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Lake Charles, LA (337) 555-0190
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Newly landscaped front yard with curved beds, native plants and a live oak

Landscape design in Lake Charles

Landscape design in Lake Charles that handles the wet

A plan for your whole yard, from drainage and grade to beds, paths and plants that suit Southwest Louisiana. Complete yard overhauls are quoted in writing.

  • Design built around drainage, shade and soil
  • Plants chosen for humidity, heat and wet ground
  • Full overhaul or phased in stages

Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

What does landscape design in Lake Charles include?

Landscape design is the plan that ties your yard together. It covers where beds, lawn, trees, paths and seating go, and how water leaves the lot. For a complete yard overhaul, the plan usually starts with the ground itself: grade, drainage, soil and any trees you want to keep. Plants and finishes come after that.

In Lake Charles the plan has to work in a wet, warm climate. We walk the lot, note where water sits after a heavy rain, mark the shade from live oaks and fences, and ask how you really use the yard. Then we draw up a layout and a plant list and quote the work in writing. Some owners want the whole yard done at once. Others phase it over a few seasons, starting with drainage and grass and adding beds or a patio later.

What problems do Lake Charles yards run into?

Most yards here share the same handful of troubles.

  • Standing water. Flat lots and clay soil hold rain. Low spots stay soggy for days and drown lawn and shrubs.
  • Heavy shade. Mature live oaks and pines block light, so sun-loving plants thin out underneath.
  • Compacted clay. New construction often leaves hard, packed soil with little good topsoil on top.
  • Freeze and storm damage. A hard freeze can cut back tender plants. Hurricanes snap limbs and strip beds.
  • Overgrown beds. Plants set too close or too deep crowd the house and trap moisture against the siding.

A good design answers these problems on paper first. That can mean raised beds, a swale that carries water to the street or ditch, or a shade garden instead of another failed patch of grass. Bigger water problems are covered on our retaining walls and drainage page.

Which plants and materials suit a Lake Charles yard?

Pick plants that already cope with humid heat and wet feet. Then add a few tender ones in spots you can protect.

  • Tough natives: Louisiana iris, wax myrtle, muhly grass and bald cypress for very wet corners.
  • Shrubs: loropetalum, camellia, azalea in part shade, dwarf yaupon holly and sweet olive.
  • Color: crape myrtle, daylily, coneflower and lantana where winters are mild.
  • Shade and ground cover: liriope, mondo grass and cast iron plant.

Mature live oaks deserve special care. Avoid deep fill, heavy digging or paving close to the trunk, because their roots spread wide and sit near the surface. Plan beds around the tree, not through its roots, and ask a qualified arborist before you cut any large root. For hard surfaces, see our hardscaping and pavers service.

Every yard is different, so we do not quote from a chart. These are the things that move the number most.

  • The size of the area and how much of it is being rebuilt.
  • How much grading, soil work or drainage is needed first.
  • The number and size of plants and trees, and whether you want mature specimens.
  • Materials for edging, mulch, paths and any hard surfaces.
  • Access for equipment, such as a narrow gate or a fenced back lot.
  • Whether the job is done in one push or in phases.

A written quote lists what is covered, so you can compare it with another bid line by line. If we find a buried pipe, an old slab or a root problem once digging starts, we tell you before the cost changes.

How long does it take, and when should you call?

A small bed redesign can take a day or two. A full yard overhaul takes longer, and weather often sets the pace. Southwest Louisiana gets frequent heavy rain, and working wet clay does more harm than good. We schedule around the forecast and tell you if a delay is coming.

On the day, expect staging of materials, marking of utility lines, and the heavy work first. Plants go in last, when the ground is ready. Good times to call are when you buy a house with a worn-out yard, when the same corner floods every storm, or when you want a new look before an event or sale. Start early, because design choices affect everything that follows. To read more about what we do, go back to the Lake Charles landscaping home page.

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Step 1 of 3

What do you need?

Questions about landscaping in Lake Charles

Do you design the yard before you quote it?

We walk the lot first, then talk through the plan with you. The quote describes the layout, the planting and the materials, so you know exactly what is being built. For larger overhauls we can agree the plan in stages, so you are never asked to approve the whole thing before you see how the first phase looks.

Can you design around the live oak in my yard?

Yes. Plans for yards with mature live oaks keep new paving and deep digging away from the trunk and main roots. Shade tolerant plants, mulch and low beds usually work better than lawn under heavy canopy. If an oak looks unhealthy or needs pruning, a qualified arborist should look at it before any design is final.

What plants survive Lake Charles heat, rain and the occasional freeze?

Native and well-adapted plants do best. Louisiana iris, wax myrtle, muhly grass, crape myrtle, loropetalum and dwarf yaupon holly handle humidity and wet soil. Tender tropicals can work in sheltered spots, but expect to protect them or replace some after a hard freeze. We match plant choices to the sun and drainage in each bed.

Can the work be done in phases?

Yes, and many owners prefer it. A common order is drainage and grading first, then lawn, then beds and planting, then hardscape. Each phase is quoted in writing. Doing the groundwork first protects everything that goes in afterward, so it makes sense even if the budget is tight.

Do I need approval before changing my front yard?

Often not for plants and beds, but many subdivisions have HOA rules on trees, fences, colors and front yard layouts. Tall walls, large structures and major drainage changes can also need city or parish review. Check your HOA covenants and the local permit office before work starts, and let us know what applies.

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How it works

  1. Tell us about the yard

    Size, goals and any photos.

  2. Site visit and quote

    We walk the property and put the price in writing.

  3. We do the work

    Scheduled crew, cleanup included.