Meet Our Featured Partner: North Dallas Landscapes
Jake O’Brien is the owner of North Dallas Landscapes, our pick for the best all-around Dallas landscaping and lawn care service.
HOMR trusts North Dallas Landscapes for virtually any Texas landscaping project. They’ve delighted the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1993 with a wide range of service offerings — landscape design and installation, fertilization, pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control, grass installation, sprinkler repair and general lawn care.
“We live where we work,” Jake says. “It helps us understand the long-term value we can bring to people.”
We like North Dallas Landscapes’ commitment to quality and satisfaction. Jake employs full-time quality control managers and sends the same crew to your home for every appointment. They’re a fully insured business that schedules everything from individual projects to annual maintenance plans.
We asked Jake 10 of our members’ biggest Texas landscaping questions about 4 key areas:
- Texas Landscaping Trends. What are Texas homeowners doing with their home landscaping, and are they good ideas?
- Lawn Mowing and Lawn Care. How often should you mow your lawn in Texas, and how else should you care for your grass?
- What to Plant (and Texas Native Plants). What are the best native plants to use in Texas landscaping?
- Sprinkler Systems and Smart Irrigation. Is smart irrigation a good idea for Texas homeowners? How often should you water your lawn in the summer?
Read more about the best native plants for your Texas landscape design
10 Texas Landscaping Ideas From a Top Professional
Here’s how Jake O’Brien from North Dallas Landscapes answered Texas homeowners’ current landscaping questions.
Texas Landscaping Tips: The Latest Trends
HOMR: What's a popular landscaping trend (something you get asked for a lot) that you think makes a lot of sense for this area?
Jake O’Brien: People are wisely trending to the plants that can withstand the Dallas extreme heat and cold weather events that we seem to get regularly now.
HOMR: Other side of the question — what's a popular landscaping request that makes no sense for Texas homeowners?
Jake O’Brien: I don't see any big trends that I think are huge mistakes. Artificial turf has become very popular and has a lot of great benefits, but I do think people often underestimate the maintenance that is needed for it to always look great.
HOMR: Let’s talk a bit about hardscaping. If I'm going to put a pathway in my yard, is there a particular material you prefer over the others (stone, composite, etc.), and why?
Jake O’Brien: I always prefer a natural stone over cast instead of concrete or concrete pavers. I think flagstone has a great look and can be used in many different ways.
Texas Landscaping Tips: Lawn Mowing and Lawn Care
“Sun exposure and water account for 90% of all lawn care issues,” Jake told us before we discussed specific Texas lawn care questions. “Pay attention to how much sun and water your plants are getting. It's simple, but a lot of people don't think about it.”
HOMR: How short can I cut my lawn before it becomes a potential issue?
Jake O’Brien: It depends on the grass type - St. Augustine, Bermuda, or Zoysia, for example. But it should be apparent if you are "scalping" the lawn and damaging the root systems.
HOMR Tip: Cut your lawn no more than once per week, and make sure to leave at least 2 inches of grass intact during warm months.
HOMR: How often should I fertilize my lawn?
Jake O’Brien: 3-4 applications throughout the year is sufficient.
HOMR: When is the best time for pre-emergent weed treatment? Are there certain kinds of grass that need more or less pre-emergent care?
Jake O’Brien: 2 applications are ideal. We usually plan to apply once in late February-early March, and then again in late August-early September. It is a moving target — trying to guess weather patterns and when weed seeds will germinate. Sometimes a second application a month after the first can be appropriate.
Texas Landscaping Tips: What Should I Plant?
HOMR: Do you have a few "go-to" native plants that you love for Texas?
Jake O’Brien: Whether native or adapted I like to use perennials like Lantana, Salvias, and Skullcap. Shrubs like Texas Sage and Dwarf Yaupon are great. I also like to use ornamental trees like Desert Willow or Vitex.
HOMR: Again, on the other side of the question — do you see a lot of Texas homeowners trending towards a particular plant, tree, shrub, etc. that just makes zero sense for this region?
Jake O’Brien: As we see more extreme heat and extreme cold, there are some popular plants that have been shown to not stand up to the extreme weather events well. That is a learning process for landscapers and homeowners though.
HOMR Tip: Avoid wisteria and trumpet vines, which can strangle your native Texas trees. Wisteria leaves, seeds and stems are also poisonous if eaten.
Texas Landscaping Tips: Irrigation and Sprinkler Systems
HOMR: We've talked before about the need for good irrigation. What are 2-3 really good pieces of advice for great irrigation, or about sprinkler systems?
Jake O’Brien: Setting up a regular maintenance schedule is important as there are a lot of moving parts so it's important to have it looked at regularly. Small, easily fixable issues can lead to a lot of wasted water.
Also, take time to understand how much water your lawn and pants actually need to ensure you are not over or under watering.
HOMR: What's your take on smart irrigation/smart sprinkler systems?
Jake O’Brien: Anything that can make managing water usage easier is a good idea. Being able to easily control your system from your phone is a good thing.
