GreenScapes Working on Paradise

If you are not ready for something that permanent, then here are some other ideas for your Valentine that are not your traditional flower. Get her (or him) something unique, that can either be planted outside or be carried from one home to the next. Here are some ideas:

Available at ProFlowers

Bonzai Trees are small, beautiful and come in a wide range of varieties. Depending on the type you get, maintenance can either be super easy or super hard. Here in Austin, Bonsai has an avid following, and there is a ton of information online about the care and maintenance of almost any bonsai type. Bonsais can range from the more traditional Japanese styles to this Valentine’s Day Azalea Bonsai pictured to the right.

Nules Clementine

The Nules Clementine Tree is a sweet specimen, easy to care for and it makes some delicious fruit. The great thing about these little guys is that they can be potted or planted outside. We picked the Clementine as an idea because of its hardy nature, pretty flowers when in bloom and wonderful aroma. Of course, there are other fruit plants to choose from, just be sure to check their hardiness level in comparison with the Central Texas region.

Silk Road Lily - Photo from TheLilyGarden.com

For the ambitious, go for a lily. The Orienpet-type hybrids are a pretty safe bet for Central Texas weather. Just know that these plants require a little more love and care than most folks are used to.

Ah, the Love Fern. Everyone remembers How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days right? Ferns are great for clean air living and they look nice. Just know that you do have to water these suckers and pay attention to what you are getting. Many ferns are very toxic when ingested and a terrible idea if you have animals and/or small children. Warning: Do NOT let Matthew McConaughey plant-sit for you!

Whatever you decide to do, we hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day. We love you Austin, TX!

Cut ‘em back:

• If you have dormant, woody plants or shrubs and you haven’t done so already, cut em’ back for the coming growing season.
• This is the time to prune your trees – especially Live Oaks. Some ordinances only allow tree pruning two-three times a year and this is arguably the best time to do it. If you need help or have any questions about pruning, please ask us. We would rather you did it right, than hurt your trees and potentially those of your neighbors.

Transplant:

• This is a great time, the best really, to move roses, shrubs and trees – when they are in a more dormant state.
• Bare-root plants need to be put in the ground now. Get it done.
• Move hardy seedlings outside.
• Divide and transplant perennials if they have gotten too big for their space. If you want to get rid of some, be sure to offer them to your friends first or donating them.

Fertilize, Weed and Pest Control

• Now is the time to add manure or compost to your veggie gardens if you have ‘em. They need time to marinate.
• Also, fertilize your roses, berry bushes, iris, daylilies, pansies, etc. If you have questions about, contact us.
• Add certified-organic labeled pest controls (typically an oil) to your fruit trees and shrubs.
• Use a certified fungicide treatment on your lawn where you typically find brown spots.
• Weeding is crucial right now. DO NOT JUST SPRAY THEM! Seriously, how lazy can you be? The soil is fairly moist. Either dig them out or, better yet, pull ‘em. Get down low and look for little sprouts and such. In empty beds, turn them as you fertilize and pull out any weeds that you see. Be diligent because it gets so much harder to get rid of them once the warmer, dryer months come around.
• Check for mealy bugs and scale on your plants right now.

Lawn Care

• Remove grass from around the trees.
• As we said in the section above, take care of those problem patches of brown during the green season now with a fungicide.
• DO NOT overwater or over-fertilize.

For a complete, alphabetical list of plants broken down into types to be planting this month, please visit the Central Texas Gardener.

If you have any questions or comments or simply want us to deal with all of this, please call or email us. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Happy New Year!

ASAP Stone
Bastrop Stone
Collier Materials
Custom Stone
Home Depot – Georgetown
Magnolia Farms
Marcellos
Mulch Matters
Quality Turf Farms
Rainbird
Riverbed Concrete
Shemin

Stay tuned, we will have recaps and photos of the project in the next couple of weeks!

Catch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Fridays 8/7c on ABC!

We are very excited and proud to announce that we will be providing landscaping services to the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Bastrop over the course of the next two weeks. Bastrop has been on our hearts and minds these past few months, as has Steiner Ranch. Most of our relief efforts have been through donations thus far, but this is a wonderful opportunity for our entire crew and many of our friends and family to get out to Bastrop and show our support.

We believe in good works year round, but this time of year especially, we encourage all of our friends to give however we can. GreenScapes is growing, and we do take community stewardship very seriously. Our community has given so much to us, and we are very blessed to be able to be giving back to those in need. Have a wonderful Holiday season everyone!

• Because we are in Texas, experiencing some serious drought issues, proper mulching significantly reduces soil dehydration. Moderate moisture retention is essential to healthy tree maintenance here in Central Texas.
• Organic mulches decompose at varying rates (obviously a hard wood mulch is going to last longer than a compost mulch.) This is a good thing though, since decomposition improves soil composition, fertility and structure. Consult with a nursery or professional arborist (like us) to determine what mulches you should be using for your yard. Also, this may mean that you use different types of mulch throughout the year.
• Aesthetics- uniform ground covering looks good. Enough said.
• Weed control – a 2 to 4 inch ground covering will significantly reduce weed germination where you don’t want it.
• Mulching can also prevent certain diseases from taking “root” so to speak. Also, mulch provides a layer of insulation against the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. Think of it like armor for your trees and plants.

We DO NOT recommend going overboard on the mulching. Just like anything else, you have to observer moderation with your mulching practices. Don’t let mulch pile too high. 2 – 4 inches (about as deep as your fingers are long) is more than enough  to provide the necessary protection and benefits. Around your trees, don’t let it pile up like a mountain around the base of the trunk. It’s better to spread the mulch out in a wider radius with an even, finger-length depth across the board.

If you are not sure what kind of mulch to use, please consult a specialist. We highly recommend calling someone like us or going somewhere like the Natural Gardener, where they really know their soil, plants and mulch. Certain mulches can have an adverse effect on your soil integrity and can even become toxic to your plants. On the flip side, if you don’t do it often enough, it can expose your plants to unnecessary threats.

Good luck and call us if you have any questions or need any help!

Ashe Juniper

Pine

Although pine trees and Ashe junipers share many similar qualities, when it comes to drought resistance, Ashe junipers take the cake. Both trees have high burn-points, but since the pine trees don’t handle drought as well, they’re more likely to catch fire than the Ashe junipers. Have you ever put your old Christmas tree in a bonfire? The results almost look like you just threw rocket fuel onto the fire. Really dry Ashe Juniper will do something similar, but remember that Juniper trees are better at resisting drought.

Here in the greater Austin area, we don’t have to worry about pine trees as much, but with our current water situation Live Oaks and Ashe Junipers have become quite the fire hazard themselves -as we learned in Steiner Ranch. Does this mean we should bulldoze every tree on our property? No. It means that property owners need to put a little more effort into maintaining their outdoor spaces though. Clearing away dry brush, trimming branches away from rooftops, windows, doors, etc. Groom your outdoor spaces and get rid of the finger fuels (twigs and dry, dead things smaller than your fingers that tend to accumulate). For more information please call your local fire department for resources to help prevent fires around your property. You can also contact us if you need help with any of this. Stay safe Austin!

Annuals

Perennials

Lots of folks ask us what is the difference between perennials and annuals, and should they plant both? Annuals are flowers that, from seed, grow, bloom, seed and die in one growing season. These types of flowers usually bloom between late spring and (for Austin) late Autumn. Perennials are plants that live three years or more, lying dormant during their off-season months (which are usually winter).

So why would you want to spend money on flowers that only live one to two growing seasons? The answer is in the variety and versatility. These plants are usually cheap and in full bloom by the time they are planted. Also, even one type of annual can come in a multitude of colors, whereas a single type of perennial will usually be the same, consistent hue. Think of perennials as anchors of a particular area. These plants are placed to last in an area season after season, but if you are looking to create multiple designs with your landscaping space, we recommend annuals.

Click here for a comprehensive list of annuals.

Click here for a comprehensive list of perennials.