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