7 Different Types of Pine Trees in Texas | Pine Trees Native to Texas |

Sunflowers are striking flowers that can be found in fields and gardens around the world, adding a burst of color to the landscape. If you are a Texan, then you must have seen them around and wondered – When Do Sunflowers Bloom in Texas? Well, time to get the answer!

Years after the fact, I remain flummoxed as to why my neighbor Daniel – an otherwise normal, rational person – ripped down and pulled out a spectacular, 20-foot-tall labyrinth of colorful crossvine that was growing on a trellis he had built up against his house.Crossvine is a fast-growing climbing vine that can reach 50

Treehugger / Design by Amelia Manley

Water is essential for life. Your plants need water to grow and thrive, and more during the hotter months. Ever wondered about catching rain to use during times when there is less or no rain? Installing a rain barrel allows you to do exactly that: collect and store a natural resource for later use. Harvesting rainwater has many benefits from saving money on your water bill to utilizing what freely falls from the sky for times when raindrops aren’t so abundant.

Often referred to as barometer bush, Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) dazzles with a show of bright pink to lavender or white blooms after rainfalls from spring through fall. The silvery leaves of Texas sage offer a visual respite in the height of summer heat. Its gray, green, or silver 1-inch leaves are fuzzy, and provide a delicate backdrop for the vibrant flowers.  

It’s hardly a meal in the South without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it’s your first garden. Sometimes called snap beans, garden beans are inexpensive seeds and fast growers, with some types ready in as little as 50 days. They’ll produce bumper crops so you’ll have plenty of green beans to cook fresh, freeze or pickle. With top picks fromAll-American Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners,  Johnny’s Selected Seeds, extension services at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, and University of Kentucky, here are the best types of beans to grow in the South:

There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.

Brown marmorated stink bugs may have a funny name, but no one who has to deal with them is laughing. “They can be a significant issue for commercial growers and home gardeners in regions where the stink bug population is high,” says Jim Walgenbach, PhD, professor and extension entomologist atNorth Carolina State University. “All life stages of stink bugs can cause damage to foliage and fruit.”They feed on all kinds of plants, both edible and ornamental, but their favorites include peaches, apples, pears, pecans, tomatoes, peppers and sweet corn.

It takes more than pretty plants and a shovel to create a beautiful and thriving garden. Experienced gardeners rely on the Hardiness Zone plant information established by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). It is designed to identify which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific geographic area. The zones are determined by average annual winter temperatures across the country and broken into 10-degree increments. It is then further divided into 5-degree a and b designations.

Preparing to convert a new area in your yard into a garden can require a lot of physical labor and time. Lasagna gardening is a no-fuss technique to prepare the soil so it’s ready for planting vegetables, herbs, or flowers as well as a way to minimize and reduce weeds. “Lasagna gardening, also known as sheet mulching, is the act of layering compostable materials in a raised bed or designated area where you want to start a garden,” says Jen McDonald, a certified organic gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls, a garden design company based in Houston, Texas. “It’s an easy option that requires minimal labor and also reduces kitchen waste.”

The growing season is long in USDA Zone 9, as in, it lasts almost all year thanks to mild winters. This hardiness region extends from parts of Florida, across the lower portion of Louisiana and into coastal Georgia and Southern Texas. In these locales, salty air, sandy soil, heat, and lots of sun are prevalent. You’ll want to look for choices that can stand up to drought and are resilient when it comes to both soil and weather conditions. Tropical florals like hibiscus and showy trees like the Southern magnolia will do well in Zone 9 as well as a variety of ground covers, textural shrubs, and herbs. 

With large scarlet blooms, Texas Star hibiscus brings a lush, exotic feel to the garden without the drawbacks of short-lived, non-native tropical varieties. Texas Star hibiscus blooms mid-summer into fall. Its striking red flower petals grow to 6-inches wide and are cut deeply and finer than other hibiscus.In the center, dramatic yellow stamens entice pollinators. Texas Star features 5-petaled, palmate leaves with deep red stems ideal for adding interesting landscape structure in addition to the blooms. Its tropical-like flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.