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Landscape Lament: How to Plan a Landscape You Won't Regret

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 19:09:44 GMT

Do you envy the gorgeous lawn you pass on your way to work each day and hope to incorporate that look into your landscape? Perhaps you long for a landscape like the one that recently appeared on the cover of your favorite gardening magazine.

Admiring lovely landscapes is a great way to get ideas, however, when it comes to designing your own landscape, you should ask yourself some important questions before you get started.

What Can I Afford?

Those beautiful landscapes you dream of having look nice, but spending more than you can afford leads to regrets later when the bills roll in. A great looking landscape doesn't have to cost a fortune. Determine your budget up front and stick with it.

If your budget is minimal, discuss what features are least expensive with your landscape contractor. Make a few key elements the focal point of your lawn. For instance, a beautiful flower garden with a fountain or bench will make a charming but inexpensive focal point in a front yard.

If you can't afford everything in the beginning, sketch your landscape as you envision it when completed. Simply add elements as you can afford them. This will help you achieve a cohesive look as you add to your project later and will also give you a goal to work toward.

What Features Are Most Important to Me?

Do you enjoy hosting parties and cookouts for your family and friends? If so, plan elements into your landscape geared for entertaining, such as a fire pit and walkways to help guests move from one section of your yard to the next. You will also need plenty of space for seating.

If gardening is your main event, you may want to consider adding space for a flower garden and a vegetable garden. You will want to implement easy access to water, such as sprinklers and outdoor faucets to make caring for your plants easy. You can also turn a patio into a container garden by growing fruits and vegetables in pots or use a fence or wall to create a vertical garden with small hanging containers.

Whatever features are most important to you, think about the logistics as you plan your landscape.

How Much Maintenance Is Required?

Unless you plan to spend most of your free time maintaining your outdoor space, you may want to put your dream of having a landscape like those in a magazine on hold. Even if you have plenty of extra time to spare, lawns that require a lot of upkeep can become burdensome over time. The most beautiful landscape is one that you can maintain on a consistent basis with a reasonable amount of time and effort.

You may also want to consider the future when thinking of maintenance requirements. Will your time commitments change if you have children or start a new job? Will you be able to maintain multiple flower beds or gardens as you age or if health problems occur?

How Will It Enhance My Home?

A well-designed landscape can increase the value of your property. Be mindful of adding too many features that can be distracting from the appearance of your home. A great landscape should enhance your home, not draw attention away from it.

Keep sight lines to your home clean to give your home nice curb appeal. Keep size in mind when choosing trees and shrubbery that can grow large and may obstruct your home later. If your home has a unique architectural feature you want to draw attention to, you may want to use plants or vines to create a focal point near that feature.

A landscape that's right for the person down the street may not be right for you and your family. Be realistic about your lifestyle and your needs, as this mindset will prevent you from ending up with a landscape you regret. Contact Ted's Trees, LTD., to schedule a consultation to discuss a landscape design that's beautiful, affordable, and a good fit for your lifestyle.

Moving a Tree? 5 Reasons to Work With a Professional

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 01:31:40 GMT

Are you thinking of moving trees on your property? While many owners automatically assume that they should cut down an unwanted tree, you can actually save the tree and transplant it in a better location.

However, if you plan to attempt moving an established tree of any size, professional assistance is your best bet for success. Why? Here are a few key reasons to leave it to the pros.

1. They Understand the Tree's Size Needs

Many trees become too large for their current location. By placing them in a new spot, the financial investment in the tree can be saved. But is that new spot right for your particular tree?

Each type of tree has its own size and growth requirements - both above and below the ground. Many citrus trees, for instance, are popular around walkways and easily accessible spots. But these have wide root systems that can easily damage hardscaping and foundations. On the other hand, a slow-growing tree moved to a location where you want shade might not provide cover for years.

2. They Can Ensure Good Soil

Trees seem like a stalwart and hardy part of the landscape, but a transplanted tree can be very fragile.

Your tree service should investigate the soil and conditions at the new spot to determine if it will contribute to the health of the tree. They can look at the irrigation needs in the area as well as drainage, helping you find the right rate for watering when the tree is newly replanted. And a professional arborist will also know how to supplement the soil if your tree needs some changes in its new home.

3. They Will Evaluate Your Landscape Plan

Moving your tree is a big decision, and few people want to have to move it a second time. So it pays to be very, very sure about where you will place it. The average homeowner is not a landscape design pro, so they benefit from a consultation with someone who is.

Along with fully understanding the tree's future size and shape, a professional arborist may also look at what is planted underneath and around it. How will the tree affect surrounding landscape features? What does it add to your landscape goal? Is the change going to make the impact you want?

4. They Assess the Viability of the Tree

Even if you want to save a tree by moving it, the tree may not be a good candidate for transplantation. Signs of disease, infestation, or general bad health are often easy to miss. For example, bare branches that don't grow good leaves may be signs of trouble. Pests may damage the inside of a trunk long before any signs appear on the outside. Even small holes in leaves can indicate disease.

Along with the health of the tree, a professional will also be able to tell if the tree is in good enough condition to survive the transplantation and thrive. And they'll advise on the right season for transplanting and avoiding shock.

5. They Won't Damage It in Transit

Are you up to the physical demands of moving a tree? Doing so generally requires heavy equipment that not everyone is comfortable with. You'll need to find the right size root ball, tie up the tree for movement, and cut roots that won't be moved. Moving a tree the wrong way can damage the branches, leave too little of the root system, or even harm the people trying to move it.

Clearly, an experienced professional who works with the transplantation of trees is a valuable asset when deciding what to do with yours. The team at Ted's Trees, Ltd can help. Call today to schedule an appointment to assess your tree (or trees) and create a viable moving plan for them. Your trees and everyone who enjoys them will thank you.

Hardscape Options to Enhance the Appearance of Your Landscape

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:45:15 GMT

Beautiful hardscaping can mean the difference between a home that's ordinary and one that's extraordinary. And it doesn't matter whether you add something really dramatic and striking or something simple and tasteful. Hardscaping adds beauty and value to your home, no matter what.

See some of your hardscape options below.

Border Walls

Border walls are useful for both practical and aesthetic purposes. A border wall constructed with materials to match the exterior of your home is a beautiful addition to your landscape and will reflect the unique architecture of your home. Walls can also be helpful for defining the boundaries of your property or providing privacy.

If privacy isn't a concern, a low-level stacked stone wall can be useful for marking property lines and won't obstruct the view of your home and landscape. These low-level walls can be used along the entire perimeter of the home or just along a driveway or the front of the property to add beauty to your lawn.

Borders look great by themselves, but also make a beautiful backdrop for showing off your green thumb skills. However, make sure to select plants and flowers that won't grow taller than your border walls when planting along low-level borders.

Pathways

Pathways provide practical access to homes and gardens but they also stimulate the imagination. Pathways add a touch of mystery and intrigue to your yard and are especially charming when used in gardens. A pathway encourages exploration and instills visitors with a sense of wonder about where the pathway leads and what beauty they may find along the way.

Pathways can be as simple or as detailed as you like. Curved pathways provide an eye-pleasing contrast to square or rectangle-shaped lawns. A simple pebble stone pathway will enhance the appearance of a minimalist-themed home while a brick or stone pathway will add warmth and charm to colonial and cottage-themed homes.

Add a stone bench along a pathway to create a spot for visitors to rest or simply for additional visual appeal.

Patios

A patio is an extension of your home and should be designed in harmony with the style of your house for the best results. A patio should enhance your home and never distract from it. Natural stone for a patio will work well with most any home design style from modern to farmhouse. Brick is a great choice for colonial or cottage home styles.

If you want your patio to be more defined, you may want to consider having a decorative wall built to enclose it on one or more sides. A low-level wall makes a nice place to place flower pots or to grow your own assortment of herbs to use in your outdoor cooking and entertaining.

Whether you love to entertain or simply enjoy quiet evenings relaxing outdoors, a built-in fire pit is one of the best ways to add ambiance and beauty to your patio. A fire pit will be the focal point of any patio and can increase the beauty and value of your home. The shape of a fire pit is a matter of choice, as both circular and square types will work with any home design.

If you want a home that stands out from the rest, hardscaping will make a difference in the appearance of your home and outdoor space. Whether you add a lovely designed border wall, a curved pathway leading to a garden, or a patio for entertaining and relaxing, hardscapes make practical and lovely additions to any outdoor space.

Contact Ted's Trees, Ltd ., to discuss ways you can transform the appearance of your property using hardscaping.

4 Reasons to Resist Fast-Growing Trees

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:48:26 GMT

You want your yard to be a beautiful, comfortable space your family can enjoy. You can add trees to your landscape to provide shade, privacy, and year-round beauty. Whether you are putting in a new yard or contemplating some additions, it's time to make some tree choices.

Don't be tempted to plant trees that tout their ability to grow quickly. Unfortunately, fast-growing trees can cause more problems than your original lack of privacy or shade. Here are four reasons to resist fast-growing trees and some information about what your options are instead.

1. Fast-Growing Trees Are Notorious for Weak, Brittle Wood

Fast-growing trees fill in space well, but such speed of growth translates into a tree with weak, brittle wood. Trees with softer wood in addition to a tendency to grow forks and crotches with narrow angles ultimately fare poorly under certain conditions.

Strong winds, added weight of snow and ice, and the passage of time all make branches more likely to snap. Additionally, smaller twigs commonly break off and litter your landscape with debris.

2. Fast-Growing Trees Are Susceptible to Disease

An unfortunate characteristic of trees that grow rapidly is their tendency to develop disease. Fungal canker disease is a common ailment of many trees. You may notice scattered areas of wilted leaves on the tree caused by canker, followed by dead, discolored, or sunken bark on the trunk or branches.

Willows and poplars are especially susceptible to canker that appears as lesions on the bark, black warts, or leaking orange sap. Sometimes canker appears as long thin lesions on tree bark. Often canker grows within a tree and causes wood rot.

3. Fast-Growing Trees Develop Shallow Roots

Tree roots anchor a tree firmly to the ground and draw nutrients and water from the soil and up into the tree. However, many fast-growing tree species develop very shallow roots. Shallow roots are a problem when they grow beneath sidewalks and driveways and crack the concrete. Roots that grow too near the surface of you lawn make it hard for grass to grow.

Additionally, a shallow root system is more likely to intercept underground sewer pipes and other important utility lines. The problems associated with broken pipes far outweigh the benefits of quick shade from a fast-growing tree.

4. Fast-Growing Trees Don't Last Long

Finally, trees that experience rapid growth do not stick around for the long haul. Multiple fallen branches and disease like fungal canker damage a tree enough to kill it. Pests like the elm leaf beetle and ash borer can also shorten a tree's life.

Some tree species just aren't very prolific. Expect the popular Bradford pear tree to quit before 20 years have passed, and a willow to last less than 50 years. When other tree ages reach into the hundreds of years, 20 to 50 years is not very long.

Fast-Growing Trees Are Not Your Only Option

Rather than plant a fast-growing tree, consider these wise options instead. Plant slower growing trees that are stronger, last longer, and resist disease. When you cannot wait a few years for shade or privacy, add a few fast-growing trees to the mix temporarily. When your investment proves up and those strong trees are a bit taller, remove the unwanted temporary trees.

You can help speed up the growth of slow growing trees with proper care. Check with your local agricultural extension for advice about watering and fertilizing to give your tree a boost. They can also tell you which trees grow well in your area and which trees to avoid.

Ted's Trees, LTD., can also give advice regarding tree choice in the Austin area as well as proper tree care and placement. Give us a call when you need help putting in new landscape trees or removing annoying fast-growing trees from your yard.

4 Gorgeous Ways to Use Crepe Myrtle

Sat, 18 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The crepe myrtle is a classic ornamental tree in that it displays showy blooms, attractive bark, and colorful fall foliage. Crepe myrtles come in three species - Queen's, Japanese, and Indica. The three are relatively similar and differ mostly in foliage size and bloom colors. All three tend to be hardy, drought-resistant trees that tolerate heat well.

While the beauty of crepe myrtle marks it as an ornamental tree, the wide canopy and dense foliage do mean it's a shade tree as well. When you're planning out your new landscaping and want to include a crepe myrtle, ensure your space can tolerate a tree up to 30 feet high and 25 feet wide. Once you have the location picked out, consider the following landscaping tips for around your crepe myrtle.

Surrounded by Hostas

As noted, crepe myrtles will create shade. Therefore, if you're going to plant near the base of the tree, you'll need shade-tolerant plants. Hostas are an ideal choice. They're easy to maintain, and many species love the shade.

Hosta plants are known for their variegated leaves. The big, waxy leaves display stripes and patches of colors ranging from deep green to light yellow to pink and white. They can grow up to three feet tall, though some are as small as six inches. For width, they can range as far as eight feet. Choose an array of shade-loving hostas, and plant them around your crepe myrtle for texture and color.

Paired with Ornamental Shrubs

If you're not sure your space can handle a 30-by-25-foot tree, look into some of the dwarf crepe myrtles under the Indica designation. Some of them even get classified as ornamental shrubs instead of trees. If you plant one of those, you could pair it with another ornamental shrub that's a little smaller but still attractive. Some ideal shrubs include the following:

Dwarf honeysuckle
Goldflame spirea
Dwarf hydrangea
Garden Glow dogwood

You'll want to plan out your landscaping so it doesn't just look like your crepe myrtle and its smaller brother. Instead, consider planting two of the smaller shrubs and including another element to draw it all together. This element can be a planting bed border or groundcover plants - or both.

Flanking a Walkway

Landscaping experts usually recommend pruning crepe myrtle trees in winter. If you're diligent about pruning your trees, you could utilize crepe myrtles to create a romantic shaded walkway. To create such an inviting path, you'll want to landscape around it, and use the crepe myrtles to slightly obscure what's ahead.

So, you'll start with a curved walkway of whatever paving material makes sense for your yard. The important aspect is it needs to curve so that the ending isn't clearly seen. Just beyond this curve is where you'll flank the walkway with paired crepe myrtles. Other bushy plants, such as Russian sage and ornamental grasses, should border the walkway leading to the trees.

You'll need to keep up on pruning your crepe myrtles to ensure they don't completely overgrow the walkway or start competing with each other's canopies. You want a little dappled shade and mystery at the far end of your walkway.

Shading your Patio

Crepe myrtle will drop some debris at times in the form of blooms and leaves, depending on the time of season. If you don't mind a little sweeping, some of the taller varieties of the trees, such as Japanese crepe myrtle, would be an ideal shade-giver for your patio. If you want a really shady patio, you could even plant a couple of trees.

The patio is usually close to the house. So, when planning where to plant your trees, make sure you account for the canopy width. You don't want to create a hazard between the branches and your roof. You'll also want to keep up on your pruning of that side of the tree.

Utilize the unique qualities of crepe myrtle to beautify your landscaping. Visit the experts at Ted's Trees, Ltd. , for advice and the tree stock needed for your project.

What Oak Varieties Grow Well in Texas?

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:01:30 GMT

Oak trees are known for their majestic trunks, unique leaves, and acorns. However, many different varieties of oak trees each have their own characteristics. They are not all suited to the Texas climate, but the following six varieties do well here.

1. Red Oak

Sometimes growing up to 90 feet tall, the red oak has a classic appearance with toothed, multi-lobe leaves and a rounded crown. Its leaves turn a vibrant red in the fall, but they're a rich green during spring and summer.

Red oaks prefer full sunlight and will tolerate periods of drought, dry soil, and air pollution. One benefit of planting a red oak is that you won't have to worry about cleaning up acorns for a while. Many trees don't start producing them in abundance until they're 40 years old.

2. Mexican Oak

The Mexican oak is a favorite of the University of Texas at Austin. It's well adapted to the warm climate of Texas, and it grows up to four feet per year, so you can enjoy its shade sooner. With a mature height of 40 - 45 feet, it will fit in a smaller yard.

The leaves of a Mexican oak are different than those of most oak varieties. They're almost ovular with serrated edges, and the tree only loses its leaves for a few weeks in the winter - so you can enjoy almost year-round greenery. Just make sure you have the tree trimmed often to maintain its shape as it grows.

3. Live Oak

Live oaks are known for their wide canopies and sprawling branches. They grow to about 60 feet tall, adding up to two feet of height per year. Live oaks love full sunlight, but they'll grow in partial shade. They're adaptable when it comes to soil type, tolerating acidic, loamy, moist, and clay soils.

Live oaks do produce quite a few acorns, which attract squirrels, quails, raccoons, and deer. They might be the state tree of Georgia, but they grow just as well in Texas.

4. Lacey Oak

If you're searching for a smaller oak tree, the Lacey oak, with a mature height of 20 - 30 feet, is a good choice. Texas residents love planting Lacey oaks next to their patios and in small yards. Its leaves are blue-green in color with rounded edges, and it has an attractive, round canopy.

Lacey oaks produce plenty of acorns. They don't require a lot of water, and they won't tolerate poorly drained soils. Have the tree pruned early on to ensure it maintains a strong, central leader.

5. Chinquapin Oak

Also knows as the Chinkapin oak, this tree grows to about 70 feet tall and has simple, oblong leaves with sharp teeth. It has a round crown and provides plenty of shade. The acorns of the Chinquapin oak are actually edible if you roast them.

These trees grow well in deep soil and full sunlight. In the fall, they turn a beautiful rust color.

6. Bur Oak

If you want a huge oak tree, then a bur oak is the perfect choice. They can be up to 100 feet tall at maturity. However, they grow slowly, so the next generation will get to enjoy the tree's height more than you do. Bur oaks live with 300 years - sometimes more.

The bur oak has long, lobed leaves. It can tolerate air pollution and heat stress, but it requires full sunlight to thrive.

Which variety of oak tree sounds best-suited to your yard? The experts at Ted's Trees, LTD., can help you decide. We carry all of these oak varieties, along with other trees that grow well in the Texas climate. Contact us to learn more.

Make a Japanese Maple the Centerpiece of Your Landscaping

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 06:13:27 GMT

One of the principles of landscaping design is providing a focal point. This focal point takes center stage in your landscaping and draws the eye to its environs and even your house. Designers typically landscape around the focal point to create a beautiful vista.

Trees are a common focal point because they're as useful as they are big and beautiful. Consider a Japanese maple as the centerpiece of your landscape design.

About the Japanese Maple

If you're planning on having a Japanese maple tree planted in your yard, you may want to know a bit about the tree first. You'll have your choice of many different cultivars. You'll want to choose the cultivar based on growing conditions and size. Talk to your landscaping experts about the available varieties to discover which will work best in your yard.

Japanese maples trees range from eight feet tall and wide to 25 feet or more. Though the growing conditions depend on the cultivar, they generally prefer well-drained soil and partial shade. Besides being an excellent source of shade, thanks to their wide and thick canopies, Japanese maples are best known for their showy fall foliage.

Groundcover Plants for Under the Maple

Because of the tree's wide and thick canopy, you'll have to take care how you landscape directly around the tree. Those plants will not get much, if any, sunlight. Therefore, you need to choose shade-loving plants.

Hosta is one of the favored plants for the shade. Most hosta thrive in partial shade very well and will also tolerate heavy shade, so these plants are ideal for the perimeter of the canopy. A particular point of popularity is hosta's leaves, which offer eye-catching combinations of colors, patterns, and shapes.

Lilyturf works well with Japanese maples, especially in hot, dry climates. Lilyturf is hardy in southern growing zones where the plant will grow even in the shade. Like Japanese maples, lilyturf prefers welldraining soil.

Attractive Plants for Around the Maple

You want to choose complementary plants that thrive in the same conditions to plant around the maple. Even if you choose one of the dwarf varieties of Japanese maple, you're going to end up with a tall tree.

To fill in some of the space between the canopy and groundcover, consider shrubs such as rhododendron, which is another plant that prefers dappled shade. Rhododendrons offer beautiful blooms in the spring, which makes a nice counter to the tree's fall foliage. Other plants that offer spring color in the shade include crocus, dwarf iris, and dog tooth violet.

If you want some summer color, consider planting a shrub as a counter to your maple. Most summer-color shrubs, such as summer wine ninebark, require full sun. However, you can consider partial shade varieties, such as smoke bush and Chinese buttonbush, for the perimeter of the canopy.

Hardscaping for Around the Maple

You'll almost certainly want to use your Japanese maple for shade. Therefore, at minimum, consider locating a comfortable bench or pair of chairs under the canopy. Work them into the landscape with targeted plantings around the furniture.

If you choose one of the bigger varieties of Japanese maple, consider locating it near the patio for shade. The canopy would be an ideal shade-giver for the dining area. You could even locate a bistro patio directly under the tree.

You might be worried that even the hardiest shade-loving groundcover won't thrive near the trunk of your tree. In that case, consider incorporating some decorative hardscaping in that space. That area is an ideal spot for pretty pea gravel. You can also install decorative stones and logs. For a more manicured look, consider yard décor such as garden antiques or olive jars.

Choose a gorgeous Japanese maple tree and add landscaping around it as a garden focal point. Ted's Trees, Ltd. can provide the knowledge, supplies, and services for this project. Contact us today.

Ideas for Landscaping Around a Weeping Tree

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 20:24:44 GMT

Weeping trees are a popular addition for your yard. You probably know all about the classic weeping willow, but a weeping tree is simply one that features drooping leaves or branches. Elm, spruce, cedar, birch, and cherry can come in weeping varieties, and the weeping willow also comes in several different versions.

Once you have a beautiful weeping tree, complement the graceful backdrop it presents with appropriate hardscaping and landscaping.

Add Color With Flowers

Many weeping trees, such as willows and pines, present green backdrops. Therefore, you'll want to add color to your landscape with flowers. Unless you choose shade-loving flowers, plant them slightly away from the tree but with some connection. For example, you could plant a flower garden slightly off-center in front of the tree.

Introduce New Textures Around the Tree

The defining characteristic of weeping trees is their branches, which create a graceful arc that might extend all the way to the ground. The visual texture the tree presents will depend on its cultivar. For instance, the classic willow features thin stems with narrow lines. A weeping elm will feature flat leaves in a profusion down the arcs.

Start with the texture your tree presents, and add a new one with the landscaping around it. Hosta is an ideal plant for this purpose because it features broad, variegated leaves. Bleeding heart is another attractive plant with unique flowers. Just make sure the plants you choose can tolerate the shade of your tree's canopy.

Create Groundcover Under the Canopy

In that vein, you may want to landscape under the canopy. You don't have to be so deliberate in choosing plants with different textures for under the canopy because they won't be as visible. The key is to choose plants that thrive in the shade. Jerusalem sage and white trillium grow natively on the forest floor, so they're ideal for groundcover under a weeping tree.

Install Lawn Accent Pieces Near the Tree

One way to draw attention to your tree is by installing accent pieces in its vicinity. Classics such as a birdbath, statue, or water fountain work well.

Play around with placement of the accent item to create a unique tableau. For example, you might tuck a stone statue into the branches hanging down for an interplay of textures. You could emphasize the graceful arcs of the branches with a water fountain in the background. A birdbath would look attractive nestled among flowers in front of the tree.

Design a Rock Garden

If you're going for more of a forest effect, consider designing a rock garden to complement your tree. Choose an odd number of big rocks to install near the tree. Plant around the rocks with plants that grow in a profusion. The goal is to let the weeping tree provide a backdrop for a garden that appears to have just naturally sprouted around the rocks.

Devise a Pathway Around the Tree

Because of the shield their branches create, weeping trees often create a sense of mystery. For that reason, a meandering pathway would be a charming way to draw attention to your tree. Your pathway should feature curves to create that meandering ambience. If the branches are high enough off the ground, you might direct the path underneath before curving around the back.

For paving, your pathway should be as naturalistic as possible. Consider simply having the ground compacted. However, if you do want some paving, look into natural stones spaced a comfortable stride apart. You can enhance their naturalistic appearance by planting hardy groundcover around the stones.

Try an In-Ground Water Feature

You often see weeping trees near in-ground water features, such as a pond or stream. Such an installation can create a beautiful woodland effect. You'll want the water feature near the tree so the branches droop over the surface. If you're having a pond installed, consider adding a submerged fountain to spray arcs of water nearby.

Install a beautiful weeping tree, and landscape around it to draw attention to its unique profile. Consult with Ted's Trees, Ltd . to install your hardscaping and landscaping, including the tree itself.

How to Find Stunning Shrubs to Complement Your Backyard Design

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

When many owners plan for their backyard landscape, they tend to give a lot of thought to the flowers and the trees. But even though these big, showy additions to the landscape are important, they shouldn't outweigh the decision about what shrubs to include. In fact, shrubs are a sort of unsung hero of many landscape designs.

How can you make better use of shrubs in your landscape plan? Here are a few steps to success.

Decide the Role of the Shrub

Shrubs tend to be in the background of many landscapes, but they can serve many purposes. They can add color without a lot of work. They can quickly fill empty voids in the landscape. They can provide a complementary bridge between landscape elements. And they can serve as borders inside and around your yard.

Before shopping for shrubs, consider your goals and priorities. Do you want shrubs in a particular area in order to fill in space? To create an attractive backdrop? To hide unsightly items? Are you looking for a particular feeling, such as lush color or elegance and drama? Know what you need so you can zero in on the right plants more quickly.

Know the Size You Need

Along with the role intended for a bush, keep in mind how you want it to look. If the space you're filling is large, you may want a big shrub - perhaps even one like the mountain laurel, which often appears more like a tree than a shrub. If the area is smaller and surrounds delicate flowers, a daintier bush (such as the black chokeberry) may be appropriate.

Ask your landscape specialist about the general size ranges of each shrub as well as how quickly it grows. If you want a more formal look, you'll need to prune the bush regularly, so you should look for something that doesn't grow too fast. On the other hand, if you want to fill your landscape quickly and inexpensively, a rapidly growing bush can do the job nicely.

Think About Unusual Traits

Shrubs have different characteristics that can make them perfect for specific situations. If planting shrubs around a summer flower garden, for instance, you could opt for bushes with autumn color (such as bluebeard) or even winter berries to provide a bright pop in the winter doldrums.

Shrubs can also provide interesting bark colors, contrasting texture in a garden, or a solid green background to highlight small flowers in beds.

Like butterflies? Add a butterfly bush. Want to attract backyard bumblebees? Try rhododendron or rosemary. Prefer more birds outside your windows? Plant holly, hibiscus, or lilac bushes. On the other hand, if you want to deter nearby wildlife, you may have success bordering with shrubs like sage, rosemary, or thorny evergreens.

Make Sure It's Hardy

Before you purchase your new shrub and plant it, make sure that it will do well in your climate and location. Native bushes are the best for this, as they tend to naturally thrive in the local environment.

If you do choose an imported plant, though, find out what type of soil, water schedule, and sunlight it prefers. Can you meet these needs in the specific location you plan for the bush? If the planting spot won't receive regular cover from an existing sprinkler system, have your landscape service install a drip irrigation system to keep the shrub (or shrubs) happy without extra maintenance.

For the best results no matter how large or small your shrub needs are, work with an experienced local landscape service. At Ted's Trees, LTD. , we will help you find the best mixture of small plants, midsize shrubs, and larger trees to turn your backyard into a Texas paradise. Stop by today!

3 Must-Have Plants for Your Texas Landscape

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A healthy green lawn, colorful flowers, and lush shrubs and trees are all key components in an attractive landscape design. If you have moved into a newly constructed home or just want to update your existing home, focusing on your landscaping is smart.

Good landscape design not only makes your home more appealing but also adds value. In some instances, landscaping can offer you an estimated 215 percent return on your investment. Unfortunately, choosing what elements to include in your landscaping can be a bit overwhelming. With this guide and your contractor's assistance, you will learn about a few must-have plants and trees to include in your Texas

1. Shade-Producing, Drought-Tolerant Trees

Texas definitely gets hot, but the heat is not the only thing you need to worry about. Drought is also a problem during some parts of the year, so you should consider installing shade-producing trees that do not require a great deal of water.

The Cedar Elm is an excellent option for your Texas landscape. This tree is native to the state of Texas, so it can not only grow but also thrive in high heat and severe drought. The Cedar Elm is the perfect tree for adding texture, beauty, and enormous shade to your landscape.

You have many oaks suited to your landscape design, as well. Oak trees are durable and easy to maintain. They also produce a good amount of shade throughout the year.

For a lush green foliage in the spring/summer that turns to a deep red in the fall, opt for a red oak tree. If you prefer green foliage all through the year, the Live oak, an evergreen, will be a smart addition to your yard.

2. Heat-Loving Shrubs

Trees are great investments, but shrubs are also important for your landscape design. Shrubs can enhance your curb appeal by accenting the front of your home while creating borders and pops of color and texture in flowerbeds.
For your Texas landscape, consider one or more of these heat-loving shrubs:

Boxwood
Nellie Stevens
Green Juniper
Cleyera
Yucca

The above shrubs add greenery and definition to your landscaping without a lot of maintenance. You can also add heat- and drought-tolerant shrubs with colorful floral blooms to your landscape design.

Gardenia shrubs have rich green leaves with elegant white or cream flowers that bloom in the spring or summer season. You can plant them in full sun, thriving in the intense heat without much water.

For even more color, consider planting a few rose bushes, dwarf crepe myrtles, and hydrangea shrubs. The Texas sage plant is also a must-have due to its lavender-colored, bell-shaped flowers.

3. Durable Flowers

Trees and shrubs are beautiful additions to your yard, but adding some flowers is important for softening up the greenery in your landscape design.

Unfortunately, not all flowers are suited to the sun and heat of Texas, so knowing which ones are durable enough to grow and survive is key.

For fun and whimsy that will stand the test of time, make sure to include Gerbera daisies in your flowerbeds. These flowers need full sun and with proper care, they will thrive. In addition, they are perennials , meaning they will come back each year once planted.

Columbine flowers are also good options. They love the heat, but they will also grow in partial shade, so they work well in flowerbeds with trees and taller shrubs. Red and yellow varieties will add a valuable splash of color to anyone's yard.

When you want to design or enhance your Texas landscape, consider these must-have trees, shrubs, and flowers. For more information, contact Ted's Trees, Ltd.

Backyard Picnics: Tree Options To Provide Extra Shade & Comfort

Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Enjoying a small picnic in your backyard is a great way to get some fresh air while eating in a different location besides your kitchen. Having a backyard picnic in the direct sunlight brings a lot of problems. The heat may be too intense. You may have to constantly reapply sunscreen and your food may spoil faster due to the direct heat.

Having a backyard picnic in the shade keeps you out of the direct sunlight and provides a more comfortable atmosphere while in the outdoors. If your backyard lacks shade, there are a number of trees you may choose to plant in the area.

Browse through a variety of trees optimal for shade. Choosing just one of these varieties will give your backyard some extra shade for many years to come.

Texas Ash Tree

Grown to handle the high heat of the Texas sun, the Texas Ash tree is an ideal backyard installation. A single tree or a pair of the trees placed together provides a backyard with plenty of shade and an optimal picnic area.

Once the tree blooms in the spring, the leaves become quite large, sometimes growing as long as eight inches. The shade protection is ideal from these leaves, and large stems contain dense collections of the leaves.

The Texas Ash tree is very similar to the Carolina Ash tree, and both varieties may be ideal for your backyard installation.

Red Oak Tree

If you're looking for a tree which grows fast and can fill up your backyard, consider the Red Oak tree. The tree is named the Red Oak for two different times when the colors change. In the spring, the leaves emerge with a light red color. In the fall, the leaves are a beautiful dark red, which really enhances your landscape until the leaves fall off.

Red Oak trees are known for their quick growth and willingness to survive. The trees are known to live for hundreds of years and do not need much outside care. The tree can become the centerpiece of the backyard and provide a picturesque setting as you enjoy meals with the family. Add a picnic table right underneath the tree for a great location to visit on a daily basis.

A similar option to the Red Oak tree is the Live Oak. The Live Oak also grows quickly, but features leaves that stay on the tree all throughout the year.

Cedar Elm

No matter what type of soil you have in your backyard, the Cedar Elm is an ideal tree for planting. The tree has been known to survive all types of conditions, including extremely dry weather and long droughts. Because of this, your yard will have a thriving tree without little effort or care needed.

These treetops are known to grow outwards and wide, providing you with plenty of shade just from a single tree. The tree may grow up to two feet in a single year, quickly adding a lot of extra shade as the trunk expands and grows on your property.

Japanese Red Maple Tree

If your backyard is smaller, the Japanese Red Maple tree provides you with a smaller tree size while still adding extra shade. The red maple is known for rich and vibrant colors during multiple seasons of the year. The summer features mostly green leaves, but the blend of colors in the spring and fall can range anywhere from a deep purple to a dark red.

These trees do not grow as tall as others, but if you let them grow without trimming, they can thrive and provide a nice area of shade. The tree is ideal for placing near a patio area so the patio has some extra shade and isn't impacted by direct sunlight.

Planning To Have Trees Installed In Your Yard? What You Should Know

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

When you are planning to change and enhance your home's landscaping by adding in trees, the whole process can be very intense and exciting. From going to the nursery to choose the right trees for your desired aesthetic to choosing the exact location in your yard for the trees, there are many steps to take and factors to think about.

Get to know some of the important facts about having trees installed in your yard and how you should care for your new trees. Then, you can be sure that your new landscaping endeavor really pays off.

Different Trees Serve Different Purposes

As you are thinking about installing trees in your landscaping design, one of the factors to consider is the purpose of the tree in your overall design and aesthetic. If you are looking for trees that will help to keep your home and your yard cooler, for example, then you want to look for shade trees.

Shade trees are trees known to grow both tall and wide so that they can provide some shelter from the harsh rays of the sun. Most varieties of oaks and elms are known to be excellent shade trees. However, keep in mind that when you plant young trees, it can take many years for them to provide the extensive shade you may be looking for.

Other trees are more ornamental in nature. They do not necessarily grow very tall and tend to have smaller widths than shade trees (or do not grow foliage that is as robust and full). Ornamental trees are chosen less for their function and more for their beauty.

These trees are often flowering trees like magnolias, redbud, or white bud trees. They bloom brilliantly once or twice a year, creating a beautiful seasonal look for your landscaping design. Ornamental trees are usually placed in prominent locations such as along the driveway or garden paths to allow for maximum visibility.

Young Trees Need Regular Care and Watering

When you are having trees planted, keep in mind that young trees need a lot of attention and care. You will need provide your young trees with water as well as protect them from harm.

The water provided by lawn irrigation, while not harmful to your young trees, will not be sufficient to feed them as they are beginning to take root and grow in your soil. As soon as you plant your new tree and get the soil packed in around it, you will want to water it.

After you plant the tree, it is also important to surround the tree with a layer of mulch. Mulch helps to keep moisture in the soil by insulating the soil from the direct impact of the sun's rays. Once you have this in place, you can begin your regular tree care routine.

During the first few years you have your tree, it will need regular watering especially during periods of drought or high heat. You will want to perform deep watering of your tree. This simply means you want to saturate the soil down several inches to where the roots are located.

You will want to run a hose with a diffuser nozzle over the area surrounding the tree for about 30 seconds to a minute each time you water the tree. This should be sufficient to saturate the soil.

It can be tough to know how often to water your new trees and you do not want to overwater them any more than you want to underwater them. One way to check if you are watering enough is to check the soil moisture by using a garden trowel to dig a small trench a few inches into the ground. Feel the soil with your fingers.

If it is moist, then you are watering enough. If it is dry, you need to water more. And if it is soaked or the trench fills with standing water, you have watered too much.

Now that you know more about installing trees into your landscaping design, you can be sure that you are not only choosing the right trees for you but that you are also caring for your new trees in the best way possible.

Hire a Tree Company to Help You Decorate Your Yard Safely This Holiday Season

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Decorating your home for the holidays can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous. There are numerous accidents that happen each year when people try to decorate for the holiday season because they are not properly trained to secure the decorations.

When it comes to hanging lights on trees, there are many steps that need to be taken in order to ensure that the process is done as safely as it can be. It is best to hire a professional tree service company to decorate the large trees in your yard for you. The following guide walks you through the steps that the company will take to ensure that your trees are decorated in the safest way.

Meet to Discuss Decorating Options

The company will first send a technician to meet with you to discuss the way that you want the trees to be decorated. The technician will be able to give you advice about the types of decorations that they have used before with success. There may be new options on the market that could improve the look of your decorations and save you money on lighting costs.

Inspect the Trees

Before any decorating can take place, the trees will need to be thoroughly inspected. The company will have to inspect to make sure that there is no rot in the trees and that the limbs are strong enough to hold the decorations that they need to hold. If there are any issues with the trees, the arborists will let you know right away.

Remove Any Damaged Areas of the Tree

Lights and decorations cannot be hung on damaged or dead tree limbs. The tree technician will need to climb into the trees and remove or trim the limbs that are not able to support the decorations. It will look ridiculous to have some limbs decorated and some not decorated simply because they are dead or damaged.

Removing dead and damaged limbs is important for the overall health of the tree. The tree will send nutrients to the damaged areas of the tree to try to repair it — nutrients that could have been sent to the rest of the tree. Removing the damaged limbs will ensure that the tree can thrive as a whole.

Attach the Decorations to the Tree

The lights and other décor need to be added to the tree in a safe manner. If you were to simply use tacks or nails to secure the lights to the tree, you would actually cause a lot of damage that could lead to it dying later on down the road.

The technician will have specialized tools and equipment that they can use to attach the décor without causing any damage to the tree. When the holiday season is over, the technician can come back to your home and remove the décor from the trees safely, as well.

Test to Make Sure the Décor Is Perfect

Before leaving, the technician will have you turn on the lights to check to make sure that everything looks just the way you want it to look. If there are any issues, they can address them on the spot so that you can look forward to displaying your holiday spirit for the rest of the season.

If you plan to decorate your yard for the holidays, contact Ted's Trees, Ltd. right away. With specialized tools and ample experience, the technician will be able to create the winter wonderland you want in your yard quickly and easily. You will not have to worry about any of your trees being damaged and will be able to enjoy a beautiful yard throughout the holiday season.

4 Options to Consider for Your New Patio Floor

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Are you are a homeowner considering the construction of a new backyard patio? If so, you'll want to enlist the services of a qualified team of professionals . Before you dive right in, there are several aspects to consider, including durability and maintenance, as well as the right choice of materials for your patio flooring. You will find many selections available. Here are 4 popular options to consider.

1. A Stained or Dyed Concrete Patio Floor

Concrete is your basic choice, and probably the least expensive in terms of material cost. While it's affordable and practical in some ways, you need to consider the future maintenance that a concrete patio will require. If you are installing a colored or stained concrete, you'll need to reapply the coating or dye every few years. This is especially important if your patio is exposed to extreme temperatures.

Concrete patios are a good choice for those who live in an area with moderate temperatures and no frost. If you wish to dress it up a bit, you might ask the contractor to install some aggregate or glass, or you can create a patterned texture. Ask for sample photos and ideas.

2. A Flagstone Patio Floor

If you are aiming for a natural appearance to your patio, flagstone is a fine choice for the material. You will find the earth tones of gray, brown and blue tend to complement most backyard environments. There are various types of flagstone used for patio installation, primarily limestone and sandstone. Flagstone is durable and able to withstand heavy traffic as well.

Another benefit of a flagstone patio is the ability to grow patches of grass or embed sand between each of the paved stones. This offers even more of an organic look to the yard. If you are considering growing vegetation between the stones, moss or mint are good choices. You may lay flagstone down over concrete or over sand and gravel.

There are various patterns to choose from when considering flagstone for your patio. Irregular or jagged patterns offer a unique appearance. If you want something more traditional, however, consider a rectangular pattern. In addition, you might ask your builder to mortar the flagstone material to give the surface more of a smooth feel to it.

3. A Brick Patio Floor

Does your patio area receive direct sunlight? If you are concerned about your patio fading under the heat of the sun, a brick patio might be something to consider. Brick is one of the most durable materials to use, and it is low maintenance as well. You may customize a brick patio to your liking with a wide array of patterns to select from.

There are other ways to utilize brick in the integration of your patio. If you have an existing stone or concrete patio, why not add brick borders around it? This addition will enliven the look and add some flair.

4. A Gravel Patio Floor

Perhaps you are looking for a quick and easy patio installation. If so, you won't find any material that lays down faster than gravel. You will also find that gravel will provide excellent drainage and act as a natural deterrent for weed growth. However, if you prefer walking barefoot on your patio, gravel may not be the best choice, as it tends to be jagged with minimal comfort beneath the feet.

As you consider patio flooring options, don't feel you must limit yourself to one material. You may find that integrating two or more materials can offer a unique and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Whatever you choose, contact professionals to help you achieve your dream patio.

Low-Maintenance Landscaping Trends That Stand Up to the Texas Heat

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you're like many homeowners, you take great pride in a well-manicured lawn and garden. Indeed, the curb appeal generated by aesthetically pleasing landscaping can improve property values throughout the neighborhood; and by that same token, a messy or unkempt lawn can drive property values down.

However, spending your summers weeding or watering under the brutal Texas sun can drain both your money and energy. Often, the solution to these competing interests lies in the installation of low-maintenance landscaping designed to withstand high heat and minimal water without wilting or fading. Read on for some landscaping tips and tricks to keep your property looking picturesque even during the hottest Texas summers.

Consider Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is the art of landscaping in a style that requires little to no irrigation and generates minimal waste. This generally means choosing native plants and flowers (ensuring they're already adapted to the nuances of the local climate) and, in some cases, replacing thirsty sod or trees with boulders or other inanimate objects. A xeriscaped yard may require no watering at all, and some xeriscaped yards don't even need to be mowed, freeing up time to enjoy your yard instead of working in it.

Choose Drought-Hardy Plants and Trees

While the plants and trees native to Texas are accustomed to the state's hot, dry climate, all living plants require some water. During periods of drought, you and your neighbors may be subject to some fairly draconian limits on your household water usage, preventing you from watering your plants and flowers on a regular basis. By selecting flowers, trees and other ornamental landscaping plants designed to withstand even the most severe drought conditions, you'll be in a much better position to weather the dry season.

Avoid Frequent Watering

Even ordinarily drought-hardy plants can wilt or die during dry weather if they've previously been subject to overwatering. Watering your plants too frequently will discourage their roots from growing deep into the earth (where a more constant supply of moisture is present); instead, these plants will develop only the shallow roots needed to take advantage of surface water.

If you've been generous with your watering but your watering schedule later becomes more intermittent, your plants will have trouble adjusting to the decrease in supply. Even if their roots begin delving downward in search of more water, their health and appearance may suffer in the meantime. By performing a deep watering only occasionally, you'll encourage root growth and help toughen your plants up for any future water restrictions.

Edge Your Property

You may find that the majority of your landscaping efforts are concentrated around borders; from the sides of your sidewalk or front walkway to the space where your lawn ends and your flower or vegetable garden begins, borders can require regular trimming, weeding and other maintenance to avoid a shaggy or disorderly look.

Installing edging or curbing around these perimeters can significantly cut down on the amount of lawn work you need to perform on a regular basis. Because curbing can stand up to everything from weed-eater string or blades to pesticides, you'll be able to minimize the growth of weeds without spending time pulling them by hand or trying to avoid splashing weed killer on your sod.

Curbing can also provide a polished appearance that is hard to achieve through other means, giving your property both literal and figurative "curb appeal" without a significant investment of time or money.

Before beginning your next DIY lawn project, you may want to partner with a local landscaping specialist to see whether xeriscaping, curbing or some new drought-hardy trees could be the answer to your messy or lackluster lawn.

How to Tell If a Tree Is Worth Saving

Sat, 20 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Trees represent a significant investment. Healthy trees add value and curb appeal to your home, and a large, mature tree is almost priceless. For these reasons, homeowners should not be so quick to remove an unhealthy tree.

Here are key elements that are necessary for continued survival and eventual recovery:

The leader is what you might think of as the trunk. Trees have a central leader that goes all the way through the tree. The leader is the main highway for the transport of water and nutrition. It also governs the structural integrity of the supporting branches. Damage to the central leader is difficult to recover from.
Usually when infection, storms, or hard winters strike, some of the foliage is affected. However, if more than half of the branches and leaves are still full and healthy, this is a good sign that your tree can come back to better health.
When too much foliage is missing, however, removal might be the only option. Trees need leaves for food, and if the leaves can't produce enough to sustain the healing process, there's nothing to be done.
Bark loss is a serious problem that should not be ignored. Usually, bark loss comes from exterior predators like deer, squirrels, and rabbits who strip the tree of bark for food during lean winter months. Bark is the tree's main protection against disease and insects.

For more information on saving your trees, contact the experienced arborists at Ted’s Trees, Ltd. in Austin, Texas, for the best tree service.

Too Close for Comfort: 4 Signs It Might Be Time to Transplant Your Tree

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Your favorite tree provides shade in hot Texas summers and serves as a windbreak from cold winter winds. However, there are times when a favorite tree needs to be transplanted or moved to a new location in your yard. Here are a few signs that it may be time to move a tree to a better place on your property.

1. The Tree Is Growing Too Close to Your Home

Your tree started out at safe distance from your home, but it has crept closer as it grew in stature and girth. If the leaves that once whispered at your window have started to scrape and scratch the roof and walls of your home, then it's time to move your tree. Over a long enough period of time, that gentle rubbing of branches against the siding and roof shingles will take its toll and cause damage.

Regular pruning will prevent a tree from physically touching your home, but a tree that is very near to your home will inevitably cause damage, and aggressive pruning will only ruin the beautiful symmetry that trees are famous for. In this case, it's better to have a professional move the tree several yards away — where it can still provide shade and protection without damaging your home.

2. Your Roof and Gutters Are Covered in Debris

Regular fall maintenance around your yard includes raking up leaves and cleaning out the gutters on your roof in preparation for winter. Nearby trees probably fill your gutters with leaves, seeds and other debris. If you find that your gutters seem to always be full of debris no matter what time of year it is, then you may want to take a look at the trees growing next to your home.

If your gutters are clogged with leaf litter throughout the year, they cannot drain away rainwater effectively throughout the year. Unless you check the gutters regularly and clean them out, there could be a problem.

A tree located too close to your home will drop leaves and twigs onto your roof as well. While a shaded shingle roof lasts longer than a roof hit by the sun's UV rays, its life span will be shortened by the constant presence of leaf litter and other debris. Full gutters and a loaded roof might be a sign it's time to move that tree away from your home.

3. Pests Are Invading Your Home

Do you hear the pitter-patter of little feet in your home? That sound is probably not coming from the feet of your pets and children. Squirrels, mice, raccoons, and other pests can gain access to the roof of your home via a closely planted or over-hanging tree. Once these creatures have access to your roof, they can enter your home.

Pest infestations can occur in your attic and move down into the living spaces of your home, and it's not limited to mammals either. Insects like termites and ants have a better chance at coming into your home via plant growth above and around your roof and walls. Moving the offending tree away from your home denies pests the opportunity to pay you and your home a visit.

4. The Tree Is Lopsided and Leaning

A tree growing near your home can be beautiful, but not if it's lopsided or leaning. A tree will naturally grow toward sunlight. If it's too close to the shady walls of your home, then it will lean in an effort to avoid your shady home and reach the sun.

At the same time, the branches on the sunny side will grow normally but the branches and limbs in the shade will be stunted and smaller. The result is a lopsided or leaning tree — capable of falling over during a strong wind and damaging your home.

Before a tree reaches the point of damaging your home, it needs to be transplanted by a professional. Contact us at Ted's Trees, Ltd. for more information on our landscaping and tree transplant services.

How to Improve the Landscape of Your Starter Home

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

When you became a homeowner for the first time, you may have moved into a starter home. Because you know that you will sell the property later to find one that fits your future needs, you don’t need to worry about making sure every feature meets your personal desires. However, you should still feel confident about renovating the landscape.

If the landscape is lacking in some way, then making improvements will have a huge impact on the curb appeal of your home. While you could work on individual projects such as the lawn or trees, your willingness to tackle everything related to the landscape will provide you with the greatest results. Here are some ideas to keep in mind.

Focus on Home Value

Focusing on the things that you want most for the backyard may yield results that you love, but you should not forget about considering the home's value. For instance, if you love an extremely busy backyard, this could be a negative quality to people looking at homes.

Taking time to focus on improvements that increase home value is a smart choice. With professional execution, you can enjoy a return on your investment. This means that you will not lose any money for putting work into your property's landscape.

Think Short Term

While looking at all the ideas to improve your landscape, you should focus on short-term goals. You want to make sure that the landscape is ready to shine by the time you want to sell the home. Some trees can take decades to reach maturity, which is fine when you are not planning to move out.

This means you will want to work with landscaping professionals on short-term additions. You can pick from bushes and trees that will grow fast enough to make an impact in a few years. To get even more precise, you can provide the year that you intend to sell the home. Then, professionals can come up with concrete plans that are based on your specific plans.

Plant Trees

When you want to add trees to the property, you should not hesitate to put the prettiest ones in the front yard. Improving curb appeal is a great way to make an excellent first impression. The crape myrtle is an ideal choice because it grows well in Austin and the surrounding areas. You can even plan to sell the property during summertime when the flowers are blooming beautifully.

Fill the Yard

If you have a somewhat empty landscape, then you should look to fill in the yard. A healthy lawn with one or two trees may look good, but this is not enough to create a complete landscape. You can work on the driveway, patio, pathways, and other outdoor features for an organized look. Adding a mulch bed and planting flowers throughout makes a clean and attractive feature.

Because you want to keep the landscape looking its best all the way until you sell the home, you may not want to incorporate plants or features that will be difficult to maintain. This is when you want to ask for help in deciding on additions and improvements that you can easily keep healthy.

Transplant Trees

Another way to improve your yard is to transplant trees in some areas. The previous owners may have grown a healthy tree, but the positioning of the tree may lead to issues with your home’s foundation. Alternatively, a tree may be blocking an incredible view that could keep your home's value from increasing.

If you have any questions about our landscaping services or you want to schedule an appointment with a professional landscape designer, then contact us at Ted's Trees, Ltd. today.

Three Great Reasons to Invest in Your Home's Landscaping

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Whether you're the type of person who loves to work in the garden or you couldn't despise lawn maintenance more, there are a lot of good reasons to look into improving your front or backyard.

1. Resale Value

Improving the exterior of your home, yard included, is a great way to increase curb appeal. In addition to providing excellent "advertising" for potential buyers who might not otherwise take an interest, stunning landscaping will leave a lasting impression on those mulling over their choices.

2. Privacy and Leisure

Lack of privacy is one of the biggest reasons that people tend to under use their outdoor spaces. Even a small yard can feel more secluded with a fence or some other type of perimeter. Another reason is that there isn't anything in particular to do there! Patios, fire pits, water features, walkways and raised garden beds are all great additions for those looking to enjoy spending time outside.

3. Reduce Utility Costs

Planting trees and shrubs in strategic locations can help to shade your home and any outdoor HVAC equipment. During the summer, this keeps indoor air cooler naturally, putting less strain on conditioning systems. Additionally, by introducing plants that require minimal irrigation you can reduce your water bill while keeping your landscaping green.

Contact Ted’s Trees, Ltd. at 512-928-8733 to learn more about design and installation services in your area.

How to Protect Trees for Winter

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

As the temperature begins to drop and winter approaches, be sure to protect your trees from the harsh cold. Here are a few tips to ensure healthy trees next spring.

Young Trees

Although deciduous trees adapt to winter by losing their leaves and going into dormancy, new trees still need to be protected. Younger trees should be watered up until the first frost, and then have a layer of mulch applied around the tree to insulate the ground and keep it frozen and discourage heaving during warm spells. Young and thin-barked trees should also be wrapped to combat sun scald. Sunscald occurs when the bright winter sun tricks the bark into producing new growth before the rapid temperature decrease kills off all of that growth.

Coniferous Trees

Because coniferous trees do not shed in the winter, extra steps should be taken. By wrapping trees in burlap or using a burlap screen around the tree, you can protect the trees from the drying winter wind, heavy snowfall that may bend and break the branches and the damage done to some species by road salt being thrown up by plows.
Wrapping or screening will also discourage discoloration during the winter. During warm spells, new growth will begin, but the quick return to colder temperatures will end it abruptly, causing bleaching. Browning occurs when the sun and wind cause excessive loss of moisture that the frozen roots cannot replenish.

For more information about preparing trees for the winter, contact Ted’s Trees, Ltd. at 512-928-8733.