Pre-Emergent, the Key to a Beautiful Lawn
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Clark Gullette shares several ways that you can always have a beautiful lawn
Like the Framework of a Beautiful Picture
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Randy Summers takes all of the guessing out of landscape designing and preparation for all of the Do-It-Yourselfers
Homefront Highlight On the Cover A winding country road on a beautiful autumn day in North Texas
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Fall is finally here and it’s time to plant says Dr. Douglas F. Welsh, Landscape Horticulturalist, Texas A&M University
Texas Luxefront Erin Hickman and Rachel Ellis of Tom Grisak Estate Home Realtors share some key points about how they can make the difference in your next luxury home purchase
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EXECUTIVE PUBLISHERS Jason & Heather Reynolds EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Heather Reynolds PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jason Reynolds ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JD Lee CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Randy Summers Clark Gullette Dr. Douglas F. Welsh PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS Various PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS James Robinson Jonathan English PRODUCTION / DESIGN FIFTHKING MEDIA www.fifthking.com ADVERTISING / M ARKETING The Homefront Team www.txhomefront.com © 2012 TEXAS HOMEFRONT M AGAZINE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE The title and all material within are protected by international copyright laws and are reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Although the greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine at the time of going to press, neither Texas Homefront Magazine nor FIFTHKING MEDIA can be held liable for omissions, inexactness or errors.
FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT: Texas Homefront Magazine PO Box 405 Prosper, Texas 75078
Ph: 469.481.2935 www.TXHomefront.com facebook.com/txhomefront heather@txhomefront.com
different meaning to my husband/as the cooler weather moves in and the leaves begin to change, that marks the beginning of hunting season!! Speaking of hunting, we are happy to share that Jase Robertson, the Duck Commander, will be the featured guest speaker at the WILDLIFE OUTDOOR EXPO on September 30. Please join us at Prosper High School for this amazing event. There is a wide variety of vendors, Fall is my favorite time of products and services, as well year, right behind the Holiday as a delicious Beast Feast meal and raffle. See page 17 Season. I love everything for more details and schedule. about the beginning of As we move closer to the Fall/the bright sunny days, the crisp cool nights, the start holiday season, we want to bring great recognition to the of a new school year, the wonderful organizations that colors, the fragrances/I exist in our area to help our embrace them all. After the neighbors in need. As you sizzling heat of the summer clean out your closets to months, I can’t wait for that make room for your new first cold front to roll in. And wardrobes, please consider as soon as it does, I’m ready donating those gently used to hit the nurseries and get items to The Attic. All of the back into my flower and profits generated from The planting beds! I have deliberated for the Attic on Main go to support the efforts of Cornerstone, an last month on what my fall organization that provides landscape is going to entail. financial assistance to those Those 100+ degree days when it was almost too hot to in need. You can also donate even go outside at 10:00pm food and personal hygiene were spent planning and designing/just waiting for the items to Bethlehem Place, the cooler temps and the autumn food pantry that serves those in Prosper and surrounding plantings to arrive. We get towns. Please refer to page excited about Fall because 16 for more information on it marks the beginning of the these wonderful ministries journey into all of the and in the spirit of giving, wonderful holidays, family reach out with any help you gatherings and upcoming can provide. events over the next few months. Welcome Home! As much as fall ignites my passion for gardening and Jason and Heather Reynolds landscaping, it has an entirely Executive Publishers
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Pre-emergent’s are critical to a beautiful lawn, but must be applied by a certain date to be effective. Without pre-emergent’s, your lawn would be riddled with weeds to the point of being impossible to control. What is a pre-emergent and when should it be applied? A preemergent is a class of herbicide designed to create a layer of protection just below the soil surface and remain in the soil to stop new weed seeds from germinating. Herbicides of this nature are designed to be applied in two different ways and some preemergent’s have other benefits as well, depending on the type as well as the brand. 6 | Texas Homefront Magazine
Granular and liquid are the two types used in lawn care at different times of the year, some containing post-emergent qualities while others are strictly pre-emergent only. Each has similar benefits when applied at the right time, giving a homeowner the best chance of stopping most weeds from germinating at different times of the year. Spring and fall are times when weeds germinate; some being "Summer Weeds" while others are labeled as "Winter Weeds”. Without pre-emergent, the lawn care industry would not be effective
enough to stay in business. Pre-emergent’s are crucial and remain the single most important part of lawn care. Without the allimportant spring and fall preemergent, weeds are left to grow unimpeded. Lawn care companies understand the vital importance of a pre-emergent applied at the right time, and cringe when a customer refuses or postpones a treatment containing one. They know from experience the allimportant catalyst to an ornamental yard starts with a correctly applied pre-emergent.
When applied at the right time and in the right manner, most weeds don’t stand a chance of germinating. Take the time to read up on the vital importance of pre-emergent qualities and benefits. Begin to understand the vital role pre-emergent plays in the ornamental state of your lawn, and realizing the benefits, a homeowner can come to the conclusion that pre-emergence is the answer to a weed free lawn. They are relatively easy to apply in granular form with a garden spreader, or a lawn care company
can be contracted to apply preemergent at the right time to be most effective. However, if you want to tackle the chore yourself the following info is vital: In the North Texas region the ideal target window for fall preemergent is before Sept 15th for a true pre-emergent with no residual post emergent activity. After Sept 15th you must apply a pre-emergent that contains post emergent activity because some weeds may have already germinated making a preemergent without post emergent qualities ineffective.
Pay special attention to label instructions or ask a local lawn care professional for help. Good luck and may you always have a beautiful lawn. www.TXhomefront.com | 7
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VLife Church is a growing, vibrant, and contemporary body of Christian believers who have a passion for life, love, and divine purpose to reach the world with the love and transforming power of Jesus Christ. Recently, we have embarked on a mission to revive one of the oldest, and most notable church buildings in the City of McKinney. It is a place where people from all genres of life will be able to worship and enjoy the presence of God. It is also an endeavor that you can participate in by sharing a financial gift. Visit us online at: www.vlifechurch.com to learn about VLife Church. Thank you!
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The weather is becoming slightly cooler, and gardeners are slowly migrating back outdoors after record-breaking heat this summer.
Now is a perfect time to add a new tree or a grouping of shrubs to the landscape. Or perhaps you have an area in the landscape that needs 'remodeling' or rejuvenating. The fall may be the best season to plant, surpassing even the spring. Many people prefer January through March for planting, but the fall months of September through December have distinct advantages. Fall planting follows the heat of summer, before a cool winter season, and trees and shrubs planted in the fall use this to good advantage. Plant roots grow anytime the soil temperature is 40 degrees or higher, which may occur all winter in Texas. During the winter months, the root systems of the fall-planted specimens develop and become established. When spring arrives, this expanded root system can support and take advantage of the full surge of spring growth. Fall is the optimum time to plant balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. These plants have ample time to recover from transplanting and proliferate roots before spring growth begins. Remember, however, all bare root plants, including roses and pecan and fruit trees, should be planted in late winter when they are dormant. When buying plants for your landscape, be sure to get healthy, wellgrown plants. Always buy from a reputable dealer. Those in the plantselling business year-round depend on repeat customers, and only by selling customers quality plants can there be assurance of future business. Beware of plant bargains. They can easily turn out to be real headaches. A bargain is no good if it dies. The price tag, especially the cheapest one, is not the best guide to quality.
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All plants have growing requirements. Think about the plant's needs before you invest. Is it adapted to your area's soil? Will it grow in sun or shade? Does it need a wet or dry location? Is it cold hardy? Some nurseries have this type of information on tags beside the plant. If not, ask a nursery professional or the county Extension agent. 'Plan before you plant' is always a good rule of thumb. Whether you are planting a single plant or an entire landscape, plan first, then plant. Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will pay off in greater enjoyment of attractive and useful home grounds, and in increasing the value of your home. It's much easier to move plants on paper then to dig them after planting in the wrong place. A plan saves many planting mistakes. Every plant in the landscape should serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you want a plant for screening, for privacy, or for shade. How large will it be five years from now? Plants, like people, grow up. Remember, that a small one-gallon-size plant will look entirely different after a few years of growth in your landscape.
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Plant properly for success and here are a few guidelines on getting the job done right: •
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Dig a hole large enough in diameter so that the root system has at least six inches of clearance on all sides. The root ball should rest on a solid soil foundation, so don't dig the hole much deeper than the ball. Plant the tree or shrub slightly above the level of the surrounding soil, to allow for settling and increased soil drainage. Carefully place the tree or shrub in the hole. Handle the plant by the root ball, not by the trunk. A broken ball of earth can mean a dead plant. Always remove any container before you plant. Backfill the hole, using only the native soil removed from the hole; do not use soil amendments when planting large shrubs and trees. Fill the hole, and firm the soil around the plant. Water your plants thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and to eliminate any air pockets. Do not fertilize your tree or shrub after planting. Wait until early in the spring to do this, and even then, go lightly. Heavy applications of fertilizer may burn and injure the root system, and could possibly kill the plant. Before calling it a day, add 4 to 6 inches of mulch around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs. This helps to keep down weeds and conserve soil moisture. Use pine bark, compost, grass clippings, or leaves. Watering has been and remains paramount in transplanting. At the time of transplanting, soak the root ball and surrounding soil. A thorough watering every 7 to 10 days dramatically increases the success ratio. More frequent watering may encourage root rot. Remember more trees and shrubs fail from over watering then from under watering.
Fall is for planting. Visit your nursery today, to beautify and add value to your home.
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Ahhhhh, the beauty of landscaping. It may be underrated but it is so important to the overall exterior beauty of a home. 14 | Texas Homefront Magazine
About 38% of what you see as you stand in the street and look at the architectural design of a home is landscape. Now that being said(.LETS REWIND A BIT, and talk about how landscaping impacts the bigger picture and the overall community appearance and experience. When looking for a home, minutes before you even see the facade of the subject home or property you have already cast an impression based on the landscaping and hardscape of a community’s entry. In most cases, the feeling you get as you drive into the community will be the same feeling you get once you walk through the home. Be it good or bad. Because subconsciously, if you get the warm fuzzy feeling as you drive through the community, walking through the front door of that perfect home will only make it that much better! This could tip the scale and make your buying decision that much easier!! Pay close attention to the main community entry so you can critique the current condition of the community’s monument sign, brick wall, landscaped fence, flower beds, common areas, trees, seasonal decorations, feeling of safeness and of course the feeling of privacy.
Most developers spend thousands upon thousands of dollars in landscaping, hardscape, monument signs and walls in an effort to attain a certain community feel. They are hoping to captivate a pleasant feeling of peace and homecoming. That feeling will give you and your family the peace you deserve. And of course, peace in your community parlays into peace in your Homefront! Landscaping design sounds rather pretentious, only because one could spend years studying all the ideas in the field of gardening or in landscape designs. But what about the Do-ItYourselfers like me, who want to give their front yard a makeover or wish to change the design of a garden? Where do you start if you need to spruce up the landscape design of a home you’re selling, or wish to enhance the beauty of your backyard? Using some common sense, the answers are simple. Here are a few examples to get you started: • Plants grow in communities, therefore, plant in groups of 3 to 4 of similar size • Use plants and flowers that are appropriate for your climate • Allow space for plants to reach maturity • Plant shade loving plants under larger plants • Limit the different types of plants in your landscape to no more than 6 to 8 varieties • Place rocks and boulders to look as though they are a part of the landscape • Ensure that brooks, streams and mounds look natural and functional • And don’t over mulch! Last and the MOST important((..
Do not interrupt the drainage pattern of your land. Every lot is designed to drain a certain direction. More and more often in our region, new home lots are setup to drain in what is called “horseshoe drainage”. This means that each lot drains from the back of the property to the sides and then the sides towards the front of the property and city sidewalk. Obstructing the positive water drainage flow could lead to standing water around your foundation and could eventually lead to costly foundation issues down the road. Although I am not a land surveyor or a landscape design expert, I am an expert in kitchen designs, layouts and functionality. In next month’s Entertaining Edition, I will have information and ideas to enhance your current kitchen and ideas for what to look for in your new kitchen. I have a firm and sincere passion for real estate with emphasis on investing in new homes. As a service to you, I keep my iPad within arm’s reach to share photos, ideas, and systems to assist you in the process of buying or enhancing your existing home. If I can expand on any real estate topic please feel free to call me at 214-498-0083. I am not “Team Randy” or “The Randy Group”, it’s simply me. You’ll start the process with me and you’ll complete the process with me. Randy Summers, your Real “tor” Friend.
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SHOP FOR A CAUSE! The Attic is a 'resurrected retail' store stocked with new and gently used donations from the community, and staffed by volunteers. Its purpose is to spread the word about Cornerstone and fund the ministry. One hundred percent of The Attic on Main’s profits goes to Cornerstone NCT and the people it serves.
The Attic features: Name brand clothing (J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, Miss Me and more!), Furniture, Sporting Equipment, Décor, and everything in between! Shop our extra-big sale during the Cornerstone Garage Sale this October! Friday, October 12th from 8am-2pm and Saturday, October 13th from 8am-noon at 304 E. First Street in Prosper.
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For more information about The Attic, donating, and volunteering, visit our website, theatticonmain.com. Based in Prosper, Texas, Cornerstone Assistance Network of North Central Texas is a faith-based nonprofit that unites with others to demonstrate Christ’s compassion by serving our neighbors in need. This is accomplished by sharing the Gospel and helping family units escape the cycle of poverty for good by providing resources, tools, and education. For more information about Cornerstone, visit cornerstonenct.org. To pray for and/or financially support our neighbors, text 'CornerstoneNCT' to 90210.
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