5 minute read
Gardening with Complete Solutions
October
by PJ Kratohvil, Owner of Complete Solutions
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These cooler night time temps allow for a great start to the day if your out and about in the mornings! It’s a very exiting time of year to be in the business as everyone is getting “Fall Fever” Patio business is in FULL SWING & Landscape Teams have plenty to do!
October is one of the most critical months when it comes to the exterior and landscape maintenance around your home. Here are a few things to contract out or add to your “To-do” list over the next few weeks:
EXTERIOR:
• Ensure windows and doors are properly sealed. Restricting unwanted airflow will keep things comfortable inside and help reduce any unwanted guests.
• All exposed wood surfaces are painted or sealed to ensure as the cold weather and rain moves in and out, things are protected and less effected by weather.
• Check out your roof to make sure no shingles have come off during our last round of summer storms and that the gutters are clean and free of debris.
EXTERIOR: 214.735.1363 | COMPLETESOLUTIONSDFW.COM LANDSCAPES:
• Cutback and prune this year’s growth. This will not only help to keep your beds organized but also promote new growth come spring.
• Remove, cultivate, fertilize and add new 2” layer of mulch. We lean towards a shredded mulch vs. bark
or large cut. It will hold the best, not float, and as it breaks down to offer a great weed / moisture barrier (ensure the mulch is kept below the brick line so you don’t chance having rainwater get in the weep holes during a rain event).
• Oct. thru Dec. is a great time to plant larger shrubs and trees.
Allowing them to start rooting over the winter months will make the heat of summer a lot less hazardous to their health.
• Go ahead as things cool off and cut back on the irrigation. Watering a couple of times a week and ensuring your rain sensor is operating effectively should be sufficient and help your monthly spending.
Changing Lives
IS JUST PART OF WHAT WE DO
by Brooke Ezzo photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)
Changing Lives
Each year, 6-8 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters throughout the United States. Due to low adoption rates, most of these animals never find a forever home. Animal shelters are forced to cope with animal overpopulation through euthanasia. That’s where Texas Coalition for Animal Protection steps in to make a difference.
“The answer to stopping euthanasia and overpopulation starts with prevention” says TCAP Executive Director, Stacey Schumacher. The Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) has been a leader in animal welfare since its formation in 2002. TCAP provides compassionate solutions to pet overpopulation and euthanasia. As a Denton-based nonprofit, TCAP provides the lowest prices for preventative animal care throughout North Texas.
TCAP’s sole mission is to keep pet ownership affordable for families so that pets remain in their homes. In 2020 alone, TCAP’s caring and highly skilled team spayed and neutered more than 63,000 dogs and cats. Since founding, TCAP has sterilized more than 577,000 North Texas animals and has vaccinated more than 1.1 million against the deadly rabies virus. TCAP’s ultimate goal is to substantially reduce animal overpopulation and euthanasia throughout North Texas, while promoting animal welfare. Spaying and neutering pets is the most effective way to reduce animal overpopulation and many problems that result from overpopulation such as malnutrition, abandonment, high euthanasia rates, and neglect.
“The staff was very friendly and professional. The whole process was quick and simple. I will continue to use Texas Coalition for Animal Protection for my vet pet needs.” — Jessica O.
TCAP currently operates standalone clinics in Denton, Fort Worth, Hurst, Burleson, Allen, Weatherford, Garland & Arlington, but chances are that TCAP is never far from your home with one of their travel
...REDUCING ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION... LOWERS THE COST TO NORTH TEXAS TAXPAYERS.
“MASH”-style clinics. “We understand that people have jobs and cannot always make the drive to one of our main clinics, so we make ourselves available throughout DFW at local animal shelters and community centers,” says Schumacher.
In addition to providing invaluable service to pet owners, Texas Coalition for Animal Protection strives to provide its support to animal shelters and rescue organizations. “We truly value these institutions for their contribution to their communities. We want to be there to help make their rescued animals more adoptable and improve the number of animals they can help as a result” says Schumacher. TCAP’s Executive Director goes on to state that the combination of reducing animal overpopulation and increasing adoption rates can actually lower the cost of city-funded programs and in-turn lower the cost to North Texas taxpayers.
If you have a pet that you would like to get sterilized, scheduling an appointment is easy. You can call TCAP at 940.566.5551 or visit their website at www.texasforthem.org and click “Appointment”. Prices for sterilization begin as low as $35.00. Annual vaccinations for a dog or cat can be purchased for $25 on a walk-in basis from 9 am – noon at all eight TCAP locations and 10 am – noon at all travel locations. North Texans can learn more by visiting TCAP’s website at www.texasforthem.org.
