Home & Garden

Mastering your North Texas yard: 9 stories with lawncare tips for homeowners

Stories by Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists, with AI summarization

Keeping a Texas yard healthy takes perseverance and smart strategies. Start with spring maintenance like mowing at the right height for your grass and managing weeds. Consider water conservation — leaks and water main breaks have strained city supplies, making drought-ready tactics vital. Check out these stories for more expert tips.

These photos show some examples of common problems you might see in trees and grass this time of year in Texas.

HOW TO HANDLE PROBLEMS TEXAS SUMMER BRINGS FOR CRAPE MYRTLES, MAPLES AND MORE

Some common mid-summer issues that can affect your trees and lawn. | Published July 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

USING A SOAKER HOSE CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS IN FOUNDATION REPAIRS

The summer heat is here, and it can damage your home’s foundation. Here’s what to know. | Published July 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brayden Garcia

Oxblood lilies grow 12 to 14 inches and are a dependable plant for Texas gardeners. By Neil Sperry

THIS LITTLE BULB FROM SOUTH AMERICA IS A DEPENDABLE BLOOMER IN TEXAS GARDENS

Count on these bulbs to constantly deliver. | Published September 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

Grass gets thinner and thinner the closer you get to the huge live oak’s trunk. By Neil Sperry

FACTS & MYTHS WHEN IT COMES TO NORTH TEXAS GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES

Fake “facts” and gardening myths from Neil Sperry. | Published October 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

A live oak at 50 years. Their wingspans will cover an entire front yard of most city lots. By Neil Sperry

KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND WHEN PLANTING A TREE IN A NORTH TEXAS LANDSCAPE

Be careful. Those wingspans can overwhelm your yard. It’s best to plant for future generations. | Published November 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

Coleus plants benefit from light pinching (tip-pruning) to keep plants compact and to remove flower buds. By Neil Sperry

COMMON PRUNING BLUNDERS SEEN IN NORTH TEXAS. DID YOUR WORK MAKE THE LIST?

Here’s where we have rolled off course. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

A gentle sweep creates an inviting entry. By Neil Sperry

PLANNING A LANDSCAPE? HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF OUR GARDEN CENTERS

This is a great time for these landscaping upgrades. Have fun, and amaze yourself with your results. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

A curved bed in the Sperry front yard as sheared hollies start to grow out for the season. By Neil Sperry

CREATING A NATURAL LOOK IN YOUR NORTH TEXAS GARDEN

Too often we place native plants set into unnatural designs. Gardening expert Neil Sperry shares his tips. | Published July 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

Hand-held spreaders are a good way to feed small areas of turf or groundcovers in your yard. By Neil Sperry

A CRITICAL TIME FOR LAWN CARE IN NORTH TEXAS. WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW

Good lawns mean a lot in the resale values of homes, and in the ways we can enjoy them until time to sell rolls around. | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Neil Sperry

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.