Trees and Plants
This neighborhood is filled with magnificent trees, beautiful yards, and tree-lined streets. How do we keep these trees healthy, and what are the secrets to a wonderful yard?
What Do I Plant?
The best way to start is reading through the suggestions of people who know the area. You will find a wealth of knowledge here - from what to plant and when, as well as care in extreme weather conditions. Reeve Hobbie is a master gardener who lives here and has shared his years of experience of with us in his Around the Yard newsletters. Where to plant is an important question, too. Pedernales Electric Co-op offers insights on planting around power lines. Scroll down for this information.
What is Oak Wilt and Does It Matter to Me?
Oak Wilt is a deadly and fast moving disease that affects Red, White, and Live Oak trees. If you or your neighbors have these trees in your yards and if you love our tree lined streets, then you need to be informed.
Two presentations follow and provide excellent descriptions. At the very least, the important take-aways are
HIRE CERTIFIED ARBORISTS and
DO NOT PRUNE from February through June. ​
Camille Wiseman, Woodland Ecologist Texas A&M Forest Service, spoke at a specially called meeting in January 2025. With the recent identification of Oak Wilt in the neighborhood, her explanations and suggestions are particularly pertinent. She graciously shared a PDF copy of her presentation that is linked below. Just click the link and scroll through the slides.
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Oak Wilt - A Serious Issue
By Reeve Hobbie - Our Local Master Gardener
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Oak wilt is a vascular fungal disease affecting most oak trees caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum. Symptoms vary by oak tree species, but generally consist of leaf discoloration, wilt, defoliation, and death. In fact, most infected trees die within a year. Fungicides have been found which can suppress the disease, but to date there is no real cure for the problem. Read the full article in the PDF file below. Reeve Hobbie lives in our neighborhood and has insights specific to our area.
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Two great links are listed below - Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Oak Wilt.
General Planting Information
Whether we are adding a few plants, putting in a tree, or doing a complete overhaul of our yards, the following information will be helpful. We've gone through two major winter events and drought conditions, and many neighbors came to understand that Texas Natives are a good option. The following information is a good place to start for good insights.​​
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Central Texas Gardener is an excellent program on PBS that covers a wide range of topics including which plants thrive here, how to invite butterflies into your yard, managing water features, conserving water, indoor gardens, and much more. The website includes previous programs, as well as a blog and resource page.
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One of the main ideas you will see is that planting with Texas natives, and especially those suited to Central Texas, is the best way to go. There are a few nurseries nearby with knowledgeable people who can help.
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The following PDFs link to the Around the Yard articles by Reeve Hobbie, our very own Master Gardener. They are arranged on a monthly basis, which gives the best seasonal advice.
Landscaping Around PEC Lines and Ground Units
Pedernales Electric Co-op offers valuable suggestions about landscaping around electric lines and on-ground equipment.
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While they do their best to maintain the easements on a 3-5 year rotation, if you see branches within 10 feet of a line, then call PEC. Also, the electric lines are at the top of the poles. The lower lines belong to other services, such as phone and cable.
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