Latest Posts

• Hot Tips To Cool Off Your Lawn

  

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• Drought Tolerant Landscapes

  With 65% of Texas in varying degrees of drought conditions (as of April, 2018), it’s a safe bet that the condition of your landscape will depend on how drought tolerant your design is. Increasingly dry conditions have been predicted over the coming years, and you’ll want to make sure your landscape is prepared in advance.

  When considering how best to prepare for long seasons of drought, consider the following:

  1. Consult with a professional for plant selection.  Plants help to regulate temperature and humidity, protect your soil from erosion in addition to adding beauty to your property.  The right plants will also help to support pollinators and wildlife in your area. A professional will not only take this into consideration, they will also know how large shrubs will grow, and what plants will grow best on your property.  A properly trained landscape professional will understand how best to layer sizes and textures, what will grow best in your property’s soil conditions and climate, and help you choose the right colors and textures for your design.
  2. Consider native plants for your design.  Plants that are adapted to your specific climate will need less water once established in your landscape.  
  3. Adjust your mowing schedule.  Consult with your lawn care professional about how often and high you mow your lawn.  Frequency and height adjustments can go a long way when it comes to weathering an extended dry spell.  Find out what is optimal for your grass variety and adjust your schedule as needed.
  4. Make sure your plants have enough nourishment.  Consider a soil test to check the pH balance of your soil, and consider composting to nourish your plants in a sustainable way.
  5. Retain moisture through mulching.  Check with your landscape pro to find out what type of mulch is right for your property, and get the most attractive and effective mulch for your plants.  Mulching will help to retain water in your garden beds.
  6. Make sure your irrigation system is on point.  Don’t let a small leak or pressure problem cause water (and money) waste in your yard.  Have your irrigation system checked yearly to ensure all zones are working properly.
  7. Consider a water retention upgrade.  Updating your landscape design for water retention can be a great way to help your outdoor space.
  8. Be smart about your irrigation.  An outdated irrigation system is going to waste water and money.  Updating to a smart irrigation system will allow your irrigation system to deliver the right moisture to the right areas.  A smart system can cut water usage up to 40%.

  Taking the right steps now to have a more drought tolerant landscape will save you money in the long run.  Make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your outdoor spaces healthy and thriving during these drought years.  Contact ECO Irrigation & Landscaping today to start your landscaping project!

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• Partner With A Landscape Professional

  A beautifully landscaped yard is on just about every homeowner’s wish list, and while tackling some projects yourself is rewarding, every home can benefit from the input of a landscaping professional.  

  Working with a professional team gives you a distinct advantage.  You will be working with a group who has experience working with materials, plants and techniques you may not be familiar with.  A successful landscaping team will be able to blend their horticulture, soil biology, engineering and other skills to create the outdoor space of your dreams.

  A landscape designer brings a lot to the table.  Your designer will take your ideas into account while he or she develops a plan that will highlight everything that is amazing about your home.  The team will bring ideas to the table, and then spin those ideas into creative solutions to bring the vision you have for your home to life.

  Working with seasoned professionals ensures your landscape design will not only be buildable, it will also be sustainable.  A professional team will have a greater knowledge of construction capabilities, hiring one allows you to draw on that knowledge and save yourself from making construction errors that might cost you significantly more to fix.

  You’ll have confidence in your team’s choices when it comes to every aspect of the design and implementation of the project.  Because you’ll be working with a team, you have the advantage of a pro who specializes in a specific aspect of your build. Professional teams will have specialists installing your rock work, plants, irrigation, you name it!  

  Any project is going to take a great amount of teamwork to complete, and your landscape pros have partners they will work with to get your project completed within your budget and time frame.  Teams rely on these relationships to bring you the highest quality product within your price range. When it comes to teamwork, your landscaping professionals will go the extra mile for your project.

  If you have a landscape project welling up in the back of your mind, let the ECO family help you bring that project to life.  

  We can take your project from idea to reality, and offer our services to help you maintain your landscape for years to come.

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• Save Water, Save Money

  Water is the engine that drives your lush, beautiful lawn.  With Central Texas’ slow infiltration and shallow bedrock, it can seem like a near impossible endeavor.  Keeping your lawn healthy and green might seem like a lot of work, but there are some easy ways you can give your yard all the water it needs without draining your bank account.

  1. Timing is everything.  Make sure you are watering your lawn in the early morning. Watering your lawn in the heat of the afternoon can cause up to 30% of your water to evaporate, and that’s water that your lawn is not getting.
  2. Cycle & Soak. If you are noticing runoff with normal irrigation times, try a short duration watering cycle followed by a longer “soak” cycle. Watering in smaller time increments will allow our compacted clay soils to absorb more water.  Don’t forget, if you are using a timer system, make sure it is in tip top condition to avoid run-off, and consider adding a rain or soil moisture sensor so you don’t have to turn the system off if you get a lot of rain.
  3. Save some rain for another day.  Rain harvesting is an environmentally conscious option to consider.  Install a rain barrel to harvest rainwater for watering your landscape.  Collected water is free of many salts and chemicals present in most groundwater, so it is beneficial for your plants.  
  4. Don’t ignore your irrigation system.  Hire a professional to maintain your irrigation system so it functions optimally throughout the year.  Leaks or other problems in the system can cost you money you don’t even know you’re spending. A leak, even 1/32” in diameter, can result in more than 6,000 gallons of wasted water per year.  Because these leaks can be so small, you may not notice them, but a professional will be able to pinpoint these issues and solve them before your money is washed down the drain. 
  5. Never underestimate the power of mulching.  Keep root zones cooler and hold moisture by using an appropriate mulch for your yard.  When choosing a mulch, be sure to consult a professional to advise which mulch is the right one for your application.
  6. Give your soil an upgrade.  Consider a topdressing for your lawn.  Topdressing is a prepared soil mix that can be applied to the surface of your lawn to improve water, air and nutrient movement into your soil.  Bear in mind that topdressing should be applied by a professional since the practice can be detrimental if done improperly.

  Wasteful water usage is bad for the environment and your wallet.  Make sure you are taking steps to curb water waste while taking care of your lawn.  Contact Eco Irrigation and Landscaping if you need help saving money and water!

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