Thorny....and beautiful!

The Team — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:13:22 +0100

When I say "beautiful flowers and thorns" what comes to mind? Roses? Most likely. But how about cactus?

Currently, many Austinites are concerned about landscapes and gardens that have low water needs. A lot of people want highly drought tolerant lawns, but feel depressed about having cactus or yuccas and the like. All they can conjure up is images of barren deserts full of dangerously spiky succulents.

But things are never what they seem. ManyRead More...

Permaculture Principles: Biological Resources

The Team — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:02:36 +0100

Everyone and everything is a biological resource. How we appropriately use our resourses is the key. Resources can be used to the detriment of your landscape or to encourage a healthy landscape.

"Bugs" are a biological resource and most of the time we see them as pests (especially if you have a vegetable garden). The key to proper management of a garden would be to attract the good guys! Everyone knows that lady bugs are important and so are earth worms. We want to attract them toRead More...

Spicewood Fire Clean Up

The Team — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:29:18 +0100

Over the Labor Day weekend fires broke out all around the Austin, Texas area. These fires wiped out large areas of Bastrop and Spicewood and lots of clean up was needed to remove burned out trees and brush.

Employees from Perfect Lawns and Landworks generously donated their time and efforts to assist with the Spicewood fire clean up. They chipped burned trees, cleaned up concrete, and removed stumps.

It's About Time!!

The Team — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:59:49 +0100

Finally, a break in the weather! While we are still a little warmer than normal, it seems that the super hot days are behind us.

That means its Fall Vegetable Garden time!! October is a fantastic time to start a veggie garden in Austin.

Remember that at most properties around town, you need a raised bed to properly "feed" your little veggies. Our soils are too shallow and on the alkaline side. Raised beds can be easily made from cedar planks, or get fancy and construct Read More...

Is It Time To Switch Your Lawn?

The Team — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:58:35 +0100

Is your lawn a nice toasty brown color these days? If so you might be looking at replacing your turf this fall. If you are in Austin you might be eligable for the City of Austin's Landscape Conversion Incentives. Check out the information on rebates for switching your water hungry lawn to a more drought tolerant option - Landscape Conversion Incentive: Lawn Remodel Option

If you are looking for my drought friendly options for your lawn, I'd suggest making some of the following chanRead More...

Outdoor Solutions - Flagstone Patio

The Team — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:47:49 +0100

A good way to cut down on large swaths of grass is to create a new outdoor room. It might be hot now, but in Austin we enjoy fairly mild weather for fall through spring giving us plenty of time to spend outside. A patio is a great way to create space to enjoy your backyard.

A patio will provide space to set up tables for entertaining, a bench and chairs, or even a hammock on a metal frame for relaxation. My personal favorite use for a patio is sipping coffee and reading a gooRead More...

Drought Resistant?

The Team — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:23:40 +0100

Austin has been hot and dry. Lawns, plants, even people are suffering from this unusually bad drought. So what's working in the landscape despite the wacky weather?

In my yard the following plants are doing just fine with little water and record breaking heat:

1. Plumbago - it's getting a little droopy in the late afternoon but still blooming and chugging along.

2. Yellow bells - lots of blooms, not too droopy....actRead More...

Dreaming of Fall Gardening...and Beautiful Trees!

The Team — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0100

All this heat has kept me out of my garden and left me dreaming of future planting ventures. The reality is that February is the perfect time to plant trees in Central Texas, but I’m thinking about it right now! Is there a tree you’ve seen around town that you love? Let us know your favorites.

Here are a few of mine:

Permaculture Principles: Multiple Functions and Redundancy

The Team — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Elements should perform on multiple levels. When practicing permaculture design principles, you want to avoid things that have only one function. Ideally, elements should have at least three uses.

If you build an arbor think about the different purposes of the arbor - you can grow grapes on the arbor which will create shade and provRead More...

Permaculture Principles: Diversity and Edge

The Team — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:31:22 +0100

Diversity of species (both plant and animal) is gaining awareness. Many countries, fearful that they will lose native plants, are collecting heirloom seeds in massive seed vaults. Seed saving classes are popular for home gardeners who wish to not only save money by harvesting seeds, but also protect the species. Diversity of plants and animals, as well as age and purpose, is an important principle for permaculture.

Permaculture Principles - Stack and Pack!

The Team — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Permaculture is all about efficient use of space. For instance, a forest garden is a popular design - it involves creating spaces that use the vertical and horizontal elements. One plants trees, shrubs, and groundcovers all in one space.

Also, one plants densely (paRead More...

The Landscape Architect in a design / build practice

The Team — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0100

First steps

Many homeowners know of landscape architects more through their personal encounters with them via residential landscape design experiences, rather than through high profile commercial or government projects. Most homeowners who used the design Read More...

How to Manage Those Hard to Control Weeds - (Part 3 of 3)

The Team — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Nutsedges resemble grass and are often referred to as “nutgrass”; however, they aren’t grasses but are true sedges. The two most commom species of nutsedge are yellow nutsedge and purple nutsedge. Their leaves are thicker and stiffer than most grasses and are arrangedRead More...

How to Manage Those Hard to Control Weeds - (Part 2 of 3)

The Team — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dallisgrass is a warm- season coarse textured grassy weed that is light in color. The leaves are rolled in the bud, flat and wide. It is a “perennial” weed which technically means a plant that lives more than two years. It produces abundant amounts of seeds which usually germinate in spring and summer when soil temperatures are in the 60 to 65 degree range and grow to form new clumps. Read More...

How to Manage Those Hard to Control Weeds - (Part 1 of 3)

The Team — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds found in lawns. It is appropriately named, as it often grows low to the ground, spreading outward resembling a crab. It is an “annual” weed which means that it grows each year from germinating seeds, completes its life cycle by the end of the season producing more seeds, then dies. This weedRead More...

Landscape Design in Austin, Texas: Permaculture Principles (Part 2 of 2)

The Team — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:08:26 +0100

Children do this naturally. Many of my clients who have young kids request what I call a “Discovery Area” – a place were bright young minds can stare at leaves, caterpillars, and shove little hands into tRead More...

Landscape Design in Austin, Texas: Permaculture Principles (Part 1 of 2)

The Team — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 04:26:44 +0100

Before I jump into the oh-so-fascinating description of the guiding principles of permaculture, here is the quick break down to get your gray mass going:

Observation of nature
Diversity and Edge
Relative location
Each element performs multiple functions
Be Redundant
Energy efficient planning
Energy cycling
Appropriate technology
Small scale intensive systems
Stocking
Staking and packing
Biological resources
Observe natural patterns
Succession

Keep an eye out for the Read More...

Lawn Maintenance in Austin, Texas: What is Lawn Aeration?

The Team — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 03:51:45 +0100

What is Lawn Aeration?

Core aeration is one of the most beneficial services that you can provide for your lawn. The process opens up the lawn by removing small plugs of soil and thatch, allowing more air, water, and nutrients toRead More...

After the Footing: Constructing the Retaining Wall

The Team — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:08:08 +0100

After the completion of the retaining wall footing, you will be anxious to start on the retaining wall construction. Building a wall in Austin, Texas is very common as many homes in Austin, WRead More...

The Steps to Building a Quality Retaining Wall Footing

The Team — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:43:33 +0100

We are wrapping up a large landscape construction project in Austin, between Westlake Hills and Lake Travis. This project is complex and involves a lot of masonry construction.. We have retaining walls, patios,Read More...

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