Austin landscaping, turf and irrigation leads: the brownest yards in 78704
We measured how green every yard in Austin's 78704 is from aerial imagery. 1,101 are among the least green fifth; 96 had a water-waste report to Austin 311. How landscapers, turf and irrigation pros in Austin, TX use that.
A yard that has gone brown is the clearest sign a home needs a landscaper, a turf installer or an irrigation tech — and you can see it from the air. We measured how green every yard in 78704 is and compared it with the rest of the ZIP. These are the numbers as of 7 October 2026, out of 8,815 homes.
The numbers
- 1,101 homes have a yard among the least green fifth of 78704 in USDA aerial imagery.
- 1,234 homes have evidence for sod or landscaping once new builds and new pools are added — a new house or a new pool almost always means a new yard.
- 1,168 homes have evidence for irrigation work, and 96 of them had a water-waste report to Austin 311 — often a broken sprinkler head or a leaking line.
The top irrigation card in the ZIP has all three: “Water waste reported to 311, Sep 2026 · Yard among the least green in 78704 · New build, permit Dec 2025.” That is a sprinkler system that is not working, on a new house, with a date on it.
Why “least green in the ZIP” and not just “brown”
By late summer half of Austin is brown. An absolute threshold would flag everyone, so we rank each yard against its neighbours in the same image: the least green fifth stands out even in a drought year. It is a measurement from a dated photo, never a guess about the owner.
Turf, sod or irrigation: which to pitch
- 311 water-waste report: irrigation repair first. It is the most specific record there is.
- New build plus a brown yard: sod or full landscaping; the builder left bare ground.
- Least green yard, older home: artificial turf or xeriscape — the owner may be tired of watering.
Common questions
How do landscapers find leads in Austin?
Start with the least green yards from aerial imagery — 1,101 in 78704 — and add new builds and new pools.
What is a 311 water-waste report?
A dated report to Austin 311 that water is being wasted at an address, often a broken sprinkler. 96 homes in 78704 have one.
Is a brown yard always a turf lead?
No — pitch the option respectfully; some owners choose a native yard.
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