The Texas Vegetables You Need to Get in the Ground This August for a Full Fall Harvest
August in Texas feels like the sun is trying to win a fight with your garden, but this brutal month is actually the secret to…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 18, 2026
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Ella Brown T
1,446 Articles
Texas Gardening
The Texas Shrubs Gardeners Are Quietly Planting Along Their Foundations to Send Rats Packing
Rats love hiding along the base of a house, especially where warm foundations meet shady garden beds during…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 18
Texas Gardening
Texas Mountain Laurel’s Beautiful Red Seeds Can Poison People and Pets If Chewed
Across Central and South Texas, a native shrub called Texas mountain laurel grows in yards, along roadsides, and…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 18
Texas Gardening
The Texas Plants That Bring Barn Owls In Until the Rats Give Up on Your Yard
A single barn owl family can swallow up to a thousand rodents in one nesting season, which makes…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 18
Texas Gardening
This Invasive Texas Tree Gets Less Notice Than Fire Ants but Quietly Wipes Out Native Habitat
A pretty tree with white, popcorn-shaped seeds and brilliant red fall color sounds like something you’d plant on…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 18
Texas Gardening
This Toxic Texas Shrub Hides in Ordinary Yards and Gets Less Attention Than a Copperhead
Most Texas homeowners know to watch for copperheads in the garden, but far fewer give a second glance…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
What Texas Plumeria Needs Right Now to Keep Blooming Straight Through October
Plumeria growing in Texas can put on a stunning show from late spring all the way into fall,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
A Texas-Native Wildflower That Can Return Year After Year From Self-Sown Seed
Every summer across Texas roadsides and open fields, a low-growing wildflower blazes in rings of red and gold,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
More Roadrunners Around Your Texas Yard Means Fewer Scorpions, and Here’s How to Draw Them In
Spotting a Greater Roadrunner sprinting across a Texas yard is one of those moments that stops you in…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
What Repeated Cardinal Visits to Your Texas Yard Are Really Telling You
Few backyard moments stop a Texan in their tracks quite like spotting a brilliant red cardinal perched on…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
The Texas Native Wildflowers That Bring In Dragonflies and Send Mosquitoes Packing
Your Texas yard can do more than look pretty. The right native wildflowers pull in dragonflies, which are…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 17
Texas Gardening
The Native Texas Groundcovers That Choke Out Weeds Better Than Any Bag of Mulch
Weeds are the uninvited guests that show up every summer in Texas yards, and no amount of mulch…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
What It Really Means When a Mourning Dove Keeps Cooing in Your Texas Yard
That soft, hollow cooing drifting from your roofline or backyard fence on a warm Texas morning is one…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
7 Simple Yard Habits That Bring Fireflies Back to Texas Summer Nights
Remember catching fireflies in a jar on a warm Texas evening? Those blinking lights are getting harder to…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
8 Texas Native Plants That Give Fireflies Everything They Need to Light Up Your Yard Again
Warm Texas evenings used to sparkle with fireflies blinking across the yard, but a lot of us notice…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
The Most Underrated Texas Native That Quietly Keeps Mosquitoes Off Your Back Porch All Summer
Every summer, Texas porches turn into a battle zone the moment the sun dips low and mosquitoes clock…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
The Rat-Repelling Flowers Texas Gardeners Are Quietly Planting Around Their Beds Right Now
If rats have started sneaking through your Texas flower beds, you are not alone, and the fix might…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 16
Texas Gardening
Where Texas Gardeners Actually Find the Rare Native Plants Big Box Stores Never Stock
Finding true Texas native plants can feel like a treasure hunt, because the big box garden centers rarely…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
How Texas Gardeners Attract Great Horned Owls So the Rats and Mice Move Out
Rats and mice are a real headache for Texas homeowners, especially when they start showing up in garages,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
The Underrated Texas Natives That Make Ticks Give Your Backyard a Wide Berth
Ticks love hiding in tall grass and shady corners, waiting to hitch a ride on you, your kids,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
8 Garden Pests a Texas Roadrunner Hunts Down for You Every Single Day
If you spot a roadrunner darting across your Texas backyard, you are looking at one of the hardest-working…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
These Are the Only Roses Tough Enough to Actually Thrive Through a Texas Summer
Texas summers do not play nice. Between triple-digit heat, cracked clay soil, and watering restrictions that limit how…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
Texas Yard Habits That May Quietly Bring Lightning Bugs Back on Summer Nights
Summer nights in Texas carry a certain kind of magic when the yard starts to flicker with tiny,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 15
Texas Gardening
The Underrated Porch Plant That Makes Rats and Roaches Skip Your Texas Home
Rosemary has been showing up in Texas gardening conversations lately, often paired with bold claims about sending rats…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
Oak Wilt, Not an Invasive Insect, Is the Real Threat to Texas Oak Trees
A viral claim has been spreading among Texas homeowners: that a new invasive insect is tearing through the…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
Plant These Texas Natives and Dragonflies Will Handle Your Mosquitoes Better Than Any Spray
Mosquitoes can turn a warm Texas evening on the porch into a slapping, itching mess, and store-bought sprays…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
Do Texas Spiny Lizards on Your Fence Actually Mean Fewer Ticks in Your Yard?
Spot a scaly lizard clinging to your fence post on a hot Texas morning, and it is easy…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
The One Native Texas Plant That Makes Scorpions Decide Your Yard Isn’t Worth It
A headline promising one native Texas plant that sends scorpions packing sounds almost too good to be true,…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
More Roadrunners Around Your Texas Yard Means Fewer Scorpions — Here’s How to Bring Them In
Spotting a Greater Roadrunner sprinting across a Texas yard is one of those moments that stops you mid-step.…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 14
Texas Gardening
Bat House for Texas Gardens: Add Wildlife Habitat and Maybe Ease Mosquito Pressure
Mosquitoes in a Texas summer can turn a backyard into a place you avoid rather than enjoy, and…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Texas Gardening
What It Really Means When a Horned Lizard Turns Up in Your Texas Yard After Years Away
Spotting a Texas horned lizard in your yard can stop you cold, especially if you grew up catching…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Texas Gardening
This Native Texas Grass May Help Bring Fireflies Back to Yards Where They Have Gone Quiet
Fireflies flickering across a Texas backyard on a summer night are one of those small wonders that stick…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Texas Gardening
Skip Wisteria in Texas – These Native Vines Cover Your Fence Without Ever Taking Over
Wisteria looks dreamy hanging over a fence, but in Texas it can turn into a bully that swallows…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Texas Gardening
That Purple Weed You Keep Pulling From Your Texas Lawn May Be Worth Keeping – But Identify It First
Every spring, tiny purple flowers pop up across Texas lawns, and the instinct for most homeowners is to…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Texas Gardening
The Comeback Plant That Shrugs Off Texas Heat and Looks Stunning in Pots From June Through September
Most patio plants in Texas throw in the towel once July arrives, but one flowering shrub keeps pushing…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 13
Gardening Tips
10 Best Florida Native Plants for a Mosquito-Resistant Patio That Still Looks Lush
A beautiful Florida patio does not have to double as a mosquito lounge. The right native plants can…
By Ella Brown T · Jul 7
Seasonal Gardening
These Indoor-Started Seeds Can Save You Time Once Spring Takes Off
Starting seeds indoors before the busy spring planting season gives your garden a powerful head start. Many plants…
By Ella Brown T · Mar 13
Seasonal Gardening
14 Plants You Shouldn’t Start Too Early – No Matter How Warm It Feels
Spring warmth can trick even experienced gardeners into starting seeds or transplanting too soon. A few sunny days…
By Ella Brown T · Mar 11
Seasonal Gardening
The One Spring Cleanup Mistake That Can Set Your Garden Back Weeks
The One Spring Cleanup Mistake That Can Set Your Garden Back Weeks When the weather warms up, many…
By Ella Brown T · Mar 9
Shrubs & Trees
Shrubs That Give a High-End Look Without High-End Effort
You don’t need a fancy landscaper or a huge budget to have a yard that turns heads. Some…
By Ella Brown T · Feb 27
Seasonal Gardening
Cold-Tolerant Veggies You Can Sow First, Before Everything Else
Not every vegetable needs warm soil and bright summer sunshine to get started. Many tough, flavorful vegetables actually…
By Ella Brown T · Feb 27
Pests & Diseases
19 Backyard Plants That Naturally Keep Pests Away
Nobody wants to spend a sunny afternoon swatting mosquitoes or watching aphids destroy their garden. The good news…
By Ella Brown T · Feb 26
Gardening Tips
22 Low-Maintenance Perennials That Come Back Stronger Every Year
Imagine planting a flower once and watching it return year after year, looking better each time. That is…
By Ella Brown T · Feb 25
Fruit & Veggies
Georgia Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: Easy Starter Crops
Georgia’s climate is a gardener’s dream, offering a long growing season and diverse conditions perfect for a variety…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 20
Garden Plants
Vermont Perennials That Return Strong Every Year
Vermont’s unique climate can pose challenges for gardeners, but certain perennials thrive year after year. These stalwarts don’t…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 19
Fruit & Veggies
New Jersey Backyard Gardening: Easy Vegetables for Beginners
Starting a backyard garden in New Jersey can be a rewarding experience, especially when you select vegetables that…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 18
Shrubs & Trees
Colorado Native Trees That Survive Harsh Winters
Colorado’s landscape is dotted with resilient native trees that withstand the harshest winters. These trees not only survive…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 17
Gardening Inspiration
Illinois Native Grasses for Eco-Friendly Lawns
Transforming your lawn into an eco-friendly haven is easier with native grasses from Illinois. These grasses not only…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 16
Garden Plants
North Carolina Container Gardening Tips for Small Spaces
North Carolina’s diverse climate offers exciting opportunities for container gardening enthusiasts. Whether you’re on the coast or nestled…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 15
Gardening Inspiration
Arizona Cactus Gardening: Choosing the Right Varieties
Arizona’s unique climate offers an ideal environment for a diverse range of cactus species. Choosing the right varieties…
By Ella Brown T · Oct 14