Transforming your outdoor space isn’t about copying Pinterest pictures or buying more plants—it’s about designing a landscape that actually fits your life. In this episode, Lyndsay Stafford sits down with Troy Outman, landscape architect and owner of Outman LandWorks, to unpack what truly makes an outdoor space functional, meaningful, and enduring.
Troy shares how growing up on a horse ranch, being mentored by master landscapers, and even walking through burnout and a major back injury shaped his approach to design. Today, he “adopts” his clients like family and creates outdoor environments that honor their lifestyle, values, and long-term goals—not just their wish lists.
Episode Highlights
From ranch life to landscape architecture: How Troy’s childhood on a horse ranch and mentorship under Yoshioka and Yamasaki set the course for his career.
Burnout, injury, and a pivot: The back injury that forced Troy to step away from design-build and step into landscape architecture—and how it re-centered his purpose.
Why most homeowners start in the wrong place: The danger of leading with “pretty pictures” and lofty dreams instead of goals, budget, and reality.
Designing for how you actually live: Why circulation, pathways, stairs, and flow matter more than the latest trendy plant or feature.
The power of personal details: How favorite animals, family stories, and “what you don’t like” shape custom features like turtle fountains and bird-of-prey-inspired designs.
Avoiding expensive regrets: Pools, fire pits, and features people think they want—but rarely use once they’re installed.
Embracing the learning curve: The advice Troy would give his younger self about experience, ego, and trusting the process.
The real reward: Why Troy measures success by his clients’ reactions and the way their new spaces bring people together.
Whether you’re dreaming about a pool, a fire pit, or simply a yard you actually use, Troy explains why slowing down, asking better questions, and understanding your “why” can save you from expensive regrets and unlock a space you genuinely love.
Follow Troy:
#TheLyndsayStaffordShow #LyndsayStafford #TroyOutman #AltmanLandWorks #LandscapeArchitecture #OutdoorLiving #BackyardDesign #HomeAndGarden #FunctionalDesign #IntentionalLiving #ClientExperience #SmallBusinessOwner #WilliamsonCounty #TennesseeBusiness