Fall color is showing up around Austin, even with highs still in the 80s. Asters, goldenrod, and Turk’s cap are blooming now, and the bees are all over them. Why do some plants wait until fall to bloom? A few things line up: Short days: Asters and goldenrod bloom as the days get shorter and…
Cool mornings are back, and a lot of Austin lawns are starting to look a little tired. Slower growth. Patchy color. The big question is usually the same: is my grass going dormant, or is it dead? Short answer: for most warm-season lawns around here, dull or brown color after the first real cool stretch…
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…
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…
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 late October and Austin is still dry, with highs in the 80s and…
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…
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,…
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…
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 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…