Creating Your Own Tropical Paradise
Keeping your Katy yard looking good throughout the summer months
When our family moved to Katy, I was excited to experiment with the many varieties of tropical plants that I had never been able to plant in our previous yards in the Midwest.   I frequented Home Depot and Houston Garden Center to find the perfect trees, shrubs and flowers for our new Katy home.    Within months of moving into our home, I had planted a plethora of palms, fruit trees, crepe myrtles, magnolias and dozens of shrubs.   I was excited to watch my tropical yard flourish. Needless to say, within a year’s time, quite a few of my tropical beauties had died. I had always had a green thumb, so I wondered where I had gone wrong.
I soon learned that due to the clay-based soil, trees, shrubs, and flowers are not happy unless they are planted in raised beds where they have adequate drainage. With much chagrin, I began again, this year to beautify my yard. I bought plenty of fertile soil to ensure the tropical foliage would thrive. As I tried again, to plant various tropical varieties, I had much better success. In fact, I feel I am well on my way to my tropical paradise.Â
Another lesson I have learned is that yard work in the Houston area is very time consuming. With the humid environment, weeds grow like crazy. Last summer I felt like I simply couldn’t keep up. So, this summer, I have decided to spoil myself. I have hired a yard crew to mow and weed my yard once a week.  In Katy, there are hundreds of fabulous yard contractors who will mow, weed, plant, fertilize and mulch for a very reasonable rate.  At first I felt a little guilty that I had given up ownership of my yard care. But, each time I pull into my driveway and see the beauty that I could never have achieved on my own, I am more than happy I have outsourced some of my yard care.Â
What yard advice do you have to share? Please post a comment.
