BOLT Landscape Design

A garden refresh doesn’t have to mean a huge budget. This Austin yard backs up to a beautiful stretch of greenbelt, so the goal here was simple. Work with the setting, add layers, and use plants that can handle Central Texas climate challenges.

We’re starting by filling the space with flats of 4-inch Texas native and adapted perennials. Smaller plants keep the cost down and, with regular attention, will eventually knit together into a full, natural-looking planting that blends right into the surrounding landscape.

And then there’s my favorite part. This chicken showed up one day, decided this was home, and never left. No one knows exactly where she came from, but she’s clearly living her best life patrolling the garden beds and supervising the planting.

Sometimes the best garden features are the ones you never planned.

When it comes to assessing leaf and mulch depth, your guide should be air and water infiltration. Soil needs to breathe, and rain needs to soak all the way down to the root zone. As a general rule, a couple inches of light, feathery leaves are fine to leave in place. Think cedar elm, ash, or crape myrtle. These break down quickly and can be composted and mulched right over, keeping the total combined depth of leaves, compost, and wood or bark chips to about three inches.

Heavier, waxy leaves such as live oak are different. They decompose much more slowly and often accumulate faster than they break down. A thick layer can create a barrier that prevents water from reaching plant roots. In those areas, it is best to remove most of the live oak leaves before mulching.

You can absolutely mix some live oak leaves into your mulch if you like. Just make sure water is still infiltrating the soil and soaking the full root ball of your plants.

Look at each area of your yard individually, notice what type of leaves you have, and aim for a total depth of about three inches while keeping water movement the priority.

Late February in Central Texas is cleanup season. After a freeze, a lot of perennials look rough, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. Most of what you’re seeing is just cold damage on the top growth. The roots are still very much alive.

This is the time to cut back frost-burned foliage, remove mushy stems, and gently shape plants so fresh spring growth can come through cleanly. I usually wait until I start to see signs of new growth at the base before cutting hard. That way I know exactly where the plant is waking up.

Leave anything that’s still firm and green. Compost or mulch the debris right back into the beds if it’s disease free. Then top dress with compost and refresh mulch to help insulate roots before the real heat shows up.

A simple late winter reset now sets you up for a strong spring.

Still watching ice storm ice melt off my Austin driveway while it’s 74°, sunny, and shorts weather. This is Texas. If you garden here, you know. Not for the weak.

A lot of us have days where we feel stuck or wiped out, and this book meets you right where you are. Gardens of Texas is packed with stunning photography that feels grounding on the days you need to rest, and it delivers practical, Texas-specific guidance for the days you’re ready to get up and make something happen in your yard. Pam Penick highlights 27 real Texas gardens and the people behind them. She shows how they’re adapting to drought, heat, wild weather swings, and tough soils through smart plant choices, rainwater harvesting, native lawns, and resilient design.

With more than 600 photos, plant recommendations, and real-world takeaways from every garden, it’s both comfort and motivation in one place. Pam is a generous, thoughtful voice in Texas gardening, and this book reflects that. I couldn’t recommend it more as a gift to yourself or someone you care about.

Keywords: Texas gardening, drought-tolerant garden, native plants Texas, garden design Texas, climate-resilient gardening, Texas yards, Central Texas plants, Pam Penick, garden inspiration Texas, low-maintenance landscaping Texas

Using branches and found materials is one of the easiest ways to add sculptural interest to a garden without spending a dollar. In Austin landscapes, texture and form often do the heavy lifting, so even a few well-placed sticks can create a focal point that feels intentional.

You can stack long branches into a simple teepee as a standalone art piece or let it double as an informal trellis for vines. You can also take individual branches and hammer them vertically into the ground to build height and scale. Free yourself to experiment.

Something strange is happening in South Austin gardens this week. New species are popping up. A persistent sight. Most active after sunset. They don’t need water. They don’t mind the cold. And they’re multiplying fast.

Happy Halloween from the garden. 🌙🪴

I had the chance to go on the 2025 Landscape Artistry Showcase, hosted by , which featured gardens around Austin designed and built by local landscape companies. I wish I’d taken more photos and video, but I got so wrapped up in conversations and learning about the spaces that I lost track of my phone, which honestly is a good thing. I had a great time with friends, left feeling inspired by many thoughtful gardening choices, and found myself looking forward to better weather so I can get back out in my own garden. That’s always a good day. Featured garden by Urban Landscapes.

October and November are prime planting months in Austin. Even though it’s still running hot this year, getting trees, shrubs, and hardy perennials in the ground now gives them time to establish roots before summer hits again. Just plan to hand water regularly until we get consistent rain and cooler weather. That early start makes a big difference in resilience once the real heat returns next year.