David Abrego is a conservation consultant for SAWS. David, a native of Panama, likes to spend his time surrounded by plants and fruit trees. So if you can’t find him at home, he’s probably working in a greenhouse. David is also an arborist and an irrigation technician.
David Abrego
Recently moved into a house with an in-ground sprinkler system? Make a beeline for the irrigation controller and turn it off. Whether you just bought a brand-new home or one […]
David Abrego
The heat in July and August presents a good opportunity to do any necessary oak tree pruning. The rainfall of recent weeks has provided a refreshing summer break for us […]
David Abrego
There are many options available but doing some research before you buy will help you choose the right one for your landscape needs. Because there are endless options on the […]
David Abrego
Less pruning and less stress are win-wins for you and your shrubs in summer. Hedges — rows of plants intended to form a solid shape as a screen or wall […]
David Abrego
How often you mow and how short you cut the grass can determine how much water you save — or waste. With the recent warm-up, summer turf grass is officially […]
David Abrego
This sun-loving perennial beauty bears sweet black fruit in late summer for you and the wildlife to enjoy. Many times, nature is not balanced and gives many virtues to a […]
David Abrego
Soil should be loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter and nutrients. But what can you do if yours isn’t? Healthy soil is the basis of everything in the landscape […]
David Abrego
It’s natural to be concerned for our shady friends in this scorching heat. Rest assured they’re pretty tough, but you can help them weather the drought. It’s a question that […]
David Abrego
Got new plants but don’t know how to get started? Follow our easy planting guide to get your flora flourishing. With spring underway, many of us are coming home from […]
David Abrego
Even the hardiest citrus trees struggle to survive days of ice, snow and frigid temperatures. Those that do can benefit from a little TLC from you. There are many plants […]
David Abrego
There are several fruit trees that are well-adapted to our climate. Choose wisely and you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor before you know it. If you’ve had the […]
David Abrego
Prepare and protect. Those are the tasks to tackle now, especially if you have tender, non-native plants. Winter is coming, and it could be moderate or severe. Regardless of the […]
David Abrego
If you’ve got freshly cut oaks with unpainted wounds, beware. A fungal fiend could feast on your trees. There’s not much time left to prune your oak trees this winter, […]
David Abrego
Recently moved into a house with an in-ground sprinkler system? Make a beeline for the irrigation controller and turn it off. Whether you just bought a brand-new home or one […]
David Abrego
Only time will tell how much post-freeze care our subtropical fruit trees will need. Before you count them out, there are a few factors to consider. All of us citrus […]
David Abrego
Ball moss or mistletoe hanging out in the canopy of your yard won’t necessarily kill your trees, but it’s good to know the difference between these often-misunderstood plants. With the […]
David Abrego
Conservation consultant David Abrego bids farewell to the fantasy garden. But not before creating a buzz. Toads, lizards, spiders and all sorts of insects each play a vital role in […]
David Abrego
Conservation consultant David Abrego’s exploration of a real-life fantasy garden continues. This time he dives deep into a conversation with two vital elements. A healthy soil is the basis of […]
David Abrego
Lush, lovely gardens brimming with intoxicating fragrance and foliage aren’t just mere fables. Join our conservation consultant David Abrego as he explores a real-life fantasy garden. Once upon a time […]
David Abrego
Beyond just conserving space, container gardening also offers portability and creative freedom. Plus it makes light work of replacing summer selections with winter color. Not everyone has yard space for […]
David Abrego
When it comes to gardening, many of us are stumped by all that it entails. But really, gardening isn’t so mysterious. There are many garden-related tasks and topics that stump […]
David Abrego
In a perfect world, every landscape would have the right plants and use very little water. Give your yard a shot at perfection — consult a SAWS conservation expert! A […]
David Abrego
Wondering how a free landscape consultation from SAWS actually works? Conservation consultant David Abrego takes you on a virtual tag-along to show you just how beneficial it can be. If […]
David Abrego
Our conservation-consultant-turned-investigative-reporter David Abrego is digging up more dirt for you. This time, he goes face-to-face with the water meter. Many people don’t realize it, but they have easy access […]
David Abrego
What would your landscape say about this fierce drought that’s taken hold of the city? One of our conservation consultants decided to do a little digging to find out. Extreme […]
David Abrego
While it’s always a good idea to paint fresh wounds with an oil or latex paint, the heat at this time of year actually helps protect against oak wilt. The […]
David Abrego
A healthy garden can defend itself without the need for chemical treatments. But if you discover something is ailing it, define the problem before you treat it. We share the […]
David Abrego
Vines are the perfect plants to soften the look of garden structures like pergolas, walls or frames. If you want to soften the look of garden structures like pergolas, walls […]
David Abrego
Know what to prune and when. Every cut you make signals a plant’s dormant cells to initiate new shoots; pruning too early can put tender new growth at risk during […]
David Abrego
Building a flagstone patio is a lot like putting together a puzzle. It’s also an entertaining project for the whole family. Just follow our simple steps. Do you enjoy putting […]
David Abrego
Winter is the perfect time to tend to your trees. Follow these simple TLC tips. Although the winter season in San Antonio isn’t very distinct, it’s still necessary to give […]
David Abrego
Whether planted in pots, or used as a border or ground cover, rosemary will serve you well in your landscape (bees love it!) and kitchen (it adds fabulous flavor to […]
David Abrego
Gulf muhly grass is easy to grow and has a unique resistance to our temperatures and soils. And with color ranging from pink to purple and every shade in between, […]
David Abrego
Mountain laurel withstands reflected heat, thrives in poor alkaline soils, and only needs a little bit of water in return. These traits make it a great choice for xeriscape gardens. […]
David Abrego
The summer season can be rough on your plants and trees, but following a few simple rules will help make life easier for your green friends. Summer landscape maintenance rules […]
David Abrego
Vines are the perfect plants to soften the look of garden structures like pergolas, walls or frames. If you want to soften the look of garden structures like pergolas, walls […]
David Abrego
Thinking about adding some living sculptures to your landscape? Keep in mind the ongoing maintenance involved before taking the shears to your entire yard. The art of trimming or pruning […]
David Abrego
Know what to prune and when. Every cut you make signals a plant’s dormant cells to initiate new shoots; pruning too early can put tender new growth at risk during […]
David Abrego
Si queremos suavizar el aspecto de alguna estructura como pérgolas, paredes o darle forma a un marco en un jardín o si lo que busquemos simplemente privacidad o sombra, las […]
David Abrego
Muhlbergia capillaris Hay sensaciones de paz y tranquilidad que son difícil de describir como por ejemplo el reconfortante sonido del silencio; o como poner la vista en el horizonte y […]
David Abrego
Cycad revoluta No necesitas ser Steven Spielberg para saborear las maravillas del Jurásico, no necesitas encontrar una cámara del tiempo que te traslade a ese mundo, sólo necesitas ir a […]
David Abrego
Rosmarinus officinalis Silencioso en algún lugar de nuestro patio observamos a este miembro del jardín recordarle al distraído visitante de su presencia, cuando inadvertidamente su cuerpo roza con alguna parte […]
David Abrego
Dicen que las noticias malas vuelan rápido, pero en este caso las buenas se adelantaron. Una tarde al final de la primavera cuando todos en el Jardín Del Edén comentaban […]
David Abrego
El desarrollo urbano está transformando nuestro alrededor. A medida que nuestra ciudad crece y se construyen más casas y negocios, la vida silvestre nativa a menudo se desplaza. Para algunos […]
David Abrego
Muchas veces al querer hacer un bien terminamos sin querer haciendo daño, al decir esto nos estamos refiriendo al cuidado que le damos a los arboles al momento de plantarlos. […]
David Abrego
Dicen los sabios que el enojo es buen sentimiento, si lo expresamos contra la persona indicada, en el momento preciso, y en la forma correcta. De igual manera, siguiendo estos […]
David Abrego
Érase una vez un jardín hermoso, era como sacado de un cuento de hadas. Pero este no era un jardín de fantasía este era real, muy real y estaba en […]
David Abrego
Se acerca la temporada de migración de la mariposa monarca en el centro de Texas. Al igual que con muchos otros polinizadores, existe una creciente preocupación por la disminución de […]
David Abrego
No todos tenemos un patio grande donde podamos poner en práctica nuestros conocimientos de jardinería. Si el espacio es nuestra limitante, recurrir al jardín en contenedor o maceta es una […]
David Abrego
Cuando estamos cambiando de residencia y queremos llevarnos esa planta que ha estado con nosotros por largo tiempo, pero esta ha crecido demasiado o quizás porque el vecino se enamoró […]
David Abrego
La fruta de la granada ha sido considerada por muchas culturas como símbolo de amor y fertilidad. Hoy, muchos estudios la consideran como una fruta que ofrece grandes beneficios por […]
David Abrego
Si usted sigue esta receta básica y añade un poco de sus propios ingredientes, tales como vías permeables, patios y pérgolas, usted estará en camino a un jardín con diseño […]
David Abrego
Recognizing that many of our new residents and part-time residents have Spanish as their primary language, we’re introducing a new category for our Garden Tips: Garden Tips in Spanish (Guia de […]
David Abrego
Teniendo como objetivo primordial el ahorro de agua y la salud de las plantas, Garden Style San Antonio, es una página que nos permitirá adentrarnos en el mundo de la jardinería y […]
David Abrego
Muchas veces, sin saberlo, estamos pagando por agua que no estamos utilizando ya sea porque hay fugas o porque nuestro sistema de irrigación está programado de una forma que no […]
David Abrego
Un sistema de irrigación podría ayudarnos a mantener nuestro jardín y ahorrarnos tiempo, pero hay que poner mucha atención. Saber cómo opera el control del sistema y usarlo inteligentemente, es […]
David Abrego
A veces, reducir el tamaño del área con césped y llenar ese espacio con nuevas alternativas puede llegar a ser un gran reto. Pero en San Antonio, la misma naturaleza ofrece […]
David Abrego
Desde1994, cuando SAWS comenzó a implementar programas para cambiar el césped por plantas que consuman menos agua, hemos escuchado que uno de los factores más intimidantes es escoger el lugar […]
David Abrego
Poner un poco de atención a las plantas que usted elije para su jardín, pagará dividendos a largo plazo – en cuanto a mantenimiento y apariencia. En lugar de crear […]
David Abrego
La jardinería nos brinda la oportunidad de interactuar, y porque no, de educar a nuestros jóvenes desde muy temprana edad. Por naturaleza la enorme curiosidad de los niños nos ayudara […]
David Abrego
Para lograr el equilibrio y mantener un paisaje atractivo, es esencial escoger plantas que creen un marco sólido en nuestro jardín. Por lo general estos marcos consisten de grandes árboles […]
David Abrego
En jardinería no hay secretos, solo hay que educarnos y usar el sentido común. Si una planta determinada crece bien y florece, es que esa planta ha encontrado las condiciones […]
David Abrego
The main objective of tree pruning should be to improve its health, beauty and structure – not simply because brush collection is imminent. When making a cut, use a sharp […]
David Abrego
They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but if chosen properly, a tree can not only improve the aesthetics of your property but also increase its value. Before you dash […]
David Abrego
Maybe you haven’t considered cloning your favorite plant, but many garden plants including those sold in warehouse nurseries are clones! Cloning is a simple vegetative method for obtaining exact genetic duplicates of […]
David Abrego
When a fungal outbreak is detected in your lawn, you need to act fast. Use the wisdom at your local nursery to identify the fungus and recommend a solution, such […]
David Abrego
The average plot of garden soil is a virtual weed bank where falling seeds have already accumulated for years. Add to this seeds brought every day by wind, birds and animals, […]
David Abrego
Not everyone has yard space for a grand garden. But you can work with what you’ve got. A container garden is a great alternative for small spaces. More than just conserving space, […]
David Abrego
Seeds are the simplest way to propagate fresh plants. Though not exact duplicates of their parents, plants grown from seeds will exhibit a combination of its parents’ genes, making this […]
David Abrego
If you don’t consider yourself an outdoor gardener but still enjoy the natural beauty and benefits of plants, then consider taking the pastime indoors. Since they’ll be growing in an […]
David Abrego
Ever wonder what it means when people say they have a green thumb? It’s simple really. Someone who possesses a green thumb has a knack for gardening. But it’s not […]
David Abrego
Pomegranate has long been a symbol of love, fertility and prosperity in many civilizations. Warriors once ate it before battles because they believed it made them invincible. Perhaps they sensed […]
David Abrego
Before embarking on a construction project, whether it’s a new home build or addition of a pool or driveway, be aware of the harm that can occur to the trees […]
David Abrego
All trees need water, some more than others. But it’s important to find a balance and water them only when necessary. In the fall and winter seasons, for example, many […]
David Abrego
Enhancing your garden begins with the soil. More than just a blank canvas for arranging plants or walking upon, healthy soil contains thousands of living organisms, each performing a special […]
David Abrego
Add a little prehistoric panache to your landscape — plant a sago palm! Its origins date back to the Mesozoic era and it’s virtually indestructible. You don’t need to be […]
