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How Can I Use Compost for My Lawn?

compost

Did you know that there are many benefits to using compost on your lawn? It can improve the quality of new and established lawns and help ensure long-term health. 

From your lawn to your garden beds, there are several ways to use compost to benefit your lawn.

How Can I Use Compost for My Lawn?

Are you looking for a simple but effective way to improve the health of your lawn? Try incorporating compost.

Compost is a nutrient-rich organic material made from decomposed kitchen and yard waste.

There are several ways to use compost to improve both new and established lawns and gardens. The benefits of compost include enhancing water retention and soil quality, adding nutrients and helping prevent soil erosion. Compost can also encourage beneficial microbiomes and earthworms. 

Compost as Topdressing on Established Lawns

One of the most common ways to use compost for your lawn is as topdressing, which is when you sprinkle a thin … Read Full Post »

What Is Fertilizer Burn?

fertilizer burn on a yard

Fertilizer is designed to keep your lawn and plants healthy, but too much can cause fertilizer burn, which can cause serious damage. 

The best way to avoid fertilizer burn and maintain a thriving lawn or garden is to work with a lawn care specialist.

What Is Fertilizer Burn?

Fertilizer burn occurs when plants are exposed to excessive amounts of fertilizer. It can cause plants to wilt, turn brown, yellow or die altogether. Luckily, with the right fertilizing techniques, you can avoid damaging your plants through fertilizer burn.

Why does fertilizer burn happen? When your lawn is overloaded with fertilizer, the nutrients no longer nourish it. Instead, the fertilizer draws moisture away from your plant’s roots, causing them to stop absorbing water effectively.

When this happens, your lawn experiences symptoms that resemble drought stress. However, what’s really happening is chemical overload. 

There are several common signs of fertilizer burn. First, your lawn may begin to wilt despite … Read Full Post »

Pergola Versus Gazebo: What’s the Difference?

a pergola

Want to enhance your outdoor space but torn between adding a pergola, pictured above, or a gazebo? These two structures can transform your outdoor space into a cozy and relaxing retreat. But each one has its specific purpose. They differ in design, function and intent. Understanding each will allow you to make a more fitting choice for your outdoor space.

Both pergolas and gazebos provide you with shade and beauty. The real difference is in their shape, roof style and overall purpose.

Pergola Versus Gazebo: What’s the Difference?

Let’s start with the basics. A pergola is an outdoor structure made of upright posts that hold up a roof made of beams or a lattice. Pergolas have an open roof, which allows sunlight to pass through. Some pergola owners grow vines or attach a curtain around their structures. You can attach a pergola to your home, or it can be freestanding.

Meanwhile, gazebos have a … Read Full Post »

How To Save A Dying Tree: A Closer Look At Tree Health

a dying tree

Homeowners often love mature trees for their shade, beauty and boost to curb appeal and property value. But if you notice signs of a dying tree, you may wonder how to help it recover, or whether it’s time for removal.

There are a number of diseases that can infect a tree’s branches, tree roots or foliage. Because the causes of a problem can vary, it’s often best to consult a tree professional to identify the problem. 

The good news is that most tree diseases cause visible symptoms that can be warning signs. This allows homeowners to act early on their trees’ behalf. Many of these signs of tree disease can look like a tree that’s just dormant, which can often make it difficult for a homeowner to tell what is actually wrong.

How To Save A Dying Oak Tree: Common Illnesses

Many types of trees, including oaks, are popular across the US for their … Read Full Post »

Identifying & Preventing Oak Wilt Disease

an oak tree

Texas is known for beautiful oak trees that live for hundreds of years, so it’s important that homeowners care for their oak trees properly. A threat to oak trees is a disease called oak tree wilt, which can quickly deteriorate your tree’s health.

If oak tree wilt is a problem in your yard, contact an expert. Early detection is crucial to prevent the disease from spreading to more of your trees. 

Identifying and Preventing Oak Wilt Disease

Oak trees make for gorgeous assets in any lawn, and keeping them healthy is important. One common issue that homeowners encounter is called oak wilt disease. This is a fungal disease, caused by beetles or root grafts, that invades the tree’s internal water transport system and causes the tree to wilt. Identifying and managing infected trees is crucial to preventing the spread of oak wilt.

Fungal mats, which are patches of fungal growth, can form under the … Read Full Post »

How to Trim Your Tree Canopy the Right Way

a tree leaves

Trimming your tree canopy not only makes the yard look its best but also keeps your home protected from falling dead branches.

If you’re wondering how to trim your tree canopy the right way, we’ll walk you through the 3 C’s of pruning, tips and techniques you can follow and times of the year when it’s best to trim. Additionally, we’ll cover when it’s best to call in a tree care professional to ensure that your trees stay healthy.

Why Is Proper Trimming Important?

Trimming serves three main purposes: aesthetics, safety and tree health. Removing dead or diseased branches helps prevent pests and stops the disease from spreading. You’ll also prevent dead branches from falling unexpectedly, which could injure someone or cause property damage.

A trimmed canopy also allows more sunlight to reach the grass below, which can help your lawn get fuller and greener. If you decide to sell your house, strong-looking trees … Read Full Post »

The Best Time To Prune Trees in Texas

pruning a tree

Trees offer more than just visual appeal. They add value to your property, enhance curb appeal and provide shade during the Texas heat. They also create more comfortable outdoor spaces you can actually enjoy. Whether you’re maintaining established deciduous trees or nurturing fruit trees, regular care makes a big difference in the long-term health of your landscape.

However, when trees are neglected, they not only lose their appeal but can also cause property damage due to falling limbs, termites or disease. That’s why tree pruning, removing dead or overgrown branches, is essential to maintaining the trees’ beauty and value.

Pruning isn’t only for your home’s safety or the trees’ health. Pruning branches helps to prevent the overgrowth of tree limbs. It also improves overall health by encouraging new growth, but only when done correctly.

Even savvy homeowners sometimes don’t know the best time to prune trees and shrubs or the best techniques to … Read Full Post »

How to Make Lawn Green and Thick

a green lawn

As soil temperatures warm up and grass blades emerge from their dormant state, making your lawn green and thick becomes a concern for many homeowners.

If you share this dream for your lawn, you’re closer than you think. With the right steps, anyone can achieve a flawless, envy-worthy yard.

How to Make Your Lawn Green and Thick: A Guide to a Healthy Lawn

Developing a healthy lawn is not as difficult as you might think. Here are five simple things you can do:

  • Improve your lawn’s soil
  • Fertilization
  • Mowing properly
  • Overseeding for thickness
  • Irrigation

Let’s dive into each of these a bit more.

Improve Your Lawn’s Soil

Soil holds the nutrients, air and water that grass needs to grow. Sadly, some homeowners do not have soil healthy enough to grow a rich lawn. But luckily, any soil can be improved.

Adding organic material is a solid move. … Read Full Post »

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 »

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 »