Holiday excitement this time of year sends many Texans into a flurry of decorating their homes, schools, and offices. The star of most holiday…
Many lighting formats, including string lights, nets, ropes, icicles, and lights of various sizes, are available in an LED option. LED lights…, Simply plugging your lights in and leaving them on all night wastes energy. When installing your lights and decorations, save energy and money by…, Electronic holiday decorations often take a beating from the elements and tend to come out of storage mysteriously tangled and damaged. Keep them out…, If you have curb-side recycling, you should not “wishcycle” by putting string lights in the bin, as this only contaminates the stream.…
The summer heat is in full swing and, most likely, your lawn is feeling the effects of high temperatures and lack of rainfall. So of course, you’re…
We all have our unique circumstances: lawn size, regional rainfall, local weather conditions, and different irrigation methods. It can be confusing.…, Dr. Fipps said the recommendation to water lawns in inches confuses most people. He wanted a more digestible measurement. Thus, he began work on the…, The water savings from using the app are substantial. “With this app, users can conserve 40% to 50% of their water usage,” Fipps said. By using the…, Even though the app was just released in 2020, a second version will soon be released with a new user interface.
In the new version there are…
July is Smart Irrigation Month, making it a great opportunity for you to consider your irrigation options.
As Texans use irrigation systems for agriculture, gardening, lawns, and commercial landscaping, we share a tremendous opportunity to help conserve…, In theory, a handy individual can, by state law, design, install, and repair their own home irrigation system. However, depending on your city,…, A licensed irrigator (LI) knows how to properly set up your irrigation system with safety and conservation in mind. To conserve water, a licensed…, Lawn and garden watering make up 30—50% of water use in Texas households, and up to 50% of that water could potentially be wasted through evaporation…, TCEQ has made finding a nearby licensed irrigator simple with our licensing search tool. You can use this tool to find licensed irrigators in…, For additional information about the different types of licenses that TCEQ issues, please visit our Occupational Licensing Programs page.…
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week is June 20-26.
Enjoy your summer without the pain of mosquitoes in and around your home and do your part to spread mosquito control awareness…, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unit personnel have identified 84 species of mosquitoes in Texas. This…,
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Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, which can serve as a food source for beneficial predators like fish and dragonfly nymphs in the…, There are many ways to prevent mosquitoes from ruining your summer and feasting on your flesh. The first step is to find and eliminate mosquito…, Check out these mosquito control videos below by Dr. Mike Merchant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Entomologist.
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Here are some additional resources for you to reference when you “fight the bite” and spread mosquito awareness with others:
EPA – General…
Do you remember those DIY coupons with redeemable activities or chores you made as gifts? Maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of one of these…
These eco-coupons offer three pages of chores and activities promoting different ways to Take Care of Texas. These are perfect printable gifts for…,
All Three Eco-Coupon Sheets (PDFs)
Eco-Coupon Chores Sheet (PDF)
Eco-Coupon Activities Sheet (PDF)
Eco-Coupon Blanks Sheet (PDF)…
This has been a tough year for all of us. No doubt, you readers have had your share of struggles great and small. But think of how far we’ve come in…
The beautiful spring weather we’re experiencing is nothing less than a symbol of that hope. As wonderful as the warmer weather is, sometimes it’s not…,
Group together plants that have similar watering needs to prevent overwatering and excessive plant growth.
Avoid narrow strips or odd shapes…,
Composting works best when you combine equal amounts (by weight) of “green” and “brown” materials in the mixture.
The compost pile…,
Prevent your rain barrel from serving as a mosquito breeding ground. A well-sealed screen will help keep mosquitoes from getting into your…,
Check for chinch bug infestation on the grass blades at the edges of affected areas. To test, cut the bottom out of a coffee can, push the can one…
We all know how fortunate we are to live in Texas, particularly in the springtime.
With warm, sunny days and cool evenings, the spring months in Texas are the perfect time to get outside and explore the natural environment…, Fishing is a fun and affordable way to get outdoors and spend time with friends and family. Plus, it can be a relaxing way to pass the day. The Texas…, Texas has a lot of ground to cover, so you better get started soon if you want to make a dent in it. Hiking is a great activity to get exercise and…, Bays, estuaries, lakes, and rivers—no matter where you live in Texas, you likely aren’t far from one of these bodies of water.
Boating is a fun…, There are so many beautiful and unique campsites in Texas. You can camp in the desert, the forest, the hills, and the beach. You can even camp…, This outdoor activity, once known as birdwatching, is now one of the more cosmopolitan in existence. Texas offers some of the best bird watching for…
The Rio Grande is a river with a history as deep as the canyons it cuts.
Texas is proud of the Rio Grande River and its story is one to be shared. Amid stark surroundings, the river gives life. It provides drinking water…, Join us in exploring the history, majesty, challenges, and successes of this iconic river. We've even created a fill-in-the-blank worksheet so…
While Take Care of Texas focuses on how humans can take action to protect our state, native wildlife also play an essential role in Texas…
Bats vacation in Mexico for the warmer winters there before migrating to Texas around February, spending most of their time here in caves and trees.…, Bat boxes are like birdhouses, just for bats! Also known as bat houses, they come in all shapes and sizes ranging from high-end premade models to do-…, The ideal location for your bat box:
is NOT attached to a tree (branches shade the boxes, act as flight obstacles for the bats, and as perches…, Here is a video from Bat Conservation International with more tips on What to do with your bat house:
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, According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Texas happens to be the battiest state in the country. It is home to 32 of the 47 species of…, The Mexican free-tailed bats, our state’s official flying mammal, are the most common bat found throughout Texas. All bats play essential roles…, “If you happen to find a bat on the ground, DO NOT TOUCH IT! For the safety of the bats and yourself, give the bat space and avoid contact. The bat…
We at Take Care of Texas acknowledge that the February 2021 winter storm was inconvenient for most, traumatic for many thousands more…
As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I feel very fortunate to live in Texas. I no longer live through months of sub-freezing temperatures…, Like many Texans, I lost power and heat in my home for several days. As the temperatures outside dropped and I rushed to get food…, My power was out for a little over two days and I managed to stay warm enough to tolerate it. I was very grateful when it came back on, but shortly…, None of that week’s events make sense outside of community. Online and in person, empathetic neighbors came out of the woodwork …, In summary, Uri has inspired me to do a few things in my own home to Take Care of Texas.
Weatherize my home, including some better weather strips on…