Habitat Enhancing Land Management (HELM)

Want to know more about managing your Hays County acreage?

We can help. As part of our HELM program, the Hays County Master Naturalists have assembled a specially trained team. Our volunteers will walk your property with you to identify plants and trees. We will make recommendations on improving soil and controlling erosion. We can provide helpful advice on attracting birds and other wildlife, preventing oak wilt, and much more. Through our visit and follow-up, we will provide friendly, customized guidance to help you meet your goals for managing your special property.

To request a visit complete and submit the form. A Hays County Master Naturalist will promptly contact you to schedule a convenient time for your visit.

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Hays Humm
Appreciating Native Grasslands
Appreciating Native Grasslands

Here in Hays County and across the rest of the Hill Country, we are rapidly losing our natural grasslands. So it has become even more incumbent on land stewards to protect and restore the ones we have.

Appreciating Native Grasslands
Appreciating Native Grasslands

Grass? A bright green expanse of well watered lawn—or vast meadows of tall grasses and wildflowers swaying in the breeze.

Insects and Spiders—Mostly Our Friends
Insects and Spiders—Mostly Our Friends

Love them or hate them, insects and spiders are vital to the health of our Texas Hill Country ecosystems. Why should we care?

HELM Visits Dahlstrom Preserve
HELM Visits Dahlstrom Preserve

Our HELM team participated in an onsite workshop focused on managing invasive vegetation and aggressive native species, on brush management, and on grasses, mulching, seeding, and erosion. We are excited to share that knowledge with Hays County landowners.

Trees Are More Than Pretty
Trees Are More Than Pretty

Trees are our partners in smart land stewardship. So what do we need to know about tree structure and growth, tree rings and roots, about enemies of trees? In fact, what exactly is a tree?

How Do They Do It?
How Do They Do It?

We love those amazing creatures who visit us on our property. But have you ever wondered how they survive cold winter weather? Even some of us with our heated houses, warm clothes, and plenty of blankets struggled through Uri. But we survived, and so did most of our beloved birds and other creatures. But how?

Variety is the Spice of Life
Variety is the Spice of Life

There’s an old proverb, “Variety is the spice of life.” And what does that have to do with land stewardship? A lot!

Hill Country Natives Are Smarter Than You Think
Hill Country Natives Are Smarter Than You Think

The first half of this year was the fifth driest on record, and this summer hasn’t been any better. How exactly do our native plants cope with stress caused by a prolonged period without water? It’s complicated and pretty amazing.

Don’t Go with the Flow
Don’t Go with the Flow

Do areas on your property look like this—sparse vegetation and very little topsoil? Hill County soils are notoriously thin. At one time, this spot likely had lots more soil and vegetation. What happened?

Rethinking Mountain Cedar
Rethinking Mountain Cedar

One question landowners ask when the HELM team pays them a visit is “What should I do about all this cedar?” We start by dispelling myths surrounding cedar.

Pollinators Make it Happen
Pollinators Make it Happen

Have you noticed all the beautiful wildflowers popping up around your property? Most depend on animals to move their pollen around so that we can enjoy flowers again next year. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds aren’t their only pollinators. Beetles, flies, and other insects also move pollen from flower to flower.

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