Garden Consultant & Designer for
Homeowners in Dallas-Fort Worth
Creating Sustainable Gardens Rooted In Texas
Planting Possibilities
"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway." - Michael Pollan
A garden should be a unique combination of your personal tastes and natural environment. Which is why no two gardens are the same. My services take this into consideration throughout the process: learning how the space will be utilized, assessing what is in place, and providing personalized recommendations. My goal is to create a long-lasting, earth-friendly garden that brings joy and thrives in the Texas climate.
Garden Consultation
Whether you are starting from scratch or making changes to an existing garden, every project starts with an onsite consultation. I'll share ideas, solutions and best practices for your specific conditions.
Garden Design
Using information and photos from your consultation, I bring your garden to life with a vibrant computer rendering of suitable plants, flowers and hardscape elements. An itemized plant list is included.
Garden Installation
From sourcing plants and materials to soil preparation and applying mulch, I will manage the installation process from start to finish. We can work together or I'll bring manpower to get the job done.
From Seed to Splendor
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn
You learn a lot about someone by observing their garden: traditional and precise...whimsical and spontaneous...natural and free-spirited. Whatever your style, I will provide eco-friendly ideas and best practices for a beautiful garden that is in tune with you and nature.
Earth-Kind Landscaping
I use the principles of Earth-Kind Landscaping to create easy-care gardens that conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
Texas Tough Plants
I specialize in native and adapted plants that require less water and maintenance, support local pollinators and wildlife, and thrive in the Texas climate.
Low Maintenance
There is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden, but I'll provide recommendations and tips to save you time, money and frustration.
Which type of gardener are you?
1. DIYer
You're not afraid to get your hands dirty and eager to learn. All you need is a plan and plant list to have the best-looking yard on the block.
2. Dreamer
Your garden is in place, but you feel like you're starting over each season. You wish for a "gardening genie" to guide you down the right path with the right plants.
3. Delegator
You want curb appeal, but no dirt under your nails. You need an expert who can turn blah into blooms and create a beautiful, low maintenance garden.
Tracy Southers-Parker, Garden Consultant & Designer
"He who plants a garden plants happiness." - Chinese Proverb
I'm an accidental gardener. What began as a landscape renovation project in my front yard evolved into a passion and then a business. Unlike my college education to become a marketing professional, I've learned gardening skills at the school of trial and error...and recently, in the Texas Master Gardener Program.
I look around my yard now in wonder, recalling my early years as a gardener when I planted ferns in full sun, killed multiple hydrangeas, and didn't know the difference between planting and potting soils.
Since then, I've learned the most important factor for a successful garden is putting the right plant in the right place. My proudest accomplishment is transitioning my garden beds almost entirely to perennials, which puts spring blooms on autopilot.
The most profound thing I've discovered on my gardening journey is the resiliency of plants. Despite extreme heat and cold or human error, they emerge the next season ready to give it another shot.
So do I.
GALLERY: BEFORE & AFTER
TESTIMONIALS
"Tracy is a gem! Her design for a new bed in my front yard was a huge task to implement. She knew I was doing the work myself and taking that into consideration, she made the plan very detailed and easy to follow. I was inspired to create garden areas in other areas of my yard."
Eva L.
Arlington
"Working with Tracy to transform my front bed was an amazing experience from start to finish. She took my vague ideas and turned them into a beautiful, cohesive design with the perfect plant selections. The final result completely elevated my home's curb appeal. I'm thrilled!"
Nicole T.
Roanoke
"Tracy's knowledge of plants that thrive in our region, placement based on sun and water requirements, and understanding of her client's preferences are unsurpassed. She makes having a beautiful garden possible for everyone - even if you don't have a green thumb!"
Sandra S.
Grapevine
What's all the BUZZ about native plants?
Do you want a perennial garden that requires less water, fertilizer, maintenance AND attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds? Unlock the secrets to a water-wise, low-maintenance garden with my Guide to Gardening with Native Texas Plants, packed with handpicked selections that thrive in our challenging climate. This free resource will save you hours of research and hundreds of dollars in replaced plants.
Digging Deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer garden design services?
Yes, I specialize in custom garden design tailored to your preferences and property layout. Using photos of your existing or planned garden beds and my specialty software, I create a vibrant, realistic rendering that maps out exactly what to plant and where, along with hardscape elements.
Can you help with plant selection for my garden?
Absolutely! Stop the frustrating cycle of seasonal garden failures with my personalized coaching package that transforms your existing space into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem. If you book my Garden Coaching Package, we'll work together to select and place drought-tolerant Texas natives and perennials that will flourish year after year, saving you time, money, and endless replanting headaches.
When is the best time of year to install a new garden in Texas?
Fall (September through November) is ideal for planting in North Texas, allowing plants to establish strong root systems during our mild winter months. Spring (March through May) is our second-best planting season. However, with proper plant selection and irrigation, we can design and install gardens in "shoulder season" months (except for July and August).
How much will it cost to install a new garden?
Project costs depend on the size of your space, quantity of plants, hardscape elements, and other services needed (e.g. irrigation). My garden designs begin at $400 and full installations start at $2000. An estimated budget is included in my Garden Design Package and Garden Installation Package.
What is Earth-Kind Landscaping?
Earth-Kind Landscaping uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum garden and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment. The objective of Earth-Kind Landscaping is to combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a horticultural system based on real world effectiveness and environmental responsibility.
Creating Sustainable Gardens Rooted In Texas.