A close-up of a round cactus with bright pink flowers.

7 Water-Wise Plants for Desert Regions

‘Queen Victoria’ Century Plant Agave victoriae-reginae is a striking, slow-growing cactus that may take as long as 40 years to flower. It’s best grown alone and away from paths because of its sharp leaf tips. ‘Lavance Purple’ Lavender Lavandula angustifolia is a dwarf lavender that can grow 18 inches high, making it a good choice for edging.…

A close-up of beautiful multi-colored flowers in a freshly-landscaped garden in Tyler, TX.

6 Ways to Keep Your Garden In Color All Season

1. Deadheading Deadheading, or removing spent blossoms, is the easiest way to keep plants blooming. Annuals especially will benefit from a periodic deadheading. Flowers are just there to produce seed. Once the plant sets seed, it has no more reason to produce flowers. Many perennial flowers will also rebloom if deadheaded. Exceptions are perennials that…

A bunch of bright red tomatoes on a vine in an East Texas garden.

Secrets To Growing Plump Tomatoes

Choose a Bright, Airy Spot Plant tomatoes, leaving room between plants for air to circulate, where they will get at least 10 hours of light in summer. Rotate the Crop Alternate your tomato bed between a few spots in the garden to diminish the risk of soil borne diseases such as bacterial spot and early…

An East Texas home with a freshly-laid stone pathway leading to the front door.

21 Easy Ideas to Beautify Your Yard

Integrate Your Plants Vegetables and herbs have a place in the flower garden. Use herbs to edge your beds and borders, we’re especially partial to variegated mint because it arrives early and stays late. In the garden, integration is the key. The mint’s aroma wafts on the breeze when visitors brush against it, and you…

A close up of mint leaves.

5 Really Simple Household Uses for Mint

1. Growing mint will keep your yard and garden buzzing with beneficial insects. Mint is rich in nectar and pollen, and its small flower clusters keep these sweet treats easily accessible for helpful bugs such as honeybees and hoverflies. 2. While it attracts ‘good bugs,’ mint also deters ‘bad bugs.’ Repel ants and flies by…

A beautiful pool in the backyard of a home under the starry East Texas sky.

Lighting Up Your Outdoor Landscape

When it comes to designing a new yard or updating an existing landscape, lighting is often treated as an afterthought. “I raise the subject when consulting with my clients. But many are not interested in spending the extra money, or they don’t understand the importance of illuminating their yard at night,” says JJ De Sousa…

Close up of an East Texas gardener's hands, protected by gloves, holding freshly pulled leaves.

9 Weekend DIY Ideas for Your Garden

Build A Stepping Stone Path Create a stepping stone path through your lawn or garden by mapping out the path, driving stakes at each end of its destination and attaching string to create an outline. Measure out the stones so there’s one under foot for each step. Use a half-moon edger to remove the earth…

A front yard with a wide stone pathway leading up to a stone fountain in the front yard of a home.

50+ Landscaping Ideas Using Stone

Space to unwind Using large pavers and a sleek stone fireplace turns a small lawn between house and garage into a “decompression chamber” perfect for relaxing after work. Striking steps Terraced stone steps in a mix-and-match pattern creates a strong focal point, while “character” plants create visual interest on both sides of the path. Rusty-hued…