Adding shrubs to your lawn enhances its beauty, boosting your property’s curb appeal. They also provide shade, attract wildlife, and improve air quality. However, not all shrubs and small greens thrive in North Texas’s unique climate and soil conditions.
The humid and subtropical climate in Dallas and Fort Worth areas may not be suitable for all kinds of greenery. The National Weather Service reports that the summers here are hot but characterized by a wide annual temperature range with precipitation ranging from 20 to 50 inches annually, which can impact tree and shrub maintenance.
Homeowners and property managers must consider climate and soil conditions before selecting shrubs and greenery to add to their lawns to provide proper tree maintenance. It’s crucial to choose plants that are well-suited to the region. In this blog post, we’ll recommend some of the best shrubs, plants, and small trees that work exceptionally well for North Texas yards, along with reasons why they’re ideal choices and tips on how to care for them.
Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Texas sage is drought-tolerant and thrives in North Texas’s hot, arid climate. It blooms with beautiful purple, pink, or white flowers after rainfall, adding color to your yard. They’re ideal for bush maintenance since they’re easy to tend to.
Care: Plant Texas Sage in well-draining soil and provide occasional deep watering. Caring for trees of this breed requires some light pruning after flowering, which helps to maintain its shape.
Purple Diamond Loropetalum (Loropetalum Chinense ‘Purple Diamond’)
Purple Diamond Loropetalum is prized for its striking purple foliage, which adds vibrant color to any landscape. It also produces beautiful pink, fringed flowers in the spring, creating a stunning contrast against the dark foliage. Purple Diamond Loropetalum is a standout addition to any North Texas yard with its bold purple foliage and delicate pink flowers.
Care: Plant in well-draining soil and provide regular watering until established. Proper shrub maintenance requires light pruning after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushiness. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Yaupon Holly is another excellent evergreen shrub native to Texas, making it well-adapted to the local environment. It’s a hardy shrub, requires minimal maintenance, and produces bright red berries in the winter, attracting birds.
Care: For best shrub maintenance, regularly plant Yaupon Holly in partial shade to full sun and water until established. Prune in late winter or early spring to shape.
Dwarf Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta)
Dwarf Burford Holly is a versatile evergreen shrub known for its dense, compact growth habit and glossy, dark green leaves. In the spring, it produces clusters of small white flowers, followed by bright red berries in the fall and winter. These add a festive touch to your yard while attracting birds.
With its year-round interest, from glossy foliage to vibrant berries, Dwarf Burford Holly is an excellent choice for adding structure and color to your North Texas landscape.
Care: Plant in well-draining soil and water regularly until established. Pruning in late winter or early spring to shape and remove dead or damaged branches is required to care for shrubs of this species. In spring, apply a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth and berry production.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crape myrtle is known for its stunning summer blooms in pink, purple, white, and red shades. It’s drought-tolerant and heat-resistant and adds color to any landscape.
Care: Caring for shrubs of this breed requires careful soil selection. Plant in well-draining soil and provide regular watering during the first year. Prune in late winter to early spring for optimal flowering.
Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
Red Yucca, despite its name, is not a true yucca tree but a member of the Agave family. It’s valued for its dramatic, sword-like foliage, which adds a touch of architectural interest to any landscape. In addition to its striking foliage, it produces tall spikes of tubular flowers in coral, pink, or red, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Red Yucca’s unique appearance and ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions make it a standout choice for North Texas yards, providing beauty and wildlife attractions.
Care: Plant in well-draining soil and provide occasional deep watering until established. Site selection is also crucial when caring for bushes of this species. Red Yucca is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in full sun. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage continuous blooming and remove any dead leaves at the base of the plant.
Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphylla)
Japanese Boxwood is an evergreen shrub perfect for adding structure and texture to your yard. Once established, it’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and can be shaped into hedges or topiaries.
Care: Tree maintenance for Japanese Boxwood requires proper soil selection. Plant in well-draining soil and water deeply but infrequently. Prune in late winter to early spring to maintain shape.
Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
Mexican plum is a small tree native to Texas, ideal for adding shade and attracting pollinators. This perennial produces fragrant white flowers in early spring, followed by edible fruit.
Care: Caring for trees of this species requires proper location. Plant them in full sun to partial shade and water regularly until established. Prune the tree in late winter to early spring to remove dead or crossing branches.
Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Texas Mountain Laurel is a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub with fragrant purple flowers in early spring. It’s low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and adds beauty and fragrance to your yard.
Care: Plant this tree in well-draining soil and water deeply but infrequently. Shrub maintenance also requires timely pruning after flowering to maintain shape.
Work with Expert North Texas Lawn Care Professional
Caring for shrubs and trees in your yard can be challenging, and this is where professional shrub maintenance specialists from Emerald Lawns can help. We have proudly served Austin, Temple, San Antonio, and Dallas Fort Worth residents for many years. We are an A+ Better Business Bureau-rated provider with a reputation for outstanding customer service. Call 888-356-7717 or contact us online to get a quote.
