Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews

Willow Creek Gardens
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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 on-air consideration to wcgardens24@gmail.com

  1. 2d ago

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 10/3/26: Fall Mums, Monarch Migration & Cool-Season Gardening

    Fall finally feels like fall in the Big Country, and Adam and Amber have plenty of seasonal work to cover. With cooler temperatures and welcome rainfall, it's time for fall pre-emergent, the final winterizer fertilizer application, active weed control and cool-season color. After deliberately waiting out the record-setting heat, Willow Creek Gardens is also bringing in mums, dianthus, snapdragons, ornamental kale and cabbage, herbs and other fall favorites. This week's Plant of the Week is the Chrysanthemum, or garden mum. Adam and Amber discuss the huge range of colors and bloom forms, proper watering and fertilizer, their surprising drought and cold tolerance once established, and how a potted fall mum can become a perennial in the landscape. They also explain the plant's photoperiodic blooming cycle and how pinching buds through around the Fourth of July can produce a fuller display of flowers in the fall. Then Amber dives into the fascinating monarch butterfly migration—while correcting last week's mistaken identification of Queen butterfly chrysalises as monarchs. She explains the monarch's extraordinary journey between Canada and Mexico, why different generations make the northbound and southbound trips, and how milkweed and nectar plants support them along the way. Plus, Adam and Amber look at cool-season vegetables and herbs that can handle West Texas frost, including broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrots, onions, lettuce, garlic, rosemary, cilantro, parsley, mint and more.

  2. Sep 26

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 9/26/26: Asian Jasmine, Fall Lawn Care & Tackling Houseplant Gnats

    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 to fall. They also explain why leaf scorch, early leaf drop and other signs of stress are showing up after the area's long stretch of extreme summer heat. This week's Plant of the Week is Asiatic Jasmine, one of the most dependable evergreen groundcovers for West Texas landscapes. Adam and Amber discuss its ability to handle everything from full sun to considerable shade, its drought tolerance, adaptability to different soils, and resistance to deer and rabbits. They also tackle a couple of common misconceptions about Asiatic Jasmine—including the idea that it attracts rattlesnakes or is inherently invasive—and explain why they've used it extensively in both residential and commercial landscapes. Plus, there's a new tool for houseplant owners battling fungus gnats: an organic larvicide designed to attack the pest during its soil-dwelling larval stage. Adam explains how it differs from systemic insecticides and why controlling the larvae can break the gnat life cycle. They also cover the return of webworms, the approaching monarch migration, proper mower-blade maintenance, and Amber's latest succulent-pumpkin workshop as fall finally begins to take hold in the Big Country.

  3. Sep 19

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 9/19/26: Fall Tree Planting, Pre-Emergent & Getting Your Landscape Ready for Cooler Weather

    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 if you're planning to overseed with rye or fescue, plant spring-flowering bulbs, or have newly installed sod. With cooler weather approaching, the focus turns to one of the best fall projects: planting trees. Adam and Amber explain why fall gives new trees months to develop roots before the next West Texas summer, how to choose between ornamental and shade trees, and what to consider when selecting a planting location. They cover proper distance from houses, sidewalks and driveways; overhead and underground utilities; planting depth; staking; root stimulators; mulch; and the deep watering newly planted trees need while becoming established. They also tackle the perennial question of whether there's really such a thing as a “non-messy” tree. Plus, Amber shares what's happening inside Willow Creek Gardens' Workshop Warehouse, including terrariums, kokedamas and fall succulent pumpkin projects. Adam and Amber also discuss the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association's professional certification program, the extensive knowledge required to become a certified nursery professional, and why continuing education matters even after decades in the green industry.

  4. Sep 5

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 9/5/26: Century Plants, Pre-Emergent & Preparing Your Lawn for Fall

    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 is the Century Plant, Agave americana—a dramatic, extremely drought-tolerant choice that's right at home in West Texas heat, rocky soils and reflective areas near driveways and streets. Adam and Amber discuss its enormous flower stalk, why the mother plant eventually dies after blooming, how its pups continue the planting, and several other agave varieties. They also explain why agaves work particularly well where deer, rabbits, limited water and brutal sunshine make other plants difficult to grow. Then it's time to get ahead of fall and winter weeds with pre-emergent. Adam explains why September is one of the key application periods in West Texas, how pre-emergents stop weed seeds before they establish, and the differences between pre-emergent, post-emergent and combination products. They cover Dimension, Gallery, Barricade, Treflan and other options; precautions for St. Augustine and newly laid sod; and why you shouldn't apply pre-emergent before overseeding with rye, fescue or other grass seed. Plus, Adam shares an easy way to remember the three major West Texas application windows: Labor Day, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

  5. Aug 29

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 8/29/26: Nandinas, Hardscaping & Helping Your Landscape Survive the Heat

    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, including mini tropicals and succulents, pitcher plants, sundews, desert roses and the unusual ant plant. This week's Plant of the Week is Nandina, an old-fashioned landscape favorite that's found new life through colorful modern varieties. Adam and Amber compare standard Nandina domestica with varieties including Gulf Stream, Firepower, Flirt and Obsession, discussing mature sizes, seasonal color and the best locations for them in West Texas landscapes. They also explain why Nandinas can be an excellent choice for shady areas where gardeners want an evergreen shrub with relatively little maintenance. Then the conversation moves from plants to hardscaping—the patios, walkways, retaining walls, pergolas and other permanent features that can transform how a landscape looks and functions. Drawing on years of installation experience, Adam and Amber explain the advantages of true interlocking concrete pavers, including design flexibility, durability and the ability to remove and reinstall them when underground repairs are needed. They also discuss retaining walls for slopes and water diversion, pergolas for West Texas shade, and how thoughtful hardscaping can add an entirely new dimension to an outdoor space.

  6. Aug 22

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 8/22/26: Extreme Heat, String of Pearls & Landscaping in the Air Conditioning

    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 installation, and why this isn't the time to push lawns and landscapes with heavy fertilizer. This week's Plant of the Week moves indoors with the popular "String of" plants, led by String of Pearls. Adam and Amber explore String of Bananas, Dolphins, Turtles, Watermelons, Hearts and more, explaining their unusual shapes, light requirements, soil needs, propagation and one of the biggest keys to success: avoiding overwatering. Amber shares why bottom-watering many of the succulent varieties can help prevent the trailing stems and leaves from rotting against wet soil. And if it's too hot to landscape outside, why not build one indoors? Adam and Amber take listeners inside Willow Creek Gardens' Workshop Warehouse, where visitors can create terrariums, fairy gardens, kokedamas, succulent arrangements, sand art, Zen gardens and seasonal projects. They discuss private workshops, DIY projects, the huge assortment of plants and decorative materials available, and some of the creative projects customers have brought to life—from family heirloom teacups to succulent pumpkins and custom centerpieces.

  7. Aug 15

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 8/15/26: Inside the TNLA Expo: New Plants, Texas Superstars & What’s Coming in 2027

    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 professional certification programs and why continuing education matters in an industry where plants, pests, diseases and products are constantly changing. They also spotlight the Texas Superstar program and explain how plants earn the designation through extensive testing in different regions of the state. Plus, Adam and Amber share some of the new varieties that caught their attention for the coming year, including pink agapanthus, dwarf red yucca, dwarf Texas sage and even petunias with foliage that glows in the dark. This week's featured plant comes straight from the Expo: the new Triple Knock Out Rose. Building on the popular Knock Out family, this new introduction features an exceptionally full, multi-petaled bloom that Adam compares to a ranunculus or camellia. The red variety is expected first, with additional colors likely to follow. Adam and Amber also look ahead to other new plants and products they hope to bring to West Texas as growers expand their availability into the Abilene market.

  8. Aug 8

    Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews 8/8/26: Vines That Thrive

    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 Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Expo in San Antonio. Then it's all about vines for the West Texas landscape, beginning with Adam's Plant of the Week: Crossvine. This hardy, drought-tolerant native offers spectacular orange blooms, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, stays evergreen through much of the year, and provides a much better-behaved alternative to invasive trumpet vine. Adam and Amber compare a wide variety of climbing favorites, including American and evergreen wisteria, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, star jasmine, Carolina jasmine, butterfly vine, chocolate vine, and passion vine. They discuss where each works best, bloom times, fragrance, sun and water needs, invasiveness, pollinator benefits, and even how combining different vines can provide changing color throughout the growing season. Plus, Amber explains the fascinating relationship between passion vine and Gulf fritillary butterflies—and why those hungry caterpillars stripping the leaves aren't necessarily something to panic about.

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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 on-air consideration to wcgardens24@gmail.com

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