How to Prevent Grass From Growing in Gravel

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Does your landscape feature gravel? Whether it’s used on a sidewalk, flowerbed or elsewhere, you may discover grass growing from underneath the small rocks.

When this occurs, it can create a messy-looking landscape while simultaneously jeopardizing the health of your trees and “good” plants.

With a little work, however, you can prevent grass from growing in gravel.

Use at Least 3 Inches of Gravel

The amount of gravel you use in your landscape will influence its susceptibility to grass growth.

If you only add a small, thin layer of gravel to your landscape, you can expect to see more grass growing from underneath it.

Therefore, you should use at least 3 inches of gravel to discourage grass from growing.

Assuming the gravel extends at least 3 inches deep, grass won’t be able to easily grow in it.

Choose a Smaller Type of Gravel

Another tip to prevent grass from growing in gravel is to choose a smaller type of gravel.

Large rocks are undoubtedly attractive and aesthetically pleasing, but they are more susceptible to grass growth than smaller rocks and granules.

The problem with large rocks is that they leave open spaces for grass to grow. Choosing a smaller type of gravel, on the other hand, ensures that no part of the underlying soil is directly exposed to sunlight, thereby helping to prevent grass from growing in the gravel.

Cover Soil With Black Plastic Sheeting

Perhaps the easiest way to maintain grass-free gravel is to cover the soil with black plastic sheeting.

Before laying or pouring your gravel, for example, place black plastic sheeting over the soil. After stretching and securing the sheeting to the ground, you can then add your desired gravel.

How does black sheeting prevent grass from growing exactly?

Once placed over the soil, it will block sunlight so that nothing is able to grow underneath.

All types of grass require sunlight to grow. By placing black plastic sheeting between the soil and your gravel, neither grass nor any other plants will be able grow underneath it.

Spray With Herbicide

Of course, you can also use an herbicide to keep grass out of your gravel.

Some homeowners spray their gravel with an herbicide before laying or pouring it in their landscape, whereas others spray their gravel after laying or pouring it in their landscape.

Regardless of which method you choose, herbicide should prevent most grass from growing in your gravel.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

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How to Season Your Firewood (The Right Way)

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There’s no better way to minimize your dependence on central heating this winter than by taking advantage of your home’s fireplace. Assuming you have dry firewood, you can build fires to radiate heat throughout your home.

But you can’t use just any wood lying around your landscape. Before using it in your fireplace, you need to “season” it.

What Is Seasoning?

When used in the context of firewood, the term “seasoning” refers to the act of drying firewood so that it burns more efficiently.

When a tree is still growing, it contains a lot of moisture. Even after being cut down, it will retain most of its moisture.

Seasoning is designed to lower the moisture content of wood, resulting in better firewood.

Step #1) Split Your Firewood

The first step to seasoning your firewood is to split it into several pieces.

You shouldn’t attempt to season whole pieces of firewood. Unless a piece of firewood is split, it will be covered in bark. All this bark insulates the wood, preventing water from evaporating out of its core.

By splitting your firewood into several smaller pieces, water will evaporate out of it more quickly.

Step #2) Arrange in Stacks Outside

After splitting your firewood, you should arrange it in one or more stacks in an appropriate area outside your home.

Keep in mind, you must choose an outdoor area where your firewood isn’t exposed to moisture. Otherwise, it won’t season properly, regardless of how long it’s left outside.

There are two things, specifically, to consider when choosing an outdoor area in which to season your firewood.

If it’s uncovered – meaning there’s nothing over your firewood – rain will inevitably reach your firewood. Additionally, if you store your firewood on the soil, it will soak up moisture from the ground, not to mention creating an ideal environment for wood boring insects to proliferate.

Step #3) Wait and Check Periodically

You can’t expect your firewood to season overnight. Depending on the type of firewood, as well as other factors, it usually takes a minimum of six months to fully season firewood.

During this time, it’s a good idea to check your firewood on a regular basis to ensure that it’s not wet or damp. If you discover that your firewood is wet, you may need to move to a different, drier area.

After allowing your firewood to dry for at least six months, you can then use it to build fires in your fireplace, fire pit or elsewhere.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

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How to Prevent Creeping Bentgrass From Taking Over Your Lawn

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Have you discovered a patch of creeping bentgrass in your lawn? Assuming the patch is small and isolated to a single area, conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that it isn’t a threat to your lawn.

Unfortunately, creeping bentgrass is notorious for its ability to quickly spread – all while consuming valuable nutrients, as well as moisture, from the soil.

What Is Creeping Bentgrass?

Also known as carpet bentgrass and spreading bentgrass, creeping bentgrass is a type of perennial grass in the Poaceae family.

It’s typically used for golf course turf because of its ability to withstand stress. If creeping bentgrass takes root in your lawn, it can quickly take over if left unchecked.

The good news is that you control this otherwise invasive species of grass by following a few simple tips.

Plant New Grass Seed

Planting new grass seed can help control and minimize the impact of creeping bentgrass.

Whether your lawn consists of St. Augustine, bermudagrass, buffalo grass or any other common variety, re-seeding it will encourage the growth of new grass.

The seeds will fill bare patches with new grass while simultaneously restricting the growth of creeping bentgrass and other invasive species of grass.

Remove the Roots

Another way to control creeping bentgrass is to remove its roots.

As you may know, creeping bentgrass grows in clusters. Each of these clusters is connected to a root system that extends several inches into the soil.

When you come across a cluster of creeping bentgrass, try digging or pulling it up by its root system. With the root system removed, the creeping bentgrass shouldn’t regrow.

Of course, removing the root system of each cluster is tedious, but there are other ways to control this invasive grass species.

Cut Back on the Water

Using less water on your lawn can help eradicate creeping bentgrass.

According to Texas A&M’s AggieTurf, creeping bentgrass doesn’t tolerate drought very well.

By watering your lawn less frequently, creeping bentgrass will enter a stressed state where it begins to scale back and eventually die.

Use an Herbicide

Perhaps the easiest and most effective way to control creeping bentgrass is to use an herbicide.

Herbicides containing the chemical glyphosate are particularly effective at controlling creeping bentgrass.

Available in a variety of store-bought herbicides, it’s able to kill creeping bentgrass and other invasive grass species.

Just remember to avoid using it on your healthy grass, as glyphosate may kill it as well.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

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A Beginner’s Guide to Hard Landscaping

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Have you heard of hard landscaping? In recent years, it’s become an increasingly popular landscaping trend among homeowners and business owners alike.

By taking advantage of hard materials like stone and brick, homeowners and business owners can create an attractive yet functional landscape.

Unless you’re familiar with this trend, though, you might be wondering how hard landscaping works.

What Is Hard Landscaping?

Also known simply as hardscaping, hard landscaping involves the use of hard structures – both natural and man-made – in a landscape.

As you may know, conventional landscaping relies heavily on soft structures like plants and vegetation. Hard landscaping may still use some of these soft structures, but it emphasizes the use of hard structures.

Common structures and materials used in hard landscaping include:

• Brick pavers
• Stone
• Gravel
• Glass
• Steel
• Aluminum

Hard Landscaping vs Soft Landscaping: What’s the Difference?

Soft landscaping, on the other hand, refers to traditional landscaping practices that involve the use of soft structures and materials like vegetation.

With soft landscaping, you use plants, flowers, mulch, trees and other vegetation. With hard landscaping, you use the hard structures and materials listed above.

Benefits of Hard Landscaping

Hard landscaping offers several benefits, one of which is ease of maintenance.

Because the hard structures and materials used in this landscaping practices aren’t living, they require little effort to maintain.

You don’t have to water or fertilize the hard structures and materials, nor do you have to monitor them for signs of disease or illness.

In addition to low maintenance, hard landscaping also promotes a more functional outdoor living space.

With hard structures and materials blanketing the landscape, you’ll be able to traverse and use this space more easily. For these reasons and others, hard landscaping has become an increasingly popular landscaping trend in recent years.

Is Hard Landscaping the Right Choice?

You can certainly embrace hard landscaping to improve your home’s or business’s curb appeal, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the importance of natural vegetation.

Hard structures and materials can improve the surrounding aesthetics of your home or business – all while requiring little maintenance.

With that said, there’s no substitution for the organic and colorful appearance of natural vegetation. If you’re going to use hard landscaping, consider combining it with natural vegetation.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

Request a Quote / Schedule an Appointment

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