Local Business Spotlight: Southern Touch Lawn & Landscape

Story by Amelia Bowen

A lifelong appreciation for plants, paired with a talent for design, led Nolan Smith to a career in landscape architecture. As a landscape designer with Southern Touch Lawn and Landscape, Nolan creates outdoor spaces that are both visually appealing and highly functional, blending structure, plant selection and layout to reflect each client’s needs and style. That interest began early in South Alabama, where he spent much of his childhood alongside his grandparents as they planted and maintained their property. What started as simply tagging along quickly grew into a deeper appreciation for landscaping, especially as it aligned with his interest in sketching and drawing. “As I grew older, my combined interest in landscapes and drawing led me to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture,” Nolan says. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Auburn University, building a strong foundation for a career that has spanned more than 20 years. Nolan’s experience includes golf course construction and maintenance as well as landscape design and management across the Southeastern United States. His work has included time at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island and contributing to a practice facility for Tiger Woods in Jupiter, Florida. In 2025, Nolan and his family relocated to Bowling Green, where he continues to grow Southern Touch Lawn and Landscape. Today, he brings that experience to each project, creating outdoor environments that feel intentional, functional and tailored to the people who use them.