| |

Guide to Yard Care

Guide to Yard Care is a publication produced for and provided by TCEQ through the Take Care of Texas program. Pickup this guide and other helpful water-saving literature at the LMUD district office located at 1097 Lohmans Crossing.

Introduction

Do your part for the environment, starting with your own yard. This guide will help you maintain a healthy yard, save money, and take care of our state’s varied landscapes.

Guide to Yard Care is a 17-page publication that covers:

Why Take Care of Texas?

  • Water Conservation
  • Keep Our Water Clean
  • Keep Our Air Clean
    • Maintain Your Equipment
    • Avoid Spilling Gasoline
    • Consider Cleaner Options

Water-Efficient Landscape Design and Irrigation

  • Landscape Design
  • Plant Selection and Care
    • Choose Your Turf
  • Mulch
  • Fertilizer Care
  • Water Efficiently
  • Irrigation Systems
  • Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention
  • Spray Irrigation
  • Drip Irrigation
  • Soaker Hoses

Composting

  • What is Compost?
  • Why Compost?
  • How to Use Compost
  • Composting Basics
  • Composting Materials
  • Turning the Pile
  • Harvesting Compost
  • Compost Variations
  • Easy Compost Recipe
  • Worm Composting

Rainwater Harvesting with Rain Barrels

  • What is Rainwater Harvesting?
  • Reasons for Harvesting Rainwater
  • Maintaining Your Rain Barrel
  • How to Construct a Rain Barrel

Managing 10 Common Texas Yard Pests

  • Grubs
  • Chinch Bugs
  • Fire Ants
  • Aphids
  • Caterpillars
  • Fleas
  • Mosquitos
  • Spider Mites
  • Snails and Slugs
  • Beetles

Managing Lawn Problems in Texas

  • Choose Your landscape
  • Maintain Your Lawn
    • Water Efficiently
    • Mow Properly
    • Practice Grasscycling
    • Cultivate Healthy Soil
    • Don’t Let Leaves Pile Up

Common Lawn Problems

  • Fungal Diseases
    • Take-All Patch
    • Brown Patch
  • Lawn Stresses
    • Shade Stress
    • Iron Chlorosis
    • Drought Stress
  • Weeds