How to Plant Trees in Your Landscape for Extra Shade

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Planting the right type of trees in the right area of your landscape can make your home more efficient during the summer.

They’ll cast shade on your home, reducing the amount of solar heat your home absorbs. As a result, you’ll spend less money on cooling-related energy bills.

If you’re thinking about planting trees in your landscape for extra shade, there are a few things you should know.

Choose Deciduous Trees

For maximum shade, choose deciduous trees for your landscape rather than coniferous trees.

Deciduous trees, of course, shed their leaves annually, whereas coniferous trees produce and shed needles – typically less frequently than their deciduous counterparts.

Upon reading the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees, you may assume that coniferous trees are a better choice since they don’t shed their needles annually.

The reality, however, is that deciduous trees offer greater shade. Deciduous trees produce leaves that create a fuller and more complete canopy than the needles produced by coniferous trees.

Plant Trees on the West Side

You should plant the trees on the west side of your home if you’re hoping to create summertime shade.

While sun angles vary depending on multiple factors – region, time of year, etc. – most homes in the United States will be exposed to the midday summer sun on their west side.

Of course, you can also plant trees on the east side of your home. The east side probably won’t receive as much direct sunlight as the west side, but if you’re trying to make your home more efficient, a little shade can still prove useful.

Plant Shrubs Around Air Conditioner

While trees are ideal for casting shade on your home, you can plant shrubs to cast shade on your air conditioning unit.

Planting just a few shrubs around the air conditioning unit can make it up to 10% more efficient.

The shrubs will cast shade that helps to keep the unit cool during the otherwise hot summer months.

Combined with deciduous trees planted on the west side of your home, this can reduce your home’s cooling expenses during the summer.

Maintain the Trees and Shrubs

Regardless of what type of trees or shrubs you intend to grow for shade, you’ll need to maintain them.

When neglected, they’ll continue to grow while consuming more of your landscape. To keep the size of your trees and shrubs in check, prune them when needed.

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

The post How to Plant Trees in Your Landscape for Extra Shade appeared first on Woodsman Tree Service.

5 Tips on Using Topsoil in Your Landscape

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Nutrient-rich topsoil is essential for a healthy lawn.

If the topsoil in your landscape has little or no nutrients – or if it contains the wrong type of nutrients – grass and other plants may struggle to grow in it.

With that said, there are a few things you should know when using topsoil in your landscape.

If you’re thinking about applying topsoil to your landscape, consider the five following tips.

#1) Only Use in Areas Where It’s Needed

It’s unlikely that your entire landscape needs new topsoil. Rather, you should only apply it to areas where it’s needed.

Patches of brown or otherwise discolored grass often indicate low-quality topsoil. As a result, you should consider applying topsoil to areas of discoloration such as this.

#2) Aerate Before Adding

It’s a good idea to aerate your landscape before adding new topsoil.

Aeration involves scoring the ground with many small and shallow holes. You can aerate your landscape using a walk-behind or motorized aerator.

As the respective tool digs small and shallow holes, it will mix up the underlying soil. The topsoil will then mix with the existing soil to create an ideal growing environment for grass and plants.

#3) Choose the Right Type

Of course, you should choose the right type of topsoil for your landscape.

A good rule of thumb is to use topsoil with a similar formula of nutrients and minerals as that of your landscape.

If you’re struggling to find the right type of topsoil for your landscape, visit a local plant nursery and ask for a recommendation.

They should be able to point you to appropriate topsoil that works for landscapes in your region’s climate.

#4) Distribute Evenly

Don’t forget to distribute the new topsoil evenly when applying it to your landscape.

Don’t just dump a load of topsoil into the middle of your landscape and call it day. To promote a healthy landscape, you should distribute the topsoil evenly.

#5) Spread New Seed

After applying the new topsoil to your landscape, you should seed it with new grass.

The new topsoil may smother some of your landscape’s existing grass, causing it to die. Ensuring the topsoil is evenly distributed can offer some level of protection to existing grass, but it’s not a foolproof solution.

Instead, you should reseed the areas of your landscape in which you apply the new topsoil.

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 Use a Scarifier to Improve Your Landscape

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Have you heard of a scarifier? While you’re probably familiar with lawnmowers and weed eaters, a scarifier is a landscaping tool that’s often overlooked by homeowners.

When properly used, though, it can help you create a cleaner and more attractive landscape.

If you’re thinking about buying or renting a scarifier for your landscape, though, you’ll need to know how to use it.

What Is a Scarifier?

Also known as a dethatcher, a scarifier is a self-propelled or walk-behind landscaping tool that’s designed to remove thatch from the underlying soil.

Over time, dead plant matter will accumulate at the top of your landscape. Known as thatch, it rests between the healthy soil and the roots of adjacent plants.

If you don’t remove thatch, it may restrict the growth of your grass and plants while promoting a browner, more discolored landscape in the process.

A scarifier is designed to remove the thatch by scooping it out of the soil. It doesn’t store the thatch. Rather, it grinds it into a pulp.

Rake Debris

Before using a scarifier, use a rake to remove any large and medium debris blanketing your landscape.

Running a scarifier over twigs and branches shouldn’t harm it. However, you’ll experience better results if you rake your landscape before using a scarifier on it.

With your landscape raked, the scarifier can remove thatch more effectively.

Mow to 2 to 3 Inches

After raking your landscape, you should mow the grass to a height of about 2 to 3 inches.

During the summer, you may want to use a taller height of 3 inches. During the fall and winter months, on the other hand, a height of 2 inches is recommended.

Mowing your lawn will reduce the workload placed on the scarifier, allowing it to dethatch your lawn with greater ease.

Adjust Your Scarifier

When you’re ready to use a scarifier, go ahead and adjust the height to the highest possible setting.

Although there are several types of scarifiers, most of them feature adjustable height.

It’s always a good idea to start on the tallest height setting and lower the height as needed.

Run Over Your Landscape

To use a scarifier, you’ll need to push it across your landscape – just like a traditional lawnmower.

Depending on the amount of thatch that’s accumulated on your landscape, you may need to make several passes with the scarifier.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to cover your entire landscape with the scarifier. Rather, you only need to use it in areas where thatch is present.

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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Ground vs Container Gardening: Which Is Best?

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Are you thinking about starting a garden?

Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby that pays off in the form of a beautiful landscape.

There are a few different ways to create a garden, however, the most common of which include ground and container gardening.

So, which of these gardening techniques should you use?

What Is Ground Gardening?

As the name suggests, ground gardening involves growing plants in the ground.

The soil is typically tilled, after which it’s mixed with fertilizer to create an ideal growing environment. Seeds are then planted into the soil, thus leading to a ground garden.

You can create either a level or raised ground garden. The former involves growing plants at the same level as the ground, whereas the latter involves growing plants at a raised level, though still technically in the ground.

Regardless, ground gardening uses the soil in the ground as the medium for plant growth.

What Is Container Gardening?

Container gardening, on the other hand, is an alternative gardening method that involves growing plants in containers such as pots.

The containers are filled with soil, as well as fertilizer, to simulate a natural environment for plants.

Plant containers are available in countless sizes and shapes. You can even build your own containers using some basic materials and tools.

The term “container gardening” simply refers to the use of pots or containers to grow plants.

Advantages of Ground Gardening

Ground gardening offers several advantages, one of which is larger plants.

A plant’s size is largely restricted by the medium in which it grows. When you grow plants in the ground, their roots can expand throughout the soil.

When you grow plants in a container, on the other hand, their roots can only expand to fill the container, resulting in smaller plants.

In addition to larger plants, ground gardening can help you achieve a more attractive landscape. There’s no substitution for the beauty of ground gardens.

Growing plants in the ground will add colors and vibrancy to your landscape, resulting in a more attractive curb appeal for your home.

Advantages of Container Gardening

There are still reasons to consider container gardening. With containers, you can easily move your plants.

If there’s a cold snap right around the corner, you can move your potted plants indoors to protect them from the cold weather. Once the cold snap has passed, you can move them back to outside your home.

Container gardening can also help you create an attractive landscape. You can find pots and containers available in nearly any color.

If you want to add a specific color to your landscape, simply choose a pot or container in that color.

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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