Plan and Prepare
Step 2: Prepare to Plant
Prepare Your Space for a Garden That Thrives
How do you achieve the garden of your dreams in North Texas? Gardeners have more than a few challenges with our soil, climate extremes, water resources, pests, and critters. Come along with us and explore how to start your garden by first building for success in our sometimes-tough environment. We have guides to a number of core topics below to help you begin.
Soil
With its organic material and microorganisms, soil contains EVERYTHING that plants need to grow. Our Gardening Basics guides will help you learn to make your soil the best for healthy plants.
Water and Irrigation
Using water efficiently in North Texas is important. Our Gardening Basics guides will help you learn how to conserve water and harvest rainwater.
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Gardening Basics
Rainwater Harvesting Information Resources (Gardening Basics Series)
AgriLife
Making a Rain Barrel (AgriLife)
Preventing Runoff with Cycle and Soak Irrigation (AgriLife)
Rainwater Harvesting: Raingardens (AgriLife)
Saving from a Rainy Day: Making a Rain Barrel (AgriLife)
Stormwater Management: Rain Gardens (AgriLife)
Water Is Awesome
Wise Watering: Maintaining Sprinkler Systems (Water Is Awesome)
Sunlight
One of the most critical environmental factors for growing healthy plants and food is how much sunlight is required for their growth. Our Gardening Basics guide will help you de-mystify the sun requirements of your plants.
Compost and Mulch
Learn all about compost and its cousin, mulch, and how these vital soil amendments or coverings can add vital nutrients and water to your landscape with our Gardening Basics guides about compost and mulch.
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Gardening Basics
All About Lasagna Gardening (Gardening Basics Series)
All About Mulch (Gardening Basics Series)
Composting (Gardening Basics Series)
Composting with Worms (Gardening Basics Series)
Leaves for Mulch and Compost (Gardening Basics Series)
The Root
Preparing Your Plants for Cold Weather (The Root, November 2021)
Garden Beds
Getting your garden beds ready for planting doesn’t have to be a chore. Learn to prepare a weed-free bed and all about raised garden beds with our Gardening Basics guides.
Propagation
Learn to turn one plant into many by propagating plants through cuttings, division, and layering. Our Gardening Basics guides will also help you learn to start plants from seeds.
Fertilizers
Learn the simple 1-2-3s of N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), including its sources, and how and when to apply it with our Gardening Basics guides..
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Pest Management
Our Gardening Basics guides will help you learn the difference between good bugs and bad bugs, and how to manage the bad bugs in your garden.
Tools and Gifts
Much like the right plant in the right place, using the right tool can make your gardening tasks easier. Our Gardening Basics guide will help you choose the best tool for the job.
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Grow Your Skills
Conquer your landscape! Start getting our best how-to advice today. Sign up for our free monthly e-magazine, The Root. Receive expert tips, easy-to-follow plans from experienced gardeners, and learn new techniques you can put into practice right away.