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Julie England

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Julie England is the founder of HillcrestLandscapes.com since 2004. She is also a retired technology business executive from Texas Instruments, Inc. Her interest in landscapes and horticulture began by the age of five and continued with intensive self-study, travel to visit national and international gardens and over fifteen years volunteering at The Dallas Arboretum. She combines her passion for nature and coaching customers to care for their exterior designs.

Stories from Julie England

REARRANGE: Five Transplant Guidelines for Shrubs and Small trees
Julie England
Monday, February 6th, 2012
The best thing about winter is that we can transplant shrubs and small trees in North Texas and give their roots time to establish before the heat of summer. Transplant in January and February when plants are dormant, and before early March when our spring warm up begins.
cranes
Landscape Design Made Simple and Easy
Julie England
Monday, January 16th, 2012
Winter is a great time to plan a landscape of your dreams. The basics of residential landscape design planning are an essential part of creating an outdoor living area you'll love. Your front yard and back yard landscaping design will blend the natural grounds surrounding a home with its architecture to create a beautiful, unified and inviting place to live.
The Gift of Green 2011
Julie England
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Want to buy your friends the gift that keeps on giving? You can always buy the Gift of Green, especially house plants and orchids. However, this year I'd like to share with you an idea for an outdoor plant that is truly a gift: Camellia. It's a plant for WOMEN WHO DO TOO MUCH and want blooms in their yard during winter time.
autumn trees
November Trees and Tips
Julie England
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
As the Leaves turn to brilliant fall color -

Plant: Spring bulbs including daffodils, narcissus, jonquils and grape hyacinths directly into your landscape as you buy them. Use Cyclamen in the shady areas. However, Tulips and Dutch hyacinths should be refrigerated at 45 degrees until mid-December. Continue to plant pansies, snapdragons, pinks, flowering cabbage and flowering kale.

Bloodleaf Plant
Summer Reflections
Julie England
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
It was a long hot summer in North Texas and it may be next year as well. A recent article in the local press had this quote:

"Recent predictions by the National Weather Service of a 50 percent chance there will be another La Niña in the southern Pacific Ocean this fall can be taken two ways - with optimism or pessimism

Arkansas
October Tips & Fall Plantings
Julie England
Monday, October 17th, 2011
Now is the time to

Plant fall-flowering bulbs and fall annual and perennials towards the end of the month including daffodils and grape hyacinths. Plant cool-season annuals such as pansies, pinks (Dianthus), snapdragons, and flowering cabbage and kale now that temperatures have dropped.

Sit Down for a Spell
Julie England
Friday, August 26th, 2011
If your yard were indoor space, the front yard would be the living room and the back would be the family room. The front is public space while the backyard is typically less formal and often is designed for multiple specific functions.

A backyard garden with a special welcoming feel for you, your family and friends invites you to have a seat looking out or back at your home.

Too Hot To Handle
Julie England
Monday, August 1st, 2011
1. Plant fall-flowering bulbs and fall annual and perennials towards the end of the month. Favorite annuals include crotons, ornamental peppers, marigolds, zinnias and celosias. Favorite perennials include Mexican bush sage, mums and fall asters.
Six Long-lasting Cuttings for Your Vase
Julie England
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
There are many plants in your yard that can be used in a vase to decorate your table or countertop.

This weekend I chose color by cutting a Caladium leaf, Liatris and Daisy, then complemented them with greens from a Japanese Holly frond, Cast Iron leaf and some Lirioipe.

adratica photo
Nine July Tips and Planning for the Fall
Julie England
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Plan your fall vegetable garden. Start your fall tomato garden in the first half of July. Plant pumpkins and gourds.
zinnias 2
Yard Joy in June - 10 Landscape Tips
Julie England
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Things to do this month in North Texas:

1.     Plant the warm season, summer annuals such as Bluebells, Zinnias, Moss Rose, Purslane, Pentas and Periwinkles, Sun Coleus, Esperanza ( yellow) or Scaevola.

Design Tip: Soften Walls
Julie England
Monday, May 16th, 2011

Walk around the outside of your house; look at the walls of the house and any fencing around your property. Is there a focal point on the walls or on the fence that could be softened with a climbing vine on a trellis? A focal point is an area you frequently see from the driveway as you approach your home or through a window as you gaze into your yard.

Mexican Petunia
Landscaping: May Must Do List
Julie England
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
May is blooming all around us. Welcome the month with a GIFT OF GREEN for your Mom on Mother's Day, May 8. Take her an Encore Azalea or and Earthkind Rose. She can enjoy it and then plant it in her own yard.
Spring Awakening
Julie England
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Here are some timely tips and tricks for your April landscape in North Texas:
  • In April continue planting trees, shrubs and roses. Be sure to fertilize the root ball. Be prepared to hand water during the first growing season and throughout summer time. Prune trees, shrubs and reshape new and old growth.
Dallas Blooms: Early, Mid, Late
Julie England
Monday, March 14th, 2011
"Flowers...are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty overvalues all the utilities of the world." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Mr. Emerson would have enjoyed the Dallas Blooms festival at the Dallas Arboretum. It is an outstanding display of hundreds of thousands of bulbs, azaleas and cool weather annuals with stunning color and massive displays on this 66-acre botanical garden in the heartland of Dallas, TX.
Save Water--Plant Bulbs
Julie England
Monday, February 28th, 2011
Bulbs are extremely hardy and are among the first flowers to dot the landscape with brilliant color in spring. In general, bulbs need little care to thrive and can be left alone most of the year. Bulbs are quite easy to grow and give beautiful garden color for very little effort.
amaryllis close
1-2-3! It's a Bloom Part II
Julie England
Monday, February 21st, 2011
Did you see the dramatic transition in your Amaryllis over the last six weeks? We kept the new growth upright by turning the container 90 degrees every week to rotate its face to the sun. The container was kept moderately moist.
1-2-3! It's a Bloom
Julie England
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
'Tis the season of bulbs that transform before our eyes into abundant possibilities. If you received an amaryllis bulb for Christmas or the holidays, have you planted it yet? Did you plant the bulb in the soil leaving the neck exposed and protruding from the soil?
possumhaw holly
Winter is on My Head
Julie England
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
"Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." - Victor Hugo

The best thing about winter is that we can plant trees in North Texas and give their roots time to establish before the heat of summer. So get out your shovel on one of our warm days and dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep as the root ball.

money tree
Minis are Big
Julie England
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Need another great gift? Try bonsai or miniature plants that are trained to grow indoors in smaller pots. Choose a plant that loves low light so that it thrives in your home.
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