Yes! Number one plan should be to plant trees!! I would plant some tall trees that will give you more shade in the backyard. An oak tree goes a long way in helping wildlife like pollinators.
My arborist recommended Chinquapin Oak and I love it so far. Red Oak and Bur Oak are also cool.
Maybe add a couple smaller natives like Texas Mountain Laurel, Anacacho Orchid, Yaupon Holly or Possomhaw. I love them all!!
Depends on what you like, what you’re looking for, and any constraints you might have.
I really like magnolia trees, native to much of the south, the flowers are gorgeous, it’s considered non toxic to cats/dogs, pollinator friendly (the honeybees like ours), and there are dwarf varieties if a smaller size is needed.
caffeinebump
I recommend using the City of Austin’s garden plans as a start. It’s like having a landscape designer for free. You may not use any one of them exactly, or you might use different ones in different parts of your yard, but the suggestions are really helpful. Plus all the suggestions are appropriate for our climate and native animals. https://www.austintexas.gov/page/grow-green-fact-sheets#:~:text=Landscape%20Design%20Templates
jesagain222
Tree folks does native tree giveaways and they give good advice also.[Tree folks](https://www.treefolks.org/)
whatsnex
Monterrey oak if you want privacy
pit2atx
I can certainly provide some ideas. What side is east and west based on these pictures? Really important to know given Texas heat and western sunset angle
Coolbreeze1989
Perhaps a fig tree? Peach tree? Not native but it’s lovely having fruit (though protection from squirrels requires diligence!).
Momofbilly
Mexican Sycamores are beautiful, fast growing trees that have white bark and silvery green leaves that resemble maple.
Crape myrtles are heat and drought hardy, too.
Cherry Laurel and Japanese maples are other good choices.
patient-panther
I’d grow fruit trees if I had a blank canvas, then shape the rest of the garden around them.
Friendlystranger247
I’m a big fan of Texas persimmons, my favorite fruit and high in antioxidants!
briomio
Texas Red Bud
Peppermintcheese
Two chinquapin oaks, one in each rear corner.
sneakynin
At least one fruit tree (probably fig). And maybe one pecan.
cartman_returns
Monterrey oaks stay green during winter
ctrlaltdelete285
Whatever you do get your soil tested first. We have a maple that is dying and we suspect poor soil.
Magic_Neptune
If edwards plateau lacey oak if blackland chinkapin
djscsi
Especially in newer subdivisions, get your soil tested before you plant anything. Chances are the soil is shit and you’ll need to amend it (possibly a long term / involved project) before anything will be happy growing there. If the soil is okay then you will have useful data to help you select the right species.
avacapone
We got a few of our trees from treefolks!
Here’s a link to a tree selector to help you pick what would work for you. Pay attention to sunlight and soil conditions, and how much you want to water it. Our retama never needs water but we water the oak during hot dry seasons. Trees like cypress that grow along river beds will need tons of water and likely too much maintenance. Also, I’d recommend filtering to native trees only.
I love my Texas lilac (chasteberry)! It’s a favorite of the pollinators in my area and has a pleasant smell. I’ve recorded dozens of different moth species on it, plus bees, wasps, and some butterflies. It’s resilient in drought.
razortoilet
Pecans, Texas Live Oak, Bur Oak, Texas Persimmon, Texas Mountain Laurel, Pomegranates, Mexican Plum, Montezuma Cypress, or Texas Red Oak.
22 Comments
Serviceberry tree is my dream tree personally
Yes! Number one plan should be to plant trees!! I would plant some tall trees that will give you more shade in the backyard. An oak tree goes a long way in helping wildlife like pollinators.
My arborist recommended Chinquapin Oak and I love it so far. Red Oak and Bur Oak are also cool.
Maybe add a couple smaller natives like Texas Mountain Laurel, Anacacho Orchid, Yaupon Holly or Possomhaw. I love them all!!
City of Austin Native Tree Guide: https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Watershed/growgreen/2_8_12_native_tree_growing_guide_for_central_texas.pdf
Depends on what you like, what you’re looking for, and any constraints you might have.
I really like magnolia trees, native to much of the south, the flowers are gorgeous, it’s considered non toxic to cats/dogs, pollinator friendly (the honeybees like ours), and there are dwarf varieties if a smaller size is needed.
I recommend using the City of Austin’s garden plans as a start. It’s like having a landscape designer for free. You may not use any one of them exactly, or you might use different ones in different parts of your yard, but the suggestions are really helpful. Plus all the suggestions are appropriate for our climate and native animals. https://www.austintexas.gov/page/grow-green-fact-sheets#:~:text=Landscape%20Design%20Templates
Tree folks does native tree giveaways and they give good advice also.[Tree folks](https://www.treefolks.org/)
Monterrey oak if you want privacy
I can certainly provide some ideas. What side is east and west based on these pictures? Really important to know given Texas heat and western sunset angle
Perhaps a fig tree? Peach tree? Not native but it’s lovely having fruit (though protection from squirrels requires diligence!).
Mexican Sycamores are beautiful, fast growing trees that have white bark and silvery green leaves that resemble maple.
Crape myrtles are heat and drought hardy, too.
Cherry Laurel and Japanese maples are other good choices.
I’d grow fruit trees if I had a blank canvas, then shape the rest of the garden around them.
I’m a big fan of Texas persimmons, my favorite fruit and high in antioxidants!
Texas Red Bud
Two chinquapin oaks, one in each rear corner.
At least one fruit tree (probably fig). And maybe one pecan.
Monterrey oaks stay green during winter
Whatever you do get your soil tested first. We have a maple that is dying and we suspect poor soil.
If edwards plateau lacey oak if blackland chinkapin
Especially in newer subdivisions, get your soil tested before you plant anything. Chances are the soil is shit and you’ll need to amend it (possibly a long term / involved project) before anything will be happy growing there. If the soil is okay then you will have useful data to help you select the right species.
We got a few of our trees from treefolks!
Here’s a link to a tree selector to help you pick what would work for you. Pay attention to sunlight and soil conditions, and how much you want to water it. Our retama never needs water but we water the oak during hot dry seasons. Trees like cypress that grow along river beds will need tons of water and likely too much maintenance. Also, I’d recommend filtering to native trees only.
https://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/
I love my Texas lilac (chasteberry)! It’s a favorite of the pollinators in my area and has a pleasant smell. I’ve recorded dozens of different moth species on it, plus bees, wasps, and some butterflies. It’s resilient in drought.
Pecans, Texas Live Oak, Bur Oak, Texas Persimmon, Texas Mountain Laurel, Pomegranates, Mexican Plum, Montezuma Cypress, or Texas Red Oak.
A Texas ash is also a good choice