The basics of Water-Wise landscaping
Photo by Cliff Roe PhotographyBy Bob Dailey Water-wise gardening simply means using good common sense. It reduces irrigation needs, lowers water bills, lowers maintenance and provides a much higher quality and worry-free landscape. Here are some general guidelines for establishing one: Planning and design- Take some time to look at your yard. You may even […]
New Years Resolutions to make your yard more lovely in the spring
By Bob Dailey Follow the Integrated Pest Management program promoted by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. IPM integrates best practices for control of pests and diseases. It includes preventive cultural practices, monitoring, mechanical controls, biological controls, and finally chemical controls if all else fails. For more complete information, call the Montgomery County Master Gardeners Hotline at […]
Rebates abound from your water service
By Bob Dailey Customers of Woodlands Water have a lifetime $150.00 rebate (50% of $300.00) on a wide variety of water savings devices. Here are rebate categories available to residents: Native Plants A new initiative, begun in 2018, is the rebate program for native plants. Woodlands Water has chosen 100 drought-tolerant plants native to Southeast […]
Don’t guess, SOIL TEST
Now here’s a test you want to take. Soil Testing – the key to a lush, green lawn and landscape – tells you if your soil has imbalances in nutrients (like iron) or conditions (like pH). The results then guide your fertilizing, telling you specifically what to add and what not to add (did you know too […]
Feed your lawn the right way
11 fertilizing tips for a lush and healthy lawn. 1. Get a Soil Test This one’s first on the list for a reason: soil testing is the only way to really know what your lawn needs to reach its healthiest, lushest potential. It tells you if your soil has imbalances in nutrients (like iron) or […]
Compost – The Secret to a Beautiful Lawn
by John Geiger Hands down, the most critical component to a healthy, lush, green lawn is healthy soil – loose, full of air, full of microbes and rich in organic matter. It’s a place where roots can spread deeply, and organisms thrive. And what’s the most efficient way to achieve healthy soil? Compost! Why Compost? […]
People, pets and lawn chemicals
Cliff Roe PhotographyBy Bob Dailey Most people in The Woodlands want a beautiful lawn and are willing to pay big bucks insuring lawns are lush and green. In the endless process of having emerald expanses in front of homes, residents here spend millions on lawn beauty products – pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers – to […]
Mulch your grass clippings – don’t bag them
By Bob Dailey Green lawns are attractive. Keeping them attractive is not much of a problem if you follow a few simple rules. A&M Research The Don’t Bag It program was developed by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension back in the late 1980s and proved conclusively that collecting clippings was a waste of time and […]
Earthworms: Free fertilizer for lawns
Photo by Cliff Roe PhotographyBy Bob Dailey “It may be doubted that there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organized creatures.” -Charles Darwin, The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms. The best method to judge the health of […]