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A Garden That Survives August
Ten native plants that ask for nothing, plus the watering habit that kills more Texas landscapes than drought does.
By Marisol Vega, Food editorApril 25, 2026 · 7 min read
The most common mistake in a Texas yard is kindness: shallow water every evening, which trains roots to stay near the surface where the first hot week can find them.
- Water deeply and rarely — an inch, once a week, early morning.
- Plant in October, not April. Fall establishment beats spring optimism.
- Mulch three inches, and keep it off the trunk.
The ten that hold
Gulf muhly, blackfoot daisy, autumn sage, Texas sage, flame acanthus, mealy blue sage, damianita, rock rose, inland sea oats for shade, and a live oak if you have the patience of somebody planting for grandchildren.
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