Lauren Davis, Reporter
Meet Sean Massey, an avid Master Gardener with the Lake Granbury Master Gardeners Club. Since moving to Granbury in 2018, Massey has been passionate about gardening. When she learned about the Master Gardener program, she jumped at the chance to participate. Massey loves sharing her gardening knowledge and helping others with their plants. Whether it's answering questions about problem plants or making suggestions about what to plant in a particular area, Massey is always ready to lend a hand. One of her favorite plants is Phlox 'John Fanick,' which has beautiful pink flowers that attract hummingbirds.
When choosing drought-tolerant plants for Hood County's scorching summers, Massey advises focusing on perennials that are native to Texas. Few plants are actually native to Texas, but many have adapted to the region and become native. Massey gives examples such as agave, damianta, buckeye, columbine, coneflower, coralberry, flame acanthus, blackfoot daisy, guara, coral honeysuckle, salvia gregaria, golden ice skeleton leaf, Texas primrose, turk's cap, verbena, red yucca, and zexmenia. These plants are well suited to Hood County's climate and thrive in drought conditions, making them ideal for landscaping.
“For a vibrant summer landscape, consider planting coneflowers, acanthus, Turk's cap, blackfoot daisy, coral honeysuckle, various salvias, lantana, skeleton leaf, verbena and zexmenia,” suggests Massey. These hardy perennials can withstand the summer heat and add a splash of color to any garden.
Massey stresses the importance of choosing grasses and ground covers that can withstand Hood County's heat. Pink muhly grass, sea oat grass and Mexican feather grass are some of her top picks for durable grass options. Other ground covers that do well in the region include Asian jasmine, mondo grass and liriope.
“Plant them in well-drained soil, mixed with compost and shale soil as needed. Irrigation once or twice a week with an automatic watering system is recommended,” Massey says. “In addition, applying a slow-release fertilizer as needed and always mulching the beds to conserve moisture, with mulching 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep, are key practices. It's also important to read plant labels to make sure you're planting them in the right place.”
For gardeners looking to attract pollinators, Massey recommends a variety of plants that are popular with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Bees — Skullcap, Zexmenia, Rockrose Butterflies — Monarch Blue Mist, Butterfly Bush, Buckeye, Columbine, Milkweed Hummingbirds — Coral Honeysuckle, Turk's Cap, Verbena All three — Coneflower, Dianthus, Guara, Pentas, Vitex, Red Yucca
While Massey shares tips for making your garden flourish, she also points out which plants to avoid. “Some tropical plants do not thrive in cold temperatures, and some species, such as mountain laurel, jimsonweed, Carolina jessamine, and certain types of rhododendrons, are harmful to bees,” she explains. Additionally, Massey warns against planting tropical milkweed unless you intend to cut it down to the ground before Thanksgiving each November. This practice is essential to prevent protozoan parasites from infecting monarch butterflies and disrupting their migration, potentially resulting in their deaths. So those looking for a low-maintenance option might be better off avoiding tropical milkweed altogether.
Finally, Massey mentions the age-old dilemma of deer-resistant plants: “When deer get hungry, they’ll eat just about anything, yet many of Hood County’s drought-tolerant plants are considered deer-resistant,” she points out. These include coneflower, guara and turk’s cap, giving homeowners peace of mind in their gardening efforts.
With Massey’s guidance, Hood County residents can grow beautiful, hardy gardens that will thrive even in the hottest Texas summers.
Explore a display of Hood County's drought-tolerant plants at the Lake Granbury Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden, 1410 Pearl St. Witness the resilience of local plants, including popular plants like agave and red yucca. Come along every Monday from 8 to 11 a.m. to get expert advice from dedicated Master Gardeners or browse photos from the Internet for inspiration.
