EXTRAORDINAIRE
EMBRACING SPRING’S BEAUTY
It comes as no surprise the spring is one of the most exciting times of the year at McDugald Steele, as your garden awakens with fresh blooms, vibrant greenery, and renewed energy. Each year we look forward to gardens transforming into lush, colorful retreats, enhancing outdoor spaces with seasonal plantings, refined garden accents, and meticulous care. The mild weather allows us to bring design visions to life, from refreshing flower beds to fine-tuning irrigation and lighting for the season ahead. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a garden flourish, and we’re honored to help you embrace the beauty of spring through your garden.
The official e-newsletter of McDugald Steele
GARDEN & LAWN NUTRITION
The spring season is a crucial time for fertilization. In addition to your garden’s regular maintenance, your garden crew is focused on deep-root fertilization for flowering shrubs such as azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and roses
Your crew is also pay special attention to seasonal color plantings, including petunias, begonias, and geraniums, enriching the soil to support their bold, lasting displays
MULCH MAGIC
BULBS TO BLOOM
Planting in early spring is an optimal time for late spring to early summer-blooming bulbs
Below are some bulbs we love: Caladiums Elephant Ears Lillies
nt foliage mate and arden
Management
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, mulching has many benefits for the vibrant spring season ahead. The key benefits for mulching in the spring are moisture retention by reducing evaporation and weed suppression by acting as a barrier, preventing weed seeds from germinating and growing.
CONTACT YOUR GARDEN MANAGER TO GET YOUR GARDEN ON THE MULCH SCHEDULE FOR SPRING.
THE IRRIGATION METER
A SOLUTION TO BLOATING WATER BILLS
Many Houston homeowners have felt the strain of high-water bills caused by the city's continued increase of water rates over the last few years. The rate increases combined with the region’s sweltering temperatures have Houstonians seeking innovative ways to trim those bloated water bills. The good news is there's a solution that can put you on the path to substantial savings – installing a separate irrigation water meter.
Your typical water bill comprises two main components: water consumption and sewer/ wastewater fees. Most homeowners in Houston focus on the water consumption part when evaluating their monthly costs This section reflects the actual amount of water you ' ve used during the billing period The other half of your water bill is the sewer/ wastewater fee This fee covers the cost of processing the water by the city or water provider because it all goes down the drain and into the city sewer system, where it requires treatment. Surprisingly, this sewer fee often makes up around 50% of your total water bill.
SEASONALSPOTLIGHT:THEIRRIGATIONMETER
What your city or water provider might not readily disclose is that irrigation water, which constitutes a significant portion of your water consumption, doesn't flow into the sewer system. Instead, it gets absorbed into the soil. As a result, many cities, including Houston, offer homeowners the option to install a secondary dedicated irrigation water meter that is exempt from the sewer fee. For countless homeowners in the Houston area, this presents an excellent opportunity to significantly reduce their water bills, particularly during the warmer months when irrigation systems work overtime.
Once the installation is complete, you will start receiving a separate monthly bill for the water that passes through the irrigation meter. The best part is that this water will not be subject to the sewer fee. While this won't reduce your overall water consumption, it can lead to a significant reduction in your monthly water bill. Additionally, it provides an accurate assessment of your sprinkler system's monthly water usage.
