A Beautiful Texas Yard with Less Weekend Work
Start With What You Have
Whether you are starting with a builder landscape package at Grange or transforming your current landscape set up, it’s important not to throw the current landscape out with the lawn clippings. Start with what you have, then build on it.
Watch where the sun hits at various times of the day. See which spots stay wet after a storm, where your lawn gets the most use, and which areas could use more color, privacy, or shade. Once you understand your current landscape, you can begin to make gradual changes such as adding perennials near the porch, filling a corner with a native ornamental tree, or putting in groundcover where you would rather not mow. The goal is not to pack your yard with plants but to create a beautiful, low-maintenance space.
Pick Native Plants That Fit Your Yard
Once you have assessed the layout of the land, it’s time to choose native plants. Where do you start? Gardening stores are a great option. The Grange’s approved plant list includes plenty of Texas-native options for adding color, texture, and structure to your outdoor space. The best choice depends on how much sun you have, how much room is available, and the look you want.
Want More Shade?
If you have room for a larger tree, native shade trees such as live oak, pecan, Mexican sycamore, Southern red oak, bur oak, water oak, and Shumard oak can create a beautiful canopy over time.
If you prefer a smaller ornamental tree, consider an Eastern redbud or Texas mountain laurel. Redbuds bring cheerful spring flowers, while Texas mountain laurel offers evergreen foliage and fragrant blooms that make a front yard or patio area feel especially welcoming.
Whatever you choose, keep in mind that trees grow. Choose a location with plenty of space away from your home, sidewalk, driveway, utilities, and other plants.
Need a Little Structure?
Shrubs are what help a front yard look pulled together. When it comes to native plants, yaupon and dwarf yaupon holly provide evergreen structure around a front porch or walkway. Turk’s Cap has a softer, more relaxed look and bright red blooms that add personality to shady spots.
Ready for More Color?
Native flowering plants can make a big difference without making your landscape feel busy. For a sunny bed, Texas lantana and orange zexmenia bring warm, cheerful color. Blue mistflower and Gregg’s mistflower offer softer blooms, while scarlet sage makes a bolder statement with bright red flowers. Mealycup sage adds tall, colorful flower spikes that look great mixed with rounded shrubs. Butterfly iris is a good choice when you want clean green foliage and a more tailored look along a walkway or planting-bed edge.
Lower-maintenance Care Tips
Remember that low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. Choosing native plants will make your life easier, but you will still need to do a few outdoor chores to keep your yardlooking fantastic. Water your newly installed plants deeply and consistently until their root systems are established. Apply mulch. Prune for plant health. Check your irrigation system seasonally to prevent plant problems.
What Might a Grange Yard Look Like?
What might your Grange yard look like? In one word? Beautiful. Our amazing builders put as much care into their landscape packages as they do their floor plans, so you are sure to get a home that is gorgeous inside and out. Visit us today.
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