RATIONAL LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS

We will work with you and your landscape contractor, to find long term solutions to your landscaping needs, without creating new problems in the process. Serving the Tyler, East Texas area.

Home-Lawn-Landscape Pest Control Design Interaction Check List:

A few things to keep in mind while preparing, planting, and inspecting your landscape. Your landscape design can have a profound effect in how all the parts of your property interact, and the pests that come to visit you. Using plants native to your area is a great landscaping idea, and a great place to start creating a landscape with fewer pest problems. Below you will find some other ideas to consider in your landscape design and landscape maintenance. The list is not complete, and if you have ideas you would like to share, email us at etexbiz@gmail.com .

1.Keep vines away from anything you don't want damaged. Vines are invasive by nature. They probe and connect in order to get better position to get sunlight in the environment. When doing this, they will get into cracks and crevices, and as they grow, will spread the cracks wider. Wooden fences are particularly susceptible.  Wooden and vinyl sidings are not immune, nor are brick and mortar joints. They provide highways for insects life such as ants, termites, spiders and a variety of others. Vines will climb trees and shrubs in the same manner. The inherent goal is to reach sunlight by climbing the tallest object available, and gaining access to the upper portion of the canopy often preventing light from getting through to its victim.

2. Keep trees, especially fast growing varieties away from structures that might be damaged by aggressive root growth. Concrete slabs and walkways can be gradually lifted and broken by these roots. These roots often become trip hazards in frequently travelled areas, so plan accordingly. When planting trees, know where your water and power lines are, and your sewer drains or septic systems. Watch where you plant them. It is easy to underestimate the full grown size of a tree, and the urge to plant them too close to each other in order to create a landscape that looks full is nearly insurmountable. Tree limbs which encroach on power lines will need to be trimmed on occasion, this should be kept in mind before planting, and while inspecting your landscape each season. Also tree limbs can take a toll on roof tops. Your inspection should include taking a close look at this aspect. A note on this: Before trimming those limbs, keep those power and communication lines in mind, and make sure you do it right so that you protect the health of your tree and your own health as well.

3. Structures can provide heat and shade, as well as obstacles to water movement. Be sure that you do not put a structure in a place where the reflective heat from the structure might broil your delicate plants, or where it might be in the way of irrigation water, or cause water to back up and puddle. Make sure that it will not provide too much shade for your lawn or other plant life. Consider the placement of children's play areas carefully, and make sure that they are not oriented in such a way that they will burn the children's skin. Heat reflecting surfaces in unshaded areas also encourage fire ants to develop colonies nearby.

4. It is a good idea to understand what you are planting. Some species are better suited to some areas than others. Plants that are normally found in your area are better suited to your climate and terrain. There are three ways that a plant from outside your area could react when transplanted.

a. It could languish and possibly die.

b. It could accept the new situation and adapt to the changes, becoming a part of the environment. It is possible for this to happen, and when a slight climatic change occurs, to either languish, or thrive without controls.

c. It could thrive and flourish, becoming aggressive and invasive, becoming a threat    to it's new environment.

The result of using non natives in your landscape are usually not very good, and some can be devastating. The economic damage done to our environment has reached into the billions, and is increasing at an alarming rate. Make sure that what you plant does not contribute to this problem. Some of these plants are illegal in some areas. Check with your local extension agent or educational and government websites dealing with these plants for more information.

Go Native!

We talk a lot about IPM, Integrated Pest Management. What is it? It is just plain old good common sense! We talk about "non native" plants, but another part of good solid IPM is to grow what is "native" to your area.

Natives? Yes, Natives!
Not the kind of natives you see on some cheesy Hollywood B movie production, not even those like me, who are Native Texans, and that seems to be a source of great pride around here pilgrim.

No, the natives that I am writing about, are plants that have a long history in your area. If your area is like ours, you will have a wide variety of plants from your own area that will work better than any imports. They will be acclimated to your temperatures, your rainfall, your seasons and soil conditions, and because of that, they will require less care and feeding than some delicate little Japanese plant. Go to your states department of agriculture web site and I bet they will have some info for you for free. In Texas We have a division of the ag department called GO TEXAN at http://www.picktexas.com/ it is a great place to get some great information about the products of our great state! If you live elsewhere I am sure your state has a similar site. Just go to it and prowl around a bit. I bet you will see something that will make your home landscape even better!

It's Fun and Easy: Plant Reproduction For Home Landscapes.

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