Let plants show you where to grow

To increase the natural look of our garden and to decrease the maintenance we do, we let our plants show us where they like to grow. We encourage self-sowing because it not only creates a more natural pattern to the garden but also teaches us what conditions a plant enjoys or tolerates. Zexmenia (Zexmenia hispida, Zones 8–10) is one of the most dependable flowers for long-lasting summer color, and its habit of reseeding lends a natural permanence to the garden. Mexican feather grass (Nasella tenuissima, Zones 7–11), tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis, Zones 7–11), and Dahlberg daisies (Thymophylla tenuiloba, annual) have seeded themselves in the natural decomposed granite pathway, making the entryway more inviting.

We also learn where to place our plants by observing where they grow in nature. You can’t get any better than what nature provides; you just need to open your eyes. We’ve found yellow columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana, Zones 3–9), northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium, Zones 5–9), and spiderwort (Tradescantia × andersoniana, Zones 5–9) growing in the wild under a grand old tree. We’ve chosen to use these plants under yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria, Zones 7–11) and crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp. and cvs., Zones 7–9) to create a colorful shade garden with a mix of native woodland plants.

Our plants reveal the different microclimates in our garden. We adjust our design if we notice that a plant reaches into or out of the sun, that something pouts in the heat, or that a plant rots due to poor drainage. As we become more familiar with these microclimates, we choose plants that are naturally suited to similar situations.

Our courtyard is one area with a distinct microclimate. It is protected from the north wind and maintains slightly higher temperatures throughout winter. We take advantage of this by using plants that need things a little warmer, like prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp., Zone 11) and false aloe (Manfreda virginica, Zones 6–9).

In the front yard, desert willows (Chilopsis linearis, Zones 8–9) and catalpas (Catalpa bignonioides and cvs., Zones 5–9) create filtered shade. It provides relief from the hot Texas sun for the ‘May Night’ meadow sage (Salvia × sylvestris ‘May Night’, Zones 5–9). The willows and catalpas also provide a flowering canopy of color and nectar for wildlife.

Use a plant’s personality to your advantage

Plants have personalities, and we’ve learned to incorporate these into our design. By knowing a plant’s natural habit and tendencies, we can place it where those characteristics will have the best effect. We also avoid spending time and effort trying to make a plant into something it’s not.

The loose, sprawling habit of winecups (Callirhoe involucrata, Zones 4–9) lends itself to a natural-looking garden, and we let it spill into the entrance to our front path. We love ‘Heavy Metal’ switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’, Zones 5–9) for its narrow, erect clumps; it’s particularly nice with other vertical plants like narrow-leaf gayfeather (Liatris mucronata, Zones 4–9) and tall verbena.

We also use the height and texture of red mountain sage (Salvia darcyi, Zones 8–10) to provide a transition between the prickly pear cactus and the structurally formed sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri, Zones 8–11). Besides blooming all summer and fall, red mountain sage provides nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

The result of our efforts is a relaxed, low-maintenance, natural garden that matches our house, our environment, and our dreams.

Design

Looking great doesn’t require a lot of effort

It’s possible to have a garden that is both beautiful and easy to maintain. Here are solutions to some time-consuming tasks.

Task: Watering
Solution: Use drought-tolerant plants, especially in areas far from a water source. Choices abound among plants that don’t need any more water than what nature provides.

Task: Mowing
Solution: Plant grass that does not need to be mowed. Our buffalo grass (photo, right) looks better tall, and we’ve limited the area we devote to it.

Task: Pruning
Solution: Allow trees and shrubs their natural habit. We want our plants to look how nature intended them to. Trying to make a sprawling shrub into a tight bush is a waste of time. Avoid this by choosing a plant with the right size and habit to begin with.

Task: Deadheading
Solution: Let plants self-sow. The only plants we cut back are ones that benefit from it. We let the others be. Anything that grows where we don’t want it gets pulled or potted up.

Task: Caring for sick plants
Solution: Move them. A plant that has consistent problems is probably in the wrong spot and should be replaced by a plant better suited to the conditions in that spot.