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Lantana is tough, but it struggles when:

• It’s overwatered

• The soil stays wet or drains slowly

• It’s recently planted and still adjusting

• It’s cut back too hard during the wrong season

• It’s hit by sudden cold

Make sure the soil drains well, reduce watering, and trim lightly in spring — not fall. Once established, lantana thrives best when treated a bit like a cactus: deep water, then let it fully dry out.

or Houston’s heat and humidity, these shrubs perform beautifully in part-shade to full shade:

• Azalea (Encore® varieties)

• Gardenia

• Oakleaf Hydrangea

• Aucuba

• Sweet Viburnum (in dappled shade)

• Mahonia

• Fatsia Japonica

• Camellia

Shade shrubs still need proper spacing and good airflow — Houston humidity is no joke.

These trees have proven cold-hardy in our area, even through past freeze events:

• Live Oak

• Pecan

• Bald Cypress

• Crape Myrtle

• Cedar Elm

• Southern Magnolia

• Chinese Pistache

• Mexican Plum

• Pine varieties (Loblolly especially)

They’re adapted to Texas climate swings — drought, heat, and those surprise cold snaps.

It depends — some bugs are destructive (like aphids or scale), and others are actually beneficial pollinators or predators.

If the leaves are:

• Sticky

• Curling

• Turning yellow

• Covered in black mold or white fuzz

…then the bug is likely harmful.

If you see:

• Ladybugs

• Lacewings

• Bees

• Wasps

• Predatory beetles

…those are the good guys.

Upload a photo and we’ll identify it — no guessing needed.

Tree issues can come from:

• Fungal disease

• Root rot from poor drainage

• Pests

• Nutrient deficiency

• Stress from drought or freeze damage

Look for signs like:

• Dead branches

• Cankers or peeling bark

• Mushrooms at the base

• Sudden leaf drop

• Discolored or spotted leaves

Send a photo of the trunk, leaves, and base — we’ll pinpoint the issue and tell you exactly what to do next.

Houston heat and humidity can be tough, but these perennials handle it beautifully and come back year after year:

• Lantana

• Salvias (especially ‘Mystic Spires’ and Autumn Sage)

• Pride of Barbados

• Esperanza (Yellow Bells)

• Coneflower

• Black-Eyed Susan

• Gulf Coast Muhly Grass

• Verbena

• Daylilies

• Pentas

Plant in fall or early spring for the strongest root growth before summer. Add mulch, avoid overwatering, and these plants will reward you with long, colorful blooms with very little fuss.