Mowing Service in El Paso, TX
The city of El Paso sits directly along the U.S.-Mexico border, on the Rio Grande River. The El Paso area has had at least 10,000-12,000 years of human settlement. The earliest cultures are known to have settled the region were corn farmers, who also gathered the local acorns, mesquite beans, cactus fruits, roots, seeds, and hunted game. When the Spanish arrived, these farming and hunter/gatherer tribes were absorbed into the Mexican Mestizo culture. The Mescalero Apache were also in the El Paso region at the time.
The 1836 Texas Revolution generally left the El Paso region untouched. However, the treaty signed with Mexico gave the region to Texas. Between the years 1836-1848, Americans began to settle El Paso. American settlers like Hugh Stephenson and Simeon Hart established active American communities with allegiance to Texas. Stephenson married into the local Mexican aristocracy and established the Rancho de San José de la Concordia. By 1844, the Rancho was the center of what would eventually become modern-day El Paso.
In 1881, the railroads arrived, and the sleepy little hamlet grew to a population of 10,000 in less than ten years. El Paso's border location, as well as the population boom, caused El Paso to be known as the "Six Shooter Capital." Lawlessness, prostitution, violence, and gambling flourished in El Paso until World War I. At that time, the Department of the Army pressured the city to get tough on vice. With the vice trade gone, the town developed into a premier location for manufacturing, logistics, and retail stores.
Climate
El Paso has hot, dry summers, and cool, dry winters. Rainfall averages 9.7" per year, most of which falls during the Monsoon Season, from July through September. Monsoon thunderstorms are sometimes severe enough to cause hail storms and flash floods. Likewise, El Paso's windy, arid climate often causes severe dust storms, especially between March and early May. Winds often exceeding 30 mph with gusts up to 75 mph or more. El Paso receives on average 302 days of sunshine per year, earning it the nicknamed "The Sun City." However, the city does get occasional light snow during the winter.
Grasses That Do Well in El Paso
El Paso's soil is shallow, sandy, lacking in nutrients and it doesn't hold water for long. It needs to be amended with organic material before planting a lawn.
Bermuda grass is popular, but it can be tough to get rid of if you want a different type of grass.
Buffalo grass is a native of the North American prairies. It's a fine-textured, blue-green grass that needs little water and is highly resistant to drought.
Zoysia grass is native to warm regions of southeast Asia. It tolerates heat and drought, only requiring moderate watering.
Plants Native to the El Paso Region
There are a lot of good reasons to use native plants in El Paso. Native plants use less water, won't need much insecticide, fertilizer or winter mulching. That means you'll have more time to enjoy the activities El Paso has to offer.
The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens is an excellent place to get ideas for native species to plant in your yard. The Gardens have more than 625 different species of native plants.
Here are some common native plants that work well in an El Paso garden.
Desert Willow
This native tree will add color to your garden, with its pale pink, orchid-like flowers. The leaves are thin and waxy to protect the tree from losing moisture.
Honey Mesquite
This small tree is native to the U.S.and Mexico border, and as a member of the legume family, this tree produces edible bean pods. This native tree releases a lot of nitrogen into the soil, benefiting the rest of your garden.
Live Oak
While most oak trees lose their leaves in the fall, the live oak keeps its leaves year-round. This oak is a small tree or large a bush. The live oak can grow in poor soil and doesn't need much water. The acorns were a staple food for Native Americans.
Palo Verde
The palo verde rarely grows more than 20 feet high. Its trunk and branches are green, and it produces pretty yellow blossoms. It doesn't need much water and thrives in full sun.
Four-Wing Saltbush
This is a hardy shrub that thrives in salty soils, and tiny hairs on the bush's leaves act to conserve water. It gets its name from the "four-winged" seed pods. Natives used the leaves as a seasoning and ground the seeds into a meal.
Barrel Cactus
This stout cactus produces large yellow flowers in April and May, which turn into edible fruit. The Native Americans harvested this fruit and used the needles that were used for sewing and as fish hooks.
Ocotillo
In April this stunning plant produces bright red flowers on the stem tips attracting hummingbirds. The stems can quickly grow roots cuttings, and it's not uncommon to them used as a "living fence".
The Present Day City of El Paso
Today, El Paso is a sprawling metropolis of nearly 700,000 people. El Paso also regularly receives the All-America City Award and is ranked among the safest large cities in the U.S.
Its position on the southern border has given El Paso has a significant federal and military population. The Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center call El Paso home. Also with a considerable presence in El Paso are the DEA, Joint Task Force North, El Paso Intelligence Center, and the United States Border Patrol.
Annual Events and Festivals
The Amigo Airsho: This premier event is rated among the top ten air shows in the U.S. The show has both air entertainment and ground-level fun.
The Great River Raft Race: Participants float unique rafts down the river with prizes awarded for the best-decorated raft.
Fiesta de las Flores: This three-day festival is the oldest Hispanic festival in the Southwest. The festival regularly attracts 20,000 to 30,000 visitors from all over the region.
Likewise, the city hosts music festivals year-round. For example, Music Under the Stars held at the Chamizal National Memorial attracts more than 60,000 attendees.
