Yard of the Month
Are You Ready to Win?
Winning the Yard of the Month award in your HOA takes time, preparation, and planning. With over $4000 of annual prizes for you and your HOA neighbors from Soils Alive, it's worth a little time to get your yard ready to win next year. Our guide below will help you WaterWise, drought-tolerant landscaping that boosts curb appeal, provides full-season color, and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Start Planning by August 1
Cooler fall weather will be here before we know it. Did you know that fall is actually the best time to install new perennials? Planting in fall allows your plants to spend all winter putting down deep roots, before their first hot summer. Your HOA will need some time to approve your landscape plan (30-60 days), so getting started with your planning by August 1 is best.
Yard of the Month
Every month your HOA selects one winner for Yard of the Month. Soils Alive provides the winner with $180 in savings when buying 40 WaterWise plants (a 75% discount) plus free delivery of plants, straight to their home.
- American Beautyberry (shade, morning sun).
Future Award Winners
Maybe your yard isn't quite ready to win (just yet). With a budget of $1500-$2500 you can get it ready. Nominate yourself by the 1st of every moth for a chance to save up to $300 on plants with our monthly award, the WaterWise Landscape Design of the Month.
- Texas Betony (shade, morning sun)
Getting Started
To get started, get a free consultation when you simply text us a photo of your landscape, either a spot in sun or shade, where you'd like to add more full-season color and curb appeal. We’ll review your photos and ask you about other site conditions and what ideas you have for your site. Next we’ll share our recommendation for 10 types of WaterWise plants. Text your photos to Soils Alive at 972-889-9850. Ben Strube will text you back with suggestions.
The Fun Part
For a large project, it’s probably best to hire a professional landscape designer. But for a 200-500 square foot garden, did you know there’s a free app you can use? Stephen Janacek created the Pollinator Patch Garden app, after two years of work, when he realized he didn’t have anyone to help him add more curb appeal to his own yard. For $6, you’ll get 30 days of access to PRO features, including a Do-It-Yourself garden design that is ready to submit for HOA approval.
Before You Begin
Before you start your design, two things: 1) review your HOA's landscaping guidelines and CC&Rs (if you need help you can email this over to us and we'll take a look with you) and 2) flag off the area where you'll be putting your new garden, then contact 811 to make sure there's no underground utilities. 20 flags on Amazon (or 50-100)
Best WaterWise Design
Are you proud of the design you made with Stephen's Pollinator Patch Garden app? Share it with us....we'd love to see it. In fact, if your design includes 40 or more plants, you'll be eligible to win $180 off 40 plants (normally $250, 75% off). Every month, we pick the most creative garden design in your HOA for our WaterWise Landscape Design of the Month Just submit your design by the 1st of the month. We announce and notify winners by the 15th.
Everyone Saves $25
Do you only have an hour to design your garden? That's okay too. Every homeowner who shares their WaterWise design receives $25 off 20 plants (20% off, limit once per homeowner).
HOA ACC Approval
Before you break ground on your new garden, you'll need to submit your plan for HOA approval. The Pollinator Patch Garden app provides you with a garden design that’s ready to submit. Your HOA's ACC will review and delivery their decision, normally within 30 days (you'll pay a fee of ~$50).
If you read through Stephen's tips on obtaining HOA approval, you should be well-prepared. If for some reason your HOA needs to deny your design, you'll want to make a revision or two and then resubmit. You can ask your ACC to let you know what changes they would like to see, before you resubmit.
Installing Your Garden
Not sure if you want to DIY install your WaterWise garden, or hire a landscaper to help you? What will the entire project cost? How can you reduce your costs? A few things to keep in mind. The minimum delivery for soil and mulch is 3 cubic yards per product type ($50 delivery from Texas Pure Products). That's just the right amount for 2" of soil + $2" mulch, for a 500 square foot area....for under $200, delivered.
Metal edging is 4" tall, so your $200 of soil/mulch will create a clean, attractive garden bed, at about $3.50 per linear foot for edging (in 8' sections). Two garden beds of 250 square feet would each need a 100' drip line ($80 for both beds). Watering needs are most important for the first summer, but if selecting the best WaterWise plants they can often survive without extra supplemental watering, though they may look nicer with a little extra. We answer more of your install questions with our free guide we can email to you: "5 Tips to Install Your New WaterWise Garden.”
When should I begin?
We deliver plants starting September 1 and deliver as late as November 1. DFW's first frost date is generally in mid-November, so plants need to be in the ground and watered in by then. If you need 4 weeks time to prepare your site, then you’ll want to obtain HOA approval by October 1 at the latest. For a simple garden design, you'll want to submit your design to your HOA by September 1. Complex designs that may require revisions, with input from your HOA, should be submitted by August 1.
Reserve Your Plants
If your garden won’t be ready to plant by November 1, you can also wait until spring. We deliver plants as early as April 1 and we can hold your order until then, if you need more time. Whatever season it is, you can start the process today by texting us a photo of your landscape, starting your DIY design, and submit for HOA approval and then wait for the next upcoming planting season. We fulfill plant orders based on the reservation date. You can hold your space today with a $25 deposit, credited when you finalize your order.
Button >> Reserve Plants
$5000+ Budget
If you have a $5000+ budget, you may want to hire a professional landscape designer to help you with design, plant selection, and installation. Plan on spending about $6-10+ per square foot, $6000-$10,000+ for a 1000 square foot full-service project. Contact them early, as their schedules fill up quickly! Plan on paying a design fee minimum that can range from $500 to $1000 or more.
For landscape designers who specialize in WaterWise plants, Soils Alive recommends David Petty with TX Natives in Frisco, Native Gardeners in Arlington, Nativo Gardens in Fort Worth, Shades of Green in Celina, RootedIn in Pilot Point, and Dubberley Landscaping,
Attract More Butterflies
To bring more butterflies to your yard, you can try to cut back on the amount of lawn chemicals you apply, to avoid damaging adults (and caterpillar). Birds who visit your yard to eat earthworms will also appreciate fewer lawn chemicals. Spot treating weeds in the front yard can cut back on herbicide use by up to 80%, and organic treatment in the backyard provides even more protection for sensitive wildlife.
Using organic lawn fertilization can help improve soil health, making your grass more resistant to fungal disease and insect damage, making it less necessary to use chemicals to treat problems. Soils Alive offers full-service care for lawn, shrubs, and trees (up to 15') with no annual contract required. Take a look at all the plans we offer. If you'd like to sign up, we'll deliver $120 of free plants to your home, perfect for a 100 square foot garden.
Button >> Review Plans
Protecting North Texas Wildlife
Start your ecofriendly lawn care today. No annual contract required. We earn your business each and every day, not just when you sign up. We're proud to help our homeowners protect all of the beautiful wildlife here in North Texas. Many lawn care companies blend herbicide into their liquid fertilizer, spraying it across 100% of your landscape, even if it's unnecessary. If every American lawn used 80% less herbicide, just by switching to spot-treatment for weeds (only if their lawn has weeds), over 20 million fewer pounds of chemicals would be released into the environment each year, supporting birds, bees, and butterflies and avoiding contact for young children and small pets.