Welcome to Ellis County.
We are so pleased you are here and interested in gardening! You are in what is known as the Blackland Prairie where we have predominately black clay soil high in alkaline. There are also many areas of limestone and caliche rock limiting the depth of soil. This can make for a strong foundation to your home, but may hinder many plants from surviveng after planting.
“Soil amendments are the key and for the most part, necessary if you want to have successful flower or vegetable gardens.”
North Texas, in general can experience wild temperature swings from a low of 10 degrees in the winter with snow and ice to a high of 105 degrees in the summer with no rain for weeks on end! Our average rainfall is about 36” and it can arrive in buckets are not at all. It is actually very windy in Ellis county as well, significantly contributing to the evaporation rate.
SO, HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESSFUL GARDENING…
First and foremost, amend your soil and raise your beds with organic matter. Organic matter is soil or bedding mixes that have been improved with nutrients naturally by composting or adding material that also lowers the PH to a more acidic level. Most plants (and that’s around 90%) do better with a lower, acidic PH than we have here naturally. Raised beds promote proper and necessary drainage as the black clay soil does not drain well at all when wet and saturated.
You can certainly go it alone, especially if you have some knowledge of plants and their requirements and mature sizes. If you don’t, your money would be well spent to hire a professional (local) landscaper and/or designer to at least consult with you before you spent any money on product. Things like climate matter, and exposure to sun or shade is a must to understand for your plants.
“Mature sizes matter because you don’t want to plant something that will be ultimately too large next to your house. Sun and shade matter because most plants love morning sun and afternoon shade making eastern exposure the best location.”
SILVERADO LAWN & LANDSCAPING has been providing these services and more to Ellis county residents for 13 years. Contact us at (972) 775-LAWN (5296)