Getting an overgrown yard back under control

Yards get away from people. A busy season, a move, a rental between tenants, a house that sat empty for a while. In East Texas it does not take long, because the heat and rain that make things grow here make everything grow at once, and vines, saplings and weeds fill in faster than most people expect. An overgrown yard is usually more recoverable than it looks, and the work goes in a clear order.

Cut back first

We start by cutting back what has taken over. Overgrown shrubs get pruned back toward a healthy shape. Vines get pulled off fences, walls and trunks, and volunteer saplings that came up in the beds or along the fence line get cut out while they are still small. Tall grass and weeds get knocked down so we can see the ground again.

In the Piney Woods that usually means a lot of pine straw, cones and fallen limbs too. All of it comes up.

Clear the beds, haul it off

Once the overgrowth is down, we clear the beds: weeds pulled, dead plants out, old mulch and leaf litter raked up. Then all of it gets hauled off. A cleanup that leaves a brush pile at the curb is only half done.

This is also when we find what the overgrowth was hiding. Shrubs worth keeping, a bed edge that disappeared, a low spot where water sits after rain, or a fence that has started to lean behind the brush. We point those out as we go, so you know what you have before deciding what comes next.

Decide what goes back in

With the yard cleared, you can see what is there, and that is the right time to decide what to add. Some people want it cleaned up and nothing more. Others want new beds, fresh mulch, edging or sod. We talk through what grows in the sun and shade you have, what will stand up to July, and what fits the budget you set, then build from there at your pace.

That step can wait. A cleanup can end with fresh mulch in the cleared beds and a plan for the rest later.

Spring and fall cleanups

Some yards do not need a rescue, just a reset. A spring cleanup clears out winter leaves and dead growth, cuts back what did not make it, and gets the beds edged and mulched before the heat sets in. A fall cleanup takes care of leaves and pine straw, cuts back the summer’s growth, and leaves the beds ready for winter.

Our landscaping work is projects and cleanups like these. If you are looking for regular mowing, ask when you call and we will tell you what we can take on.

If your yard has gotten ahead of you, request a free estimate or call 870-292-5801, and we will come walk it with you.