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The Top Choice Austin Landscaping Blog

How to Choose the Right Plants for Your Austin Yard (11 Questions)

By Nolan Gore / October 6, 2026

Don’t put a plant in the ground until you’ve thought through these. Seriously. We plant thousands of plants every year—and we’ve seen just about everything. Over time, we’ve developed a go-to list of questions we ask ourselves before putting any plant into the ground. It helps us avoid the most common mistakes we see from…

Choosing the Right Plants for Central Texas: Understanding USDA Hardiness Zones

By Nolan Gore / October 6, 2026

Central Texas is a unique region with its own particular climate, and it’s important to choose plants that are adapted to this climate in order to create a successful landscape. One way to determine which plants will thrive in Central Texas is by understanding the USDA hardiness zones. This is not a fool-proof technique, but…

Will my grass grow back this fall? (A visual guide)

By The Top Choice Team / September 29, 2026

As summer winds down, many Austin homeowners will begin poking their heads out of their air-conditioned summer sanctuaries to survey the damage. After a hot summer, there’s still one big question on many of our minds: “will my grass grow back?” It’s no secret: summer started mild, but August brought a long run of triple-digit…

What to do about winter weeds in Austin Texas

By The Top Choice Team / September 22, 2026

Many people associate weeds with spring or summer when it seems like everything is coming to life. In fact, there are plenty of winter weeds in Texas that deserve our attention while temperatures are cool. Let’s look into what these weeds are and what you can do about them. Step 1: Identification Most weeds fall…

Lawn Fertilization in Austin: Why, When, and How to Do It Right

By The Top Choice Team / September 22, 2026

In Austin, fertilizing your lawn isn’t really that optional (unless you don’t want to have a nice yard).  Think of it as feeding your grass the right diet with the proper micro nutrients. Timing, product selection, and application matter a lot more than most people realize. Get it wrong, and you’re wasting money (or worse,…

Should you do fall top dressing in Austin?

By The Top Choice Team / September 15, 2026

It’s that time of year again when the Top Choice crews fly over Austin to sprinkle their magic pixie dust over the lawns of our favorite customers.  That’s right, it’s time for top dressing! Top Dressing adds a light layer of top-quality soil to your yard to help build a healthy, nutrient base for your…

Top 10 Plants for Xeriscaping in Central Texas

By Nolan Gore / August 31, 2026

1. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) Type: ShrubSun Requirements: Full sunWatering Requirements: Drought-tolerant once established; requires minimal wateringMature Size: Typically reaches a height of 3-8 feet with a similar spread Fun Facts: 2. Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) Type: PerennialSun Requirements: Full sunWatering Requirements: Highly drought-tolerant; minimal watering once establishedMature Size: Typically grows to a height of 2-3 feet with a…

What to know about xeriscaping

By Nolan Gore / August 31, 2026

What is it? Why would you xeriscape part/all of your yard? What are the best plants for xeriscaping in Central Texas? What are common mistakes and misconceptions What are some common landscaping materials used in xeriscaping? What are several areas I should consider xeriscaping in my yard? What should I consider with xeriscaping? Some of our…

Fall Planting in Texas

By The Top Choice Team / August 25, 2026

Most people think of spring as the time to add plants and flowers, and make the world a little greener.  Fall is also a great time to plant – and in Austin, it may even be the best time to plant. Why is Fall the best time to plant? (Answer = Root development) Our worst weather is the brutal, long, dry…

How to Trim Live Oak Trees (and Prevent Oak Wilt)

By Nolan Gore / July 8, 2026

At the time of writing this blog, it’s almost time to trim live oak trees in Austin. Watch our video below or read on to learn why and how you should trim live oaks—and how to prevent that nasty Oak Wilt! Why trim live oak trees First…why should you trim your live oak trees in…