USE OF
CREEK-FRIENDLY GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING PRACTICES
Through use of simple, economical
gardening and landscaping practices, citizens can reduce the
pollutants that run off their property into the adjacent creek.
- Limit use of chemical pesticides,
herbicides, and fertilizers.
Avoid
using chemicals entirely in wet weather. Pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizers can run off into the creek. Fertilizers add excess
nutrients to natural waters that lead to algae bloom, bad odors, and
even fish kills.
Consider using compost and organic
soil amendments instead of chemical fertilizers. For more
information about compost and mulch, see the "Getting
Help" section at the end of this booklet.
Pulling weeds before they flower
will reduce the need for herbicides. Introduce natural predators
such as toads, spiders, garter snakes, and ladybugs, which reduce
insect pests. A table of these natural predators and the insects
they control is shown below. For more information about natural
insect control, see the "Getting Help" section at the end
of this booklet.
- Dispose of yard and
lawn clippings properly. Never dispose of lawn clippings in a
creek.
Soil and lawn
clippings disposed in creeks become unsightly, destroy aquatic
habitats, and may also worsen flooding problems. While they are
biodegradable, organic wastes are nutrients and use the oxygen that
fish, aquatic insects, and native plants need for survival.
Do not rake, sweep, or blow leaves
or lawn clippings into the street or storm drain. Grass
clippings are to be mulched into the lawn when mowed. Alternatively,
they could be added them to a compost pile to make fertilizer for
your property. For more information about composting, see the
"Getting Help" section at the end of this booklet.
- Landscape with native plant
species.
Native riparian
vegetation is uniquely adapted to survive flood conditions. Native
plants provide erosion protection during high flows and generally
recover quickly when flood waters subside. Native species also
require less water and fewer chemicals than most exotic plants.
Gardens with displays of regionally
native plants are listed below, along with native plant and seed
sources for North Central Texas. For more information about use of
native plants in landscaping, see the "Getting Help"
section at the end of this booklet.
***** See the section
"Getting Help" for contacts and informational resources
concerning "creek-friendly" gardening and landscaping
practices. ****
Natural Predators for
Insect Control
|
Beneficial
Insect |
Controls |
|
Green lacewings |
aphids, mealy bugs, thrips,
spider mites |
|
Ladybugs |
aphids, Colorado potato
beetle |
|
Praying mantis |
almost any insect |
|
Ground beetles |
caterpillars that attack
trees and shrubs |
|
Parasitic nematodes (tiny
worm-like organisms) |
grubs, beetles, cutworms,
army worms
|
|
Trichogramma wasp (extremely
small, non-stinging wasps) |
corn borer, cabbage looper,
other worms |
|
Seedhead weevils and other
beetles |
weeds |
Hawthorn
Gardens with Displays of Regionally
Native Plants
- The Wildscape at Veterans Park
, 3600 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, TX 76013
- The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical
Gardens
, 8617 Garland
Road, Dallas, TX 75218
- Dallas Horticulture
Center
, 3601 Martin
Luther King Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75315
- Fort Worth Botanic
Garden
, 3220 Botanic
Garden Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76165
Native Plant and Seed
Sources for North Central Texas
Information furnished by the Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department
BLUESTEM NURSERY
4101 CURRY ROAD
ARLINGTON TX 76017
(817)478-6202
Retail, wholesale, wildflowers, grasses
BRAZOS RIM FARM, INC
433 RIDGWOOD
FORT WORTH
(817)740-1184 FAX(817)625-1327
Wholesale only, native trees, shrubs, perennials
DALLAS NATURE CENTER NURSERY
7171 MOUNTAIN CREEK PARKWAY
DALLAS TX 75249
(214)296-1955
Retail, wholesale, trees, shrubs, cacti, succulents
FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER
ROUTE 10 BOX 53
FORT WORTH TX 76135
Nonprofit corporation, limited supply of trees, shrubs, grasses,
wildflowers
GREENHOUSE NURSERY, THE
4402 WEST UNIVERSITY DRIVE
MCKINNEY TX 75070
(214)548-9122
Retail, Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, cacti
HARPOOL FARM & GARDEN
420 EAST MCKINNEY
DENTON TX 76201
(817)387-0541
Retail, Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers
INTO THE GARDEN, INC.
3214 CAMP BOWIE BLVD
FT WORTH TX 76107
(817) 336-4686
Retail, Trees, shrubs & wildflowers
JENCO WHOLESALE NURSERIES INC
P O BOX 6
1611 NORTH I-35, SUITE 410
CAROLLTON TX 75006-3814
(214)446-1820
Wholesale ONLY, Trees, shrubs, grasses & wildflowers
JENCO WHOLESALE NURSERIES INC
P O BOX 292336
LEWISVILLE TX 75029-2336
(214)434-1957
Wholesale ONLY, Trees, shrubs, grasses & wildflowers
JENCO WHOLESALE NURSERIES INC.
1445 MacArthur Dr. Ste. 264
Carrollton, TX 75007
(972)446-1820
Wholesale ONLY, Trees, shrubs, grasses & wildflowers
KING CREEK GARDENS
813 STRAUS ROAD
CEDAR HILL TX 75104
(214)291-7650
Retail, Wildflowers, grasses, trees & shrubs
MOTHER NATURE GARDEN CENTER
2001 SKILLMAN ST
DALLAS TX 75206
(214)823-9421
Retail, Unusual perennials, herbs & organic materials
REDENTA'S GARDENS
5111 W ARKANSAS
ARLINGTON TX 76106
(817)451-2149
Retail, Trees, shrubs & wildflowers
TEXAS BLOOMS
5016 MILLER AVE
DALLAS TX 75206
(214) 821-8292
Retail, Wide variety of plants, herbs, vines & organic materials
WESTON GARDENS IN BLOOM INC
8101 ANGLIN DR
FORT WORTH TX 76140
(817)572-0549
Retail, Trees, shrubs, grasses & wildflowers
Mail-order
ANTIQUE ROSE EMPORIUM
ROUTE 5 BOX 143
BRENHAM TX 77833
(409)836-9051
Retail, wholesale, mail order, Trees, shrubs, wildflowers
DOUGLASS W KING CO INC
P O BOX 20320
SAN ANTONIO TX 78220-0320
(210)661-4191
Retail, wholesale & mail order, grasses, wildflowers
GARRISON SEED & CO INC
P O DRAWER 2420
HEREFORD TX 79045
(806)364-0560
Retail, wholesale, mail order, Grasses, wildflowers
GREEN HORIZONS
218 QUINLAN SUITE 571
KERRVILLE TX 78028
(512)257-5141
Retail, mail order, Wildflowers
HEEP'S NURERY (MIKE HEEP)
1705 JASON ST #1
EDINBURG TX 78539
(210) 381-8813 (H) (Leave message)
Mail order only
JOHNSTON SEED COMPANY
P O BOX 1392
ENID OK 73702
(405)233-5800
Retail, wholesale & mail order, grasses & wildflower seeds
NATIVE AMERICAN SEED
127 North 16th Street
JUNCTION, TX 76849
(915)446-3600 FAX (915)446-4537
Mail order 1-800-728-4043
E-mail: seedsource@aol.com
Grasses & wildflowers
TEXAS SEED COMPANY INC
P O DRAWER 599
221 AIRPORT BLVD
KENEDY TX 78119-0599
(210)583-9873
Retail, wholesale & mail order, Grasses & wildflowers
TURNER SEED
ROUTE 1 BOX 292
BRECKENRIDGE TX 76424
(817)559-2065
Retail , wholesale & mail order Grasses
WILDSEED INC
1101 CAMPO ROSA ROAD
P O BOX 308
EAGLE LAKE TX 77434
(409)234-7353 FAX (409)234-7407
Retail, wholesale & mail order Wildflowers
WILDSEED FARMS LTD.
1101 CAMPO ROSA ROAD
PO BOX 3000
425 Wildflower Hills
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone 1-800-848-0078 Fax 830-990-809
Retail, wholesale & mail order wildflowers
|
