Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition | July 2023

GUIDE

Local businesses oer home improvement tips

COMPILED BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & KATY MCAFEE HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

ASK A GARDEN EXPERT

Central Texas is known for its hot, dry weather, which makes it challenging to maintain a healthy garden. Sheryl Williams, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Travis County and master gardener, shares her tips for xeriscaping—landscaping using native plants with little irrigation—in the Austin area. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEP TION ABOUT XERISCAPING?

areas, one must water more often than in the eastern areas until a deep root system is grown. Native grasses are underutilized in the Central Texas landscapes and can grow on either side of the delineation. There are tons of ornamental grasses that do well in Central Texas and look amazing while also providing habitats for pollinators. DOES XERISCAPING REQUIRE MORE WORK? Xeriscaping requires the most work during the rst year while the plants gain resilience. The amount of water needed will depend on the natural rainfall received during that rst year, but it is important to maintain a regular watering schedule in the beginning to establish a solid root system. The best time of year to begin planting a xeric landscape is mid-October.

The biggest misconception is that xeriscaping is getting rid of plants in the yard and transforming them into gravel gardens, but that is not the case. Xeriscaping encourages more plants, not less, but they need to be native or adapted to the site—especially with the heat and precipitation issues in Central Texas. The goal is to make the landscape look like the surrounding wildscape. HOW DOES ONE DETERMINE WHAT TO PLANT? In the Austin area, the [set of plants that will be used] depends on which side of I-35 a person lives: the soil west of I-35 is known as Edward’s Plateau limestone, while land east of I-35 is Blackland prairie clay. In the western

Above is an example of a lush and xeric landscape with native/adapted plants and a traditional lawn. (Courtesy Travis County Master Gardeners Association)

Sheryl Williams Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Travis County, master gardener www.tcmastergardeners.org/drought-guide

SELL YOUR HOME IN

SCAN FOR DETAILS

8 DAYS OR LESS!

512-375-4737 JW TEAM | KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

1801 S. MOPAC EXWY STE 100 AUSTIN, TX 78746

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is listed with another broker, this is not a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal opportunity housing provider.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM