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Designing Landscapes That Belong in the Texas Panhandle: A Guide to Xeriscaping
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
“The Good Lord made this country a grassland with wildflowers and very few trees.”— Brooke Furrh, President, Custom Gardens
That simple observation has shaped the way we approach landscape design. We believe landscapes perform best when they are designed to work with the conditions of the Texas Panhandle instead of against them. That's the foundation of xeriscaping.
The word xeri comes from the Greek word meaning "dry," but xeriscaping is about much more than reducing water use. It's a thoughtful approach to landscape design that creates beautiful outdoor spaces while working with our climate, conserving natural resources, and reducing long-term maintenance.
Choosing the Right Plants
Every property is different, so every xeriscape should be designed around the conditions of that site. One of the first things we consider when designing a xeriscape is plant selection. A successful xeriscape isn't designed around one plant or one material. It's the combination of thoughtful planning, appropriate plant selection, efficient irrigation, and long-term maintenance that allows a landscape to thrive in the Texas Panhandle.
Native plants are an excellent choice because they have naturally adapted to our environment, but they are not the only option. Plants with water requirements similar to native species can also thrive when they're matched to the right location
The goal is to establish healthy plants and eventually allow them to survive primarily on natural precipitation. During periods of prolonged drought, supplemental watering helps keep plants healthy, but irrigation should remain efficient and intentional.
There are a wide variety of grasses, perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees that fit these requirements and are available from professional growers. The key is selecting plants that can tolerate the Texas Panhandle's combination of hot summers, cold winters, high winds, and clay soils. In many neighborhoods, deer resistance has also become an important consideration as residential development continues to expand into areas where wildlife naturally lives.
Choosing plants that belong here isn't just practical. It's one way we strive to be good stewards of the land and our natural resources while also creating beautiful spaces where people can enjoy the beauty of nature.
Many native plants have developed a natural resistance to local insects and diseases, often reducing the need for chemical applications that can affect bees and other beneficial pollinators. We also enjoy incorporating plants that attract butterflies, bees, and birds. Bird watching has become increasingly popular, and healthy pollinator populations play an important role in supporting both gardens and agriculture.
Watering a xeriscape landscape versus a Fescue lawn can reduce watering by 80 percent in a year.
Designing for Beauty and Long-Term Success
We enjoy designing landscapes that utilize a variety of plants for height, color, texture, and seasonal change. Every season should bring something different to the landscape, creating year-round interest instead of beauty that lasts only a few weeks.
Xeriscaping doesn't have one look. Some homeowners prefer a clean, contemporary landscape with larger rock areas and fewer plants. Others envision abundant ornamental grasses, flowering perennials, shrubs, and trees. Both approaches can follow xeriscaping principles when the plants are selected thoughtfully and irrigation is designed efficiently.
Good design also considers how water naturally moves across the property, where drainage improvements may be needed, how much sunlight different areas receive, and how plants will mature over time. Planning these details before installation helps create a landscape that continues performing well for years to come.
The Role of Rock in a Xeriscape
Rock serves much more than a decorative purpose in xeriscaping. We often utilize a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes sourced from Texas and neighboring states for drainage areas, rock mulch, and ground cover for erosion control between planting areas.
Some customers want very sparse planting while others prefer a much denser planting design. We often utilize several different types of rock throughout a landscape to create visual interest while helping prevent washing during heavy rain events.
We install filter fabric beneath the rock mulch to prevent the soil and rock from mixing together. Many people think this fabric is a weed barrier. While it certainly helps reduce weed growth, it does not prevent weeds entirely. Wind regularly carries dirt and weed seed into areas beyond anyone's control, and once it rains, those seeds can germinate. If weeds are removed before they root into the filter fabric, they are generally easy to pull. Once they reach the soil beneath the fabric, they become much more difficult to manage.
Efficient Irrigation Supports Healthy Xeriscapes
Drip irrigation is one of the best ways to irrigate a xeriscape. Water is delivered through a drip hose directly to the root zone of plants, on top of the soil and beneath the mulch, at a slow and steady pace.
This approach works especially well in the clay soils common throughout the Texas Panhandle. When water is applied too quickly, clay soil can saturate at the surface and runoff occurs before moisture reaches the root zone. A drip hose that delivers approximately one gallon of water per hour allows moisture to move deeper into the soil, encouraging roots to grow deeper where they can continue finding water during periods of heat and wind.
Blank tubing without emitters can also be installed in areas where no plants are planned. This prevents unnecessary watering, discourages weed growth, and makes more efficient use of every gallon of water.
The Value of Professional Planning
We have become a leader in our area by designing, installing, and maintaining xeriscape projects. We are good stewards of the land and our natural resources while also creating beautiful spaces where people can enjoy the beauty of nature.
If you're considering a xeriscape for your home or business in the Texas Panhandle, thoughtful planning is the first step. Custom Gardens can help you select the right plants, materials, and irrigation system to create a landscape that is both beautiful and built to thrive in the Texas Panhandle.
806.354.9693