About Us

serving Austin, TX

Fertile Ground Gardens

Fertile Ground is an organic landscape design, installation, and maintenance company in Austin, Texas. We offer residential landscaping services to the Austin and surrounding areas. We have been named the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Landscaper” seven years in a row and are “Green Garden Certified” by the City of Austin.

Who We Are

Meet the Team

We often receive glowing compliments for our talented & diverse team. Clients feel comfortable with our expert gardeners, landscapers, and problem solvers.

Julie Donie

Owner & Founder

Julie Donie

Julie first fell in love with plants at 6 years old in Houston when her first grade teacher took the class out to learn the wildflowers around her elementary school. Julie returned to Texas in 1998 after a few years out of state which included Horticulture and Landscape courses in Seattle. She founded Fertile Ground Gardens in 2001 with a focus on providing a more skilled and personalized garden service than “mow and blow.” The company has grown to include design and installation services as well. Julie enjoys getting to know clients and their gardens and observing as they change over time.

Julie Donie is the founder and owner of Fertile Ground Gardens LLC.

Reed Burnam

Fine Gardening Division Manager

Sara Berger

As a native Austinite, Sara has a deep affinity for plants found in and around central Texas. After pursuing an education and career in classical music performance, and
spending some years as a pastry chef, Sara began landscaping professionally in 2016.

Her approach to landscaping is informed by her belief that a garden should be a reflection of its owner and their emotional connection to nature. Sara enjoys working with clients to plant and maintain beloved outdoor spaces, and hopes to be at it for some time.

Loretta Saucedo

Operations Manager

Loretta Saucedo

Loretta is the Operations Manager for Fertile Ground Gardens. Loretta brings 15 years of extensive management and tactical business leadership to Fertile Ground.  Her solution-oriented approach creates optimal results in planning, organization and finance.

Loretta has lived in and out of Austin for the last 26 years and settled permanently in Austin to have work and home life balance to enjoy her grandchildren and three dogs.
Loretta has come to love and appreciate the outside color and peace that comes with plants and outside living.

Our Mission

We are not a "mow and blow" operation! We are garden craftsmen. We create and build sustainable gardens with strong foundations in the soil. We keep plants healthy through proper holistic garden care.

Our Vision

We work toward a regenerative future for the Austin and Central Texas area. In partnership with our clients, we seek to value and grow humane employment practices and respect for our beautiful local environment. We're all about Austin's future, from the fertile ground beneath our feet to the live oak canopy above our heads.

Featured Video

Fertile Ground on Central Texas Gardener

What Folks Are Saying

Testimonials

I've hired Fertile Ground for a quite a few years to care for the plants around my house. They're thorough, knowledgeable, and friendly. Their light touch has now given me a front yard bursting with native flowers, bees, butterflies and the occasional hummingbird.

Patrick T.

Current Client

The results are always fantastic... Fertile Ground Gardens is our first choice for our landscaping needs.

John D.

on Yelp

Julie uses her imagination to blend the new work with existing planting and beds. Her crew was always on time, the members friendly and respectful of their work area.  It was a good experience, and I always doubt contractors.

TOM K.

on Yelp

What We Do

Fertile Ground Gardens is currently accepting design and build projects and regular maintenance clients.