairs beside the lawn
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min read

    Choosing a Roof for Your Patio Cover

    Open slats, polycarbonate panels, louvered roofs, insulated panels, or shingles — what each patio cover roof does about sun, rain, and indoor light.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A black steel cantilever cover built by Texan Landscape Group reaching over a travertine pool deck in Houston, with vertical slat screening on one side, ceiling fans overhead, and an in-pool lounger on the shelf below
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 6 min read

    Pool Deck Materials That Stay Cool Underfoot

    Travertine, flagstone, pavers, or concrete — what actually keeps a Houston pool deck walkable barefoot on a hundred-degree afternoon.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A Texan Landscape Group backyard in Houston with a turf lawn under a mature live oak, a treehouse and swing built into the tree, and a circular paver terrace holding a hexagonal gas fire pit ringed by navy Adirondack chairs
    Plants & Planting · 6 min read

    Best Ground Covers for Houston Yards

    The ground covers that hold up in Houston shade, heat, and clay — where each one works, where it fails, and when turf or paving is the better answer.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a Houston backyard where a row of tall columnar Eagleston hollies screens the property line, with a white polycarbonate patio cover over the pool deck and a turf lawn beyond
    Plants & Planting · 4 min read

    Skip the Fence: Privacy From Eagleston Hollies

    A fence needs staining and stops at its own height. Eagleston Hollies keep filling in. Why dense evergreen foliage beats a built screen for Houston privacy.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • A black steel cantilever cover built by Texan Landscape Group reaching over a travertine pool deck in Houston, with vertical slat screening on one side, ceiling fans overhead, and an in-pool lounger on the shelf below
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    Cantilever or Traditional? Which Pergola to Choose

    A cantilever pergola is a modern take on shade; a traditional one is classic and simpler. Key features, benefits, costs and the design impact of each.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • An attached patio cover on a white brick Houston house, framed in black steel with a warm wood-plank ceiling, recessed downlights and two ceiling fans, sheltering an outdoor sofa set on the slab
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    Six Modern Patio Cover Options, Compared

    Six modern patio cover options compared: aluminum pergola, louvered, flat roof, shade sail, polycarbonate and retractable. What each does for a clean look.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a freestanding cedar pavilion with a dark solid roof beside a rectangular pool and raised square spa, with loungers on the deck and stepping stones crossing the lawn
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 6 min read

    Which Pergola Material Adds More Value to a Home?

    Both look good on day one. Only one is still an asset at resale. How aluminum and cedar pergolas compare on the value they add to a Houston home.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • The view out from under a black aluminum louvered pergola attached to a white house in Houston, across a gray porcelain paver patio with charcoal outdoor seating, a horizontal slat screen, and ornamental grasses along the fence
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min read

    The Real Maintenance Difference, Wood vs Aluminum

    Upkeep is where the two materials really separate. A maintenance comparison across durability, weather resistance and what each costs you over the long term.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A black louvered aluminum pergola attached to a white siding house over a gray paver patio, with a horizontal slat screen, charcoal outdoor seating, and ornamental grasses along a wood fence
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read

    Patio Covers That Do Not Need Repainting

    A patio cover you have to repaint is a patio cover you will resent. Which materials survive Houston humidity without an annual job attached to them.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • An attached patio cover on a white brick house, framed in black steel with a wood-plank ceiling, recessed lighting and ceiling fans, sheltering lounge seating above a clipped lawn
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 5 min read

    Patio Cover Ideas That Buyers Respond To

    The National Association of Realtors ranks covered outdoor areas among the top projects for resale appeal. Which patio cover ideas actually deliver that.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A freestanding cedar pergola with open rafters and a solid back panel over a bluestone patio, with a wicker sofa and armchairs, planters of climbing vines, and concrete plank steppers set in turf alongside
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read

    What a Pergola Is Actually For

    A pergola filters light rather than blocking it, which is the point people miss. What a pergola actually does, and when it is the wrong structure entirely.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a cedar pavilion with a standing-seam metal roof beside a pool and raised spa, with striped loungers on the deck, stepping stones, and a lawn behind a dark fence
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read

    How Climate Decides Which Pergola Lasts Longer

    Industry data puts a properly installed pergola at 10 to 30 years, and climate decides where in that range you land. How cedar and aluminum actually age.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • A Houston house at twilight with its windows lit, a wide concrete plank walkway crossing the lawn from the street, mature live oaks overhead, and lamp posts and uplighting washing the facade
    Landscape Design · 4 min read

    Which Front Yard Style Fits Your Houston Home

    Front yard style is decided by the house, not by taste. How classic and modern front yard designs compare on curb appeal, upkeep and resale in Houston.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • An outdoor room in Houston lit at dusk under a cedar pavilion with exposed trusses, with pendant lights over an outdoor kitchen and bar stools, a sectional with orange cushions, and a linear gas fire feature along the wall
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 5 min read

    How to Light a Houston Patio Properly

    Most of the year a Houston patio is used after dark, so the lighting decides whether it gets used at all. The types, the light sources and what each costs.

    By Chris Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a curved synthetic putting green with three cups and flags and a longer fringe collar, wrapping the deck of a bright blue pool
    Turf & Putting Greens · 4 min read

    What Building a Backyard Putting Green Involves

    Natural grass or synthetic, and what it takes either way. Design considerations, the installation process, upkeep and real cost expectations for a home green.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a black-framed pergola roofed in warm wood slats over a gray paver patio built by Texan Landscape Group in Houston, with striped chaise lounges and wicker armchairs beside the lawn
    Pergolas & Patio Covers · 4 min read

    The Real Difference Between a Pergola and a Gazebo

    One filters light and one encloses a space, and that difference decides most of it. A side-by-side on cost, materials and which structure fits your yard.

    By Tony Gosselin
  • Aerial view of a freeform pool and raised spa behind a brick house, with a wide concrete deck holding loungers and a white-rock planting bed edged in stone and planted with tropicals
    Pools & Outdoor Living · 4 min read

    Modern Pool Design Ideas That Hold Their Value

    A pool can add value or cap it, depending on the design. Which modern pool features Houston buyers respond to, and which ones date the fastest.

    By Chris Gosselin
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