I would like to tell you a little about myself and why my opinion matters. My name is Lisa LaPaso and I am first and foremost a wife and mother of two adult sons with Autism. I am a gardener who has a serious plant and rock problem, and if you get me started on the topics of plants, food, the need for organics, water conservation or my kids, you may not hear the end of it.

My Motivation 

I became a Master Gardener years ago, but the best training I’ve had was in the Central Texas garden over the last 20 years as a personal and professional gardener. I am a certified Oak Wilt specialist, water conservationist and I am certified in Organic Gardening as well as a Landscape Designer and Consultant. I am also the proud owner of Lisa’s Landscape & Design in Austin, TX. since 2002.

I began my business as a professional gardener, mowing lawns, installing beds and consulting on plant choices for residential and commercial properties. As the business grew, my instinct for design and color became a passion that led me to the creation of gardens that are sustainable, user and Earth friendly.

Education

I am truly passionate about changing the way people think about lawns, water conservation, and organic gardening. I love creating a unique space for the client that is intimate and personal. I love consultations and design because I get to play with some of the coolest people nearly every day of the week dreaming up new spaces and talking about plants. I am able to accommodate my young adult son with Autism and work my dream job.

I love gardening, and for the last 25 years I have been in Austin Texas educating myself on what plants do best here with the least amount of effort. I am not big on over-amending, I think compost can save the world. I am 100% Organic and I only bring out the chemical big guns when all else has failed and I am unwilling to simply pull out the plant. I use only native and adapted environmentally safe plants and I believe you should use plants indigenous to the area.  Any plant that requires more than one watering a week after being established needs to go.

Low Water, Low Maintenance 

I did Xeriscape before Xeriscape was cool. I do not think of it in the traditional terms, I instead look at it much like the Rain Forest. By this I mean you have plants working together in a symbiotic relationship. When you reduce your lawn and replace it with a layering effect of canopy to ground cover plants that are drought tolerant and require the same soil conditions, you have a Xeriscape garden by definition. Proper placement of the right plants is crucial to the success of a properly covered bed. Over crowded beds look like a blob, but correctly planned ones can look lush and elegant instead of sparse and spikey.  Here is my yard as an example: Lisa’s Garden.

Life is Spikey Enough

If you like cacti and spikey stuff that’s cool too, I’m probably just not your girl. Water Conservation is key, but I also think a plant pallet should be soft and welcoming, not scary to navigate.

There are many simple steps and small changes to our lifestyle that can literally make a world of difference. My mission while I am on this planet is to be “Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”. I hope that my blog helps you be more forward thinking in your every day activities, that you are mindful of everything you put on our Earth, as well as the plants you choose. Gardening has many physical and mental benefits and I think it’s important for your yard to be an extension of your living space.

Be sure to “like” my page on Facebook at  Lisa’s Landscape and Design for additional gardening tips and plant suggestions, you can find my You Tube video’s by clicking here. You can also email me at lisalapaso@gmail.com for more information.

Lisalapaso@gmail.com

or send me a text to 512-733-7777 for more info,

I provide Online and in person Landscape Consult/Garden Coach and Design services Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.