Austin is a city in Texas that everyone wants to visit for several reasons, including live music each night, swimming spots, and green spaces. The constantly-changing food and drink scene is also enticing, whether you are a local or visitor.
We put together a list of the must-visit sites in the city where you can genuinely have fun with your friends, family, or even by yourself:
NLand Surf Park: This attraction shows that you do not need an ocean to surf. This manmade surf lagoon currently holds the record for the largest of its kind in the world. It also has a great location, about five miles from the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.
Mount Bonnell: If you are searching for a free place to watch the sunset and enjoy the Texan scenery, Mount Bonnell can be your refuge. It is the highest point in the city and offers peaceful spots for those who merely want to enjoy nature.
Little Longhorn Saloon: Also known as Ginny's, this bar is one of the oldest in the city. It has a fascinating history as well with its several decades in the business, hosting local and national performers. Every Sunday, there is always a big crowd in this area that wants to sip on cold beer and play a game involving chickens that poop on bingo squares.
Murals: Austin is one of the cities in Texas that have iconic paintings, including Jo's Coffee with the "I love you so much" or East MLK's "You're my butter half." If you want a classic piece, the "Greetings from Austin" at South First may be what your Instagram feed needs.
Barbecue: Austin locals cannot deny their love for barbecue, but not just any grilled meat. Some of the top pitmasters in the country call the city their home. Franklin Barbecue, for instance, is notorious for its long lines of customers with some people driving to this place as early as six in the morning.
Live music: Whether you are visiting Austin or you live here, watching live music is the top activity to do. You can miss other events and sources of entertainment but not live music. The city is known all over the world as the Live Music Capital and surely lives up to its name. A few of the best places to visit for great music include The Continental Club for rock to soul genres and Hotel Vegas for watching punk, psych, and garage bands.
Apart from the sites mentioned, one thing that you will instantly notice while in Austin is that it is teeming with plants all over the city. The full plant life here is indeed a sight to behold. You will see different varieties of trees, including Cedar Elm, Arroyo Sweetwood, and Texas Ash. There are also shrubs in the city, such as the Pineapple Guavas and the Bottlebrush, along with yuccas, vines, flowers, and grasses.
With all the plants in Austin, you may have wanted to start growing a garden in your own yard. However, you find out that it is not as easy as it seems. You planted flowers, but they wilt quickly while the veggies take too long to mature. Even the bushes that you think do not need your attention when you planted them several years ago have barely grown.
When you look around, you see that your neighbors' gardens are doing great, which can be embarrassing for you. It may mean that you are doing something wrong. Here is the good news though: it is indeed difficult to set up and maintain a garden in many parts of Travis County, including Austin. Each situation is unique, which is why you should not beat yourself up so much if your garden is not growing well, but your neighbors' look just fine.
Most of the time, other homeowners know some tricks in keeping their garden in great shape. If you are having problems with your yard, they may be due to the common pitfalls in gardening in Austin, TX. Here are some of them:
You do not read the herbicide label.
Experts in farming pay close attention to compost concerns that are related to herbicides. For instance, if you used an herbicide to kill broadleaf weeds, the product can still be active even though it has been months after the application. An animal or insect can swallow the herbicide, and your whole garden will easily suffer if it turns into compost. Be sure to read the information found on the herbicide before you use it, so you know what precautions to take.
You do not take spacing seriously.
When the plants are still young, you may not have thought about giving them adequate space. It is a common mistake that we see that homeowners in Austin make. The plants, especially when full grown, need the right amount of room so they can stretch out and let air circulate. Avoid overcrowding with our help. Lawn Love can guide you about plant maturity so you can correctly decide where to place one shrub after another.
You are not ready for new trees.
You will eventually plant more trees in your yard, which is why you should know where to place them. Additionally, you should also know that it takes a while for the plants to establish their roots. While some trees do not need too much attention, you should at least check on the old trees before you start planting new ones.
For your garden to thrive, you need to do your homework first regarding the city. Then, you should have a plan on how to set up the yard. You should also pay attention to the water and sunlight needs of the plants. Fertilizing and mulching should be added to your to-do list as well. To save time and effort, Lawn Love is ready to help. We can take care of your garden so you can have more free time to enjoy what the city of Austin has to offer.
