Justin Hayes, Supervisor Dell Medical School
NOFA Accredited Organic Landcare Professional
The University of Texas at Austin
Which region of Texas is easiest on gardeners and why? Which region has the most obstacles for gardeners?
I think each region has its own unique challenges and benefits. Soil quality and structure, rainfall, and even general climate will be different in each region. Some plants that do well in one region will not do well in another. Houston, for example, gets a lot of annual rainfall compared to Lubbock or El Paso. Central Texas has a lot of limestone and hard rock, heavy clay, and Blackland Prairie. A good tool for gardeners to determine their soil type is the Ecological Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT).
With this tool, gardeners can get ecological data by using their address to help determine features that will help with plant selection. Speaking with local Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) groups can help to develop a well-functioning native ecosystem.
What negative effects can result from planting non-native invasive plants in a landscape?
Planting a non-native plant species can harm the insect, bird, and wildlife population for a region, as well as introduce competition for native plant species that have adapted to a specific region for thousands of years. This can increase a need for more fertilizers or water depending on the invasive or exotic species.
On a biological level, non-native invasive plants can even change the type of bacteria or fungi that are living in the soil and change the soil life profile. Non-native plants in general add more work all around.
What impact does landscaping with native plants have on the greater environment?
Alternately, planting native species strengthens the environment that has been there for generations. Native plants use less inputs like fertilizer and water and even require less maintenance. Native insects, birds, and wildlife that use those plants for food sources and shelter have done so through countless life cycles and depend on native plants. Water and soil quality is improved if there is less need for chemical pesticide and herbicide applications that are needed for exotic insects or plants.
What is the most important factor when choosing the right Texas natives for your landscape?
One of the important factors when choosing native plants is diversity. The more types of native grasses, flowers, and woody plants gardeners introduce will help the overall survival rate during a hard winter or summer and give variety throughout the growing season, as well as provide habitats for insects and wildlife.
What type of soil is most common in each region of Texas? Which of these types is best for planting, and which is worst?
Texas has 10 main eco-regions that each have a different plant palate. Many plants can go between regions. This is a broad topic, and I would say the best practice would be to talk to local native plant growers and groups. Every planting situation will be unique so knowing your goals and having local native plant groups to help decide what would be the best options for you will give you the best outcome. Texas has over 7,000 native plants, so any goal can be reached.