Summer Landscapes

By Noemi Quillin

Summer gardens in Texas are a delight, but there are several key factors to make any landscape a success. From water-wise, to full sun, to full shade gardens, the most important element is proper soil preparation. Although it is the most laborious part of planting, if done properly, the results are magnificent. Our hard clay soil here in the Metroplex makes it difficult for any plants’ tiny, hair-like roots to expand and become established. By adding rich organic compost and soil amendments like cotton burr compost and expanded shale, you will create the ideal conditions for plants to thrive.

Once soil preparation is complete, the fun part begins: selecting your plants! But remember, you will want to pick the best plants for the best location. Some of my full-sun favorites include:

‘Brake lights’ yucca, a perennial dwarf yucca with bright red blooms that last from spring to first frost and are a hummingbird favorite. ‘Pringles dwarf’ podocarpus yew, a slow-growing dwarf shrub prized for its evergreen leaves perfect for planting under low windows. Periwinkles, a work-horse annual that comes in lots of different colors that bloom from spring to first frost; purple Angelonia, another long blooming anti-rabbit annual with soothing purple flower spikes that bloom all season long. Yellow esperanza and the hard to find ‘bells of fire’ orange esperanza, both tender perennials that are usually treated as annuals with showy tubular flowers that give the garden lots of “wow” all summer long and look spectacular in pots.

For the shade garden, dragon wing begonias top my list for showy annuals. If you get morning sun, camellias are treasured for their glossy evergreen leaves and late winter/early spring blooms. Helleborus, also known as Lenten rose, is a top shade perennial, oak leaf hydrangeas and ‘emerald’ yews are beautiful shrubs, and ‘coral bark’ and ‘fireglow’ Japanese maples are majestic shade trees.

Once planted, proper watering is of the utmost importance as most plants and trees take a full year to become established. Water every morning for the first two weeks, then back off to two times a week in the spring and three times a week in the summer. Plants and trees need deep watering and you cannot rely solely on sprinklers for adequate watering. Whatever your garden, thoroughly amend your soil, choose plants wisely, and water adequately, and you will be rewarded for years to come.

Without the proper amendments, your garden will fail before it’s been given a chance to start. Thoroughly mix organic compost and expanded shale for a magnificent start to your garden!

For more information on summer landscapes, or to get Noemi’s expert help, contact her through her business listing (Blooming Vistas) at Houzz.com or by phone at 972-897-0326.