Beds that handle Big Country weather
A flower bed in Abilene has to get through 100-degree afternoons, drying wind and the occasional hard freeze. Beds that thrive here start with the right plants in the right spots: sun-lovers on the south and west sides, shade plants under trees, and spacing that leaves room for plants to fill in.
Soil comes first
Native soil around Abilene is often heavy clay or a shallow layer over caliche. Loosening the bed and mixing in compost gives roots room to spread and helps water soak in instead of running off. In heavy clay, raising a bed slightly above the surrounding ground keeps roots from sitting in water after a storm.
Plants that take the heat
Native and well-adapted plants handle the heat and need less water once they’re established. Texas sage, salvias, lantana, red yucca, rosemary and ornamental grasses are dependable in full sun. Texas A&M AgriLife’s Earth-Kind plant lists are a good place to find more.
Edging, mulch and irrigation
Clean edges keep grass out and mulch or rock in. Steel edging, like on the porch bed in our project photos, holds a crisp line for years. A layer of mulch keeps roots cooler and holds moisture in the soil. Drip irrigation delivers water right to the roots with far less waste than spray heads, and the same porch bed shows it in place.
Shrubs and small trees
Beds aren’t only flowers. Evergreen shrubs give structure all year, and a well-placed small tree adds shade and height. Our projects include a row of evergreen and golden shrubs along a privacy fence and a curved front-yard bed planted with new shrubs and a young tree.
For a low-water alternative to mulch, see river rock beds.