LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Purposeful Landscapes. Bespoke Gardens. Expert Care.
Founded in 2022, Ground Control is cultivated on three guiding principles: developing meaningful relationships between people and their land, creating unexpected and memorable landscape experiences, and stewarding these environments for the future.
Our team is composed of exceptional designers, project managers, and craftspeople who have spent years working side by side, united by deep mutual respect and a shared commitment to continually elevate the work. Each project is approached as an opportunity to shape outdoor spaces that heighten awareness of the natural world while inviting connection, gathering, and joy.
The result is more than a landscape—it is a refined, living experience designed to evolve and resonate over time.
ABOUT GEORGE JOHNSTON
George Johnston is the founder and principal of Ground Control, a landscape design-build studio delivering refined, special, and treasured landscapes. Born and raised in Texas, George holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University, where his early career was shaped by nearly a decade of professional practice across the American Southwest.
Returning to Houston in 2014, George honed his expertise with Moss Landscaping and Johnny Steele Design, contributing to distinguished residential and public landscapes. In 2022, he established Ground Control to offer a fully integrated approach—guiding projects from master planning and design through construction and long-term stewardship. Ground Control specializes in residential projects, serving 120+ clients within its first three years.
George's portfolio spans decades of work across the United States and abroad—residential and estate gardens, public parks, commercial developments, university campuses, memorials, and botanic gardens ranging from intimate courtyards to landscapes exceeding 1,800 acres. His award-winning work is defined by thoughtful design, technical rigor, and seamless execution. While capable across all scales, George is most passionate about developing residential gardens and relationships with their stewards.
Committed to Houston's civic spaces, George has served in leadership roles with the Memorial Park Conservancy, Hermann Park Conservancy, and the John Fairey Garden, participating in more than $300M of regional improvements. He is a licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Texas and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.