Hot Texas summers are nothing new, but rising global temperatures add an extra challenge for gardeners. According to NASA, “2015 was the warmest year since modern record-keeping began in 1880,” and the association projects 2016 to best even last year’s numbers. 

How does a gardener keep a lawn looking good through our scorching, dry summers? Choosing native and adaptive plants that are drought-resistant and accustomed to Central Texas heat patterns definitely raise one’s chances of gardening success. Though non-native or non-adaptive plants can be aesthetically pleasing, they do not always thrive in this environment, wasting time, money and natural resources. It is always more environmentally responsible to quilt your landscape with sustainable plants.

Calling a local plant center that specialize in native plants can help educate you on the least finicky alternatives to decorative landscaping, vegetable harvesting, or general foliage desires. The Kyle Public Library offers numerous books on gardening including plant choices, landscape designs, and more. Succulents, bushes, trees, ornamental plants, decorative grasses, ground cover, perennials and annuals are all covered. 

Furthermore, the library’s monthly Gardening Series, which begins again in September, provides classes on a variety of topics from landscape design to composting and more.

Native and adaptive plants are hardy, resistant, and sure to please novices gardeners as well as those with a green thumb. Although planting time doesn’t come around until fall, now is the perfect time to explore, research, and get your plans in order. Stop by the Kyle Public Library for more information on books or classes, or find us online. Happy reading … and happy gardening

This article was previously attributed to Jane Ray, but was written by Ryan Kirby.  We regret the error.