Bluebonnet Season Is Almost Over

Don't you feel at home when you are driving and you spot the beautiful bluebonnets? Our beautiful Hill Country of Texas is fortunate to have an abundance of the Texas state flower. Bluebonnets have been loved since man first stepped foot in the vast prairies of Texas.  

The bluebonnet became the state flower in 1901 and there are more than one species of bluebonnet so they are all the state flower or state flowers!  Bluebonnets make our highways beautiful thanks to the Texas Highway Department.  In 1932, the department hired Jac Gubbels to maintain, preserve and encourage wildflowers and other native plants along rights of way.  In 1934, the practice began to delay mowing (unless needed for safety) until the spring and early summer wildflowers seasons were over. This practice is still in place and the Texas Department of Transportation buys and sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed each year.

Historian, Jack Maguire wrote, "It's not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat".  He also affirms that "The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France and the tulip to Holland".

As the bluebonnet season comes to a close, be sure and take advantage of viewing these beauties while they last!  Make beautiful memories with your family by taking family pictures in a field of bluebonnets.  As you view the amazing landscapes, let it inspire you to update your home landscaping.  Call the friendly staff at Burroughs Landscaping for all your landscaping needs.  They will be able to bring your vision to life!

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.

You Don't Want to Miss This!

It is that oh so gorgeous time of year when blue bonnets are Everywhere in Texas Hill Country! 

Pack a picnic and take off for a day trip to enjoy a great family outing. Do not forget your camera! 

Bluebonnets usually begin to bloom in March, but erupt into seas of color everywhere this beautiful springtime month of April. Best known as the Texas state flower, people come from all over to admire these beauties. To see the most spectacular views, stop in a neighborhood cafe or shop and ask the locals. They will steer you toward a possible secret wonderland. Because of higher than normal rainfall amounts in the most recent months, the show should be even more breathtaking than in previous years.

When landscaping your yard and gardens, keep in mind that a natural habitat encourages well...nature. It is also very low maintenance and cost efficient, saving watering during our hot summer months. While some may assume that the area surrounding San Antonio, Kerrville and Fredericksburg may be dry and brown, there is actually a beautiful rainbow of colors with brilliantly glowing natural wildflowers, which attract brightly colored butterflies and birds. 

Burroughs Landscaping has a perfect up to date solution for your outdoor living area that includes your own daily entertainment. Contact the knowledgeable, dependable team for ideas to gain the most enjoyment from your garden. This time next year you can enjoy the stunning beauty of blue bonnets right from your own patio!

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.

Preparing for Summer '15...

Are you thinking ahead of preparing your yard/garden/patio for the coming summer?

Consider reducing the amount of grass! That is not to say totally do away with grass and go all rock! Do not get that carried away. A good goal for Hill Country Texas is 30% turf. This will reduce cost and maintenance throughout the summer and whole year, and who doesn't want to save both?

This will not be as hard as you may be already thinking. A good goal for your outdoor living space is 1/3 turf, 1/3 hardscape and 1/3 planting beds. Stand back, look at your yard and imagine how you would love for it to look. Browse magazines and Pinterest for ideas. Start small. Do you have a patio for entertaining or just for grilling with your family? 

A patio is the perfect winter project as outdoor living is only becoming more popular. A patio is an improvement that will last for many years to come. 

Popular hardscape materials include flagstone, pavers, brick, cut stone and gravel. Decomposed granite or pebbles can be used to fill in spaces in flagstone. Decomposed granite is a colorful choice. The terra cotta color blends well with landscape plants. Using permeable hardscape allows water to be stored in the ground and water other nearby plants, rather than running off concrete.

Burroughs Landscaping has the answer to all of your patio and landscaping ideas and needs. From Kerrville, Fredericksburg and the San Antonio area, the experienced team loves making your dreams come true!

Comanche Trace

Comanche Trace, Texas Hill Country's newest housing community, is booming! And Burroughs Landscaping is right in the middle of it all. 

Located in Kerrville, this lovely neighborhood has small town values yet close proximity to all the convenience of a major city.  In 1978 Bobby Shelton bought the property and named it Comanche Trace, an example of his love for horses and his respect for the Comanche as great horsemen. This land served as headquarters for his many businesses. The Pinnacle Grill, with amazing views of Texas Hill Country, was the company cafeteria.

The homes here are located not only by expansive Hill Country views, but also by an award winning championship golf course.

There are 25 new homes scheduled to begin being built in the next 12 months. Burroughs is excited to have already begun landscaping the new construction. Specializing in xeriscaping and drought resistant plants, it is exciting to see the phenomenal ideas they have.

Xeriscaping in the Fall...

Xeriscaping is quickly becoming popular in the San Antonio / Hill Country area. It is a way of landscaping that promotes water conservation, which is all important in our region.

Burroughs Landscaping has all the answers to convert your yard and garden. They combine your wants with their knowledge in planning what your landscape will look like during each season of the year.

Fall is a great time to evaluate any changes that may need to be made. Burroughs provides native plants, shrubs and trees that are the most drought resistant. These same plants will entice visitors such as birds and butterflies to inhabit your yard.

To avoid excessive watering in the summer, now may be the time to re-evaluate the amount of turfgrass you have. A good rule is no more than one-third of your landscape should be grass, and Burroughs knows the best type of grass to use.

Mike and his team will recommend  everything from irrigation to mulch to maintenance. Fall is the ideal time for the team to transplant any existing plants to a more accommodating location. Mulch will protect roots of plants and trees during potentially harsh winter months. This is the perfect solution for leaves. Leaf mulch reduces water evaporation and adds nutrients. This is a great solution rather than bagging leaves. 

There are unlimited options with stone paths, walls, patios, etc. Visit Burroughs Landscaping today to assist in your fall landscaping adventures.

The Pathway to Hill Country

When landscaping a yard, walkways often get overlooked in Hill Country, Texas. We concern ourselves with pools, patios, and plant selections, but then we neglect to consider how to connect the different spaces in our yard. By ignoring paths, a garden can become disjointed because of the lack of thought put into the transitions and connections.

Not only do walkways guide people throughout your yard, they can also be used to create a mood or atmosphere. You will want to begin by determining if you are trying to create a formal or informal feeling. Then you will need to make a number of important decisions regarding shape,dimensions and materials, which can range from simple gravel to decorative stamped concrete. Other factors to consider include your budget, the desired traffic flow, the amount of foot traffic your walkway will receive, and safety. Be sure to add some path lighting for safe walking after dark. Always remember solar lights are an inexpensive way to bring beauty to your new walkway. You can emphasize a path's shape with plantings, such as using formal boxed hedges as a border along a straight-edged walkway.

Do not ignore the important roles pathways can play in your home's overall landscape. Be sure to consult Burroughs Landscaping for advice and assistance on choosing the best materials and specifications.

By Peggy Cunningham

Backyard Makeover

If you are looking for suitable ideas for landscaping your yard, here are some great ideas. Most of the plants on this list are tolerant of the alkaline soils and drought conditions typical to the Hill Country. This will help you grow healthy plants, trees, and shrubs. Make your lawn as beautiful as you want it to be.

Select plants suited to your particular growing conditions (soil type, amount of moisture, and amount of sun or shade.)

• The optimal season for planting trees and shrubs is late autumn through early winter.
• Plant wildflower seeds September through November.
• Thoroughly water plants during the first year and during periods of drought.
• Trees need to be watered regularly for 2 years and when they become stressed during drought.
• Mulching will reduce weeds and watering frequency.
• Protect all plants from deer.
• No plant is deer-proof!

Remember Burroughs Landscaping can help you with all you lawn and landscaping needs.

Spruce up with Hardscaping

Hardscaping is a very popular preference when landscaping, especially with lack of water combined with the heat during the summer months here in Hill Country, Texas. Hardscaping involves outdoor areas that are not plants, flowers and grass. Hard landscaping includes driveways, walkways, patios, decks, retaining walls, fountains, pools, fencing, etc.

A variety of long lasting, low maintenance materials are used. These may include concrete, rock, stone, brick, gravel, glass, timber, pavers, natural stones, etc. Outdoor furniture, flower pots and the like are also considered 'Hard Landscape'.

Beginning with curb appeal, the drive is the first impression visitors have, not to mention our own "welcome home". The front drive should be pleasing and attractive as well as durable. A unique option is natural stone for drives and walkways alike as this choice will last a lifetime with little maintenance. There are different natural stones to choose from, in all sizes, shapes, textures and colors.

Limestone is ideal for patios. It comes in a variety of colors and has a laid back look. Travertine is related to limestone. Its porous characteristic makes an excellent choice for walkways. As with limestone, there are many color choices. Slate is a good option for pool decks as it is water resistant and is available in rustic shades. Natural stone can withstand temperature changes, impact and most importantly, the test of time. Artificial stones are available, and may be less expensive, but will not compare in endurance and beauty of natural stone.

Pavers are also a great option for walkways, as they allow creative curves to create eye appealing patterns. Pavers are an excellent choice for hot, dry Texas weather as they are durable and require little maintenance. In the event one is damaged, each piece can be easily replaced.

Adding focal points such as fire pits, fireplaces or water features, such as fountains can convert a patio to a true outdoor living space. Creative hardscapes are not only beautiful to look at, but enjoyable to sue as well. They are also more economical in the long run, being virtually maintenance free after installation. When considering southern landscape, hardscaping is a beautiful, low maintenance addition to any outside area.

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.