Laura Neff

If your yard is full of lush, fast-growing greenery, that might sound like a win. But in Houston, some of the most vigorous plants in our landscapes are quietly doing damage — crowding out the native species that birds, bees, butterflies, and entire ecosystems actually depend on. Here's the thing: invasive plants aren't just aggressive. They're ecologically empty. They take up space without giving anything back to the local food web. And in a city with Houston's biodiversity potential, that's...

June Landscape Checklist: Native Plants & Organic Practices for Houston Gardens June in Houston is nothing if not unpredictable. One week, you're hand-watering everything in sight, the next your backyard looks like a bayou. Whether this summer brings drought or the deluges forecasters are hinting at, the good news is that an organic, native-forward landscape is built to handle both. Here's what we're thinking about getting prepared for June garden care. Feed the Soil First Before the real...

Is Your Houston Lawn Trying to Tell You Something? Do these things now, and your lawn will thank you all season long. If you've lived in Houston for more than one summer, you already know what's coming. Temperatures climb into the triple digits, the humidity turns everything into a sauna, and lawns that aren't properly prepared start showing the stress by June. The good news? A little attention right now, at the end of April and into early May, can make all the difference between a lawn that...