The rains we had in August seemed to wake up many of our customers, some have already called us for landscape consultations and others are inquiring about new plantings, fertilizing, pre-emergent weed control and hardscapes. Hardscapes are landscape projects that involve materials other than plants like fences, patios, stonework, etc.

Gas prices have made a lot of us stay close to our homes allowing us to see areas inside and out that can use some improvements. Improvements can update your landscape, highlight hidden treasures, create secret gardens, but most of all make your home more pleasing.

Making a home more pleasing does not necessarily mean that you are trying to please some one other than yourself. Most of the landscape changes that went on at my house were for my benefit since I do like to spend so much time at home. I have interesting views from every major window. I have created outdoor living rooms where I can escape noises from the television, radio or wife.

My dining room is located at the front of the house and was not used much because of the lack of privacy we always had to close the blinds making the room dark and uninviting. By planting Zebra grass we created a screen that allowed us to use the room without feeling as though we were in a fish bowl. The blinds could now be left open filling the room with natural light and allowing us privacy. Once we started using the room more, I installed a water feature, a large boulder with a hole drilled through that allows water to spill over the top, making a very pleasant babbling sound that can be heard inside by increasing the volume of water.

Our backyard was surrounded by an eight foot board-on-board fence that blocked the view from a natural creek filled with hundreds of 60 to 80 foot tall trees and even more under story plants. One day while it was raining I went out to check if I could hear the flowing water, I could. The fence not only blocked the view but also the sounds of the water running down stream. The next possible day I had my guys remove the fence.

Now I have a beautiful view of the forested creek bed from my room. On mornings when I am lucky enough to be able to stay in bed, I like to open the curtains so that I can look high into the treetops. When I am lucky I can see a bright red woodpecker. His color catches my attention, perched some 60 feet up and over one hundred yards away seemingly only the size of a ping- pong ball. The bright plumage holds my attention every time and then…. flitter, he flies away.

Another benefit to the view is the air circulation. The tall fence also blocked any breeze causing the back yard to become unpleasant. As soon as the fence was removed you could see the plants sway in the light breeze. It became so comfortable that we built a raised patio and arbor. We then purchased a cast iron dinning set and use it frequently even in the heat of the summer.

From the living room I can see my St. Francis garden with statues and plaques of my favorite saint surrounded by flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The Sombreuil, white blooming rose that has taken over the entire exterior wall of my garage has blooms most of the growing season. There is a brief period in August where it may have only a few blooms; otherwise it has more blooms that one can count. The semi-manicured branches also serve as habitat for some sparrows. Doves roost in the gutter just above the garden, their cooing a pleasant wake up call heard from my room every morning. This garden always seems alive and is one of my favorite mediation areas, a place where I can find peace in my life and hope my worries away. My St. Francis garden was not intended as a place for solace. Because of my daughter, whose name is Assisi, I placed a statue of the saint in an area visible from the living room. As gifts of plaques and other St. Francis artifacts accumulated they were placed in this garden.

My mother, for as long as I can remember, read The Serenity Prayer every night.

At my mother’s memorial service I was to read the prayer to friends who came to show their respect and love to the woman who most came to know as one of the most kind and loving persons who passed their way. Even though I read this prayer with my mother on many occasions and practiced the reading the night before the service, I was so overcome with grief that all I could do was bow my head and cry. The priest came to my rescue and read the prayer to the congregation. As I looked on I saw that many present recited the prayer, by memory.

When I have accompanied friends to AA meetings I have always felt that this was the perfect prayer for those who battled with drug and alcohol problems. I find solace in those words:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I have carried the prayer with me since my mother died 25 years ago. I cannot remember when, but finally had to have it laminated to preserve its life. Yes, I could buy a new card that contains the words that comfort me, but I had my mothers photograph copied to the backside of the prayer and it gives me great comfort.

Recently we have been picking up more maintenance clients who want us to work on their lawns. I am usually the one who goes out to meet with the prospective customer.

In the last week of August I was at three of the most amazing houses that I have seen in a long time. Amazing because not only were the homes interesting but the gardens were even more so. One house that fronts Northwest Highway had an amazing four acres of landscape emphasizing on fun for the kids. A baseball field, a soccer field, two swimming pools at different levels connected by an enclosed slide, tennis courts, as in two of them, a bating range and a golf course simulator. As we know children come in all ages. It was a fun filled landscape but not as impressive as the one I saw a few days later.

Located off of Royal and 75 this property seems to be all house. Built on a narrow lot that backs up to a very wide creek, it appeared as though the property did not have enough landscape for our services to be needed, but as I walked past the gate and into the back yard I came upon a miniature arboretum. Greeted by an assortment of plants and trees, the narrow appearance quickly gave way to a wide expanse of landscape. I was so impressed with the landscape that I did realize what I was walking on.

There was a walkway made from thin Mexican beach pebbles that were cemented standing on their sides in interesting and intricate patterns. This walkway also served as a water easement that carries the water from the front to the creek. Because of the rocks standing on end, ripples are formed in the flowing water.

I followed the path coming up to a greenhouse built out of cedar and glass with several windows that opened and closed automatically, there was a heater, a fan, and grow lights to comfort over 100 plants of different varieties.

I kept going. I made it to the edge of the property, thinking “cool” but small. And then I noticed the bridge. It is made of wood but strong and wide enough to drive a car over. I crossed the creek and noticed a fence in area with walkways meandering in and out of landscaped pathways bordered by a large assortment of plants mostly green foliaged shade loving plants that were growing under thick canopied trees making me feel as though I was in a rain forest in some far away country. A large swimming pool off center to the property could have easily been mistaken for a small pond. I was impressed at the expense and effort that was taken to make this property usable.

With a smile that went from ear to ear I walked the property twice. I am sure that if I walked it again I would see plants that I had not seen the first two times.

The very next day I received a phone call from a lady who needed help mulching her flowerbeds. She had an extensive butterfly garden and needed help since she hurt her knee and was not able to bend down. She lived by Mockingbird and Williamson and wondered if I could come over to look at her property.

I recognized the house before I even got to it. Her sidewalk was covered with blooming plants that had outgrown the area that they were intended to grow in.

I pulled up in front of the property, as soon as I got out of the car and was able to see over the plants I saw the house, a small but very authentic Mexican looking adobe. The red tiled roof gleaming brightly in the early morning sun.

As I approached the front door, I noticed a pair of massive wood and wrought iron doors. I rang the bell and was disappointed by the doorbells melody. If I were going to have a doorbell that played a tune, I would have played “La Cucaracha”.

There was no answer so I rang again and was even less impressed by the melody than the first time. I took out my cell phone and called, after a few rings she answered. “I am in the back yard, come on down.”

I entered the back yard, a shallow property of 40 feet in depth but about 100 feet wide. A stair way took me down to the first level where an artificial brook ran the whole length of the property. The walkway turned as sharp as a U turn and headed back in the opposite direction with the brook rising above my head as the pathway led you towards a creek two levels below.

Oh boy, did she have an array of plants, most of them blooming, most of them swarming with honey bees darting back and forth to a nearby nest set up between her deck and house wall. You could see geckos moving from plant to plant as they looked for prey. Birds flew overhead looking for food or returning to their nest. But no butterflies! It was too early and the sun was not shining in the back yard.

I was surprised at my luck to be able to see two of the most interesting landscapes that I had seen all year one day after another. On the way back up from the creek I was beginning to notice that not only did she have a large selection of plants, she also had a large collection of knickknacks hidden by the thick foliage. There were multi colored crystals, ceramic turtles, welded wire figurines, small statues enough to catch your attention and make you look closely for hidden treasures.

At my house and the two houses above landscape projects made otherwise dull properties into fascinating, enchanting hideaways. Some examples are chairs and benches to sit on or boulders to climb for a better view of the surroundings, quiet areas just to get away from the rush of the day, walkways to lead you on paths that may bring you happiness, or the sound of soothing, cleansing water to wash away your troubles. I was totally pleased with my finds. I love my job!

Now is the time to plan improvements for your landscape. The fall is the best time to plant, but do not rush into things. If you have an extensive job in mind hire a Landscape Architect or designer to ensure proper placement and construction. If you do not want to spend the money on help then do research, go on-line and search for: backyard landscape projects, shady gardens, full sun drought tolerant landscapes, hummingbird gardens, butterfly gardens, gazebos, fences to improve air circulation, etc.

I have one customer for whom I have worked for over 35 years. We have redone her landscape about every five years because she has been somewhere or opened a magazine that had landscapes that caught her attention. This lady is not hurting for money and can afford to use the most expensive landscape companies in Dallas but for her to hire someone to draw a design would be a waste of money for her since she always researches the plants that she wants to use. She makes sure that the plants are compatible with the location and each other. She does her homework. You can too.

Things to Do Now

We are getting more and more people switching to organics. I would like to think that it is because they are seeing results from neighboring lawns or because they realize the damage that chemical fertilizers can do to our soils and water supplies.

Oil prices have made chemical fertilizer shoot up in price to almost twice the cost from last year making it more expensive than organic fertilizers, therefore people are coming in to buy the least expensive product.

For whatever reason, be it price or concern, even the chemically inclined know that the landscape needs to be fed and that the fall is a good time to feed the plants. Do it now!

Green Sense Fertilizers

Green Sense fertilizers cost $19.95 for a 40 pound bag and should be applied over 2000 square feet.

Humate

Humate is a petrified compost that has 19 trace minerals. Humate helps control weeds by improving the health of the soil and making it more porous. The more porous soils allow roots to develop quicker. Grasses can then become thicker and will crowd out weeds. Add humate to all soils including flower beds and around trees.

Brown Patch

With cooler nights and warm days, brown patch may appear in your lawn. Many of our customers still use corn meal as a fungicide to treat this lawn disease. Over the last ten years we have been selling a less know product called Actinovate for fungal treatment. Containing streptomyes.

We use this product when we install plants that may be susceptible to root rot and for suppression of black spot and powdery mildew. But what impresses me more is the quick control of Brown Patch. In less then two applications we have controlled RHIZOCTONIA on lawns where we have treated with corn meal or potassium bicarbonate without visible results after multiple applications.

The time saved and the dosage required makes this product one of the most economic organic products on the market.

I would recommend that all organic gardeners visit Actinovate’s website for complete information.

Beneficial Nematodes can be applied as soon as we get cooler temperatures and a little more rain. BN’s are soil dwelling insects that help control 200 insect pest such as grubs, fleas, fire ants, roaches and more.

For any landscape help, except irrigation, call us. We do offer the following services:

• Aeration
• Mosquito Control
• Fence Repair
• New Fence Installation
• Landscape Design
• Hardscape Installation and Maintenance
• Beneficial Insect Sales and Release: Beneficial Nematodes