ECOSystems Landscape Services

March Landscape Tips - ECOSystems Landscape Services

Spring is in the air and the first signs of wildflowers have appeared all over town. It is time to prep your landscaping for a successful year!

Turf
Now is the time to prepare your lawn. If you have not done so yet, get your pre-emergent w**d control applications completed in order to help prevent w**ds. Once the last freeze hits, lower your mow height by about 1/3 to remove some of the brown blades. Do not scalp St. Augustine to the ground, as this will do more harm than good. Lowering the mow height will also help to allow the soil to warm up faster.

Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer; look for slow release formulas to help feed your lawn. Remember, even dormant turf needs to have the roots fed.

Spot spray any remaining w**ds in shrub beds and turf areas with appropriate herbicides. Once these are dead, the pre-emergent should provide satisfactory control for at least two months. DO NOT use non-selective herbicides in your turf or you will end up with dead brown circles.

Shrubs
Clean up all the leaves from around the base of your shrubs when doing your perennial cut-backs. Shrubs planted early in March and April will have a much better chance of surviving the hot summer heat and the watering restrictions.

Irrigation
Check and repair your irrigation system. When watering is needed, try so soak the soil to a depth of about 4" and allow the soil to "dry out" before watering again. If rainfall is adequate, turn your controller off or install a rain sensor to do it automatically for you as to not waste water.

If you would like more information on your landscape please contact ECOSystems at 512-977-0052 or E-mail at [email protected].

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March Landscape Tips Email from ECOSystems Landscape Services     March Landscape Tips Spring is Coming! by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager Spring is in the air and the first signs of wildflowers have appeared al

February Landscape Tips - ECOSystems Landscape Services
Is it winter or spring? Central Texas sure has had some wacky weather this season. Cold and in the teens one day, beautiful and 70’s the next. No matter what the weather, if you can’t wait to get back to work on your yard, there are plenty of things you can do to prep your landscaping.

Trees
This is a great time of the year for pruning of Oak trees to help prevent possible spread of Oak Wilt. Remove deadwood, crossing branches, and raise canopies as needed. Use pruning paint on all cuts to seal the wounds. Do your best to complete all tree pruning by the end of the month before trees come out of dormancy.

Ornamental Beds
Cut back perennials to about 2”- 4” above the ground after the second hard freeze of the year. Removing dead wood from some perennials before the last freeze may remove the last line of defense the plant has from lasting frost damage. Cut back ornamental grasses to 10” – 12” above ground. Trim back roses right after Valentine's Day.

Fertilize ornamental beds with balanced slow release fertilizer. Deadhead winter annuals such as Snapdragons, Pansies, Dianthus, and Cyclamen. Continue to fertilize your flowers to maintain blooms but remember the freezes can set them back.

Treat or hand pull broadleaf w**ds such as Dandelion and Clover. Pre-emergent herbicides can be applied in February to help minimize spring w**ds. Begin cleaning up leaves and debris in shrub beds in preparation for your pre-emergent herbicide applications. Remember to keep your mulch depth at about 1” - 2” to help protect the roots and make the best use of water.

Turf
Although we just got some much needed rain, remember to continue to water as necessary since the root systems of your grass are still growing even in the winter months. This is a good month to do your pre-emergent and fertilize your grass. Remember to keep the leaves cleaned up and not allow them to lay on the grass and cause it to die.

If you would like more information on your landscape please contact ECOSystems at 512-977-0052 or E-mail at [email protected].

https://conta.cc/4kabTRE

February Landscape Tips Email from ECOSystems Landscape Services     February Landscape Tips Getting Ready for Spring! by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager Is it winter or spring? Central Texas sure has had some wacky

September Newsletter - ECOSystems Landscape Services

After intense heat and little to no rain, the upper 90's feel like a slight relief in temperature. Plants are struggling with the drought conditions and water restrictions. Here are a few tips you can do in September to keep your plant hanging on!

Trees
The immediate danger of spreading oak wilt is between the months of February and June. The high heat and humid conditions during this time are perfect for these fungal spores to thrive. As the weather begins to cool, the chances of passing infection from tree to tree decreases dramatically. Still, proper pruning techniques are vital to maintaining the health of any plant, especially trees. When pruning trees, especially oaks, ensure your tools are clean and the wound is treated with a pruning paint to avoid introduction of infection. Pruning too late in the season may flush new growth which may not have time to harden off before a freeze, which may in turn lead to stunted growth. Tree planting is highly encouraged in the fall, provided adequate irrigation is available through establishment.

Ornamental Beds
Maintaining a layer of mulch on all perennial beds and continuing to water deeply and infrequently will help to ensure the vitality of your ornamentals going into Fall. Pruning some woody perennials now can result in an impressive show of fall flowers. Remember to never remove more than one-third of the foliage of the plant when pruning and wait at least a week before and after any major pruning to apply fertilizers or pest control agents.

Turf
As the month progresses, and the heat and humidity begin to reduce, do not decrease your mower height until it begins to cool down even more. Get prepared to apply pre-emergent and fall fertilizers.

Irrigation
Continue practicing responsible watering and stick to the watering restrictions for your area. Remember to only water as needed and on your scheduled watering day. Hand water or use soakers around trees that are struggling. Check your spray heads and rotors for proper patterns and arc to ensure efficient coverage.

If you would like more information on your landscape please contact ECOSystems at 512-977-0052 or E-mail at [email protected].

https://conta.cc/41yoia4

September Landscape Tips Email from     September Landscape Tips Getting Some Heat Relief! by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager After intense heat and little to no rain, the upper 90's feel like a slight relief in temp

August Landscape Tips - ECOSystems Landscape Services

August is here and we have been so fortunate to have wetter than normal conditions and cooler temperatures this summer. Although we have received some rainfall, we still need to think about irrigation. Proper irrigation is key to plant material surviving the rest of the summer.

The most efficient time to water outdoor flowers, plants and turf is before the heat of the day, when the soil is the coolest and the water has the best chance of seeping down to the roots of the plants before evaporating. Watering plants early will ensure that they have sufficient store of moisture beneath the soil to withstand the heat of a hot summer day. Remember to avoid runoff and waste. If only a small section needs additional water, try hand watering that area or simply running just that section to avoid wasting water.

Irrigation Systems

1) Make sure your system is set to run on your correct watering days and times. Each water supplier/city has different rules, so make sure to adhere to them. Most cities post them on their websites.

2) Walk your system, head by head to inspect for clogs, leaks, and inoperative valves. It needs to be running at 100% efficiency.

3) Set a “run-soak-run” program. Instead of running 12 zones for 10 minutes each, run each zone for 5 minutes and run each cycle 2 times. This allows the water to soak in and not run off. The more cycles the better. With all the current restrictions in place regarding watering and restriction on the length of time you can water, here is a plan to significantly improve your use of water if used properly.

4) As soon as water begins to pool or run off it is no longer being absorbed and quickly evaporates, wasting a lot of water. So, if you are trying to water for 1 hour per section on your water schedule, you are better off with 4, 5 or even 6 start times and only 7 - 10-minute run times. This will allow for less run off and deliver more water to the plants.

5) Most irrigation systems put out about 1” per hour. Try to put out at least 1 inch of water per week. This is the bare minimum for most plants and turf. Use a “catch cup” or rain gauge to confirm your usage.

6) Never run water in the heat of the day. As much as 70% of water is lost to evaporation during that time.

Drip Irrigation

Nothing is more water efficient than drip irrigation because the water goes directly where it’s needed, under the plant, not over the curb. Covering the tubing with mulch helps to hold in the water and protects it from the sun. Additionally, most water authorities allow drip to run on most days without restrictions.

If you would like more information on your landscape please contact ECOSystems at 512-977-0052 or E-mail at [email protected].

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August Landscape Tips Email from     August Landscape Tips Managing Irrigation by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager August is here and we have been so fortunate to have wetter than normal conditions and cooler tempe