Design, Plant, Repeat: Grapevine, TX Organic Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Case Study
- Marshall Grain Co.
- a few seconds ago
- 5 min read
If you’re searching for an organic lawn and landscape maintenance program in Grapevine, TX, this case study shows what “long-term success” looks like: smart design, Texas native and adapted plants, and a customized organic plan that builds healthier soil and helps catch problems early.
Proudly serving: Arlington, Bedford, Colleyville, Coppell, Euless, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Keller, Hurst, Irving, Roanoke, Richland Hills, Southlake, Trophy Club.
Landscape Design Success Keeps North Texas Customers Coming Back for Organic Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Service
One of the best recommendations any lawn and landscape services business can enjoy is to gain repeat business. So we're especially proud to showcase landscapes where we've been invited back for ongoing organic lawn and landscape maintenance after an earlier design/build installation. One example, is this vintage-style Grapevine, Texas home.
In this example, Marshall Grain designed and installed an all-new front landscape in 2020 for a vintage-style Grapevine, Texas home. Since then, we’ve completed follow-on improvements—including backyard additions and bed refreshes—and our Organic Landscape Maintenance team currently maintains the property to keep it looking its best throughout the year.
A great landscape isn’t just about the “install day.” It’s about what happens in the seasons after—when soil biology strengthens, plants fill in, and a consistent organic program keeps lawns and beds resilient through North Texas heat, humidity, and common pest/disease pressure.
Here's a Google Maps view of what the front landscape looked like in 2018.
Phase One: Front Landscape Design & Install
Our designer began by replacing rectangular spaces and sharp corners with a curvilinear design. The sweeping curves make the home feel larger and more inviting, while beds along the sidewalk help disguise unsightly utilities.
A key feature of Phase One was a custom vintage-style brick walkway designed to match the home’s Victorian architecture. Instead of plain red brick, our designer selected stamped paving bricks bearing manufacturer names—an intentional detail that complements the home’s historic look.
The beds around the foundation are edged with chop-block stone while those along the sidewalk are mulched with locally-sourced stone to add texture help prevent weeds. All are planted with a mix of Texas-native and adapted plants that we know from our experience perform well in North Texas gardens. By selecting plants of different heights and shapes that bloom at different times of the year, the homeowner enjoys year-round color and interest.
Why “Texas native and adapted” plants? In North Texas, the most reliable landscapes combine regionally proven plants with organic soil-building practices—supporting healthier roots, fewer inputs over time, and better resilience in stressful weather swings.
Phase Two: Backyard Additions
In the backyard, Marshall Grain added a matching stamped brick walkway to the rear of the house with stepping stones leading across shady areas bracketed by the house and the garage. The stepping stones were edged with a low-growing, no-mow native grass, and rimmed with other shade-tolerant natives to create a soft, cool vibe.
We also refurbished several beds and added some new ones, including the one shown below behind a free-standing tool shed.
Phase Three: On-Going Lawn & Landscape Maintenance
Today the homeowners enjoy a healthy, mature lawn and garden regularly cared for by Marshall Grain's professional Landscape Maintenance team. Like all of our maintenance programs, this plan was fully customized to suit this customer's specific needs and budget.
Typically programs start at around $800 per year and can include the following types of services*:
Fertilization & foliar spraying
Adding soil amendments
Restoring soil health
Weeding
Pruning & trimming
Mulching flowerbeds
Planting annual color
*Please note that we don't offer mowing.
What this Grapevine homeowner’s 2025 plan included
For this specific property, the 2025 program included:
Two applications of corn gluten meal pre-emergent (organic weed control)
One application of organic lawn fertilizer
One application of dry humate to enrich soil
One application of brown patch preventative fertilizer
One application of Java Turf compost
Periodic weeding & mulching
Four organic magnolia tree fertilizations
One treatment of diatomaceous earth as a preventative insecticide
One application of bio-inoculant + molasses to combat pathogenic fungi
The total cost for this program was approximately $2,900 annually, including time and materials.
Why Organic Maintenance Works Better Long-Term
Organic and chemical programs are fundamentally different approaches. Organic programs focus on building healthier soil biology and more resilient plants over time—often meaning fewer “fire drills” and a healthier environment for kids, pets, and pollinators.
Spotting Problems Before They
Perhaps the most important part of our service is that, because we visit your property regularly, we can spot problems while they're still small and suggest organic solutions that we can perform for you or you can do yourself.
For instance, recently, we identified brown patch, a fungal problem common in St. Augustine lawns, which we spot-treated with a combination of MicroLife Liquid AF (a bio-inoculant) and liquid molasses. Unlike a fungicide, which kills off both beneficial and noxious fungi and can cause additional problems, using a bio-inoculant restores and rebalances the soil to speed recovery.
Brown Patch in St. Augustine (and an organic approach)
In this case, we identified brown patch, a fungal problem common in St. Augustine lawns, and spot-treated it with MicroLife Liquid AF (a bio-inoculant) plus liquid molasses. This approach focuses on restoring and rebalancing the soil rather than using a fungicide that can wipe out beneficial fungi along with the bad.
Chinch Bugs on the March
Last summer our team prevented major damage to the customer's lawn by quickly responding to an attack by chinch bugs, which are another common problem during the hot-weather months. These tiny crawling insects suck the juices out of the grass while simultaneously releasing a toxin as they eat which causes further damage. Left untreated, they can rapidly destroy an entire lawn, seemingly overnight. Often, lawns are too badly damaged to recover on their own and need to be re-sodded.
Our team saved the day by applying a powdered organic insecticide, to the area where the Chinch bugs were active, killing them. Thanks to our vigilance, the lawn was able to recover.
FAQs: Organic Lawn & Landscape Maintenance in Grapevine, TX
Do you offer mowing?
No—Marshall Grain’s maintenance programs do not include mowing.
Can an organic program help with weeds?
Yes. This plan included corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent strategy, plus periodic weeding and mulching.
What’s the biggest benefit of ongoing service?
Early detection. Regular visits help catch pests and disease while problems are still small and easier to solve organically.
Get a Free Consultation
Ready to embark on a landscape renovation or an organic maintenance program? Give us a call for a free consultation.
Learn More
Organic Maintenance → https://www.marshallgrain.com/organic-landscaping
Landscaping Services → https://www.marshallgrain.com/landscaping
Tips & Techniques (Organic Lawn Care category) → https://www.marshallgrain.com/tips-and-techniques
