Landscaping

Summertime lawn maintenance tips for Texas homeowners

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You know they say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,  but this summer, why not keep the grass greener on your side of the fence? Summer brings about warm weather and longer days which is great for outdoor activities. However, the warm days of summer can have a significant impact on your lawn. These few, quick tips could help you keep your lawn healthy all summer.

 

 

How often do you need to water?

One of the biggest issues your lawn might face during the summer is the drought. To keep your lawn healthy and green, you need to water it frequently. Generally lawns need at least one inch of water per week to stay in good shape.

Here is what you should do:

  • Water deeply and leave a reasonable time interval to allow the grass to develop drought-resistant roots. Be careful though! Some homeowners wait till the lawn gets brown and dormant and then try to water it back to life. This does not help! If you are not able to water your lawn regularly during summer, you can just leave it. Usually the lawn recovers when the weather changes.
  • Water your lawn during less warm hours preferably early in the morning. This allows the soil to absorb all the water and the all the moisture.

How often should you mow your lawn during summer?Health lawn

To allow your grass to develop deeper roots, you should set your mower’s blades as high as possible. Taller grass is more drought-resistant and helps provide shade for the surrounding soil to maintain moisture for longer periods.

You should keep your mower blades sharp to avoid tearing and beating the grass and reducing stress during warm temperatures.

Weeding:

During summer most weeds bloom and disperse their seeds. It is vital to remove the weeds before they bloom to avoid dealing them in the next season. The good news is that it’s easier to fight weeds during summer than in colder weather.

Additional tips:

  • Did you know that you can use a small straight-sided can to gauge the amount of water that received during irrigation?
  • The best time of the year to fertilize your grass is at the beginning of spring and at the end of the fall.
  • Applying products like fertilizers and herbicides during summer can damage your grass, contact your local landscaper before attempting to apply any products on your lawn during summer.

If you would like more tips about how to take care of your lawn during this summer for your specific location check out our blog give us a call at 817 457 7507.

Top 3 Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas

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Texas Landscaping Ideas for Fort Worth, TX | Xeriscaping – Arlington, TX | Low Maintenance Landscaping – Southlake, TX

Spring is the best time to get out and start working on your yard. There is no more excuse of it being too cold and it’s not yet too hot to be out. However, some might have limited or no time at all. While some landscape styles require a lot of care, there are some other stylish alternatives that require less work and give the same, if not better, looking results.  Consider these Texas landscaping ideas for your yard.

Texas Landscaping IdeasIn this article, we share a few ideas to help get keep your landscape looking good throughout the year. The idea is to clean up whatever mess that was left by the winter and prepare for the famous Texas summer heat.

1. Implement a Xeriscape design

In our previous article, we shared some Xeriscape ideas.  Xeriscape is a landscaping style that requires less to no irrigation. This style is favorite of most Texans because it not only reduces the amount of water used for plants, it also saves the time it takes to care for the plants. Most of the plants used while xeriscaping can naturally survive with minimal to no maintenance.

2. Use Mulch / Stones Instead of Grass When Possible

Everyone knows that mulch is good for fertilizing your plants and preventing weeds. Mulch can also be used to add both color and texture to your yard. Instead of grass you can add mulch around you outdoor living space. Depending on your taste, you can find a lot of cool colors to keep your yard vibrant. This will save you on the time it takes the mow or water the grass.

Depending on the aesthetic of your home, pea gravel or crushed stones can be a nice alternative to mulch. They can be personalized according to your outdoor living space style, house color, your neighborhood…since pea stones and crushed stones are available in different sizes and colors, it’s always a good idea to choose which size you want to use while keeping in mind the amount of wind you get in the area.

3. Use native plants 

The climate is one of the biggest factors that you should consider while styling your outdoors. Using plants that are already accustomed to your climate will save time and energy. They rarely need to be watered.

While picking which plants to use in your lawn, consider mixing them up according their blooming seasons. Some plants bloom in spring others in summer, mixing them up will add a sense of life to your yard and keep it looking good all year long.

If your lawn tends to morph into your flower bed, edging could spice up the looks and save you the time of cutting and pruning. Edging also allows you to create attractive walkways.  

Over the years, we’ve had success using nice-looking native plants. For some creative Texas landscaping ideas or plant-related questions give us a call at 817-457-7507.

Xeriscape Design tips for Texas

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xeriscape landscaping

Daily, 31% percent of water used in an average Texas family is dedicated to outdoor use or landscape irrigation. This percentage can even get above 50% during the summer. According to the EPA, 50% of the water we use outdoors is wasted due to evaporation and inefficient watering methods. Xeriscape landscaping has been a remarkable solution to reduce outdoor water use. Xeriscaping is not only environmentally friendly but when done right, it can save time and money. All this, while also maintaining good looking landscapes no matter what time of the year it is.
xeriscape landscaping design Xeriscape & outdoor living

Our 7 xeriscape design tips

To implement good looking xeriscape, you need to carefully examine your landscape area and make a design based on your creative needs and water-use budget. Ideal Landscaping has always helped homeowners come up with unique and eye-catching xeriscape designs. In this article, we have put together a few tips to help you get your creative juices flowing. The xeriscape concept’s main purpose is water conservation while maintaining good looks.

  • Regional and native plants

Determine which type of plants perform best in your area. Using native plants from your region will benefit you because they require minimal water supply beyond normal rainfall. These also rarely require additional fertilizers; and are mostly resistant to local pests and plant diseases.

  •  Limit your lawn/turf area

While maintaining a reasonable turf open space can work for visual appeal, it is wise to use water-conserving species. If you need a recommendation for some good options that work well for you give us a call at 817-457-7507 . You can also consult your local garden center.

  • Group plants by their water needs

Grouping like-plants together helps enhance the visual appearance. This also helps you avoid over-watering and helps you establish an irrigation system that prevents evaporation during warm weather.

  • Soil Improvement

Providing an efficient amount of organic material will create a healthy environment for your plants to grow in. This will also help in aeration and quick drainage, while also storing water.

  • Implement an irrigation system based on plant needs.

To achieve this, you need to carefully plan your garden. As we suggested on number 3, group together plants that survive on the same amount of water. Systems like drip-type irrigation and soaker hoses are considered the most efficient because they deliver water directly to the plant roots.

  • Proper Mulching

Mulching is one of the most important features of a xeriscape design. While mulch slows down evaporation, it also adds an aesthetic value to your lawn and reduces the weeds. When you choose the right color of mulch, you realize how much it contrasts your flowers. Organic mulch will slowly enhance your soil as it naturally decomposes over time.

  • Low maintenance

While low maintenance is one of the benefits of implementing a xeriscape design, good planning will help you reduce the maintenance required for your lawn. However, from time to time, you will need to check on the thickness of the mulch, cover bare soil and get rid of the weeds.
For a free estimate; and some success stories, give us a call at 817-457-7507 or check out our before and after page for some creative ideas.

Mulch, Too Mulch!

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There is an ongoing debate over how much mulch is too much or too little. At what point is mulch counterproductive? Some say 1-2 inches, while others declare 4 inches is a must. We believe somewhere in the middle is the best way to go. Too little mulch will not do anything to discourage weed growth. Alternately, too much blocks adequate water and oxygen exchange at the root of the plants forcing them to grow into the mulch as opposed to down in the soil where the nutrients are. A good 3 inch layer of mulch will provide the protection the soil and plants need to thrive without inhibiting their natural growth.