Our Top Landscape Tips of 2019

With decades in the landscape business, there isn’t much we haven’t seen: both good and bad. There is a lot of preference when it comes to designing a great landscape, however there are some common practices that great landscapes have incorporated that we’d like to share with you!

✭ ✭ PRE-INSTALATION ✭ ✭

1) MAKE A PLAN

If this is your first time to invest in the beautification of your yard (or even if it isn’t), don’t make the mistake of “just winging it”. Have a plan! Start off by sketching your yard, even a rough sketch will do just fine. This will help you in a number of ways, most notably because it forces you to take measurements (so you’ll know how much material you’ll need to buy) and also get you visualizing the end result. Plus, you’ll already start to feel like a real Landscape Architect!

Tips: Measure, Sketch, Visualize, Budget. Create hard edges and layered flower beds for dramatic visuals! Consider maintenance requirements of the materials you’re using.

2. TEST YOUR SOIL

Get your lawn and garden soil tested. This is a generally affordable service, but will eliminate any guessing regarding fertility requirements which can lead to expensive mistakes. Soil test results provides you with the current conditions and what you’ll need to apply for your type of lawn, flower garden, vegetable crops, etc. You may find that your home builder used poor quality soil which may require some additional treatments to create the right environment for growth.

Tips: Lawn & Garden companies can also analyze if you have insects that may cause damage (chinch bugs/ants/army worms/termites/etc). You’ll want to take care of those in advance of any planting.

3. UPGRADE YOUR TOOL GAME!

Even the best landscapers can be hindered by poor tools, what do you think will happen with ammeters using poor tools? Not only do cheap tools break easily, they make the job harder and less likely that you get out there to maintenance your yard! You’ll save money and enjoy working in your yard a lot more if you invest in the proper tools for the job.

Tips: Get a good shovel, wheelbarrow, gloves, pruning shears, rake, blower and if you mow, consider a 4-week drive and lawn edger. These will pay dividends over time.

✭ ✭ PREPARE FOR INSTALLATION ✭ ✭

4) PREP YOUR YARD

Before you start digging, cutting, planting, clean your yard! Remove any debris, toys, sprinklers, etc. We recommend not sending leaves to the landfill. Mow small quantities into the lawn to provide a light dose of fertilizer for the grass and food for earthworms. You can use a bagging mower or leaf shredding blower/vac to grind up fall leaves for use as mulch or add them to the compost pile. The compost can provide great fertilizer for flower beds and save you a lot of money.

Tip: Using a mulching mower instead of bagging and dumping grass clippings will cut fertilizer requirements by as much as 30%!

✭ ✭ INSTALLATION ✭ ✭

4) USE DROUGHT-RESISTANT PLANTS

We’ve seen a lot of do-it-yourselfers start out with high hopes in spring, and come back disappointment in the summer. Why? Because the summer heat wilts all of that promising spring perkiness out of their plants! The answer? Use drought-tolerant plants/trees/palms!

Tip: Ask Verdant which plants/shrubs/trees/palms are best for drought or low maintenance! Expert advice is free of charge!

4) USE WEED FABRIC STRATEGICALLY

Landscape fabric is most useful under areas like gravel or mulch walkways because it helps keep the material from sinking into the soil. However, it’s not so useful when being used in planted areas. It only provides a short-term sense of achievement until the weeds start growing in the mulch on top of the fabric because weeds are relentless!

Tip: When planting trees & palms consider a Polyethylene root barrier which can prevent roots from destroying the foundation of your home and sidewalks.

✭ ✭ POST INSTALLATION ✭ ✭

5) SUPERCHARGE GROWH USING A STARTER FERTILIZER

Don’t skip this all-important step. Use a starter fertilizer whenever you plant anything…ever! Starter fertilizers can provide a tremendous boost to new plantings and save you from the embarrassment of wondering why your plants are dying in the first week.

Tip: The starter fertilizers contain low nitrogen, a little more phosphorous, and most importantly mycorrhizae-beneficial fungi which helps to greatly increase the soil area from which plant roots draw their sustenance.

If you found any of these tips useful, please share this article and we’ll have a beautiful world to enjoy together!

Here is a list of Just a few of our trees we carry: Medjools, Phoenix Dactylifera, California fan palm, Pindo, Sylvester, Mediterranean fan, Pygmy, Queen, Live oak, Red Oak, Bald Cypress, Green Ash, Mexican Sycamore, Bottlebrush, Cedar Elm, Magnolia, Mule Palms, Texas Sabal, Windmill Palm, ect.

We are Houston’s largest nursery (20 acres). If you are in the market for large or small trees this is where you want to come. You’ll get to hand pick the trees and if you need, we can even install them for you. We offer the best warranty in the industry and we actually stand behind our work. We are Veteran owned! Come by and see us today!

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