Five Native Texas Plants That Can Enhance Your Landscape Design
By using native plants in their landscaping plan, homeowners can be assured that their plants will thrive in the dry, sunny Texas climate. Native plants make good environmental sense as well, as they generally require less water and can survive for extended periods with little or no watering. Many also serve to attract butterflies and other wildlife, providing an additional level of beauty to these practical and attractive plantings. Here are five of the best native plants for Texas landscape design.
For a burst of color throughout the spring, the huisache daisy’s bright yellow blooms will brighten any yard. Also known as the butterfly daisy or honey daisy, this charming flower of the aster family has attractive foliage and a sweet scent that attracts butterflies; the flower grows up to one foot in height. Huisache daisies can be found growing in large quantities along Texas roads and highways, providing a solid blanket of golden color from March to June; they require partial shade in order to thrive. Because the huisache daisy flourishes in the dry conditions of Texas, it is an outstanding choice for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to conserve water.
The anacacho orchid tree, also known simply as the orchid tree, is so named for its springtime display of orchid-like flowers ranging in hue from soft white to pale pink. Standing six to twelve feet high, it is tolerant to Texas heat and does well on very little water, but requires a certain amount of shielding from harsh winter wind. After the flowers are gone, silver bark and dense green foliage make this a lovely ornamental tree all year round.
Also known as the hummingbird bush, flame acanthus is a native Texas honeysuckle shrub with reddish-orange flowers and light green leaves. Blooms appear in early June and persist throughout the fall, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with their sweet-smelling fragrance. Drought tolerant, this hardy plant prefers fairly moist soil for best results. It likes full sun and can survive extremes of hot and cold better than average. Pruning in winter produces a denser and more attractive plant for ornamental purposes.
With large, dramatic flowers ranging in hue from golden yellow to red and magenta, Indian blanket is a showy addition to any landscaping project. Also known as firewheel due to the firework-like appearance of its blooms, Indian blanket grows to one or two feet tall and spreads like a shrub. It does well in dry conditions and prefers full sun or partial shade; the sandier the soil, the more flowers it produces. Indian blanket is an excellent choice for first-time native plant gardening since it requires little care and is exceptionally hardy, even reseeding itself naturally at the end of its growing season. It attracts butterflies and stands up reasonably well to incursions by deer.
Because buffalograss is a native prairie grass endemic to Texas, it is an environmentally responsible and hardy alternative to other types of lawn grass. It requires little water to survive, and is tolerant of both sun and heat. Soft to the touch and varying in color between grayish green and blue-green, its flowers attract butterflies and, if left unmowed, it can provide homes for a variety of native wildlife. Buffalograss can grow to a height of one foot, but generally ranges between three and ten inches tall. It does best in clay loam, and goes dormant during extended droughts and in the winter.
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Realtors Property Resource and Austin real estate can be found on the net.
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Critical Tips To Keep Your Home Free From Mice Infestation
One thing that everyone should be aware of in their home is mice infestation. Mice and rats are a potential danger to the home. In the first place, they can carry disease, especially in their bites and droppings. These droppings can be dangerous, even deadly. In the 12th century, Europe was devastated by the bubonic plague, a disease brought about by rodent infestation and poor sanitary management that killed thousands of people and decimated countries. Mice and rodents also eat through electrical wirings and may cause fires. An estimated 10% of all fires were caused by rats eating through the electrical wires and causing shortages or sparks. How did fire investigators find that out? Upon checking the electrical, they would see dead rodents beside gnawed electrical wires that were the source of the fire. Here are some things you can do to keep your home away from mice infestation:
- Keep your place sanitized and orderly. By properly sanitary management, you can reduce the chances of mice infestation in your home. Empty your trash on a daily basis and place them outside your homes, especially wet trash. This will at least prevent rodents from entering your home because of the trash. Keeping your garage orderly as well is a good practice. Any pile is a good place for a rodent to make home. Keep items segregated, even boxed up and covered. If most of the garage is relatively orderly, one should be able to see the floor area and a good visual enables you to check for mice
- Cover holes and apertures in your homes. Especially with rain pipes, one should cover holes with screens. Mice can get through a fourth of an inch diameter opening while rats can do it in a half inch hole. Such screens and coverings should be fitted accordingly. You may also place mice traps nearest these apertures as a first line of defense.
- Use rodenticides and rat repellents wisely. Make sure children do not have access to rodenticided and rat repellents that are poisonous. There are now mouse and rat traps that are rat friendly in the sense that they trap these rodents but do not necessarily kill them. Looking like doll houses, these traps are also kid friendly. There are even repellents that are eco friendly or so called green.
One cannot completely get rid of mice and rodents in the world but preventing them from entering your household is something that can be done if we take the proper precautions.
Finally, the real truth about getting rid of mice! Find out what really works and what’s a waste of money! You can move those pesky house mice right on out the door and avoid
mice infestation
that is dangerous for you and your family!
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