No, you’re not imagining it. Lawn weeds in Texas grow faster than lawn grass between cuttings. And unfortunately, weeds not only consume the water, fertilizer and sunlight meant for desirable plants and grasses, they can also spread plant diseases as insects migrate from one plant to the next.

Here are some of the weeds that are most likely to crop up in your lawn:

1. Poison ivy, pigweed, purslane, chickweed

More commonly known as broad-leaf weeds, these pests thrive in disturbed soil. They have adapted to cover bare ground quickly and stabilize soil.

2. Bermuda grass, Johnson grass and grassbur

The weeds in this group resemble grass but with two important differences. They are prolific seed-producers and usually have large seed heads. They also have tough root systems to help them recover from grazing pressure in the wild.

3. Crabgrass, henbit, sandbur, wild oats, wooly cupgrass and barnyard grass

These annuals grow one or two seasons and produce seeds that sprout when weather conditions are favorable. Their seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years.

4. Yellow nutsedge, Bahia grass, dallis grass, white clover and bindweed

These perennials die back to the ground and reappear under the right weather conditions. Not only do they produce seeds, they also spread underground roots and rhizomes.

The way to minimize the presence of these “green parasites” in your lawn is to make sure your turfgrass is healthy. Weeds tend to do best in lawns with low fertility and bare spots where turf grass is sparse or non-existent.

At South Austin Irrigation, we are committed to helping you achieve and maintain more beautiful lawns and gardens. We offer everything for irrigation system inspection and repair.  Contact us today!

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Austin summers are long, hot and humid, which is enough to kill most flowers. But four native Texas blooms do exceptionally well in these conditions and can make colorful additions to a landscape that’s also been parched by drought.

Black-eyed Susan
This hardy plant blooms between June and October on stems that can measure 1 to 2 feet tall. The flowers are a cheerful bright yellow and surround a dark brown cone-like center. Leaves and stems have small hairs on them that give the plant a coarse texture. Once established, a black-eyed Susan plant can grow in full sunlight and survive even the driest conditions.

Blackfoot daisy
Blackfoot daisies grow in busy masses that stand between 6 and 12 inches tall and 1 and 2 feet wide. Their cream-white, notched petals of the daisies themselves surround star-shaped, yellow flowers that bloom between March and November. The best growing environment for these flowers is well-drained soil that tends towards dryness.

Mexican petunia
If you’re looking for an evergreen perennial that can grow in almost any type of well-drained soil, this plant is for you. From late May until late November, the Mexican petunia produces blooms in pink, blue, violet or white on the end of stalks that can measure up to 3 feet tall. On the dwarf variety, flowers will sit anywhere from 8 to 12 inches above the leaves.

Celosia
Celosia comes in three varieties: plumosa, cristata and spicata. The plumosa flower looks like a large feather duster with a pointy tip. The cristata flower looks like a rooster’s comb or a ribbon with folds that are light-colored inside and darker on the outside. And spicata blooms look like stalks of wheat. Celosia colors – orange, rose, pink, purple, red, yellow and cream – are as eye-catching as its varied flower shapes. These plants can be as small as 4 inches or as large as 3 feet tall and do best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Deciding on the right flowers for your summer landscape can be a challenge.

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Unless you decide to cover your property in rocks and cacti, any landscape you decide to create will need at least some maintenance. The good news is, though, that it’s easier than you think to design a beautiful outdoor environment for your home. All it takes is some advanced planning.

The first thing to remember is that simple designs are best. Every extra foot of bed edge, rockwork and fence line can mean more weed eating or edging work for you. Elaborate plantings that require a variety of plants need more attention to keep them looking good.

Whatever kind of landscape layout you do end up choosing, keep the following design principles in mind:

Group plants strategically

Keep plants with similar care needs together. Put higher maintenance trees, shrubs and flowers near your home where the added beauty may justify the added work.

Plant less the further out you go

As you move outward from your home, design areas that need less maintenance the. If your property has a place where you will want to spend more time, invest the majority of your time, effort and money there.

Big, rounded beds are better

Make beds large and sweeping and combine several small beds into one large one to reduce mowing time. Avoid sharp angles. Gradual curves are easier to mow and more pleasing to the eye.

Bed your trees together

If you have several trees growing close together in your lawn, consider creating a large bed around them. This will save you having to mow and edge around each trunk. It will also provide a place to put dead leaves, which can be used as natural mulch.

Delineate between turf and bed zones with edging

This is a good idea because it will prevent St. Augustine and some kinds of Zoyias grasses from invading your landscape. Remember that edging made of metal or better quality plastic is best. Anything else won’t endure.

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