Gardening – Denton Lawn Care & Landscaping

Hardy Plants for a Rock Garden

May 30, 2019June 2, 2019
by Susan Ward

A rock garden refers to the technique of planting several plants in a hard-scale area that uses rocks and stones as intentional components of the landscape. They’re also sometimes referred to as rockery gardens, or as alpine gardens when created at high altitudes. They include the use of sand, boulders, decorative rocks, and gravel.

Rock gardens provide texture and elevation to one’s landscape. They are a great way to mix various forms of vegetation with other organic materials, adding earthy grays and browns to a bed of ivy or a cluster of flowers in bloom. and provides a unique outlook with its different flowers or plants.

However, if you’re working in an already-rocky terrain, you want to be sure and plant things that can thrive in sandy or rocky soil. Here are a few plants that work well in a rock garden:

Creeping Phlox

This kind of plant will perfectly suit your plans to create a rock garden. As a creeping plant, it effectively soaks up standing rainwater between the rocks, and does a great job of spreading along the ground as it grows. As a plus, creeping phlox blooms year-round, so your rock garden will always be colorful.

Alyssum

Also called as the Gold Basket, this perennial plant can give an inspiring yellow ambiance to your rock garden. Alyssum is perfect for boulders and rocks, and provides a bushy yellow blooms. But keep in mind that its blooming season will end as hot weather sets in.

Irish Moss

The rainy season can be a challenge for many rock garden plants, as they tend to favor fairly dry soil. However, Irish Moss produces a traffic-hardy mat-like carpet that with thrive in the wet weather. In addition to its rich green appearance, Irish Moss also produces tiny white spores that look like blossoms.

Euphorbia

Also known as a spotted spurge, this plant has become one of the favorites for rock gardens. Due to its drought and heat resistance, euphorbia does great in this terrain. They come in varying colors, sizes, and shapes, and are easily transferable to a pot if you want to bring them in before a freeze.

Candytuft

Candytuft produces small white blossoms that mainly bloom in the Spring. It is also a drought and heat resistant, making it another great fit for rock gardens. The white blooms often turn bright pink as they mature, and the stems can reach up to 16 inches in length. As the blooms die, you can simply prune them and still enjoy the deep mossy-green ground cover.

Conclusion

Creeping phlox blooms year-round and soaks up standing rain water in your rock garden.
Alyssum is a blooming perennial that fares well in the Spring and Fall seasons.
Irish moss creates a lush green carpet and produces lovely white blossom-like spores.
Candytuft is both drought and heat resistant with small white flower bunches.

If you are planning a rock garden and want to be sure you’ve chosen plants that will thrive on a rocky or sandy surface, these are all great options to consider. Check out more helpful tips in our gardening blog.

Gardening

Best Vegetables to Grow in Texas

May 2, 2019June 2, 2019
by Susan Ward

Texas, being the second largest state in the US, holds a variety of climates and landscapes. Due to this diversity, its topography is suitable for planting many different kinds of crops.

America values its agricultural industry, as it supports the economy and provides an array of foods. As a suitable environment to several different types of vegetation, Texas is home to a large portion of the nation’s agriculture.

Whether you’re looking into farming or simply planning a small vegetable garden, our north Texas region is a great place to begin. Based on the local climate, what are the best vegetables to start out with? Let’s explore some seasonal options and important preparatory steps.

Seasonal Vegetables

Winter

Green cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes are some of the vegetables that can be grown year-round in Texas, including winter. Because of this, they’re broadly referred to as annual plants or annuals.

Texas cultivates a wide variety of cabbage in the winter, such as Chinese cabbage, Savoy cabbage, and Red cabbage. Savoy cabbage does well between January and March, while Chinese cabbage is best planted between January and April, and Red cabbage enjoys the broadest planting season of January to May.

There are also several cold-hardy breeds of lettuce, so long as you’re facing a fairly mild winter. These include varieties that will be familiar to most, such as Iceberg, Romaine, Bibb, and loose-leaf lettuce.

Spring

Early spring is a nice time to plant peas, beets, and spring onions. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower also fare well early in the season.

Spring is also a good time to plant lettuce, but many other leafy vegetables also do well this time of year. Kale, spinach, chard, and arugula will thrive when planted between March and May. For a few non-leafy options, you might consider planting squash, peppers, or cucumbers.

Summer

Summer heat hits pretty hard in Texas, making it a more challenging season for vegetable gardening. Because they grown underground and are protected from direct heat, root vegetables are a safe bet. Carrots, turnips, and a variety of potatoes can thrive in the summer.

Autumn

Many spring vegetables also do well in the fall, if you live in a region where the two seasons offer a similar range of temperatures. Spinach, peas, and broccoli are two examples of crops that do well both times of year.

For more autumn options, consider sprouting some of the bolder veggies. Garlic, radishes, lemon, and coriander are all flavorful options.

Prep, Planting, and Harvesting

Soil Preparation

Before your start planting, good soil preparation is important to support a high crop yield. Soil is composed of organic matter that provides nutrients, and it can be further enriched with composting and fertilizers. Our experts are happy to help out with pH testing and recommendations for the best products to nourish your vegetables.

Pick the Right Breeds

All vegetables have a variety of subspecies available, and nowadays you can often opt for a hybrid that may give a higher yield with good pest resistance. Just like healthy soil fortifies your crops, there are some crops that enhance each other’s growth when planted adjacently. Ask for more info on this if you want to optimize the layout of your vegetable garden.

Well-Timed Harvesting

Harvesting your vegetables either too early or too late can significantly decrease the overall quantity. There’s a lot of variance from one to the next when it comes to the length of time between planting and harvesting. Be sure you educate yourself on the best time to pick your vegetables, to guarantee ripeness and optimal flavor.

Conclusion

With the right information on when to plant and how to care for your crops, you can easily enjoy a gorgeous, delicious vegetable garden every season of the year. For help planting a veggie garden or any other lawn care essentials, our professionals at Denton Lawnscapers are always happy to help.

Gardening

Keeping Your Garden Free of Weeds

April 10, 2019June 26, 2019
by Susan Ward

Denton Lawnscapers is ready to guarantee that your flower garden is healthy and weed-free. We’ve got some great tips on how to get rid of harmful intruders without compromising your beautiful buds.

Applying Herbicides and Fertilizers

Effective herbicide treatment is easy if you choose a fertilize designed to feed your flowers while it combats weeds. Many fertilizers are made specifically to discourage the growth of intrusive species without harming the greenery you want to flourish. There are also several types of weed killers that can be used for spot-treatment in your garden, as long as you’ve got a safe amount of space between the weed and the flowers.

Off With Their Heads (and Their Feet)

When it comes to flowering weeds like dandelions, simply chopping off the head (that is, the flower itself) effectively prevents pollenization. But keep in mind that, in order to prevent the plant from returning, you need to pull it out by the roots. Weeds are a hardy bunch, and they’ll grow back soon enough if you leave behind the root system.

The Power of Spot-Watering

Another handy do-it-yourself method of weed treatment is simply making sure the flowers are getting watered, but not the weeds. Just like with herbicides, this is most effective when there’s a bit of room between the two. If you’ve got a few weeds in the outer regions of your garden, use a watering hose to target only the flowers, and the weeds will eventually wilt and dry out.

The Magic of Mulch

If applied early, mulch can serve as a great preventative against the spread of weeds. Sprinkling the ground cover in your garden with wood chips prevents unwanted plants from sprouting by depriving the topsoil of water and sunlight. Mulching is an attractive, affordable option for preventing weeds from developing.

Denton Lawnscapers offers great products, service and advice for your gardening needs. Let us know how we can help you keep your flower bed flourishing.