Healthy soil, native plants, and landscapes that work with Central Texas.
31 years in landscaping, from award-winning organic turf at UT Austin to 300 acres of Austin parkland with The Trail Conservancy. I help homeowners, businesses, and land managers build landscapes that save water, support wildlife, and hold up to Texas weather.
Tap to text me at (512) 573-5106
- Experience31 years
- Featured inTURF & The Texas Gardener
- Organic land careNOFA accredited
- Native plantsNPSOT Level 4
- CompostingUS Composting Council
- Applicator licenseTDA, current
What I can help with
Every job starts with a site visit to understand what nature is already doing and how we can improve it.
Native plant design & install
Plant palettes built on Central Texas natives that thrive with less water and fewer inputs.
Organic lawn & turf care
Chemical-free turf programs based on the organic methods that won Best Turf in Texas.
Soil health & compost tea
Soil testing, amendments, and bulk actively aerated compost tea for yards and large sites.
Water & erosion solutions
Bioswales, rainwater collection, pervious pavers, and erosion control for flood-prone spots.
Invasive removal & meadows
Clearing invasive species and establishing native meadows and riparian plantings.
Consulting & training
Site assessments, maintenance plans, and hands-on training for grounds crews and property managers.
Three decades of organic, ecological landscape work
I'm Justin Hayes. I started in turf management and joined the University of Texas at Austin grounds crew in 2008, where my team won Best Turf in Texas from the Texas Turf Association in 2012 using organic methods. That led to converting the rest of the campus to organic, sustainable practices.
In 2016 I moved to UT's Dell Seton Medical District during construction and then supervised its crew for six years, maintaining the site's SITES Gold rating and earning Re:Wild Platinum certification. Since 2024 I've been Park Ground Supervisor at The Trail Conservancy, caring for 300 acres of parkland and 10 miles of trail.
I've taught UT landscape architecture classes, spoken at NPSOT, OHBA, PGMS, and ALSA events, and been featured in articles on compost tea and composting. My water conservation work has been featured in TURF magazine and The Texas Gardener magazine. I'm one of the few providers of bulk actively aerated compost tea in Texas.
- NOFA organic land care
- NPSOT Level 4
- US Composting Council
- TDA license: landscape & aquatic
Landscapes I've managed
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2024 – present
The Trail Conservancy, Austin
300 acres of parkland, 10 miles of trail, and 14 park sites including Rainey Street Trailhead and Holly Fishing Pier. Soil health, irrigation, and nutrition across every site, plus training for staff and volunteers.
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2016 – 2023
Dell Seton Medical District
A 16-acre site with an all-native palette of 250+ species. Riparian management of Waller Creek, bioswales, pervious pavers, and rainwater collection for flood mitigation.
SITES Gold · Re:Wild Platinum -
2008 – 2016
University of Texas at Austin
Led the crew that converted campus grounds to organic fertilizers and built the main-campus composting program, brewing thousands of gallons of compost tea.
Best Turf in Texas, 2012
Organizations I've worked with
- The Trail Conservancy
- City of Austin Parks
- City of Austin Watershed Protection
- Texas Parks & Wildlife
- Wildflower Center
- Native Plant Society of Texas
- Waterloo Conservancy
- Shoal Creek Conservancy
- Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance
Request a consultation
Call, text, or email with your address and a few words about your property.
How it works
- Get in touch. Tell me about your site and what you'd like to change.
- Site visit. I walk the property, check soil and drainage, and note what's growing.
- Written plan & quote. A clear scope and price before any work begins.