landscaping

The Top Choice Austin Landscaping Blog

Silkworms in Central Texas

By Nolan Gore / April 10, 2025

Silkworms in Central Texas: What Are Those Worms Crawling on You? Have you ever been in a serious conversation—maybe even a meeting—only to feel something crawling on your neck? You do the jump-and-slap combo, thinking it’s a spider, and it turns out to be a tiny, green worm. Welcome to springtime in Central Texas. Those…

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This Week in Landscaping

This Week in Landscaping – April 7, 2025

By Nolan Gore / April 8, 2025

Red yuccas, lawn envy, bluebonnet seeds, and silk worms… oh my. Spring has officially sprung in Austin. The grass is taking off. The plants are showing off. And the weather is making all of us feel like we should probably do more in the yard than we actually have time for. Here’s your local update…

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What to Know About June Bugs in Austin Yards

By Nolan Gore / April 2, 2025

TL;DR: • June bugs = no big deal (unless there’s a lot) • Their babies = turf-killing grubs • Now’s a good time to keep an eye out • We’ve got grub control if you need it What to Know About June Bugs in Austin Yards (And why they’re crashing your porch light party) It’s…

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Choosing the Best Mulch for Central Texas Gardens

By Nolan Gore / January 29, 2025

Mulching is a key practice for cultivating a thriving garden, especially in the Central Texas climate. It helps ensure your garden not only survives but flourishes! Where does mulch come from, and why does it matter? Watch my short video below, and then read on to learn more about the benefits and varieties of mulch…

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How to Winterize Your Backflow Preventer (Video)

By The Top Choice Team / January 20, 2025

Folks around the country will often shut off and drain their irrigation systems entirely before the winter, but because we rarely get deep freezes, that’s not really necessary in Central Texas. However, we still need to protect any above-ground exposed equipment: pipes, pumps, filters, and backflow preventers! Proper insulation and winterization are especially important this…

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How to Winterize your Irrigation System in Austin

By The Top Choice Team / January 20, 2025

Why do we winterize? We want to take care of our irrigation systems. Often times there are breaks in our systems after a long hard winter. Everyone knows that water expands when it freezes – we need to take this into consideration when we are preparing for the cold months. Make sure your system is…

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What to know about xeriscaping

By Nolan Gore / August 27, 2024

What is it? Why would you xeriscape part/all of your yard? What are the best plants for xeriscaping in Central Texas? What are common mistakes and misconceptions What are some common landscaping materials used in xeriscaping? What are several areas I should consider xeriscaping in my yard? What should I consider with xeriscaping? Some of our…

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Top 10 Plants for Xeriscaping in Central Texas

By Nolan Gore / August 27, 2024

1. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) Type: ShrubSun Requirements: Full sunWatering Requirements: Drought-tolerant once established; requires minimal wateringMature Size: Typically reaches a height of 3-8 feet with a similar spread Fun Facts: 2. Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) Type: PerennialSun Requirements: Full sunWatering Requirements: Highly drought-tolerant; minimal watering once establishedMature Size: Typically grows to a height of 2-3 feet with a…

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Central Texas Summer Weeds: Identification and Control

By Nolan Gore / August 5, 2024

The summer can be a hard time to stay on top of the weeds. As the temperatures rise and start to degrade the health of our common turf grasses, summer weeds can get a foothold. Summer weeds can also grow in your beds – especially if you have been properly irrigating or we have a…

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Is rain water better for our landscape than irrigation water?

By Nolan Gore / July 30, 2024

It is all just water, right? Turns out – not all water is created equal. Rainwater is actually better for your landscape than irrigation water. Yes – you heard me correctly. Water from the sky is better for your lawn, plants, lawn gnomes and trees than the water from your pipes. Before I explain why…irrigation…

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