Spring is here, and I am enjoying the warmer weather and longer days! I am getting more excited to add some new plants to the landscape and do work in the yard. If you are planning to do any updates to the landscape, consider some tips from the AgriLife Extension Earth-Kind program to make your landscape environmentally friendly.
One great way to improve your soil, prevent weeds, and help conserve water is to add a three-inch layer of mulch to your landscape beds. You can buy mulch in bulk from many local landscape supply stores or check with your local city about free mulch pick-up. Bagged mulch is also a great option if you don’t have a way to transport a bulk order.
Water conservation is a big priority in Central Texas,
and you can do your part to conserve water by planting native and adapted plants in your landscape beds. Native and adapted plants can handle drought once they are well established, and they have very few pest problems. Newly planted native plants do need to be watered consistently to establish a good root system in the first year, but they should do well with minimal water after that.
Did you know that your outdoor landscaping can affect your indoor energy conservation? Planting trees on the west and southwest side of your house to provide shade in the summer can lower the indoor temperature of your home by as much as eight to ten degrees. Shading your air conditioner unit can reduce inside temperatures as much as three degrees. Trees add so much beauty to the world, but the added cost benefit to our homes makes them even more valuable!
Groundcovers and grass in your landscape are a great way to also add a cooling effect. The temperature above groundcovers and grass is at least 12 to 15 degrees cooler than asphalt or concrete and as much as 37 degrees cooler than artificial turf. Plants will reduce the amount of heat reflected to your home from hard surfaces such as pavement.
Living plants provide that cooling effect through a process called transpiration, so we get the benefit of oxygen and cooler temperatures when we have more plants in the landscape. Plants also help water to infiltrate the soil when we have a rain, preventing runoff and erosion that can occur on bare ground or paved surfaces.
This spring, think about where you can incorporate plants into your landscape to add beauty and provide a cooling effect to your home environment. You can find great native and adapted plants at the Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 6 at the Georgetown Community Center!
For more information about lawn and garden topics, contact Kate Hajda at the Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office at 512-943-3300.
