If you’re wondering how to make the most of the rain Texas gets, try building a rain garden! Rain gardens are comprised of native perennials, shrubs, and flowers planted in a shallow depression designed to hold and soak rainwater into the soil. Rain gardens can provide so many benefits, including reducing flooding, improving water quality, and replenishing groundwater.

We'll review the benefits of school gardening along with some resources.

Thinking of planting trees in Texas? Let’s find ones that can handle the heat without demanding a drink every day. Your water bill will thank you!

Many gardeners and everyday people appreciate the multiple benefits of composting. Composting, the process of recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, is crucial in reducing waste and keeping your soil healthy. Did you know that adding worms to your compost can significantly improve the quality of your soil?

If you’ve tried growing an edible garden but couldn’t make it thrive through the Texas heat, consider growing it indoors! Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Hydroponics can be as simple as regrowing lettuce in a cup of water or as complex as large commercial farming. Almost any plant can be grown hydroponically, however, this method is most often used for growing herbs, vegetables, and microgreens. Growing your food hydroponically saves water, uses fewer chemicals, and protects the earth’s soil.

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste and give back to the environment. While most people are aware of composting food scraps and yard waste (and if you’re not, read the Basics of Composting blog to get started), there are several unusual items that can also find a new life in your compost pile. We will explore some often-overlooked items that can be composted, highlighting how they help create nutrient-rich soil and promote sustainability.

Grass clippings are a common byproduct of lawn maintenance, but did you know they have several surprising uses? Instead of tossing them in the trash, consider giving those clippings a new purpose, and use them to benefit your plants, garden, and more.  

About 25% of Texas’ water supply in urban areas is used for landscaping. Most of the water is used to maintain plants with high water demands, such as turf grass and exotic plants. Proper landscape design can conserve thousands of gallons of water every year. Xeriscaping is a landscaping style designed to need little to no irrigation or maintenance and is often used in arid regions, like Texas. Water conservation practices like this will become necessary as droughts become more frequent and rainfall becomes scarce.

Rainwater harvesting is a great way to help the environment and reduce your dependency on municipal water sources. Dry, hot summers and light winter rains have caused some Texas cities to enact water restrictions in hopes of preserving this precious resource. Luckily, Texas encourages residents to harvest rainwater to reduce the burden drought conditions cause Texas’ already limited water supply. 

Embark on a sustainable gardening journey by using recyclable materials as the building blocks for your next garden. Using things like plastic bottles, cardboard, and newspaper as seedling cups can provide an easy and inexpensive way to begin. By repurposing items that would otherwise end up in landfills, we can reduce waste and contribute to a healthier planet.