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Heat Tolerant Perennials for Your Texas Yard

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Texas homeowners want beautiful, thriving yards full of plants; however, it’s important to consider the extreme summertime heat. Luckily, several perennial plants thrive in warm weather and even prefer the full Texas sun.

Heat Tolerant Perennials for Your Texas Yard

Perennials are plants that live for at least two years and return each growing season without replanting. Homeowners love to plant perennials because of their longevity and low maintenance needs.

However, if you live in a hot climate, such as Texas, it’s important to plant perennials that can withstand high temperatures. Otherwise, due to the hot weather and humidity, they may die and not return in their second season.

Luckily, there are a variety of heat-tolerant perennials for your Texas yard. You can still achieve the look you want and ensure that your perennial plants can withstand the Texas heat and thrive year after year. Some options include:

  • Lantana
  • Egyptian star flower
  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Columbine
  • Hibiscus
  • Verbena

Let’s dive into heat-tolerant … Read Full Post »

How Long Does It Take for Bed Bug Bites to Appear?

a bed bug

Bed bug bites often appear as unexplained bites on your skin. The time it takes them to appear after an infestation varies, so it’s important for homeowners to understand what bed bug bites look like.

The sooner you can catch a bed bug infestation, the easier it will be to kick these pests out of your home. Besides bites, there are other signs to watch for that can help you catch them early.

How Long Does It Take for Bed Bug Bites to Appear?

How long it takes for bed bug bites to appear varies from person to person. Every immune system responds differently to bed bug bites, and it’s likely that you won’t have an immediate reaction. Bed bug bite reactions can take up to 14 days to appear, while some people have no reaction to bed bug bites at all.

Noticing bites is typically the first sign of a bed bug infestation, … Read Full Post »

Can Carpenter Ants Sting?

a carpenter ant

Carpenter ants are menacing ants that make bad house guests. It’s natural for homeowners to fear that carpenter ants sting. However, these pests do not sting. Instead, they may bite humans when they feel threatened.

Can Carpenter Ants Sting?

Carpenter ants are large, black ants that are bigger than other common ant species, so it’s normal to wonder if carpenter ants sting. Carpenter ants cannot sting, but they can bite.

However, getting bitten by a carpenter ant is a rare experience. These pests are not aggressive by nature, and they do their best to avoid contact with humans. Carpenter ants only bite in self-defense when they feel threatened, which may occur if you attempt to handle them or disturb their nest.

If you get bitten by a carpenter ant, it’s reassuring to know that their bites are typically not harmful. You may experience mild discomfort and burning, but it typically goes away on its … Read Full Post »

What Are the Different Types of Artificial Turf?

artificial turf

As a homeowner, having lush, green grass on your lawn is a dream come true. But having the perfect outdoor space can be challenging to achieve. You may struggle to keep up with watering, mowing or other general yard work to keep your grass in shape. Fortunately, there is an easier option: artificial turf. Using faux grass will give you all the benefits of natural grass without the stress of constant maintenance.

Types of Artificial Grass

When talking about artificial grass, the choices are numerous and can be puzzling if you’re not an expert. Artificial turfs are often categorized based on materials, blade shapes and specific uses.

The following are some of the most popular types of artificial grass:

  • Nylon artificial turf
  • Polypropylene artificial turf
  • Polyethylene artificial turf

Here’s an overview of different kinds of turfs based on material.

Nylon Artificial Turf

Although it can be more expensive than other types, nylon is one of the best artificial turf … Read Full Post »

How Long Does It Take for Termites to Do Damage?

termites

Are you dealing with termites? If you’re noticing signs of wood damage around your home, you may have a termite infestation.

Termites can cause damage for months or years before homeowners notice them. In fact, most homeowners don’t identify a termite infestation until a year or two after the termites first arrived. The reason for this is that termites chew wood from the inside out and are stealthy pests that remain out of sight.

Because of their unseen activity, termites are hard pests to control. It’s important to work with a pest control specialist to control a termite population fully. Experts have the tools and experience to offer solutions for controlling termites.

How Long Does It Take for Termites to Do Damage?

How long does it take for termites to do damage? The length of time depends on several factors, such as the size of the termite colony, the type of termites, what they … Read Full Post »

Patio Paver Ideas to Update Your Outdoor Spaces

patio pavers

When the weather is warm enough to spend time outside, homeowners love to spend their evenings reading or spending time with friends or family on their patio. If you’re looking to upgrade your patio and refresh it, new patio pavers are a great option. With a few simple changes and upgrades, you’ll have a welcoming outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends.

One way to change the look of your patios is to install new patio pavers. New pavers also add durability to your patio and can increase your home’s value.

A professional landscaper can talk you through your paver options so you get the style and functionality you want. Then, they’ll install them the right way to ensure durability and functionality for years to come.

If you’re ready for a patio upgrade, contact a local landscaping service about installing new patio pavers.

Patio Paver Ideas to Update Your Outdoor Spaces

Are you looking … Read Full Post »

What Do Red Fire Ants Eat?

a group of red fire ants on a rock

With their bites and destructive behaviors, red fire ants are a headache for homeowners. Red fire ants can take over lawns, gardens and sidewalks, building unsightly mounds to grow their colonies.

From their underground fortresses, they march into flower beds, snack on cat food and raid your pantry for anything sweet like honey, syrup or soda. And if you don’t deal with them, their colonies can multiply like crazy.

These insects hate the cold, so they mostly live in warmer climates, where the temperature is just right for nesting. If you’ve seen reddish-brown ants marching in long, determined lines, chances are, red fire ants are making themselves at home. When this happens, it’s time to contact pest control professionals for help controlling red fire ants.

What Do Red Fire Ants Eat?

For starters, red fire ants aren’t picky eaters. Just like the tawny crazy ant, red fire ants will devour almost anything. Their ability … Read Full Post »

Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips for a Sustainable Yard

Eco Friendly Lawn Care

Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips for a Sustainable Yard

Maintaining a lush and beautiful lawn doesn’t have to compromise your commitment to environmental sustainability. With the right techniques and practices, you can achieve a healthy lawn while protecting the environment. This comprehensive guide explores eco-friendly lawn care tips that help you create a vibrant, sustainable yard, emphasizing the benefits of natural and environmentally conscious practices.

Grass clippings can be a valuable resource in maintaining a healthy lawn. Instead of bagging them, use them as natural fertilizer by leaving them on the lawn to decompose, adding nutrients back into the soil. This practice reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and supports an environmentally friendly lawn.

Incorporating clover lawns is another effective strategy. Clover adds nitrogen to the soil, improving soil structure and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. It also attracts beneficial insects, enhancing your lawn’s ecosystem.

Organic fertilizer is a … Read Full Post »

Outlet Stopped Working but Breaker Is Not Tripped

an outlet

Circuit breakers are an important part of our home electrical system. When an outlet stops working, finding a tripped breaker is normal. However, if the circuit breaker is okay, it can confuse you as to why the outlet is not functioning.

It can be difficult to sort out this issue if you are not a licensed electrician. The safest option is to consult a licensed electrician with the skills and training to do it best.

Common Reasons Why the Outlet Stopped Working But the Breaker Is Not Tripped

There are different reasons your outlet stopped working even when your breaker did not trip. Each of these reasons requires a skilled and licensed electrician to diagnose and fix.

Here are the most common reasons.

Faulty Outlet

Electric outlets are extensively used in our homes and can get easily damaged. Since items are repeatedly plugged in and out of outlets over time, they get damaged from repeated wear … Read Full Post »

Seasonal Lawn Care: A Comprehensive Guide

Seasonal Lawn Care

Seasonal Lawn Care

Seasonal Lawn Care: A Complete Guide

Maintaining a lush and vibrant lawn requires more than just occasional mowing. To achieve a green, healthy lawn year-round, you need a strategic approach that adjusts to seasonal changes. Different grass types, such as cool season grasses and warm season grasses, have unique needs throughout the year.

Cool season lawns, for instance, thrive in cooler temperatures and need special care in the spring and fall, while warm season grasses flourish in the heat of summer and require different maintenance strategies.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about seasonal lawn care, providing tips and techniques to ensure your lawn remains in peak condition throughout the year. From choosing the right lawn mower to understanding the needs of new grass, our guide will help you make informed decisions about your lawn care routine.

Proper maintenance of healthy grass involves more than … Read Full Post »