Fall Water Garden Services

Leaves are dropping regularly and are probably the biggest challenge in maintaining a naturalistic water feature. It is important to empty the skimmers and keep the leaves scooped out regularly. Clogged skimmers cause a myriad of problems, cutting off flow to the pump, and causing fill valves to run excessively since the water level drops in the skimmer.

Since water plants are starting to go dormant, one solution for shaded ponds is to cover the pond with a leaf net using tubing to suspend the net off the water. We can custom fit a leaf net system to virtually any pond.

Call for more details.

Don't let leaves muck up your water feature!

Time to Order Bulbs

If you want a beautiful spring show of annual tulips, daffodils, paper whites, or jonquils, now is the time to order them! Bulb prices start as low as $.75 each installed with a minimum of 100 bulbs.

We will be picking up our bulb orders this month and start planting after Thanksgiving. Call to place your order today!

Not sure what to plant? Email us!

Beautiful tulips in bloom

Pleasant Fall Days and Holidays Ahead

Our fall weather is really just getting started. We may see a freeze by around the end of the month, but we should also see a lot more mild weather in the next 2 months. The rains have been great, and maybe they will continue and get our lakes out of the drought situation.

Fire ants are extremely active this time of year, foraging for food to last through winter. This is the ideal time to apply bait products. You will see new mounds pop up after every rain. Feeed your ants. Feed them!

Gardeners look to the change of seasons as a chance to plant pansies, kale, and other cool season plants that we can’t use during our hot summers.

There are still lots of chores to do — replacing plants, prepping veggie gardens, mulching beds, trimming trees, and raking leaves. And we have splendid weather for doing our outdoor chores. But if you aren’t big on chores, remember that’s what we are here for! So dig this fall weather and leave the real diggin’ to us.

The Autumn Blaze Maple - One of few maples adapted to our area

Fire Ants - Here to Stay, What You Can Do

Fire ants came out with a vengeance after the October rains. This is a typical pattern, where the ants are less active in hot dry summer conditions and begin foraging and spreading aggressively as weather cools and soil moisture rises. Fire ants cannot be eliminated, they can only be managed. Sad, but true. Queens can fly and move their colonies up to 3 miles and may do so several times a year. It is impossible to keep ants from migrating into a property. Colonies may also dig as deep as 10 feet into the ground, and 3-4 foot deep is common. Other than using bait products that workers can carry to the queens hidden deep underground, it is virtually impossible to poison an entire mound.

Call to schedule a treatment today while conditions are still optimal!

This is a great time to apply bait-type controls. The ants will be very active through the remainder of November – December,foraging for winter, and will carry baits to the queens. Baits have a minimal environmental impact and offer long term control, up to 80-90% effectiveness. The Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Texas Two Step” recommends treating individual mounds that are in problem areas with a mound treatment and to broadcast bait products throughout the entire area. The other proven method is to broadcast fipronil across the entire property or around the perimeters of larger properties to create a chemical barrier effective for up to 8 months. Ants die as they tunnel or cross through the barrier. Fipronil can also offer up to 80% effectiveness and a longer residual effect, but is also somewhat more expensive.

Fire ants are not just annoying, they are destructive and dangerous. They can inflict serious and painful injury to young children and adults who may be allergic, and are renown for colonizing outdoor electrical equipment and shorting it out.

A Special Congratulations- and a Call for Support!

Spencer Young, our pond and pool service guy extraordinaire, also happens to be married to an extraordinary lady. His wife Deborah is one of 3 nationwide finalists for Teacher of the Year!

The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda hosts this award each year, and it is an honor and testament to Deborah’s dedication as a teacher to have made it through the selection process to this point. The teachers are nominated by parents of their students, and each have a compelling story and are all deserving of recognition.

We would encourage you to copy and paste the link below into your browser, read their stories, and then show your support for Deborah and the public schools of Texas and cast a vote for her!

Who Should Be Teacher of the Year?

Voting ends Monday November 4th at midnight, so do your part if you get this in time.

LED Christmas Lighting — Time to Plan Now!

The ho-ho-holidays are almost here!

I know, I know, we haven’t even gotten to Halloween yet and retailers are already pushing Christmas. We hate to jump on the bandwagon, but since we are now an official installer of Seasonal Source LED Christmas Lighting, we want you to have the info you need to plan your holiday lighting and get on the schedule.

Why Seasonal Source LED?

 LED is green technology, consuming about 80% less electricity than traditional. You save money every year you use them.

 Tired of testing your strings of lights every year only to find half of them don’t work anymore? Our lights are premium grade and ruggedly constructed with a 3 year guarantee.

 Our LED lighting provides a dazzlingly bright display with brilliant jewel-like colors that never fade, chip, or scratch. You can choose from traditional warm-white to an array of festive colors.

 LED are safe and cool to the touch.

 Do more with less. Let’s compare the energy savings: On roof lighting, we typically use the C9 bulb. With LED, 100 ft of roof line will use less electricity than a single 100 watt light bulb. 100 ft of traditional incandescent Christmas lights will consume more power than a 600 watt microwave! When wrapping trees or columns with mini-lights, we can plug up to 300 23 foot long strings into one outlet! Compare with only 35 strings of traditional mini lights.

Its easy to see. You can cover more area with a huge reduction in electrical costs, or increase your display without dangerously overloading your electrical circuits.

What do we provide?

We can provide everything for your outdoor display, custom designed to fit your home, including mini lights to wrap trees and shrubs, C9 roof lights, lighted wreaths and garlands, and all the jumpers, cords, and timer needed to make it all work. After Christmas, we will come out and place the lights in stackable storage boxes with tags and a diagram so that installation the following year will be easy to duplicate.

What does it cost?

We will measure your roof, trees, shrubs, sidewalks- whatever you want to highlight and provide an estimate and design suggestions. Once you have purchased your lights and supplies from us, we have a simple labor rate to cover installation and take down.

Labor
Lining driveways, sidewalks, etc: $1.25 per ft
Single story roof lines: $2.50 per ft.
Second story roofs: $3.75 per ft
Wrapping tree trunks, shrubs, etc. $.25 per ft

Sample light prices:
C9 roof lights are $1.70 per ft including wire and clips, and 23.5 ft strings of M5 or G12 mini lights run $15.00—$18.00 per string depending on color.

Got Junk? We Can Help

Do you have something unsightly taking up room in your yard or garage?

We can haul off that rotten firewood, broken picnic table, or other trash that is too large or cumbersome to put out on the curb. Just let us know what you need disposed of.

We can get you a quick estimate and help you get that junk out of your trunk!

Prime can take care of that unsightly mountain for you!

Good Times Ahead

Fall officially began September 22nd as the sun reached the autumnal equinox and our day and night were nearly equal in length. And despite the unseasonably hot and dry September we had experienced so far, the fall spirits cooperated with a nice rain and low temperature of 56. Hopefully September was summer’s last blast. Lots of 90 degree days and virtually no rain really dried us out, but October looks to arrive with milder weather just as it should.

With this latest round of showers we will see bluebonnets and other spring wildflowers germinating. Of course, this means that henbit and a few other less desirable “wildflowers” will be popping up in our lawns and beds. Be sure you have us apply a pre-emergent weed control soon if you haven’t already!

Fire ants are extremely active this time of year, foraging for food to last through winter. This the ideal time to apply bait products. You will see new mounds pop up after every rain. Feeed your ants. Feed them!

Several flowering plants will put on a last big show for the season. Some of our most notables are the cool lavender blooms of Mexican Bush Sage and Blue Fall Aster. The bright yellow of Mexican Mint Marigold is a great companion. Salvia greggi are blooming in pinks, reds and many other shades, great forage for migrating humming birds and butterflies. Texas sage puts on a big purple bloom after rains and Knock-out roses are flushing again. All of these plants are also tolerant of dry conditions and water restrictions.

Salvia Leucantha

The next several weeks should provide some of our most pleasant weather and some great flowers. Get out and enjoy this great time of year!

Salvia Greggi

Ryegrass Season Starts in September

Over-seeding with ryegrass for the winter is a popular practice that benefits your lawn and sets your home or business apart from the crowd.

Over-seeded lawns have fewer winter weed issues as weed seeds have a difficult time germinating in the thick green cover provided by healthy turf. You might enjoy the fact that winter normally brings enough rainfall to keep your rye green with little or no supplemental watering once established. A green winter lawn also creates a nice foreground or background for early spring flowers such as daffodils, dogwoods, Mexican plums, azaleas, and spiraeas. Even Christmas lighting is more attractive when framed by lush green grass instead of dormant brown lawn.

There are 2 primary types of rye seed available, annual and perennial.

Annual rye seed is the one most commonly used but will need to be mowed every week in the spring as its rate of growth is quite fast. Perennial rye is more refined, with a darker green color and slower rate of growth, but sometimes is more difficult to get it to germinate. In our area the term perennial is not accurate in regards to rye, as most ryegrasses burn out by June. In shady areas or if we have prolonged cool, wet weather into the summer, ryegrass may persist longer.

The normal preparation for over seeding is to mow the lawn a few notches lower and rake or bag the clippings during the last half of September through October. This allows the seed to make better contact with the ground and improves germination. Depending on rainfall, the seed should be watered at least twice a week until it is up and growing. Once it is up, mowing requirements will vary depending on the weather and type of seed used. Mowing once every 14 days is usually the norm. Light fertilizing in December and February will really enhance the appearance, especially if we are having a dry winter.

Call us for a free quote if you would like a lush green winter lawn this year.

Late Summer Lawn Care

Last month we reminded you that grub worms are most vulnerable in August and that is an optimal time to treat. Well, we have seen several infestations, so you may want to consider treating now while the window is still open.

As evenings start to cool in late September and on through November, watch for irregular circular brown spots in St. Augustine during rainy weather. Brown patch is a common fungus that can do severe damage to your lawn going into winter. In fact, since take-all patch also becomes active in fall, you should consider a preventative fungicide application. We have professional products that are labeled for both problems, and it is much better to treat proactively. Once take-all patch has infected the roots, there is virtually no way to save the lawn.

Spurge is a flat broadleaf weed that sprouts in July-August after a good rain. Fast growing and difficult to control, this is the dominant weed problem we are seeing at this time. Your next application will contain a broadleaf spray to help control this if you have any in your lawn.

One reason that late summer weeds like spurge are hard to control is that most herbicides will damage the lawn in hot weather. Celsius or similar sulfonylureas are about the only option for weed control with minimal turf stress.

Reliving the 70s with a little help from his spurge

Fall Bird Feeding

The fall and spring migrations give even the most casual bird watcher an opportunity to see unique birds that may only be here for a short time.

Keeping a feeder or two stocked and a source of water will keep colorful characters interacting in your garden all year, and they may be especially noticeable when deciduous plants lose their foliage.

We have a great assortment of year-round residents that appreciate the extra forage in winter- cardinals, chickadees, wrens, dove, titmice, downy woodpeckers, jays, and red bellied sapsuckers to name a few. But any bird feeder has the potential to draw in visitors from far away during the migration. Common guests may include juncos, cedar waxwings, yellow rump warblers, red breasted nuthatches, goldfinches, orange crowned warblers, and more. Some may hang around for days, some may stop in only briefly, but seeing a bird you have never seen before can be quite a thrill.

Be sure your feeders are located in an area convenient for viewing and pick up a good identification guide.

Different seed blends can attract different species, and many of our ornamental shrubs provide forage for certain species too—cedar waxwings are famous for lighting on a mahonia bealei in late winter and quickly removing the ripe fruits. A flurry of activity like this adds interest and excitement to any garden.

A great source of information on birding can be found at your local Audubon Society, www.FWAS.org

“If you build it, they will come.” Including squirrels too, unfortunately!

Veggie Gardening

This was another great year for vegetable gardeners, at least through the spring. June and July have been pretty dry but our gardens got regular rainfall and mild weather all winter and spring, making for some prime conditions.

You might be thinking, why talk about it now? “I’ll plant a few peppers and tomatoes next April.”

If you wait until then though, you miss out on a great gardening season.

If your soil is ready to go, you can plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, beans, and squash in early August for fall dinners, and cool season plants like spinach, lettuce, carrots, radish, and sugar snap peas in September - October for late fall and winter harvesting. I even plant carrots at 1 month intervals starting in September through November and have fresh carrots to eat from December through March.

Depending on what kind of winter we have, you can start planting onions, cabbage and other cool season plants in December - February. Just keep a frost blanket handy in case we get a hard freeze for several days.

Most winters give us regular rain and mild conditions, perfect for plants like broccoli, spinach, and lettuce that just can’t take our summer heat.

A spring harvest from the Hoover veggie patch. This year was great for broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.

Incidentally, kids get a thrill from planting a seed and seeing a plant grow from that simple act. A garden is a great real-life classroom for them to learn about natural processes. And who knows? It may even entice them to eat something they have refused in the past if they grow it themselves!

"Hmmm, maybe fruits and veggies aren't so bad after all"

Planning For Fall Projects

Every year we like to remind customers that Fall is an excellent time for landscape improvements.

Everyone gets spring fever and enjoys freshening up their yard in spring, but well informed gardeners know that Fall is really the best season for planting most of our landscape ornamentals. Trees, shrubs, and perennials that are planted in September through December get to take advantage of our traditionally mild temperatures and regular rains.

Plants that go in the ground in the Fall have reduced heat stress now and are better equipped to handle the inevitable dry conditions of next summer. Although most plants will show little or no top growth during the winter, it’s what is going on in the ground that counts. Root systems thrive in our mild Fall weather and grow vigorously all winter, giving you bigger, healthier plants next year.

Use these hot days of August to make plans for your fall landscape projects.

August Lawn Chores

• Mow weekly and do not bag the clippings


• Hand water newly planted areas and trees


• Watch for dry areas and signs of chinch bugs in turf


• Check and adjust sprinkler systems (don't forget to mind your city's water restrictions!)


• Mulch planting beds


• Treat for grub worms

Fresh mulch and adequate water keeping it green!

August- The Toughest Month

Sun worshippers may love it, but gardeners know the next 30 days will likely be the hardest part of our season.

Barring hurricane spawned rain events, August is traditionally our hottest, driest month. So, repeat after me, the Texas gardener’s mantra: Mulch is good, I love my water hose. Mulch is good, I love my water hose…

We actually had a great week of rain mid-July and not a lot of extreme heat so far. Just keep an eye on tender plants like hydrangeas or newly planted trees and shrubs, and check your sprinklers regularly for clogged nozzles, worn out rotors, low heads, heads blocked by shrubs, etc. It only takes a week or so to do serious damage to lawns and landscapes that are not receiving enough water, so stay alert!

You can't beat old fashion hand watering!

It's Time To Treat For Grub Worms

Don’t forget! August is the time of year to treat for grub worms.

Most of our grub damage is brought on by the larva of the June beetle. Peak flights of the June beetle occur in mid-May to mid-June and eggs hatch about 1 month later. Grubs are easiest to kill at this early stage of their growth when they are closer to the soil surface.

Not every yard will have a large enough population to cause damage, but if you have had one in the past you may be in a location that is prone to infestation.

Lawns close to street lights where June bugs gather are often hit hard, and ironically, they often attack well watered lush lawns when soil is soft and food (roots) is abundant.

They will do serious damage to turf over the next two months, so treat now to avoid losing your lawn.

Prices start at just $75.00 for lawns up to 4,000 sq. ft., with up to 50% off for customers that are already on our 7 step chemical program!

An actual soil sample from one of our lawns.
This many grubs in 1 sq. ft. of soil is enough to do serious damage.

Fall Pre-emergent and Fertilizer - The Most Important Application

If you are on our regular lawn application program you will be receiving an application of pre-emergent weed control in September— October. If you are not on our full service program, call today to schedule.

This is the most important lawn application of the year!

Winter weeds begin germinating in September and October, and depending on weather conditions may not be noticeable until spring. But if you want the best chance of reducing or eliminating those unsightly weeds you see in March, you must treat the seeds now!

Dandelions, thistles, henbit, chickweed, oxalis, rescue grass, and poa annua are the biggest culprits in our spring gallery of weed problems, and most of these seeds will start sprouting when soil temperatures at the surface drop below 70 degrees. It doesn’t take too many days of cool cloudy weather to achieve this, so timing is critical.

Pre-emergents rarely offer 100% control, but they will make a big difference. Pre-emergents work by creating a chemical barrier in the soil that kills the seedling as it starts to emerge. This application is normally combined with a broadleaf weed post-emergent control to kill any that have already sprouted. Heavy rains or wet winters may dilute or move the chemical barrier deeper in the soil sometimes reducing effectiveness.

Our fall application also includes fertilizers to get your lawn ready for dormancy. Nitrogen helps thicken the lawn and smother weeds, and potassium builds stronger root systems to help your lawn through hard freezes and promote early green-up in spring.

Fall - A Great Season For Gardening

August gets a B+ this year, with our hot streak taking a rain break around the middle of the month and evenings dipping into the seventies. This doesn’t mean that hot weather is gone for good, but it appears that things are easing and we can get back to enjoying our yards and start our fall gardening projects.

I get as excited about this time of year as I do spring, and it always seems to fly by just as quickly.

Get those fall veggies planted, prune out the sun burnt stuff, and get the fall pre-emergent and fertilizers put out. Plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and new lawns, but—we have to control ourselves and hold off on pansies until no earlier than October.

You should have plenty to do as the days get shorter, and soon enough you’ll be able to enjoy a cool evening around your outdoor fire pit.

Wait—you don’t have one of those yet? Hmmm, maybe you better give us a call!