Too Much Rain?

Burroughs Landscaping discusses higher than normal rainfall this year.

If you are a duck, Texas Hill Country has been the place to be this spring and summer. Unusual for this part of the country, rainfall has continued to exceed normal amounts. Storm after storm has left record amounts of water in areas we are not used to seeing. What happened to droughts? We should not complain, as we will soon be back to drought conditions. Consider this if beginning to landscape your yard.

Burroughs Landscaping suggests considering if you really need grass. New grass may take off and grow for a month or so. When August arrives in a couple of months, then next summer rolls around dry as normal, you do not want to be saddled with excessive time and money spent watering unneeded grass.

If you decide you do need at least some grass, carefully consider just how much you actually need. Burroughs Landscaping specializes in choices that are low maintenance as well as cost efficient in the long run. 

Consider gardens to beautify your yards. A tree or yucca makes a great vertical component. Creeping ground covers offer texture while ornamental grasses provide movement. Agave and cacti give structure and patches of wildflowers add color. Keeping as much natural as possible can be amazing with less maintenance, time and money!

Contact Burroughs Landscaping for information on beautiful alternatives to grass this summer.

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.

Texas Roses...

February is the month to prune rose bushes. Pruning during the month of February encourages healthier roses, producing more blooms in summer. In Hill Country, Texas, antique roses are the perfect colorful beauty for your yard and gardens in the summer. Unlike finicky roses you may purchase online or at a big box store that demand constant attention, antique roses are drought-resistant and beautiful. There are many choices ranging from small bushes to climbing vines and even plants small enough for container gardening. Old roses have not been as popular in recent years, but are returning to our gardens. Especially in the San Antonio area, these hearty lovelies are making a comeback. With muted colors and rich fragrance, antique roses are sure to be a hit in your garden. Brighten your landscape this summer with colorful antique roses.

Burroughs Landscaping is ready to combine their knowledge and expertise with your ideas to make a difference in your outdoor living space, preparing for spring and summer. 

Colorful Autumn...

The heat of summer may have caused some plants to go into hiding as the temperatures rose. With fall quickly approaching, you may find your gardens and yard coming to life again. If your landscape appeals to birds, your autumn view will be that much more colorful.

Landscape in Hill Country Texas that contains a natural garden or trees and lively shrubs containing seeds, berries and blooms will draw birds for the fall and winter months. Providing a water source and shelter encourages American goldfinches, robins, orioles and ruby-crowned kinglets. Golden-cheeked warbler nests in Ashe junipers.

Don't forget to look up! This month you can see V-shaped lines of geese and cranes on their way to brush country. Hawks and kestrels will also be looking back at you.

Burroughs Landscaping is happy to share ideal plants and trees so you can enjoy a breathtaking view for many falls to come.

Beautiful Hill Country Landscape

Living in Hill Country Texas can be difficult in the summer. With the heat and lack of rain it can be hard to stay cool and keep your yard shaded and green. Trees play an important role in this. Planting trees that will stay green for as long as possible.

Evergreen plants and trees stay green all year long, hundreds of species thriving in climates around the world. Flowering evergreen plants, trees, shrubs, ground covers and vines bring color to gardens and landscapes. Evergreens attract birds and other wildlife to feed on nuts or seeds and take shelter under thick-growing foliage.

Trees define the landscape, creating the bones of your yard. Evergreens do not lose their leaves and remain green year round, creating wonderful shade for those hot summer days. Burroughs Landscaping has done all of the research for you, saving you both time and money later on down the road. In addition, Burroughs knows which plants and trees have a long blooming period, lasting from mid-summer to fall.

By Peggy Cunningham

Spring Fling

What a great place to be in the spring – Texas Hill Country. The days are getting longer and it is finally warming up. We have had a tough, long winter, would you agree? I am ready to get my yard and landscaping in order, ready to welcome the summer months and spend some time outdoors. It is time to reclaim our yards from Old Man Winter and make them our own. Landscaping, such as trees, flowers and stone walls all show our personality, just as those great new boots and jewelry do for our outfits every morning when we get dressed. Get ready to design, install, plant, trim, expand and enjoy your outdoor living space.

Start with imagining what your goal is, what you want to see accomplished, and a plan to get there. Be thinking about any new plants, perennials and annuals you may want added. Imagine, even draw planting designs and gardens you have in mind. Look online for updated, fresh ideas.

It is time to have emergent put out. Replenishing mulch will protect the roots of plants and trees in the coming hot, dry summer months as well as greatly improve the look of the beds and around trees. Does your hardscape need improvement? Is there a new pathway in your plan? Are you thinking that retaining wall needs a little love? Have you decided a pond would add ambience to your outdoor living room? Do you need or want to add irrigation to water more wisely, not to mention easier?

Things to keep in mind while brainstorming, according to Burroughs Landscaping, about your ideas for landscaping are to keep the area, climate and soil in mind as you are determining your choices.

An inexpensive approach is to use what you have. Allowing areas to remain natural will be a maintenance time saver. It is a more economical and efficient use of water by having limited turf to maintain. Brighten up a natural area with pops of color with wildflowers, saving money as well as time now and in the long run. Wildflowers, such as Bluebonnets, Texas Paintbrush, Indian Blanket, Greenthread, Winecup and Square Bud Primrose will add colorful beauty with minimal work.  Yucca or cacti are also great additions.

Kiss winter goodbye and welcome spring with open arms, outdoors in your new sanctuary.