How to Green up that Stubborn West Texas Lawn

If you live in the west Texas area you know how hard it can be to get anything to grow. I I struggle every year to get the grass in my back yard to grow. It isn't that nothing grows in the backyard, oh no, there is something green that grows great back there, it's just not what anyone wants in their yard.

Sticker bush or Chickweed are the biggest problem most people have in their yard. It's that weed that grows everywhere in the spring and summer and is super tolerant of everything aside from severe cold. It is a perennial weed that makes fuzzy stickers that get into everything and it's almost impossible to get out so if you get them in a blanket or socks ect...they're goners.

The best way to get rid of them is to pull them out, root and all. Yeah, I know that's not what anyone wants to hear but it's true. Other than that you can try to find a suitable herbicide but you have to be careful to do your research to make sure it doesn't kill the stuff you want around.

After that all you need to do is decide if you want to go with grass or try for ground cover, or a mix of both. If you're looking for the best grass and/or ground cover for this west Texas climate here is a little beginners list to get you started.

Zoysia grass

Zoysia grass retains a bright green color even in high West Texas temperatures and only discolors during extreme drought. While soil in West Texas is difficult for most grasses, Zoysia adapts well and can survive in drought conditions because of deep roots that can reach groundwater. (Information sited here)

You might be able to find Zoysia in a store but I haven't been able to yet.

I found some on Amazon here.

If you're looking to fill some patches or you'd rather try the ground cover method there are several suitable options to choose from.

Drought Tolerant Sun Loving Perennials:

Purple trailing lantana-A popular groundcover prized for its masses of beautiful lavender flowers that appear almost year-round on a naturally low, spreading form.
Verbena-Established plants are drought tolerant but will do better with regular watering, especially container-grown plants. Also, make sure they have good drainage, whether in containers or garden beds, so the roots don't sit in soggy soil.
Creeping germander-This herb can be grown in full sun to part shade, in hot climates, or poor and rocky soil. Ideally, however, creeping germander prefers well drained soil (pH of 6.3), although clay will work in a pinch. You can grow these little plants in USDA zones 5-10.
Pink skullcap-Just put it in the ground and ignore it and it will thrive on neglect. It's VERY heat and drought tolerant and needs very little water once established. This is an excellent choice for a rock garden, xeriscape, large container, or any area with little of no irrigation. Just be sure to plant it in full sun.

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Filed Under: drought tolerant ground covers, west texas lawn care

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