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July tips for a beautiful
Waterwise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Perhaps July hot weather has you
ready to decrease the size of your
lawn, not only to save water and
money but to plan a distinctive garden
design with areas that you will use for
more than turf. Once you know where you
want new beds and have completed the
approval process through the Community
Standards office, you need to remove turf.
It is usually recommended to put in edging
and then remove turf, but I prefer to just
dig a trench around it with a spade or
mark it with trail-marking paint. This
way, changes can be made after seeing how
that shape looks in the landscape. Either
way, the next challenge is to remove the
existing turf and weeds. If you start asking like hard work, it is! You may choose to
others how to do this, I can assure you the
usual response is going to be, “I can tell
you all the ways that do not work!”
You may have seen videos where someone
takes a shovel, digs down a little all along of landscaping here: http://www.
the edge and again a couple of feet out.
Then they simply roll up the sod and carry
it away. Trust me, this will not work with
deep-rooted weeds and turf like Bermuda
grass! In fact, there is no guarantee that
healthy Bermuda will be totally eradicated
without herbicide, but we know herbicides
destroy beneficial insects which brings
new problems. We need to consider other
possibilities.
You often hear soil solarization is
recommended, but it is not allowed in
Sun City. Not only is it is too unsightly
to use in an area with neighbors nearby,
but research has not proven solarization to
permanently get rid of aggressive Bermuda
grass anyway.
The “lasagna” method gives you some
options. With this method, you cover
grass/weeds with cardboard or 7-12
layers of overlapped newspaper then add
a thick layer of garden soil and compost.
(Compost is most important as it not only
adds nutrients but helps water retention
and allows air circulation.) Leave alone
and watch for any return of weeds/grass.
The grass will hopefully die in a couple of
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
months, and you can dig right through the
mulch and newspaper and plant right in
the soil. Using this method, you can apply
glyphosate first to better ensure the grass
will not come back. If you choose to be eco-
friendly and not use glyphosate, this method
at least gives you a head start. You then
just keep digging as weeds appear! Leave
extra spacing when you do plant, so that you
can get rid of any weed/grass that comes
through without damaging new plantings.
Whatever method you use, it is best to start
with turf removal early and to wait until
as many weeds and grass as possible are
eradicated before planting. If this sounds
hire a professional landscaper to do the
heavy work. Either way, good luck!
Grow Green offers a helpful online pdf
file on installation and maintenance
ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/downloads/
installationmaintenance.pdf.
Now, along with using interesting edging
and garden art, comes the endless pleasure
of looking for varying textures and color
to increase the pleasure of your landscape.
That’s the fun part!
JULY GARDENING TIPS
– Check that your irrigation system is
working properly. If you leave town, be
sure to give a neighbor access to your
sprinkler system.
– You can email the Sun City Water
Matters Committee and ask for a Water
Ambassador to come help you check
your sprinkler system. watermatters@
sctexas.org
– Keep beds mulched 2-3 inches to retain
moisture and keep out weeds.
– Water to root depth, then do not water
again until needed. Watch for signs:
plants wilted in the morning and grass
blades not bouncing back after walking
on them.
– If one area needs more water than
others in a zone, run a soaker hose to
that area. Container plants may need
Winola is a Williamson County
Master Gardener, a member of
the Sun City Garden Club and a
member of the Sun City Water Wise
Task Force.
Master Gardeners and other
experienced gardeners are available
to answer questions a half hour
before Sun City Garden Club
meetings each month. The Garden
Club meets the second Wednesday
of each month beginning with the
question and answer period at
12:30 p.m.
watering daily, so be sure to hand-water
on those extra days rather than wasting
water with a sprinkler system.
– Let the landscape rest, but you can trim
back to rejuvenate annuals and fertilize
them a little.
– Watch for groundcovers with diseased
foliage. Trim back to remove that foliage
and water to enable fresh growth.
Prune out unsightly stalks of ferns and
other plants that have brown edges, but
stop pruning spring bloomers that set
buds in late summer.
– Always take care of the gardener by
working early in the morning or in
shade. Stay hydrated, and wear a sun
hat.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at 512-943-3300
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