Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews

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...

Adam and Amber ease us into “pre-fall” and what that means for your yard. Timely to-dos: it’s the last call for fall lawn fertilizing and pre-emergent; true freeze talk can wait. Fall color arrives with violas (heat-tolerant pansy cousins), wonderfully fragrant stock, ornamental kale & cabbage, and eye-popping ornamental peppers (pretty—don’t rub your eyes!). Plant of the Week: Chinese Pistach...

West Texas is easing toward fall, and Adam & Amber share how the shorter days and cooler nights kick plants into gear. We hit the week’s forecast, the State Fair effect (bring that rain!), and a quick celestial note on daylight. Then: a fun recap of our succulent-pumpkin workshop. Plant of the Week is Asiatic (Asian) Jasmine —why it’s the near-bulletproof, evergreen groundcover for Abilene (sh...

Adam & Amber kick off this week’s Landscaping in the Big Country with a look at the skies—Saturn opposition and the autumn equinox. They spotlight a community car wash supporting Dyess We Care’s Operation Special Santa, then dig into the plant of the week: mint. From peppermint to mojito, chocolate to pineapple, they share varieties, uses, and even its surprising bug-repelling powers. Plus, fa...

Fall is (almost) here—even if the thermometer still says 95. Adam & Amber break down exactly when to put out pre-emergent, your final lawn fertilization, and why mums (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum) are the perfect plant-of-the-week—plus how florist mums differ from hardy garden mums. They cover raised-bed basics (drainage + soil mix), frost-tolerant fall veggies and herbs to start now, and smart...

A wild Texas weather swing kicks off this week’s Landscaping in the Big Country as Adam & Amber dive into fall prep: when to put down pre-emergent (and why it beats curative sprays), tackling nutsedge and khaki weed, and why pecan “suckers” won’t grow into true trees. Plus, plant spotlights on the century plant (Agave americana), bromeliads, and easy-care air plants, with practical tips on col...

Adam Andrews zeroes in on this week’s biggest Big Country yard problems—what to tackle now, what to hold until the temps break, and the money-saving move most folks overlook. Quick, West-Texas-proof fixes you can put to work today.

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