West University Landscaping

When you think of West University landscaping, you think in terms of comfortable and luxurious, refined and sophisticated. For more than two decades, Exterior Worlds has installed custom ornamental iron fencing and wrought iron garden gates, plush outdoor rooms, deluxe outdoor kitchens and interesting plant materials in West University landscaping.

It is a long way from the 1920s when West University, also known by its proper name West University Place and by the shortened West U, was established. In those days, a 100’ x 200’ lot cost about $1,000. The early residents found themselves basically living in a swamp. Their daily challenges included poor drainage, muddy streets and no fire protection.

But from these questionable beginnings, an exemplary city developed. Now sitting in the midst of Houston’s 610 Loop, West University is its own unique city. Upscale homes on tree-lined streets now characterize this community. Residents find West University attractive for its favorable location in relation to cultural attractions, scientific facilities such as the Texas Medical Center, a diverse business community, and educational institutions, including its own highly-regarded school system and Rice University.

Exterior Worlds prides itself on its familiarity with West University’s rules and regulations covering landscape projects. This city code governs all aspects of building, including general permitting, the height and location of structures, tree removal and excavation equipment and usage, a set of rules that protects everyone’s property value. For example, one city ordinance concerns the lot coverage percentage, which is the calculation of the amount of the property that can be covered with impervious materials. This percentage actually manages drainage problems before they occur, a proactive stance that would surely make the first residents of West University very proud.

Over the years, we have found that it is essential for West University residents to hire professional landscapers and contractors who understand these rules and will abide by them. To do otherwise invites delays, budget over-runs, frustrations, fines and upset neighbors.

Additionally, today’s West University homeowners have found that a drainage system is fundamental to their landscape design. This part of the country has two natural conditions to deal with:

• Regular torrential rain that leaves standing water in low-lying areas. These pools of water serve as incubators for that dreaded native inhabitant, the mosquito, and create problems for a house’s foundation.
• Alternating wet and dry periods that turn the region’s clay soil into a nearly-impenetrable surface, further aggravating drainage issues.

For West University landscaping, a well-designed drainage system from Exterior Worlds is your solution.

Tree preservation represents another area of expertise for Exterior Worlds. We employ many techniques, both pre-construction and during construction, to mitigate the damage to any existing trees on a site. Setting up temporary irrigation systems and hand-digging around roots, just to name two.

West U has much to be proud of these days. And West University landscaping communicates that pride and sense of luxury. It is conveyed with classy outdoor accoutrements and simple details, rich material choices and interesting softscapes—lush but always appropriate.