Monoculture - Desiree Gardens

Now, early March, is the time to apply your twice annual pre-emergent weed control, if you choose to use one. This timing is for North Texas – if you live further south (Zone 9 or greater) you will need to apply it earlier, and if north (Zone 7b and lower) apply it later.

We at Desiree Gardens don’t really do lawns, and what little lawn space we have is usually dedicated to native wild flowers. But we know this is not for everyone. If you have a wild-scaped lawn like we promote, you DO NOT want to apply pre-emergents and definitely do not apply a broad leaf weed killer.

If however you have a well manicured lawn, you will want to apply your pre-emergent now in the first week of March. This will help control crabgrass, spurge, henbit, and rescuegrass. This should be reapplied in early June, and again in September. We’ll post reminders for those applications.

Other weeds such as clover, dandelion, dallisgrass, nutsedge, and bittercress will need to be controlled with a broad leaf weed killer that is only effective after the weeds have appeared. It is also important to apply a broad leafed weed killer when the daytime temperature is above 70°, rain is not expected for at least 48-hours, and preferably in the morning when there is little to no wind. Always remember that broad leafed weed killers are indiscriminate and if blown onto your garden beds will damage or kill plants there as if they were weeds.

Need help with your irrigation or sprinkler system? Does your garden need an overhaul or just a general checkup? Maybe you just need a helping hand to protect sensitive plants from freeze and frost. Give us a call at 817-202-4808, or drop us a line and contact us here, to find out how Desiree can help you create a wonderful garden with a budget you can afford.

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From the AP: America’s love affair with the lawn is getting messy

More and more people are getting away from plain, boring lawns, and moving to diverse gardens that provide abundant color, texture, and foliage, while at the same time providing ample resources for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

From the article: Monrovia, a major grower of plants for nurseries and other outlets, has seen lots of interest in a “Garden of Abundance” trend -– a more “alive-looking” yard with a variety of plants, says company trend watcher Katie Tamony. She says it’s a way of thinking about your yard “as not just being yours, but part of a more beautiful, larger world that we’re trying to create.”

Plants that attract pollinators were the category most sought-after in a survey of Monrovia’s customers, she said.

Many counties and municipalities have jumped on board as well, and are encouraging residents who transform their yards into diverse gardens by handing out placards and yard signs. Native plants, as opposed to monoculture lawns, are an environmental boon not just to pollinators, but they also consume much less water than a traditional lawn. Even those who continue to maintain their lawns are moving to native grasses that can better tolerate droughts and require very little additional watering.

Throughout the pandemic, and even with it drawing to a close, more and more people are seeking to create their own little safe havens where they live. With the huge increase of people working from home, it’s become paramount to have more natural beauty and lush green landscapes and gardens are one way people seek that out.

Whether it’s a small balcony garden of potted plants, a collection of indoor tropicals and succulents, or a large outdoor garden with hardscapes and water features, Desiree Gardens can help you create the garden space of your dreams.

Contact us today for a free one hour consultation to see how we can help you achieve your dreams.

Category: Monoculture

Spring Pre-emergent Weed Control

Ditching Lawns for Lush, Diverse Gardens.