# Planning a Deck Around Existing Landscaping in Austin

September 15, 2026 · BigDecks

A new deck should begin with the parts of the yard you already value. A tree that shades a favorite seat, an established planting bed, or a path you use every day belongs in the brief before the deck's outline is fixed.

BigDecks designs and builds real-wood decks and connected outdoor spaces in Austin and Central Texas. When a deck addition meets existing landscaping, the first task is to make those relationships visible so the project team can assess the site and develop the layout around your priorities.

## Make a keep, consider, and change list

Walk the yard and photograph the proposed deck area from the house, the garden, and each approach. Identify what you want to preserve, what you would consider changing, and what no longer serves the way you use the space.

| Keep | Consider | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Features that matter to your daily use or the yard's character | Elements whose role depends on the deck layout | Elements you already want included in the new work |
| A shaded seat, established bed, or familiar path | A bed edge, path connection, or furniture location | A new transition, defined planting area, or revised route |

This is a homeowner's brief, not an assessment of whether a tree, structure, or buried service can safely remain. Mark uncertainties clearly so the relevant review can be arranged.

## Show how the yard works today

Trace the routes you use from the house to the garden, side gate, storage, and any outdoor equipment. Include the space needed to carry bins, move furniture, or maintain planting beds. A layout can look generous on paper while making one of those everyday tasks awkward.

Note where water collects or flows after rain, visible changes in ground level, and the locations of irrigation equipment you know about. Existing drawings or service information can help the project team, but an informal walk-through does not locate every buried line or establish a drainage solution.

Share photographs from different times of day if available. They can help explain which shade, light, and views you want to keep without delaying the conversation until you have a complete set of measurements.

## Discuss trees before deciding the deck edge

Show the team the trees near the proposed work, including those outside the deck outline. Footings, access routes, material storage, and changes to nearby ground may all need consideration.

Ask what tree-specific assessment and local requirements apply before excavation or a construction route is finalized. Do not use the visible trunk or a generic clearance number as the complete boundary for planning around roots. Where specialist input is needed, agree who will obtain it and how it informs the proposed work.

A desire to retain a tree is a useful starting priority. It is not a promise that every deck shape can be built around it.

## Compare the connections, not just the footprint

Review how you will step off the deck, reach a planting bed, and return to the house. Look at where wood meets a path, lawn, stone, or planted edge. Those transitions help determine whether an existing feature still works with the new deck.

BigDecks landscape and stonework includes selective West Texas planting, limestone pavers, blocks and steps, pathways, and steel edging. This work is developed through Design Assist and built by BigDecks. Discuss which of those elements is appropriate for your site and which existing materials should remain.

For the broader design process, see [Design Assist for wood, stone, and planting](https://bigdecks.co/blog/how-3d-design-tools-improve-your-deck-planning/).

## Choose the wood with the existing setting in view

BigDecks OG 4×12 is the flagship real-wood surface-board arrangement in Douglas fir or Western red cedar. The little g uses 2×10 surface boards in the same woods. The board sizes describe the surface, while the supporting structure is designed for the project.

Standard Decks is the secondary pressure-treated pine option, using pine for structure and surface with ring-shank nails. Its base is unfinished, with finish available separately. None of these surface choices decides whether a root, drainage, or grading issue has been resolved; those are site questions to address in planning.

Compare the [deck options](https://bigdecks.co/real-wood-deck-builders-austin/) with photographs of existing masonry and planting. Confirm the selected material, finish, and care expectations in the written scope.

## Agree how the yard will be protected and restored

Ask the project team to explain construction access and the proposed sequence. Identify areas you want protected, where materials may be stored, and which paths need to stay usable. Discuss who is responsible for any relocation, reinstatement, or separately coordinated work around the deck.

The sequence depends on the actual project. There is no blanket rule that all hardscape must precede the deck or that all planting can remain untouched. Include those decisions in the scope so the drawing and the construction plan describe the same work.

## Bring the brief into Design Assist

For a project needing a site plan or combining several components, [Design Assist](https://bigdecks.co/#design-assist) provides paid 3D design and a plan, with the fee credited toward the build if you proceed. Straightforward builds do not carry a design fee. The visual plan helps compare layouts; site assessments and any required approvals remain part of developing the actual project.

Use the [deck pricing tool](https://bigdecks.co/price/) for a planning estimate, then confirm the deck, landscape, and related work in a written quote. [Send your project details](https://bigdecks.co/#hero-quote), including the features you want to keep, photographs, and approximate dimensions. John reviews the information and helps arrange the next step.

## Common questions

### Can I keep existing planting beside a new deck?

Identify it in the initial brief. The answer depends on the proposed footprint, access, and site conditions; the plan should show what remains and what work is included around it.

### Does BigDecks provide landscape work with the deck?

BigDecks develops selective West Texas planting, limestone pavers, blocks and steps, pathways, and steel edging through Design Assist, then builds that agreed work alongside the deck.

### Should I finish landscaping before requesting a deck quote?

Bring the deck and landscape priorities into the conversation together. The project team can assess the connections and propose a sequence before you commit to separate work.

Planning a project? [Explore real-wood deck building in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/real-wood-deck-builders-austin/), [estimate your deck](https://bigdecks.co/price/), or work through your layout with [Design Assist](https://bigdecks.co/#design-assist). Material availability, pricing, and site requirements are confirmed for your project.

## More from the journal

- [Budgeting for a Fence Replacement in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/blog/how-to-budget-for-a-fence-replacement-project-in-austin/)
- [Planning a Fence Replacement in Austin](https://bigdecks.co/blog/fence-replacement-for-aging-austin-properties/)
- [Planning a Deck for an Austin ADU](https://bigdecks.co/blog/deck-additions-for-austin-accessory-dwelling-units/)

![Broad wood decking and exposed board ends on a BigDecks project](https://bigdecks.co/images/projects/Forrest-127-web.webp)A BigDecks project.

Real wood. Size matters.

## Start with the original.

Our signature OG 4×12 boards set the scale. Explore the materials and get an estimate for your space.

[Price your deck →](https://bigdecks.co/price/?wood=og-df)

[Talk through your project](https://bigdecks.co/#hero-quote)

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