Monthly Tips

# August in Central Texas: When Even the Grass Starts Looking for Shade

If you've lived in Central Texas for more than one summer, you know August isn't just hot—it's the month where you question every life decision that requires stepping outside after 10 in the morning.

The dog doesn't want to chase the ball. The birds are arguing with each other over the birdbath. The mailbox feels like it just came out of a pizza oven, and the only folks smiling are the ones sitting in a swimming pool.

Your landscape feels the same way.

The good news? Your yard doesn't need miracles this month. It just needs a little common sense and a little kindness.

# Give Your Plants a Good Drink...Not a Sip

One of the biggest mistakes we see every August is watering a little bit every day.

Plants are a lot like Texans. We'd rather have one good glass of sweet tea than ten tiny sips.

Deep watering encourages roots to grow down where the soil stays cooler. A quick sprinkle only teaches roots to stay near the surface where the heat is waiting on them.

Water early in the morning—before the sun starts showing off—and let the moisture soak in.

Your trees especially will thank you. Those big shade trees protecting your home are working overtime right now.

# Mulch Is Like Air Conditioning for Your Soil

If your mulch has disappeared over the summer, now's the time to freshen it up.

A nice 2–3 inch layer of cedar or hardwood mulch helps:

* Keep the soil cooler

* Hold moisture longer

* Reduce weeds

* Improve the soil naturally over time

Think of mulch as a good straw hat for your flower beds. It doesn't make the sun disappear, but it sure makes it easier to live with.

# Resist the Urge to "Clean Everything Up"

August is not the month for heavy pruning.

Your shrubs and trees are already working hard just to survive the heat. Every green leaf is helping produce food for the plant.

Instead, keep it simple:

* Deadhead spent flowers.

* Remove dead limbs.

* Pull weeds before they spread.

* Save the major haircut for cooler weather.

# Raise That Mower

Here's one that surprises folks.

A taller lawn is actually a healthier lawn during summer.

Longer grass shades the soil, protects the roots, and holds moisture much better than a lawn that's been buzzed short.

Scalping your yard in August is kind of like shaving your head and then standing on the courthouse square at high noon.

It usually doesn't end well.

# Don't Assume Every Brown Spot Needs Water

Before turning the sprinkler on for hours, take a closer look.

August brings spider mites, chinch bugs, armyworms, and other pests that can make a lawn look thirsty when it's really under attack.

Sometimes the best watering schedule in the world won't fix an insect problem.

# Take Care of the Pollinators

Even during the hottest weeks, our butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are still hard at work.

Keep a shallow water source available, and continue watering your flowering native plants.

Plants like Autumn Sage, Flame Acanthus, Esperanza, Blackfoot Daisy, and Gregg's Mistflower keep the color coming long after many traditional landscape plants have given up for the summer.

# Believe It or Not...It's Time to Think About Fall

This is the part that surprises everyone.

The best fall landscapes don't start in October.

They start in August.

Now is the perfect time to begin planning:

* New landscape beds

* Shade trees

* Native plant gardens

* Xeriscapes

* Irrigation improvements

* Outdoor living spaces

By the time the first cool front rolls through—and yes, it'll eventually happen—you'll already have a plan instead of waiting in line with everyone else.

# From My Heart...

Every August I hear folks say, "Everything is dying."

Most of the time, it isn't.

It's simply surviving.

Our native Texas plants have spent thousands of years figuring out how to handle summers like this. Sometimes they slow down. Sometimes they stop blooming for a while. Sometimes they look a little tired.

Sound familiar?

The important thing is not to panic.

A little patience, a deep watering, fresh mulch, and resisting the urge to overdo things will usually carry your landscape through until cooler weather arrives.

And when those first mornings in the 70s finally show up...you'll be amazed how quickly your yard wakes back up.

# Mr. Grizzly's August Wisdom

*"If you're sweating just walking to the mailbox, your plants probably are too. Give 'em a deep drink, throw down some mulch, and leave the hedge trimmers in the garage. August isn't about making your landscape perfect—it's about helping it survive so it can shine this fall."*

We'd love to help you get there.

Whether you're looking for drought-tough Texas natives, shade trees, fresh mulch, or ideas for a fall landscape makeover, stop by Grizzly's Hidden Falls Nursery & Landscaping.

We'll help you build a landscape that's made for Central Texas—not one that has to fight it every summer.

Stay cool, drink plenty of water, and we'll see you at the nursery.

* Ben Gillilan and the Grizzly's Hidden Falls Family*