How to Build a Flower Bed

January 4, 2023. Posted by J Zambo in Landscaping, Lawn • Austin

Spring is coming, so it’s time to start thinking about springtime gardens. Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or a flower newbie, building your own flower bed is not too difficult.

There are several types of flower beds, and creating your own ensures that you get exactly what you want that will fit your lawn.

Flower beds require routine maintenance before and after you build them. Keeping them tidy is important to discourage weed growth and help your flowers thrive.

Finally, front lawn flower beds add curb appeal and make your home feel more inviting. There are several ways to spruce up your front lawn with flower beds, from ring-shaped beds around your trees to flower beds along your walkway.

Keep reading to learn how to build and care for a flower bed. For the best outcome, contact a landscaping specialist. They have the knowledge to advise you on which plants will work … Read Full Post »

Pavers Versus Concrete: Which Is Best?

November 23, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Landscaping • Bryan-College Station

As the seasons change, you might be looking to complete landscaping projects. One popular project is building a patio, perfect for spending time around a fire pit or lounging in patio chairs. There are a couple of ways that you can build a separate outdoor area for such activities, with either patio pavers or concrete as a base. But which one is better? Each one has its pros and cons.

Concrete Appearance

First, let’s look at concrete. You can get concrete in one of several ways: poured, in premade slabs or in prefabricated blocks that have the look of pavers. You can also choose different options for finishes, from smooth to lightly textured to a stamped concrete that looks like anything from pavers to stone to wood and has texture that provides traction. A landscaping professional can show you all your options and help you choose what is best for your space … Read Full Post »

When to Mow New Grass

November 21, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn, Lawn Care • Austin

freshly cut gras with landscape outlining fence

A lush, green lawn is a goal for most homeowners. Beautiful, thickly growing grass improves curb appeal. It also makes you want to spend more time outdoors. As springtime nears, you may be thinking more about lawn care. It’s important to know when to mow new grass, so you can maximize its healthy growth.

When your existing grass gets thin or damaged, it makes sense to lay new sod or plant new grass. But how should you care for the new grass once it starts growing? If you mow it too early, its roots can be damaged. The mower blades can actually yank the young grass right out of the ground. The new grass blades can also be damaged by being cut, unless they’ve had time to get thicker and stronger.

This is why it’s so important to mow new grass at the optimal time, to keep it as healthy as possible. … Read Full Post »

Should You Fertilize Before or After Mowing?

November 3, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Fertilization, Lawn • Corpus Christi

When you get a little rain it seems like the perfect time to get your lawn growing. But, there are a few things you need to consider before going all out on your landscaping, especially when deciding if it’s better to fertilize before or after mowing.

Before you fertilize your lawn, understand that you will need to wait 24 hours until you water. That gives the fertilizer time to settle into the lawn before you give it a solid soaking. If you aren’t getting much rain and still want to fertilize your lawn, give it a good soaking one or two days before you plan to fertilize. Then, lightly water again after the fertilizer settles. It’s possible to do all this yourself, but hiring a professional can be much easier. An expert knows exactly how much fertilizer to add to your lawn and how much to water after application.

If you choose … Read Full Post »

When To Mow Lawn in the Spring

October 21, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Lawn, Lawn Care • Bryan-College Station

Do you know how to properly care for your lawn in the spring? After the long winter months, there are several things you need to do to help bring your lawn back to life.

One important aspect of lawn health is mowing it at the proper time. You do not want to mow your lawn too early in the spring before your grass has time to fully root into the soil. Leaving your grass long until the early spring will encourage deeper root growth.

Fertilizing and watering your lawn at the right time in the spring is also important. Treating your lawn at the wrong time can result in wasted efforts and underdeveloped root systems. Additionally, watering your lawn before the weather is warm enough can damage your grass and sprinkler system.

Finally, it’s important to properly aerate your lawn in the spring. Aerating allows your compacted soil to breathe and take in … Read Full Post »

My Christmas Lights Aren’t Working But the Fuses Are Good

August 18, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Holiday Lighting • Austin

Ah, ‘tis the season! Pretty packages, mistletoe and the aroma of cider. And, of course, the annual untangling and testing of last year’s snarl of Christmas lights.

As usual, you’re probably going to find a few burnt-out bulbs, half-lighting strands and possibly even a string or two that don’t light up at all.

What to do?

Run to the store and brave the crazed holiday crowds to buy even more lights? Learn to live with the dead spots in your otherwise perfectly decorated tree or home? Risk electrocution by trying to fix them yourself?

Every year, millions of holiday homeowners ask themselves these questions while trying to complete their Christmas decorating to-do list.

Before you decide, let’s take a look at some of the common reasons why single or multiple Christmas lights might not be working even if the fuses are good.

Why Aren’t My Christmas Lights Working?

The first step to answering the question, “Why aren’t … Read Full Post »

Types of Christmas Lights

July 19, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Holiday Lighting • Bryan-College Station

Christmas is a time for cheer and togetherness. A time for friends and families to spend time together and enjoy the warmth of the season. A big part of that warmth is the beautiful glow of Christmas lights. If you are looking to have your own display this holiday season, you should know what’s out there.

Mini String Lights

This type of bulb is the type you probably think of when you think of Christmas lights. They offer a couple of benefits over other types. The bulbs are generally the least expensive of all choices, easier to find and offer a brighter glow. On the downside, the mini string lights use more electricity, have a shorter lifespan and pose a larger threat of starting a fire. This type of bulb can also burst when temperatures drop below freezing.

LED Lights

Gaining traction on the mini lights are strings that feature LED lights. You can … Read Full Post »

Tree Pruning Tips

July 5, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Tree Care & Trimming • Austin

Pruning trees adds to the beauty and esthetic value of any property. When it’s done incorrectly though, it can reduce both the appeal and value of the surrounding landscaping and property. In fact, the general rule of thumb is that no pruning is better than bad pruning.

Tree trimming refers to when you have to remove a few branches to avoid branches scraping across your home or becoming a falling hazard during a storm. Tree pruning is the process of removing parts of a tree or plant, typically with the goal of improving the plant’s health, beauty or value. Here are a few reasons why you would prune trees:

“Training” the plant to grow in a specific shape or direction
Improving plant health by focusing nutrition on preferred areas
Encourage higher-quality growth of fruits or foliage
Restricting growth to maintain a preferred height or circumference

Basics of Tree Pruning

Pruning achieves its best results when cuts are made … Read Full Post »

Half of My Christmas Lights Aren’t Working

June 23, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Holiday Lighting • San Antonio

Decking the halls for the Christmas season fills many people with excitement for the coming celebrations. A huge part of the decorating ritual every year includes festive lights on the exterior of your home. Sometimes when you flip the switch, the twinkle looks a little unbalanced. Or when you pull last year’s spools of shining glory out of storage, half of the lights aren’t ready to shine.

What’s next? The first step is to always plug in your lights and check for issues before you hang them for decorating. You don’t want to hang your lights only to find they need to come right off! If you do have issues, your choices are to try to fix the lights yourself or contact a professional who can bring new LED lights for you and hang them up. Let’s troubleshoot some potential causes for the outage.

Troubleshooting Your Christmas Lights

First off, one of the … Read Full Post »

What Do the Numbers on Fertilizer Mean?

June 20, 2022. Posted by J Zambo in Fertilization, Lawn • Bryan-College Station

Figuring out fertilization on your own without the support of a lawn care specialist can be challenging for homeowners. Fertilizers at a home and garden store include a list of numbers that homeowners may be unfamiliar with.

If all this feels a bit too overwhelming, consider reaching out to a lawn care expert. A specialist knows how to fertilize your lawn best and can put in place a lawn care schedule.

What is the N-P-K Ratio, and What Do The Numbers on Fertilizer Mean?

Many homes in the United States do not have soil that is healthy enough to sustain the perfect lawn or garden. For this reason, homeowners usually need to add nutrients to their yards.

Using natural or synthetic (chemical) fertilizer increases the nutrient count of your yard. Fertilizer works with bacteria and fungi in the soil to create an ideal environment for your plants to grow. Natural fertilizers are more effective … Read Full Post »