Cody Nelson

A land steward's take on a piece of household orthodoxy that doesn't quite hold up. I was rinsing out a milk jug at my kitchen sink the other day, hot water running, sloshing it around to break up the film of dried milk along the inside, and I caught myself doing the math. We're in the third year of on-and-off drought across most of Central Texas. The Edwards Aquifer just dropped from Stage 4 to Stage 3 restrictions a week ago, and only because spring rains pulled J-17 back above 632 feet....

When you own a large piece of land in the Texas Hill Country, your trees are more than just scenery. They are living, breathing parts of your property’s ecosystem. Keeping them healthy means protecting your investment, your safety, and the natural beauty that defines this region. A thorough tree vitality inspection helps you understand the condition of your trees and guides you in making smart decisions for their care. I want to walk you through the steps I take when assessing tree health on...

When you own a large property in the Texas Hill Country, your trees are more than just part of the scenery. They are living assets that contribute to the health, safety, and beauty of your land. Taking the time to perform a thorough tree maintenance evaluation is one of the best ways to protect those assets. It’s about understanding what’s happening with your trees, spotting potential problems early, and making informed decisions that support long-term land stewardship. Trees don’t just grow...