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Right as Rain Landscape Designs for Wet Climates
Raised beds and drainage systems protect landscapes from excessive rains While this spring’s substantial rainfall in North Texas has added much-needed water to the area’s reservoirs, it has also created surplus topsoil moisture and saturated the ground. Heavy rains, especially when they last over an extended period of time, place stress on plants in our landscapes. All plants need water, but there is harm in excessive amounts of rain that fill all the spaces in between the particles of the soil with water and displace the air. Roots of plants need both air and water; when the air spaces in the soil are kept filled with water, the roots are deprived of the oxygen that they need. If these oversaturated conditions persist, plant roots stop functioning properly and may begin to die. Although soil is filled with water, the roots are unable to absorb it, causing plants to wilt and making them more vulnerable to attack by fungal organisms in the soil that cause root rot. Root rot infections are highly damaging to the roots and are often fatal to the plants. Your Landscape with Raised Beds The best way to safeguard your landscape against the damaging effects of excessive rainfall and fungus in the soil that can cause root rot is to ensure adequate drainage. At Simpson Landscape, the primary way we achieve well-drained landscapes is planting in raised beds. Raised beds drain more quickly and dry out faster than ground-level beds. Whether we are planting shrubs, bedding plants, perennials or ground covers, the beds we prepare for them have added organic matter and are about 6-12” higher... read more
Prevent and Assess Winter Damage to Trees And Shrubs
Originally posted on HGTV. Cold temperatures and drying winds can wreak havoc on your landscape. Here’s how you can fix the damage and prevent it in the future. Hardy Trees Can Withstand Winter’s Harsh Conditions Snow and ice can be beautiful in the winter garden. It’s peaceful to observe the serenity with a cup of hot chocolate from the comfort of your living room. It’s fun to share photos of winter beauty on social media with friends. It’s not fun, however, to discover winter damge in your landscape. Take precautions before the cold weather hits to prevent winter damage to your valuable landscape plants. If spring arrives to show that something was overlooked, cold damage can often be mended with a little elbow... read more