The Mite Destroying Our Plants

Landscape maintenance is crucial in preventing the spread of diseases like rose rosette disease, which is a virus spread by a very small mite. Symptoms of this disease include a thickened, abnormally thorny stem, crinkled & shortened red leaves, and multiple reddened stems growing out of one node, leading to a bunching/dense cluster, which is an indicator of the virus.

Plant health is important to Maas Verde and our clients and this disease is lethal to roses and there is no known cure. The rosette virus is transmitted by a small mite, which can hop from plant to plant with the help of wind.  Because the virus is systematic, so the best way to combat the virus and to prevent the spread is to remove the infected roses as early as possible.

To address the rose rosette disease issue, Maas Verde took proactive measures. When removing the infected plants, we made sure to clean our tools with bleach to prevent further infection and removed the entire root ball. Through these efforts, we were able to slow the spread of the virus, highlighting the importance of proper landscape maintenance practices in controlling plant diseases.

Hill Country Conservancy Violet Crown Trail Butterfly Garden

Project Description

The Violet Crown Trail is a first-of-its-kind project in Central Texas. A trail system that will eventually link Zilker Park with Hays County, planning began in 2006. Called “the first regional trail system” in the region, it now covers 13 miles from Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Maas Verde worked as a subcontractor to reclaim an area used for construction staging during trail installation. Scope included rehabilitating the disturbed area by decompacting and amending the soil, planting a native seed mix, and setting up a temporary irrigation system to encourage seed establishment.

We also designed and installed a butterfly garden, using native plants and boulders. The temporary irrigation helped the plantings receive the water they required to become established. This was fed by a 600-gallon water drum, which required complex calculations to construct above-ground.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

HardscapingIrrigationLandscape DesignLandscape InstallationNative Ecology ExpertiseTrail Design

Brentwood Austin Residential Landscape Design

Project Description

Maas Verde Landscape Restoration was hired to create a custom landscape design and irrigation system for this Brentwood, Austin-area home. The team designed plans and dimensions, creating a screen for the A/C unit, and planted a fruit tree garden. The irrigation system was designed to support the pre-existing landscaping as well as the new additions. During the construction of the irrigation system, it was discovered that the City of Austin had a significant clog in the water connection causing very low water availability. The Maas Verde team was persistent in addressing this issue with the City and it was ultimately resolved due to our team’s perseverance. After installation of the irrigation was complete, the team installed a pergola 10′ high with 6″x6″ posts to round out the aesthetics and functionality of the new landscape design.

Project Details

Skills Needed:

IrrigationLandscape DesignLandscape InstallationNative Ecology ExpertisePatio & Accessory Construction