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A New Home and New Plants
My husband and I moved to
Kerrville in February of this year — 2011. I
immediately started planning the landscape
around our home. Before I planted anything
in our beds, I cleaned out all of the old
shrubs, roots, rocks, and weeds, then
amended the soil with humus, composted
manure, and worm castings. After planting, I
applied four inches of native hardwood mulch
to all of the beds. The mulch maintains
moisture and soil temperature at a
plant-friendly level. I water the beds with
a hand-held hose when the soil dries. (I use
a moisture meter.) The amended soil and the
mulch have really kept the plants healthy
despite the lack of rain.
Next, I researched the plants recommended for Central Texas. Here
are two sources I found to be very helpful.
A web search will produce many more sites
that confirm these recommendations as well
as many other helpful sources.
Texas Cooperative Extension and City of
Austin Guide to Native and Adapted
Landscape Plants
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Recommended Species |
The
front of house has southern/eastern
exposure. |
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Ornamental
grasses fill the beds along the
southern rock wall of the house. |
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Above, several varieties of thyme
grow as a ground cover around my
potted Texas Mountain Laurel.
At left, the butterfly garden has
Rock Rose, Gaura, Copper Canyon
Daisy, Lantana, Salvia Greggi,
Mystic Spires Salvia, Blackfoot
Daisy, Dwarf Ruellia, Skullcap,
Mexican Mint Marigold and Zinnias.
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On the northwest side of the house,
below left, I planted Mexican
Oregano, Duranta, and Plumbago near
a Yaupon Holly “tree”. I put a small
Desert Willow tree in a container on
the sunny part of the patio. (It
doesn’t seem to mind the hot
afternoon sun.) |
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I also have geraniums, Jade plants,
a shrimp plant,
and a Staghorn fern in
containers on the partially
shaded part of the patio.
All of these plants seem to
be doing fairly well with
occasional watering. I use a
moisture meter to test
containers and beds before I
water. That eliminates
water waste and soggy roots. |
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The
drought-tolerant plants I have used
are doing well with mulch protection
and watering as needed. I have used
both container and in-ground plants
in my landscape. Some plants have
unique needs that are better
provided in a container.
I think it only makes sense to use plants that will survive, and
hopefully thrive, in our climate.
The plants that do not survive will
be replaced with plants that more
closely match my garden conditions.
For example, I discovered that
verbena and dianthus didn’t do well
in my garden, so I won’t plant them
again.
In the record-breaking drought we are experiencing now, the lawn
looks pretty bad, but hopefully it
will survive. If it doesn’t I am an
advocate of “when handed lemons,
make lemonade”. In other
words, I will plan a landscape
without turf grass. |
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