A carpet of green lawn looks great, but with rising temperatures, drought conditions, and increased water costs maintaining your lawn can become a burden. To reduce the time, effort and costs of keeping a perfect lawn, considering ditching some of that green for colorful, low maintenance alternatives. Carve Out a Little at a Time Instead of ripping out all your grass, reduce gradually. Carve out areas under trees, areas that are hard to mow, areas that already serve as a…
Summer may not officially start until June 21st, but for us it has already begun. Temperatures are on the rise and Accuweather predicts that this June could be one of the hottest five on record. Since summer’s scorching sun and extreme heat burns and dehydrates our plants just like us, you need to protect them with these 5 tips. 1 Water early Set your alarm for an early morning watering before the sun pulls the moisture out of the…
As the heat rises and the rainfall disappears, there is one thing you can do now to help the health of your lawn – top dressing. Why Top Dress? Top dressing is like a deep conditioning treatment for your lawn. By applying a thin layer of compost or manure across your lawn you will bring nutrients back to the roots of your grass encouraging strong growth and healthy soil. It can also help even out a lawn with low…
April is National Garden Month, a time to celebrate the many ways that gardening unites people to nature and to their communities. And what better way to celebrate than with one of the many great events in Austin this month. Here are some great events to get inspired, learn from experts and join the community in celebration of all things green! East Austin Garden Show – April 14 This community event features all types of hands-on activities about Earth-Kind…
What’s hot and what’s not in 2018? It doesn’t matter as long as your garden gives you joy. We looked at some of the garden trends this year, however, and we found 3 cool ideas you might want to consider. Wabi-sabi in the garden Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of imperfection. Embracing the less that perfect in your garden means relaxing, having fun with experiments gone wrong and making space for a more naturalistic approach to gardening. Creating a…
Amazing organizations across Austin use gardens and their harvest to transform lives and communities. This season of giving, share the transformative power of gardening with others by donating your time or financial support to one of these groups: Empower Youth with Gardening Urban Roots engages youth in underserved communities to transform their lives and their communities through farming. You can help their effort to develop future leaders and good citizens with your support. Grow a Community Sustainable Food Center…
Whether salvaging or recycling, all up-cycling activities benefit the environment by reducing landfill. And since these seven found objects are one-of-a-kind, they ensure that your landscape will not look like your neighbors 1 Coke Bottle Landscape Think Coke bottles have an attractive, iconic design? So did we, when we sculpted the edges of a pathway and patio with them. Interspersed with stone, the bottles capture the light and turn ordinary into extraordinary. 2 Pallet garden Discarded shipping pallets make stunning…
Want bluebonnets and butterflies in your garden next Spring? Then this is the time to sow your wild seeds! Why go Wild? Fall is the best time to plant in Austin. And, if you want to do something to benefit the environment, help struggling butterfly and bee populations, and cover a barren patch of lawn with color and life, this is also the best time to plant your wildflower seeds. Consider the addition of a wildflower border or garden to…
After a summer of relentless heat and sun, we can revel in the coming cool of autumn. And with a little TLC, our lawn and gardens can also benefit and blossom during the cooler weather. Steps you take now will not only enhance your enjoyment through winter, but also beautify your landscape next spring. Clear Out the Old Start your fall gardening by clearing out non-thriving plant matter. Prune plants and shrubs, pull out weeds and remove debris. Remove aging…
If your water bills have been giving you pause, consider these water smart strategies to save water and money. Water less Less is more when it comes to watering. By watering less often, but deeply, we create deep healthy roots, which better survive times of drought. 1-1/2 inches of water every five days is a good goal. You can also water less by switching to a drip irrigation system for your garden and trees. Low volume drips reduce evaporation…
