Landscaping

We offer landscaping education, workshops and instruction ranging from what trees, plants and grasses work best in various landscape designs to front and backyard landscaping ideas. From native landscaping to xeriscapes and reduction of water usage, Texans have a range of resources designed for all yards across the state.

Related Departments: Horticultural Sciences, Soil and Crop Sciences

 

 

 

hands placing a plant in a hole

Texas Superstar Plants

Texas Superstar plants are specially recognized for superior performance in tough growing conditions in Texas.
bluebonnets and maroon bluebonnets in a field

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Landscaping

Publications

Publication

In addition to their culinary and medicinal uses, herbs can be used to fill specific landscape needs. They can serve as low hedges, borders, and backgrounds as well as add color and texture with their flowers and leaves. This publication describes those uses, lists herb options for Texas landscapes, and explains herb-growing basics.

Publication

This publication outlines ten practices that can easily be implemented to transform any existing landscape into one that is EARTH-KIND.

Publication

Today Master Gardeners are active in all 50 U.S. States and eight Canadian provinces. The heart of the Texas Master Gardener program is the dedicated, passionate volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge with anyone interested. 2019 Edition.

Programs

We offer numerous free and affordable programs on agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, economic health and youth development. We also offer many volunteer opportunities. Browse the list below.
Program

The Healthy Lawns Healthy Waters program aims to improve and protect surface water quality by enhancing awareness and knowledge of best management practices for residential landscapes.

Program

Texas Superstar plants are specially recognized for superior performance in tough growing conditions in Texas.

Program

Earth-Kind® Landscaping uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum garden and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment.

Courses

Course

Do you want to restore native plants? Are you curious about when to plant and how to maintain it? This online course will discuss how land managers can select, plant, and maintain native plants and when to plant them.

Course

This course is intended for park and public works professionals, hourly workers, and volunteers.

Course

Once you finish this course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. The Certificate of Completion shows that you have completed the course, but does not qualify for continuing education credit, or CEU. A separate version of this course will be made available for CEU credit. Once the CEU version of the course is available, a link will be added here.

This course is intended for professional turfgrass parks and recreation managers, sports field managers, or landscaping specialists.

All Resources on Landscaping

  • Publication

    Use this checklist on fertilization to make your lawn healthy and attractive while minimizing the costs and damage to the environment. (3 pages)

  • Publication

    This 2-page factsheet describes the three methods for establishing cool-season annual grasses.

  • Publication

    This publication explains how to keep a bermudagrass lawn healthy and attractive with tips on: Mowing Fertilizing Watering Controlling weeds Insects and thatch Eliminating compacted soil. (4 pages)

  • Publication

    This 5-page publication offers information on selecting the most suitable variety of bermudagrass; preparing the land; planting seed, sprigs, stolons, or tops; renovating bermudagrass fields; and managing and harvesting the crop.

  • Publication

    As costs increase for fuel, fertilizer, and equipment for introduced grasses in pastures, native forages are becoming more economical for ranches. Native grasses benefit wildlife also. This publication provides guidelines for restoring native grasslands in the Middle Trinity River Basin. (16 pages)

  • Publication

    As Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts begin to expire, landowners must decide to re-enroll the land in the program, convert it back to crops or leave it in permanent cover for grazing and for wildlife. This publication is one of a series exploring those options.

  • Publication

    When contracts for the Conservation Reserve Program expire, landowners must find profitable ways to manage their properties. These management decisions affect wildlife and habitat. Former CRP land can be returned to crop or livestock production and still be managed to benefit wildlife, and wildlife enterprises themselves can be viable options. (4 Pages)

  • Publication

    Honey locust is a dense, thorny tree that is native to Texas. This Brush Busters publication offers a three-step method for the control of honey locusts. (2 pages)

  • Publication

    Woody plants are vital to most Texas rangelands. However, if left uncontrolled, they can interfere with livestock and wildlife. This Brush Busters publication discusses how to control various types of woody plants with spray treatments. (2 pages)

  • Publication

    A preemergence herbicide is an herbicide that is designed to control weeds by interfering with seedling emergence following germination. They are commonly referred to in the lawn care industry as "weed preventers," and essentially form a protective barrier on your lawn during critical seasons when weeds are most actively germinating. This fact sheet discusses the […]

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