ECOSystems Landscape Services

May Landscape Tips - ECOSystems Landscape Service
🌿 The Hill Country is coming alive with vibrant spring color. Recent rains have triggered a beautiful flush of blooms following last year’s drought and extended cold. Now is the time to stay proactive because what you do over the next few weeks will set the foundation for how your landscape performs through the summer heat.

🌱 Mulch: Protect and Preserve
With leaf and pollen season behind us, it’s the perfect time to refresh your mulch. Proper mulching helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and improve overall plant health.

A few key tips:
-Keep mulch pulled back a few inches from tree trunks to prevent insect and disease issues
-Apply mulch in a flat, even layer avoiding “volcano” or “doughnut” shapes
-Ensure water can easily pe*****te down to the root zone
Done correctly, mulch acts as a protective barrier that supports long-term plant health.

💧 Irrigation: Set Yourself Up for Success
Establishing strong root systems now is critical before the summer heat arrives. The key is deep, infrequent watering.

We recommend:
-Performing a full irrigation system walkthrough
-Checking for clogged heads, leaks, misalignment, and poor coverage
-Measuring output using a simple method (like a tuna can) to determine inches per hour
During peak summer, turf typically needs ¾ to 1½ inches of water per week. To maximize efficiency, use a run–soak–run cycle becasue breaking watering into shorter intervals allows better absorption and reduces runoff.

🌾 Turf: Mow Smart, Not Short
As temperatures rise, mowing height becomes increasingly important:
-St. Augustine: Maintain at 3 inches or higher to shade soil and protect roots
-Bermuda & Zoysia: Can be kept shorter, but avoid cutting too low too quickly
-Longer blades help retain moisture and protect turf from heat stress, leading to a healthier, more resilient lawn.

🌸 Beds: Right Plant, Right Place
Now is the time to fine-tune your ornamental beds:
-Complete seasonal cutbacks to encourage fresh growth and blooms
-Match plants to their ideal light and soil conditions
-Remember: many native perennials thrive with full sun and minimal water once established
Thoughtful plant selection and care now will deliver stronger performance all season long.

🌿 Fertilization & W**d Control
Wrap up your post-emergent w**d control before temperatures climb too high because applications in extreme heat can stress or damage turf.

If you haven’t already:
-Apply a balanced fertilizer to strengthen turf and shrubs
Prepare your landscape to handle summer conditions with healthy, active growth

🌼 Let’s Get Your Property Summer-Ready
Spring is the ideal time to evaluate your landscape and make sure everything is performing at its best. Whether it’s maintenance, irrigation adjustments, or enhancements, proactive care now leads to better results all year long.

📞 Contact ECOSystems Landscape Services at 512-977-0052 or email [email protected] to schedule a walkthrough or discuss how we can support your property.

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May Landscape Tips Email from ECOSystems Landscape Services     May Landscape Tips Spring is in Full Bloom! Is Your Landscape Ready for Summer? by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager 🌿 The Hill Country is coming a

July Landscape Tips - ECOSystems Landscape Services

Although we have had wetter than normal conditions, the early and extreme heat has kept us in a drought. You may have to reevaluate care for your plant material if you want it to survive these unusually hot temperatures.

Irrigation
If you have an irrigation system, make sure it is as efficient as possible to prevent water waste. Be certain to set the controller for correct time and day settings based on your water utility restrictions. Make sure to check every head and nozzle and adjust them for proper coverage. Remember long watering cycles waste a lot of water.

It is highly recommended to utilize multiple start times with shorter run times. Doing this can greatly improve the appearance of the landscape during a drought. For example: if you run your irrigation systems for 4 cycles per day, (basically sprays for 7 minutes and rotors for 20 minutes) instead of once per day this wastes less water by using shorter cycles more often and you get less run off and more saturation. This works much better than running all the zones for hours at a time.

Also, as soon as you notice excessive runoff or pooling of the water, then you have reached the maximum run time for that area. In other words, if you reach pooling in 4 minutes, then shorten your run time to that (4 min) time and then add the additional time using another start time.

Turf
Adjust the mowing height of your lawn mower based on your turf type. Mow your St. Augustine as high as you can about 4”– 6”. Cutting St. Augustine too low can stress your turf and make it susceptible to drought, insects, and disease. Bermuda and Zoysia can be successfully maintained at a lower height. But, keep in mind that if the height is taken too low too soon, the turf could brown out and during this extreme heat it may be difficult to reestablish it.

Remember to mulch the clippings as this is best for your turf by putting much needed nutrients back into the earth. Increasing your mowing height will reduce water need and develop deeper roots. Keep your blades sharp on your mower and try to never cut off more than 1/3 of the blade at a time.

Trees
If your trees need water, make sure to water the drip line of the trees as this is where the roots take in the water best. Running a slow drip hose works wonders as it too will allow for better water depth. If you have not gotten all the dead wood out of your trees yet, now is the time.

Plants
Make sure to keep your plants mulched to help make better use of the water. Because of water restrictions, you may have to utilize a bucket or a hose if you do not have drip irrigation.

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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July Landscape Tips Email from ECOSystems Landscape Services     July Landscape Tips Reevaluating Landscape Maintenance by Kim Goyette Business Development Manager Although we have had wetter than normal conditions, the