Austin, Texas Residents... (South Central TX)

kjohn149

I need your help!

First, allow me to introduce myself- My husband and I were married in June 2009 and have lived in Austin since March 2008. We're originally both CO natives and know nothing about Gardening and/or Landscaping. Although, we would like to start giving the front of our house a little more curb appeal.

 This is what currently exists.... awful I know! (It's what was here when we moved in)

 

I'm not asking for detailed advice just some advice to get us off in the right direction without breaking the bank. We would like to take out those green plants and add color. What month should we start the process? 

 

Thank you! 

gibbonlove

HI!

I'm actually from Austin, and now live in CO! I can't see the image you attached up there, but I'll just tell you what I know. Planting in Austin is really easy... if you don't have deer. Otherwise, you're more limited to deer "friendly" plants that they won't eat. There's almost nothing worse than spending your hard earned money on a pretty garden and taking the time to plant it all, just to have some lazy backcountry animal eat it.

 That being said, I always like the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for ideas. They have a cool site here that tells you the best plants for your part of the great state of TX. Personally, I love passionflowers, winecups, american basketflowers, coneflowers, and lantana flanked by something like indian grass or yucca.

If you want to start small, I would plant some lantana. You can start planting as soon as the possibility of frost is out of the way. Enjoy gardening!

 

Mrs.JulesH-S

Down the ways in Houston.  We are waiting at least another month till we redo our flower beds since we are expecting MORE cold this weekend.  My hydrangeas and rosebushes survived the last cold spell and should be ok this time.  They are very hardy.  In the past we have done pansies, dianthus, zinnias for fill flowers along with my hydrangeas, rose bushes and geraniums.