They say Texas is like “a whole other country,” but as big and diverse as it is, Texas can seem like several different countries. Annual rainfall in Texas can vary by 50 inches or more from east to west; and low temperatures can vary by 30 degrees from north to south, so you know “there ain’t no one right answer” for yard care. This page currently contains links to information and resources for six major urban areas and their surrounding regions, but we’ll be adding others in the future as we are able. For now, pick the city closest to you, or the one with the most similar climate, for links to local resources you can use to “get YardWise.”

Dallas/Fort Worth

Local Resources: Dallas/Fort Worth

Austin

Local Resources: Austin
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Travis County
    1600B Smith Road
    Austin, TX 78721
    Phone: 512-854-9600
    Fax: 512-854-9611
    Web Pages: Publications
    • Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity
    • Compost Bin newsletter
    • Low Maintenance Landscaping Tips
    • The Real Dirt on Austin Area Soils
    • Gardening in Deer Country
    • Improving Your Lawn in Shady Areas
    • Going Nuts Over Nutsedge
    Programs:
  • City of Austin
    PO Box 1088
    Austin, TX 78767
    Phone: 512-974-2446
    Web Site: Publications
    • Plant Guide - 40 page, color brochure
    • Grow Green Fact Sheets: twenty-one 2-6 page fact sheets covering lawn care and problems, general landscaping and pest and disease tips
    Events:
    • Grow Green Trainings (nursery sales staff and other professionals) - 2, summer/fall, local nurseries
    • Green Garden Trainings (homeowners) - early fall, Zilker
    • Green Garden Festival - late February - speakers, booths, 2000 attendees, Zilker Garden - several major TV stations, papers, ads
    • Demonstration Green Gardens - Zilker Botanical Garden, Howson Library
    Contacts:
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
    4801 La Crosse Ave.
    Austin, Texas 78739
    512-232-0100
    Web Site: www.wildflower.org
    Programs: Events: Publications:
    • Wildflower Magazine

San Antonio

Local Resources: San Antonio
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Bexar County
    3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 212
    San Antonio, TX 78230
    Phone: 210-467-6575
    Fax: 210-930-1753
    Web Site: bexar-tx.tamu.edu
    Publications:
    • multiple Texas AgriLife Extension publications
    Programs: Events:
    • Agricultural and Science Fairs for Youth (multiple every month)
    • Texas Home and Garden Shows (January, February)
    • Neighborhood Meetings to promote using baits to control fire ants and not other more toxic pesticides
    • Adult educational programs (various every month)
    • Earth Appreciation Day (April 21)
    Contacts:
  • San Antonio Water System
    P.O. Box 2449
    San Antonio, TX 78298-2449
    Web Site: http://www.saws.org
    Publications:
    • Landscape Care Guide - holistic and seasonal approach to landscape care
    • Recommended plant list on the website
    Programs:
    • Seasonal Irrigation Program (SIP) - weekly watering and landscape advice via e-mail
    • Homeowner Irrigation Assistance - technicians provide irrigation and landscape assistance to SAWS customers.
    • Watersaver Landscape Rebate - rebate for residential landscapes that conserve outdoor water.
    • Educational Programs to civic and neighborhood organizations
    • Educational Partnerships with Bexar County Master Gardeners, Gardening Volunteers of South Texas, and the San Antonio Botanical Garden
    • Professional Development Program for Landscape Professionals
    Events:
    • Spring Bloom - usually the 1st or 2nd Saturday of March. Plant give-away and landscape educational opportunities
    • Garden Jazz - usually the 1st Sunday of May
    Contacts:
  • Gardening Volunteers of South Texas
    6798 Culebra Road
    San Antonio, TX 78238-4700
    210-522-9220
    Email: info@gardeningvolunteers.org
    Web Site: www.gardeningvolunteers.org
    Programs:
    • Gardening Classes (day) San Antonio Garden Center 3310 N. New Braunfels
    • Gardening Classes (night) Semmes Branch Library 15060 Judson Rd. @ Nacogdoches
    Publications:
    • see web site index
    Garden Guides
    • see web site index
    Events:
    • see web site index
  • Alamo Area Council of Governments
    118 Broadway, Suite 400
    San Antonio, Texas 78205
    210-362-5287
    Contact:
  • Keep San Antonio Beautiful
    1940 Grandstand
    San Antonio TX 78238-4508
    210-207-6461
    Web Site: http://www.keepsanantoniobeautiful.org Contact:

Corpus Christi

Local Resources: Corpus Christi Region

Lower Rio Grande Valley

Local Resources: Lower Rio Grande Valley Region
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Hidalgo County
    410 N 13th Ave
    Edinburg, TX 78541-3582
    956-383-1026
    Web Site: http://hidalgo-tx.tamu.edu/
    Programs:
    • Master Gardeners
    • Junior Master Gardeners
    • 4-H Curriculum Enrichment: Plant Pals
    Publications:
    • Vegetable Planting Schedule for the Rio Grande Valley
    • Help Plants Beat the Heat
    • Native Shrubs
    • Poinsettias
    • Put a Little Love in the Garden
    • Rainwater Harvesting Systems
    • Texas Lilac Vitex
    • Fragrance Garden
    • Health & Habitat Through Gardening (newsletter)
    • Hidalgo County Garden Gazette (newsletter)
    Events: see web site
    Contact:
    Barbara Storz
    Phone: 956-383-1026
    Fax: 956-383-1735
    Email: b-storz@tamu.edu
  • Valley Proud Environmental Council
    513 East Jackson Street, Suite 304
    Harlingen, Tx 78550
    956-412-8004
    Fax: 956-412-8008
    Email: vpec@sbcglobal.net
    Web Site: www.valleyproud.org
    Programs:
    • Don�t Bag It � grass clippings recycling
    Publications: http://www.valleyproud.org/html/printmaterial.html
    • �A Guide for Selecting and Planting Native Ground Cover, Wild Flowers, Shrubs and Trees on South Padre Island and in the Laguna Madre Area� (Second Edition 2004)
    • �A Guide for Selecting and Planting Native Cacti, Groundcovers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines and Wildflowers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico� (Second Edition 2007)
    • A Guide to Growing Healthy Trees in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (English & Spanish)
    • Arbor Day Planning Guide (2007)
    Events:
    • Christmas Compost
    • All Valley Arbor Month (February)
    • Rio Reforestation
    Contact: Laura Maxwell, Executive Director
    Phone: 956-412-8004
    Fax: 956-412-8008
    Email: vpec@sbcglobal.net
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Cameron County
    1390 W. Expressway 83
    San Benito ,TX 78586-3869
    Phone: 956-361-8236
    Fax: 956-361-8240
    Email: Cameron-tx@ag.tamu.net
    Web Site: http://cameron-co.tamu.edu/
    Programs:
    • Master Gardeners
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Willacy County
    170 N 3rd Street
    Raymondville, TX 78580
    Phone: 956-689-2412
    Fax: 956-689-2031
    Email: Willacy-tx@tamu.net
  • Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council
    311 North 15th Street
    McAllen, Texas 78501-4705
    Web Site: http://www.lrgvdc.org
    Contact:
    Marcie Oviedo
    956-682-3481
    Email: marcie@lrgvdc7.vt.com
  • City of Brownsville Public Works Department
    6035 Coffeeport Rd.
    Brownsville, TX 78521
    956-838-6253
    956-831-3641
    Email: info@ci.brownsville.tx.us
    Programs:
  • Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership
    Texas A&M Research and Extension Center
    2401 East Highway 83
    Weslaco, Texas 78596
    Contact:
    Laura De La Garza, Coordinator
    956-969-5607 off
    956-969-5639 fax
    Email: mailto:lauradlg@tamu.edu
  • City of McAllen Public Works Department
    4201 N. Bentsen Rd.
    McAllen, TX 78504
    Phone: 956-681-4000
    Programs:
    • Municipal Composting
    • Keep McAllen Beautiful
    Contact:
    Ouina Rutledge
    Recycling Manager
    PO Box 220
    McAllen, TX 78505-0220
    956-681-4050
    lorutledge@mcallen.net
  • Brownsville Water Smart Garden
    Web Site: http://www.brownsville-pub.com/kids/garden.html
    Contact:
    Sylvia Cancino
    956-983-6292
    scancino@brownsville-pub.com
  • Native Plant Project
    P.O. Box 2742
    San Juan, TX 78589
    Web Site: http://nativeplantproject.com/
    Publications:
    • Native Shrubs of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
    • Native Trees of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
    • Native Cacti, Ground Covers and Vines of The Rio Grande Valley, Texas
    • Native Pond and Wetland Plants of The Rio Grande Valley, Texas
    • Butterfly Gardening with Native Plants
    • Sabal newsletters
    Events:
    • Member meetings
    • Native plant sales
    Contact:
    Ann Treece Vacek
    atvacek@yahoo.com
  • Valley Nature Center
    301 South Border Ave / PO Box 8125
    Weslaco, TX 78599-8125
    956-969-2475
    956-969-9915 - Fax
    Email: info@valleynaturecenter.org
    Web Site: www.valleynaturecenter.org
    Events:
    • Nature Walk in the Park � 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month
    Publications:
    • Native Flowers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley
  • Rio Delta Wild
    2901 Clifford St.
    Harlingen, TX 78550-8542
    Web Site: http://www.riodeltawild.com/
    Articles on native plants of the Rio Grande Valley
    Contact:
    Christina Mild
    956/428-2299
    Mild.christina@gmail.com

Houston

Local Resources: Houston
  • Texas AgriLife Extension - Harris County
    3033 Bear Creek Drive
    Houston, Texas 77084
    Phone: 281-855-5600
    Fax: 281-855-5638
    Web Site: http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/index.htm
    Publications:
    • distribution & links to Texas Cooperative Extension publications
    Events:
    • Master Gardener training & certification
    • Green Thumb lecture series
    Programs:
    • Master Gardener Speakers Bureau
    • Texas Master Naturalist - Gulf Coast Chapter
    Contacts: Ask a Master Gardener Help Line:
    Phone: 281-855-5600
    Email: hcmga1@yahoo.com
  • Texas Coastal Watershed Program
    WaterSmart Landscapes for the Upper Texas Gulf Coast
    Web Site: http://www.watersmart.cc/default.asp
    - Online interactive landscaping information
    Events:
    • Habitat Highways Training Series
    • WaterSmart Garden Tour (online guide to 6 area demonstration sites)
    Contact:
  • Native Plant Society of Houston
    P.O. Box 131254
    Houston, Texas 77219-1254
    Web Site: http://www.npsot.org/Houston
    Publications:
    • Native Vines for Houston Area
    • Native Trees that Thrive in Poorly Drained Black Gumbo Soil
    • Native Shrubs that Thrive in Poorly Drained Black Gumbo Soil
    • Trees that Attract Birds
    • Native Plants for Shady Areas
    • Native Plants that Provide Food for Hummingbirds
    • Native Texas Plants for Food, Shelter or Nesting for Birds on Upper TX Coast
    • Drought Tolerant Natives
    • Native Grasses for your Landscape
    • Host Plants for Southeast TX Butterflies
    • Top 100 Natives
    • Recommended Groundcovers for the Houston Area
    • Native Plants for Erosion Control
    • Sources of Native Plants in the Greater Houston Area
    • Benefits of Naturescaping with Native Plants
    Events:
    • see web site
    Contacts:

All others

Getting Help: All Other Areas
Contacts by Texas County

Please contact your local county extension office. For the extension office near you, please refer to the Texas Directory of County Offices at http://county-tx.tamu.edu/