ABC Blog

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 »

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 »

How to Identify Brown Patch Fungus

brown patch on grass

Is brown patch fungus damaging your lawn? This fungal disease can wreak major havoc on not just the appearance of your lawn, but the health.

An expert can identify the root cause of the brown patch fungus in your lawn, create a personalized treatment plan and put prevention methods in place to help maintain the health of your lawn for the long-term. Additionally, they’ll advise you on proper lawn maintenance techniques to avoid fungal diseases in the future.

How to Identify Brown Patch Fungus

Brown patch is a fungal disease that can turn a beautiful lush lawn into a patchy and brown one in a short amount of time. This disease typically appears in mid to late summer and affects some types of grasses more than others.

Brown patch fungus appears as circular or irregular brown patches of grass across your lawn. The grass will look dead, and the patches range in size from … Read Full Post »

Turf Versus Artificial Grass: What’s the Difference?

artificial turf

For many homeowners, their lush lawn is their pride and joy. It’s the first thing neighbors and guests see, making it one of the most valuable parts of the home. While natural grass can dramatically boost curb appeal, there’s a lot of maintenance work behind the scenes. All the weeding, watering and mowing can take a toll on your hands and back.

That’s where artificial grass comes in. Resembling natural grass, you can use it to beautify your property without the backbreaking maintenance work. You don’t have to worry about technicalities like “When is the best time of day to fertilize your lawn?” Contact lawn care professionals if you want the look of a sprawling, pristine lawn minus the stress. They will install artificial grass in your yard and make it look seamless.

Turf Versus Artificial Grass: Pros and Cons

While artificial and turf grass are both synthetic, their main difference lies in … Read Full Post »

Backyard Artificial Turf Ideas

artificial turf

Choosing artificial turf over natural grass is a smart move if you want a low-maintenance backyard. You still get the aesthetic look of grass but without the upkeep. You don’t have to stick to a watering schedule or worry about the best time of day to fertilize your lawn. Another perk of having artificial turf is its functionality and versatility.

While you have to be more gentle with natural grass, there are countless activities you can do with family and friends on artificial turf. High-quality artificial turf is durable, lasting up to 12 or 15 years, even with heavy use.

Here are some backyard artificial turf ideas to help you maximize your outdoor space. You can also ask the help of a lawn care specialist to install artificial turf in your backyard and perform regular maintenance to keep it in pristine shape.

Creative Projects for Homeowners

Your backyard might not be visible like your … Read Full Post »