As we move toward late August in Central Texas, the landscape is starting to shift. Retailers like H-E-B are rolling out plants, a sure sign that fall planting season is almost here. Meanwhile, we’re seeing resilient perennials thriving, a reminder about lizards and mosquitoes, and some quick thoughts on those hit-or-miss rainstorms last week. Fall…
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A couple of weeks ago, I sat through a full day of landscaping classes at a Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) expo. One of the most thought-provoking sessions was about native plants—a topic we all think we understand… until we start defining it out loud. The presenter was sharp. She lives in Fort Worth,…
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Last time I wrote about lawn robots, I opened with “Robots coming through!” That was back in 2018 when we introduced Willie, a Husqvarna Automower we named because Willie Nelson means grass, which we thought was hilarious. Well, spoiler alert: they’re still not good enough to use in most yards. They have reached a point…
Read More 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…
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Silkworms in Central Texas: What Are Those Worms Crawling on You? Have you ever been in a serious conversation—maybe even a meeting—only to feel something crawling on your neck? You do the jump-and-slap combo, thinking it’s a spider, and it turns out to be a tiny, green worm. Welcome to springtime in Central Texas. Those…
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TL;DR: • June bugs = no big deal (unless there’s a lot) • Their babies = turf-killing grubs • Now’s a good time to keep an eye out • We’ve got grub control if you need it What to Know About June Bugs in Austin Yards (And why they’re crashing your porch light party) It’s…
Read MoreCentral Texas Grass Though we do not think about it much, our climate has a big impact on our life, and your grass is a big part of your personal climate! In Austin (the southernmost state capital in the US of A!), we have a lot of benefits from our temperate weather. Sandals and Shorts…
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Spring is the perfect season to prepare your automatic sprinkler system for effectively watering your lawn and landscape for another year. We suggest looking at your irrigation system at least four times a year. At minimum, one of those should be by a professional. Good times to consider are before starting in spring, before the…
Read MoreWondering how to trim knock out roses in Central Texas? It is important you ensure you are dealing with knockout roses rather than an antique or climbing rose because they are maintained very differently. What are Knock Out Roses? Knock Out® Roses hybrids were developed to resist common rose diseases and produce prolific blooms. Though…
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Mulching is a key practice for cultivating a thriving garden, especially in the Central Texas climate. It helps ensure your garden not only survives but flourishes! Where does mulch come from, and why does it matter? Watch my short video below, and then read on to learn more about the benefits and varieties of mulch…
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