Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews

Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews is your weekly guide to thriving West Texas yards—lawns, trees, beds, soil, water-wise strategies, seasonal to-dos, and practical fixes for pests and disease. Broadcast live at noon Saturdays on NewsTalk1560, KZQQ-AM (Abilene, Texas) , Adam answers listener questions and shares expert tips tailored to the Big Country climate. Send your questions for...

Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews is your weekly guide to thriving West Texas yards—lawns, trees, beds, soil, water-wise strategies, seasonal to-dos, and practical fixes for pests and disease. Broadcast live at noon Saturdays on NewsTalk1560, KZQQ-AM (Abilene, Texas) , Adam answers listener questions and shares expert tips tailored to the Big Country climate. Send your questions for...

With cooler weather and some much-needed rain finally appearing in the forecast, Adam and Amber cover the late-season jobs West Texas gardeners should be tackling now. That includes the final winterizer fertilizer application, fall pre-emergent for ragweed and winter weeds, checking sprinkler systems for broken or clogged heads, and keeping St. Augustine properly watered even as temperatures begin...

all is finally beginning to show signs of arriving in West Texas after a record-setting stretch of heat. Adam and Amber cover the late-September landscape checklist, including the final weeks for laying sod, fall pre-emergent, winterizer fertilizer, and why they've delayed mums, fall vegetables and herbs until temperatures become more manageable. They also explain important timing considerations i...

West Texas has officially broken its record for the longest stretch of 100-degree days, and Adam and Amber talk about keeping landscapes going as the heat follows us into September. They cover late-season sod installation, why new sod needs time to establish before cold weather arrives, and the importance of holding off on unnecessary fertilizer during extreme heat. This week's Plant of the Week i...

A relentless stretch of triple-digit temperatures continues across West Texas, and Adam and Amber explain what that means for lawns, trees and shrubs. They cover leaf scorch, heat stress, watering during prolonged hot weather, and why heavy fertilizing should wait until temperatures ease. They also look ahead to fall pre-emergent season and share some of the newest arrivals at Willow Creek Gardens...

With West Texas temperatures pushing toward 107 and 108 degrees, Adam and Amber focus on helping landscapes survive the late-August heat. They explain why leaf scorch and afternoon heat wilt don't necessarily mean a plant needs more water, how to check newly planted trees and shrubs, and why deep watering is better than a little water every day. They also discuss Hydretain, late-season sod install...

Adam and Amber are back from San Antonio with a full report from the 2026 Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Expo, the massive annual gathering of the Texas green industry. They take listeners inside the show, from acres of plants, trees and tropicals to landscaping equipment, irrigation technology, pottery, outdoor living products, fertilizers, organics and more. They also discuss TNLA's p...

August has arrived in West Texas, and with triple-digit temperatures settling in, Adam and Amber explain why this is the time to maintain rather than push new growth. They cover smart hot-weather landscape care, including watering, mild organic fertilizers, gypsum for heavy clay soils, and Hydretain to help landscapes make better use of available moisture. They also preview their trip to the 2026...

Fresh off a Taylor County Master Gardener seminar, Adam and Amber recap the basics of caring for houseplants and outdoor tropicals while discussing how gardeners can stay productive during the hottest weeks of the Texas summer. They also cover seasonal pest concerns including mosquitoes, spider mites, aphids, and grubs, along with practical advice for keeping landscapes healthy through triple-digi...

Fresh off a Taylor County Master Gardener seminar, Adam and Amber recap the basics of caring for houseplants and outdoor tropicals while discussing how gardeners can stay productive during the hottest weeks of the Texas summer. They also cover seasonal pest concerns including mosquitoes, spider mites, aphids, and grubs, along with practical advice for keeping landscapes healthy through triple-digi...

After an unusually wet July, Adam and Amber discuss how abundant rainfall is changing the gardening season across the Big Country. They cover timely summer tasks including grub prevention, fertilizing roses and crape myrtles, repairing storm-damaged trees, controlling mosquitoes, and restoring washed-out driveways and landscape beds after heavy rains. They also share details about an upcoming Tayl...

After a powerful July windstorm swept through Abilene, Adam and Amber discuss storm cleanup, assessing tree damage, and how to properly prune broken limbs to help trees recover. They explain why pecans, mesquites, and hackberries suffered the most damage while many oak trees weathered the storm remarkably well, along with tips for balancing damaged trees and protecting fresh pruning cuts. The epis...

With West Texas settling into triple-digit temperatures, Adam and Amber focus on helping homeowners keep landscapes healthy through the hottest part of the summer. They discuss the importance of inspecting sprinkler systems, checking drip irrigation for hidden leaks caused by wildlife, and why watering early in the morning gives plants the best chance to thrive while conserving water. They also ex...

As summer officially arrives in the Big Country, Adam and Amber discuss the transition into hotter weather, Father's Day weekend, and why now is the perfect time to fertilize summer-blooming plants, control weeds, refresh mulch, and strengthen Bermuda lawns before the peak heat of the season arrives. They also share an update on rainfall totals and what recent moisture means for local landscapes....

After a much-needed June rain, Adam and Amber discuss how recent moisture will benefit West Texas landscapes—and the challenges it can bring. This week's show covers mosquito control, lawn fungus prevention, grub treatments, pre-emergents, sod installation, and why prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to common yard problems. The Plant of the Week is the ever-popular Crape Myrtle, of...

Adam and Amber kick off Memorial Day weekend with gardening advice for the unofficial start of summer, including Water-Wise Tax-Free Weekend, sod season, and the best heat-loving plants for West Texas landscapes. This week’s Plant of the Week is the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) — a colorful, pollinator-friendly favorite that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees while thriving through the summ...

Adam and Amber talk about preparing landscapes for summer, including pre-emergent timing, sod installation, Water-Wise Tax-Free Weekend, and why more homeowners are tackling landscaping projects themselves this year. This episode’s Plant of the Week is the Vitex (Texas Lilac / Chaste Tree) — a drought-tolerant Texas Superstar that thrives in West Texas heat while attracting butterflies, bees, and...

Adam and Amber celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with gift ideas from Willow Creek Gardens, including potted flowers, roses, hydrangeas, bird baths, pottery, hummingbird feeders, and kid-friendly planting projects. This episode also covers May lawn care, pre-emergent timing, fertilizing, sod orders, Vinca, Pentas, citrus trees, and Adam’s Plant of the Week: Hydrangeas. Plus, they talk crepe myrtle sc...

It’s the last weekend of April, and spring is in full swing. Adam and Amber talk mowing, fertilizing, sod season, summer annuals, perennials, and why April and May are prime time for finding the best plant selection of the year. Adam’s Plant of the Week is Pentas, a heat-loving, pollinator-friendly annual that brings bold color to West Texas beds, pots, and commercial landscapes all summer long. T...

After a welcome April rain, Adam Andrews is back on Landscaping in the Big Country with guest Austin Starling for a timely spring update from Willow Creek Gardens. They cover mid-April lawn care, including why now is the right time for a second fertilizer application for lawns and trees, what kind of fertilizer to look for, and why spring remains one of the best windows for planting. The conversat...

This week on Landscaping in the Big Country , Adam and Amber tackle another dose of classic West Texas weather—summer heat one day, a cold front the next—and explain what that means for tender plants, new deliveries, and spring planting plans. They share practical tips for protecting outdoor pots and fresh plantings from sudden wind and temperature swings, along with a look at all the new color, p...

It’s classic March in West Texas—91 degrees one day, near freezing the next—and Adam and Amber spend this episode helping listeners navigate the weather roller coaster. They cover what to do before the weekend’s strong winds and cold snap, including why it’s smart to water outdoor plants ahead of time, what should be brought inside, and why freeze cloth or an old sheet beats plastic every time whe...

Spring is starting to wake up across the Big Country, and Adam and Amber cover everything that comes with it. This episode looks at the early signs of the season, from much-needed March rain to the flood of new plant trucks arriving at Willow Creek Gardens with fresh color, shrubs, pottery, tropicals, and more. Adam’s Plant of the Week is the live oak , and he explains why it remains one of the be...

Willow Creek Gardens is rolling into the early spring rush, and Adam and Amber are here with the February game plan. With plant trucks arriving and the nursery turning green again, they break down what’s showing up first—fresh shrubs and trees, fruit trees, cool-season color, herbs and veggies, and some early surprises that usually don’t hit until later. Plant of the Week is Dianthus—also called p...