Native trees, compost, mulch & BioChar enhanced soils.
Grow Local.
Serving the Hill Country since 1995. Now in Stonewall off Hwy 290.
The Hill Country Czar of BioChar Blog
About Us
We’re a small, post-retirement tree nursery specializing in shade and ornamental trees that grow well in the Texas Hill Country. We also offer compost, mulches and various soil mixes which are available by the bucket load for pickup or truck load delivered to your site.
If we do not have the tree of your choice in our inventory, we also work closely with a number of larger wholesale growers and can provide what you need.
Since we are a “Mom & Pop” operation, we are available “by appointment” so please call 830.644.2616 and to talk with JoAnne about scheduling an appointment with Sam.
Hill Country Native Trees.
It all starts with picking the right trees that will flourish in the beautiful Hill Country. The link below to the Texas A&M tree selector is a great place to start.
We feature the following native trees:
Shantung Maples
Arizona Rosewood
Crepe Myrtles
Cypress
Montezuma
Italian
Oak
Monterrey
Rich, Blended Soils That Will Grow On You.
Living Mulch is a 50-50 blend of mature compost and hardwood mulch. It combines the properties of slow-release fertilizer found in manure compost with the insulating properties of hardwood mulch. Both elements assist in water retention and evaporation reduction.
Garden & Lawn Blend is composed of Manure Compost, Sandy and Clay Loams and a small percentage of Granite Gravel Dust. It is rich in nutrients and minerals which build the microbial content, which in turn, incorporates these elements into the humus complex of your garden or lawn.
“healthy trees and gardens start with healthy soil.”
— Sam Watson
Mulch & Compost that’s locally made.
Our primary mulch is made from local hardwood tree trimmings which have been double ground so it is aesthetically pleasing in flower beds and around trees or bushes. It acts as a root zone insulator for winter and summer Central Texas temperature extremes. Also, it retains moisture by slowing evaporation, while blocking sunlight which inhibits weed growth.
Our compost is produced from stable cleanings with sawdust and carbon elements from leaves of local trees. This blend is arranged in windrows for easy turnings. It is blended with appropriate ratios of carbon and nitrogen elements. The windrows are watered and turned at various time and temperature intervals until it reaches maturity.
Finished compost is an ideal amendment for lawns, gardens, flower beds, raised garden beds, etc. It is high in organic matter which produces root zone attraction and moisture retention. It also functions as a long-term slow release fertilizer.
Planting services to set you trees up for success.
Even the best trees won’t thrive if they are planted incorrectly. They need to be set up for success.
We have the equipment, knowledge and years of experience planting trees in the Hill Country. When we plant trees, we include a cubic yard of compost of large trees (lesser amounts for smaller trees) as well as root stimulating fertilizer pellets as part of this service. We can also provide deer-proof tree surrounds if requested.
Many of our trees have 48” root balls weighing several hundred pounds. We can handle these large trees very efficiently and with a minimum of damage to lawns because our skid steer has rubber tracks which do not leave ruts like wheeled equipment. But, keep in mind: tree planting is kinda like making an omelet for breakfast….you have to make a mess before the pretty stuff shows up. One of the lessons learned in kindergarten (Sam is a 1948 graduate of Mrs. Watson’s Private Kindergarten School of Denver City, TX) is that when you make a mess, you clean it up yourself. We follow her training when we plant your trees.
Our billing rate for tree planting services is $100 per hour with the clock running from the time we load your trees until we finish your installation at your site. This rate includes Sam & a helper plus the equipment & accessories needed for the job. If rental equipment may be needed, it’s cost will be a ‘pass-through’ item. Normally, planting takes about one hour per tree once we get the equipment and trees unloaded.
“Scientists warn that because of climate change, heatwaves like these are going to be a normal part of our future. How can we prevent this?
According to research, planting trees is one of the best solutions to reverse climate change. So we’re doing exactly that!”
Visit Us
14197 E. Hwy 290
Stonewall, Texas 78671
Phone
(830) 644-2616