Monthly Tips

Alright, here’s the Central Texas May Yard Survival Guide

It’s the “Fix-It-Now-or-Regret-It-in-August” List   

 1. Mow Like You Mean It

If your grass looks like it could hide a lost dog, you waited too long.

* Mow weekly (sometimes twice if we get rain)

* Don’t scalp it—it should be at least 3” tall

* Better yet, get rid of the lawn

 2. Water Smart, Not Like a Rookie

If you’re watering at 2pm… we need to talk.

* Early morning before the sun starts coming up

* Deep watering, NOT three plus days a week!

* Aim for about 1 inch a week

Your lawn doesn’t want a sip—it wants a good long drink.

 3. Plant Stuff That Won’t Die When Texas Gets Mad

Now is the time to swap out the delicate divas for tough native plants

* Autumn sage (basically indestructible)

* Lantana (thrives on neglect)

* Four nerve daisy (show-offs, but tough)

*Too many natives to list here

If it can’t handle July, don’t even invite it over.

4. Mulch Like You’re Smothering a Fire

Because with our heat you basically are.

* 2–3 inches minimum

* Keeps moisture in

* Keeps weeds from throwing a party

Bare soil in Texas = bad decisions.

 5. Pull Weeds Before They Form a Union

Right now they’re weak.

In a month, they’ll be running the place.

6. Baby Your Trees (Especially the New Ones)

Young trees in Texas heat are basically toddlers at a BBQ. In other words, Pay attention

* Deep water weekly

* Check ties (don’t choke ‘em out)

Ignore them now and you’ll be shopping for replacements later.

 7. Garden Like You’re Racing the Sun

Your veggies are either:

* Producing like crazy, or

* About to tap out when heat hits

* Harvest often

* Plant heat lovers (okra, peppers, sweet potatoes)

* Mulch like crazy

 8. Bugs Are Coming. They Always Come.

Inspect now or get surprised later.

* Chinch bugs (St. Augustine lawns)

* Aphids, caterpillars, mites

If your grass starts looking “off,” don’t just stare at it like it insulted you.

 9. Run Your Sprinklers Like a Detective

Turn on every zone and walk it. Yes, physically.

* Broken heads?

* Water hitting the street instead of plants?

* Dry patches?

Water bills don’t lie.

 10. Accept This Truth

May is not spring.

May is **pre-summer combat prep**.

Everything you ignore right now will show up in July like:

 “Hey, Remember me?”

 Final Texas Wisdom

If your yard landscape looks good in August…

you earned it in May.

Last piece of advice….

Ditch the lawn and put in a xeriscape