Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews

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...

Adam and Amber take advantage of the spring-like weather to walk listeners through what should already be on the early-season checklist. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, they share quick gift ideas from the nursery, then shift into the real timing window for winter work—tree pruning before bud break, cutting back overgrown shrubs, trimming roses (but not climbers), refreshing mulch beds, an...

It’s the last day of January, it’s freezing outside, and Adam, Amber, George (and a napping Willis) kick off a “what now?” episode after a wild week of closures and nonstop firewood sales. With Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and a family wedding on the horizon, Adam names the Texas state flower—bluebonnets—as Plant of the Week and breaks down the real way they grow: the tough seed coat, how (and...

A hard freeze is on the way, and Adam starts with the simplest move that makes the biggest difference: water before the freeze. He explains why hydrated plants handle cold better than stressed, dry ones—and which outdoor color plants and newly planted trees need a soak. Then it’s all about January tasks: freeze cloth basics, pecan-buying tips (dry and clean), and a quick look at what to start plan...

January may feel quiet in the yard, but broadleaf weeds are already thriving—especially after a mild winter and a little rain. Adam and Amber break down the most common broadleaf weeds showing up right now (like henbit, clover, prickly lettuce, aster, and spurge), plus what actually works to control them. They explain the big categories (broadleaf vs grassy vs nut sedge), how to choose the right p...

Adam and Amber talk quick, practical cold-front prep—what to bring in, what to cover, and why winter watering still matters when it’s been dry. Then they spotlight lucky bamboo as a New Year “good fortune” plant (what it really is, how to care for it, and what the stalk counts symbolize). In the second half, they tackle mistletoe —the romantic tradition that’s also a parasite in our trees—where it...

With Christmas just days away and temperatures climbing into the 80s, Adam and Amber talk through what the warm, unpredictable weather means for your landscape right now. They explain why it’s best to leave green plants alone, when to wait on cutting back perennials, shrubs, and roses, and how mistimed pruning can actually cause more damage once colder weather returns. The conversation also covers...

Adam previews a warm weekend followed by a quick cool-down, then highlights Willow Creek Gardens’ Workshop Warehouse Open House—a come-and-go event where you can build terrariums, sand art, kokedamas, and succulent gardens. The workshop is open Saturday 10–5 and Sunday 1–5. Adam is joined by Dan Schueler, president of the Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, to talk about the club’s layouts, scal...

Adam and Amber ride the mid-December weather roller coaster and kick things off with Small Business Saturday plus details on next weekend’s big double-header: the Willow Creek Gardens Workshop Warehouse Open House and the Abilene Society of Model Railroaders open house, with terrariums, sand art for the kids, and plenty of Christmas gift ideas. From there, they dig into holiday plants—clearing up...

On this post-Thanksgiving episode of Landscaping in the Big Country , Adam and Amber Andrews shake off the turkey haze and dive into late-fall yard care on KZQQ 1560. They start with Small Business Saturday, a quick Abilene weather rundown, and why today is the day to finish outdoor chores before the next hard freeze settles in. From there, they recap the first Workshop Warehouse open house and pr...

On this episode of Landscaping in the Big Country , Adam Andrews opens the show with a look at our much-needed rain, a mild forecast heading into Thanksgiving, and why now is prime time for leaf cleanups, winter color, and that “last mow” before putting the lawnmower to bed for the season. Adam also spotlights the Eldarica (Afghan) pine as Plant of the Week — explaining why it’s nearly tailor-made...

It feels like midsummer in mid-November, but Adam and Amber lay out a smart plan for the week ahead: record-warm days now, a mild front with rain on the way, and how to prep without overreacting—bring in true tropicals, cover tender bloomers with cloth (not plastic), and switch sprinklers to winter settings while you tackle leaf cleanups and a final mow. They explain why fall is the best time to p...

It feels like midsummer, but the calendar says Thanksgiving is only three weeks away. Adam and Amber talk about the rollercoaster of West Texas weather and how to prepare for the season’s first possible freeze. They share tips on bringing in tropical plants, covering tender blooms, and why frost—not the temperature—is what really does the damage. You’ll also hear advice on resetting sprinkler syst...

As November begins, Adam and Amber talk about preparing your landscape for cooler weather—everything from bringing in tropical plants and protecting your outdoor faucets to setting your sprinkler system for winter. They’ll explain why freeze cloth is better than plastic, when to mulch and clean up leaves, and how to keep your St. Augustine and fescue healthy through the season. Plus, a look at pla...