Deer and Drought Resistant Fall Beauty!

Burroughs Landscaping suggests Autumn sage for a colorful fall in Texas Hill Country!

Autumn sage, or Salvia greggii, is drought resistant and provides bright color throughout the fall. This is a great time to plant autumn sage in your garden to enjoy into the winter months. The colors will magically reappear in the spring, and may last throughout the summer each year. If in direct sun, it may be necessary to lightly water weekly in hot summer months for the most colorful blossoms. This vibrant plant brings even more excitement into your yard, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing up to two feet tall and wide, you can be sure to enjoy the multicolored guests who will visit your outdoor living area this fall.

Plant autumn sage in an area with well drained soil. Raised beds, planters and good sized pots are all great choices also. Line a pathway or use as a backdrop to a beautiful perennial bed. After the last frost and after the blossoms fall, prune back to one foot and apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring. The fertilizer will provide more blooms in the summer. Don't wait too late to prune, or you will be removing next year's blooms. Pruning keeps your autumn sage tidy! 

Native to Texas, autumn sage's tube shaped flowers are available in beautiful colors such as pink, red, white and shades of purple. The bright green foliage is attractive as well and resistant to rabbits and deer! If you don't have autumn sage planted in your yard yet, try one, or two! You will enjoy the low maintenance beauty!

Burroughs Landscaping is happy to meet and discuss other drought and deer resistance lovelies for your gardens. This friendly team is experienced in gardening in Texas Hill Country. Contact them to combine your dreams and their ideas to create your peaceful outdoor retreat!

Burroughs Landscaping offers outstanding service and innovative ideas with landscaping tailored to Xeriscaping in Hill Country Texas. The experienced team enjoys landscaping in Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Bandera, Comfort, San Antonio and Mountain Home. Burroughs works with home owners, builders and general contractors and considers the location, topography, aesthetics and aspirations of each client.

Are We Really in Drought?

Drought conditions are a part of living in Texas Hill Country.

In spite of all the rain at the beginning of summer, our normal drought conditions are upon us. If your yard and gardens seem dry, never fear. They are tougher than you may imagine. If you have grass, it may be necessary to water, but be aware of restrictions in your particular area. Once each week should suffice for most grass and plants. Give your landscape the water it needs, but there don't over water. If your gardens contain mostly native plants, there may be little need to water at all!

Adjust your irrigation system to water or plan to use the sprinkler early in the morning or late in the evening hours. Hand watering uses the least amount. This avoids areas that need less water, as well as avoids watering sidewalks and streets. Watch the weather, there may be days that unexpected showers pass through, eliminating the need to water at all. 

When planning a garden, arrange like plants together. This will avoid over watering plants that are more drought tolerant. In fact, too much water can cause pests that love overly hot, moist, dense vegetation. Fire ants, mosquitoes and pill bugs will make their home in your plants and lawns if it is too damp. Fire ants enjoy tropical conditions and can build huge mounds across your yard. Watering a minimum amount can avoid fire ants. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water in shady and humid places. Over watering thick shrubs and tall grass will provide the perfect environment for mosquitoes to multiply. Pill bugs enjoy humid moist conditions and eat tender green vegetation in landscapes and gardens. 

Allow Burroughs Landscaping to evaluate your landscaping and update with the newest technology in irrigation. The experienced team will make your landscape healthier as well as saving you money and time.

Keep calm and water carefully!!

Burroughs Landscaping offers outstanding service and innovative ideas with landscaping tailored to Xeriscaping in Hill Country Texas. The experienced team enjoys landscaping in Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Bandera, Comfort, San Antonio and Mountain Home. Burroughs works with home owners, builders and general contractors and considers the location, topography, aesthetics and aspirations of each client.

Beware of Oak Wilt...

Oak Wilt is caused by a fungus that enters the tree and stops the flow of water and elements by plugging the vessels in the vascular system.

Some species of oaks are more tolerant than others, even though all are susceptible. Red Oaks are highly susceptible while oaks in the White Oak family are more tolerant of an infection. The first symptom in the Red Oak family is an oily green appearance in sections of the tree's canopy, quickly turning a tan or red color. A heavy and rapid shedding of foliage with individual leaves displaying these symptoms is another indication.  However, this may not be the case in the months of February and March, as this is the normal process of leaf shedding during these months. 

Oak Wilt spreads from tree to tree by root-to-root contact as a general rule. Overland spread is another method of possible contamination.  Sap-feeding nitidulid beetles can carry spores from fungal spore mats on a dying Red Oak to a wound on a nearby tree. The spores can infect the tree only if the wound is fresh and created in the previous 24-48 hours. 

Oak Wilt can expand 75 feet or more in a dense group of live oaks. In a rural area, trenching between infected and non-infected trees can eliminate the disease. This is more difficult in an urban area due to underground utilities and other obstructions.

The experienced team at Burroughs Landscaping is knowledgeable on how and when to prune as well as where to plant trees. If there is concern oak trees in your area may be infected, don't hesitate to call Burroughs. Let them determine if there is cause for concern. If so, they will have answers and be able to assist as quickly and easily as possible.

Burroughs Landscaping offers outstanding service and innovative ideas with landscaping tailored to Xeriscaping in Hill Country Texas. The experienced team enjoys landscaping in Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Bandera, Comfort, San Antonio and Mountain Home. Burroughs works with home owners, builders and general contractors and considers the location, topography, aesthetics and aspirations of each client.