October: Autumnal winds are starting to blow bringing in cooler temps and shorter days.

Monthly Reminders by oscar on Thursday, October 9, 2014

autumn plants Autumnal winds are starting to blow bringing in cooler temps and shorter days. Because the seasons are changing, now is the best time of year to pamper your plants and re-energize your soil. See below for our current October To-Do List:

FEEDING AND FERTILIZING

Now is the best time to fertilize all around your garden. From trees all the way down to ground covers. Feed your evergreen plants, shrubs and especially your fruit trees. They need feeding/fertilizing about four times per year.
There’s just enough time to apply pre-emergent treatments. If you want to apply any organic weed control, time is of the essence. Do not delay.
Test the pH of your soil. Do you know whether your soil is acidic, alkaline or neutral? Allow us to come by and determine your soil’s chemical composition. Different plants require different pH levels, so once you know your soil’s pH, you can plant plants that will thrive in that particular soil. Or, you can also amend the soil to expand the range of plants you can use.

LAWN

It is always a good idea to mow regularly in order to control weeds. You can never go too short.
De-thatching and aerating your lawn would be very helpful for your lawns’ health.
Top dressing your lawn would strengthen the root systems, and it also would be handy for fungal problems. Fungi can be a intensely problematic during this time of year. Please note: In order to control fungal issues, make sure you don’t water your lawn at night.
Some trees such as Crape Myrtles should be treated during this time of year for Powdery Mildew.

PESTS

Mosquitos: natural pest control is an option that we’d love to discuss with you. Ever thought of attracting some of Austin’s famous bats to your home? They sure do love feasting on those nasty little pests. It’s worth considering.
Pay attention to dead or brown spots on your lawn. You could have a grub infestation. Let us come by and assess.
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a beneficial nematodes Again, let nature’s food chain work for you. Beneficial nematodes feast on and control over 250 different species of insects that spend some part of their lives underground. They are a very efficient and kill most insects before they become adults. This includes many common lawn and garden pests such as grubs, fleas, mole crickets, japanese beetles and weevils, etc.

CLEAN UP AND MAINTENANCE

As fall comes to an end and winter draws near, you may find clumps of leaves in the most problematic places, i.e. your drains, gutters, pools, etc. Call us to clean out and haul off any offending fall foliage. We can even compost it and create mulch for your lawn.
Consider a winter clean-up. Have us come by to manicure your trees. We would remove dead branches which aids in creating balance once your tree starts regrowing again in the spring. We can do the same with your shrubs.

PLANTING

It is now a great time to plant vegetables like beets, broccoli, kale, cabbage, carrots, etc. Fall is also a great time to plant herbs like bronze fennel, Mexican mint marigold, cilantro, parsley, sorrel and dill. Flowers that like to be planted during this time of year are pansies, petunias, Forget-Me-Nots, Indian Blanket and the like.
Don’t forget: the grass in your lawn will soon stop growing and become dormant. One option is to overseed with rye grass. If you decide to overseed, it is a good idea maintain your feeding and fertilization schedule so that your existing grass comes back strong and lush in Spring.
If you’re consider planting any trees, it is strongly recommended that you do so as soon as possible.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

If you want to expand the variety of birds around your house, you might want to consider getting some bird feeders. Since Halloween is just around the corner, don’t forget to save those seeds and replant them. Nothing better than harvesting your own pumpkins for the season. Happy Autumn! and the crew

TAGS: Fall, fertilizing, lawn, pests, pH levels
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March: Conquering a weedy lawn.

Monthly Reminders by oscar on Thursday, March 6, 2014

March-Photo Flowers and grass aren’t the only things about to bud in the coming weeks. Weeds, fungi and molds are set to take over if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Because conquering a weedy lawn is a challenge, the best thing to do is to ensure that your soil is in peak condition before your grass is established. If not, you lawn will need a lot of time and TLC to recover. Weedy lawns are not only an eye sore but can be extremely costly to cure. A weedy lawn is sign that your grass is not happy. And the only way to make your grass happy is to ensure that your soil quality is up to par.

Lawns that have aged or sustained heavy use from pets, play, sports activities and the like are susceptible to soil compaction. Soil compaction significantly reduces the porousness of the soil and prohibits oxygen intake. The result can be lawn deterioration and poor growth. I suggest a combination of aeration and top-dressing/fertilization to make your lawn strong and healthy.

To give a little more information, topdressing is basically the application of compost or a blended soil mixture over the surface of turf grass. Adding a layer of compost may not be a cure all, but it will help to increase your soil’s ability to hold moisture, increase soil depth and add the necessary nutrients and beneficial microorganisms to your turf. Topdressing will also help to fill in depressions and low areas as well as improve drainage, eliminate thatch (i.e. the collection of dead grass clippings which chokes and prevents grass growth) as well as increase the natural resistance to disease and pests. In order to be most effective, topdressing should be done annually. Call us for an estimate.

As always, please see below for our seasonal maintenance suggestions:

TREES: Spring is an ideal time to start feeding and treating your trees. Let’s get them in good shape to face the brutal summer to come.

IRRIGATION: Have you checked your sprinkler system lately? Your system should be checked at least twice per year in order make sure it’s in the best working order. Let us help you make sure that there are no mechanical problems or a build-up of lime, dirt or mud on nozzles so that the water can get to where it needs to go – your plants!

TRIMMING: Trimming is vital to the overall health and growth of your plants. Although we haven’t had too many cold snaps this year, the temperature fluctuations and high winds of late, could compromise some of your branches and consequently the overall health of your trees. Many could possibly benefit from extra trimming and TLC. Let us have our arborist come out and address any issues or concerns.

MULCH: It’s a good time time to replenish if you only have about an inch of mulch or less, especially if you’re already planning on adding some topdressing. Remember, mulch is a great way to prevent weeds from invading flower beds and tree rings and helps maintain moisture in the root system.

ANTS: April marks the beginning of fire ant season. More than just a nuisance during picnics, they sting and can cause serious allergic reactions and overwhelm a yard. Talk to us about ant control solutions.

GARDENING: There’s still time plant and grow your own organic produce! It’s a great time for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, blackberries, pomegranates, figs and much, much more!

SPECIAL PROJECTS: Please let us know if you have any type of project for your outdoors. We are happy to assist or give you some ideas.

Happy spring and looking forward to being of service!

and the crew

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!” ~ Sitting Bull

TAGS: ants, fungi, irrigation, lawn, molds, mulch, weeds
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November Week 1: Nutrients, Planting and Applying Pre-emergent

Weekly Garden Guide for November by oscar on Saturday, November 2, 2013

Botanica’s Weekly Garden Guide for November

Hello friends!

It’s November, and here in Texas it is finally starting to cool. This is when many of the plants in your yard and garden will begin to go dormant until spring. This week we want to talk about some important Central Texas gardening tips and considerations for the winter.

Week 1: Nutrients, Planting and Applying Pre-emergent

There’s lots to get done before the Thanksgiving holiday, but don’t feel overwhelmed. We’re going to take it one step at at time, starting with fertilizer. This week it is prime time to fertilize. You will want to fertilize all around your garden so your plants will comeback healthy and vibrant in the spring. Don’t forget your shrubs and trees, especially fruit trees. They will need to be fed before spring is in full swing. There is a very helpful guide from the Parker County Master Gardener Association on how to care for your fruiting trees. You can find it here.

Another thing to have in mind is pre-emergent treatments. Sure you want your lawn to grow healthy but you DON’T want your weeds in on the action. Pre-emergents should be applied no later than the end of November. Natural pre-emergents, like corn gluten meal, should be applied with a spreader before early spring at a rate of 20 lb. per 1,000 square feet. The application of a pre-emergent will make it difficult for new weeds to take root during sprouting season and the extra nitrogen will help your lawn come back nice and green in the spring.

If you plan on doing some planting, now is a good time to consider roses and new trees. This weekend would be a great time to pick out some vivid annuals and hearty ground covers to plant as well as considering transplanting items that may be outgrowing their current location. You can also divide your perennials now. Keep an eye out for our video on how to divide perennials coming soon.

Lastly, let’s not forget the lawn. Give your lawn a good top dressing with a fresh topsoil/compost mixture. If you’ve been experiencing problems with your lawn, send me an email at oscar@botanica-design.com and I will be happy to address your issues during our end of the month Q&A session. In the meantime consider ryegrass over seeding for lush looking lawns during the cold months. Special note, make sure that if you spread ryegrass seed, you allow it to fully germinate and grow 2-3 inches BEFORE applying your pre-emergent or those poor little seeds won’t stand a chance.

Thanks for tuning in! Come back next week for our discussion on wintertime pest control recommendations and don’t forget to send in your garden questions and concerns before the third thursday so we can help you out in the Botanica End of the Month Q&A Session. We are looking forward to seeing your progress during this wonderful winter.

TAGS: fertilizer, lawn, November, planting, pre-emergent
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