Who is answering my gardening questions on Ask Garden Guy?

Todd Farber — a Texas A&M horticulture graduate and Houston native with 33 years of landscaping experience. He’s the trusted voice behind Ask Garden Guy, helping Houston and Sugar Land homeowners with real, local answers.

Is Ask Garden Guy related to GardenLine on KTRH?

We’re not affiliated with KTRH or GardenLine, but we’re proud to continue the spirit of helpful garden talk! Many former GardenLine listeners now use Ask Garden Guy to get timely advice without calling in or waiting on hold.

How does Ask Garden Guy work?

Just submit your question online—photos welcome—and you'll receive a real response from Garden Guy or our small Houston-based team. No bots, no scripts, just time-tested advice tailored to your yard.

Is there a fee to ask a question?

Nope. Ask Garden Guy is free. For personalized in-person consultations, our paid landscaping design team at Garden Guy is also available at gardenguy.com.

Ask Garden Guy

What kinds of questions can I ask?

Almost anything growing in your yard. Here are the ones we get most often.

Why is my Lantana dying?

Lantana is tough, but it struggles when:

It's overwatered
The soil stays wet or drains slowly
It's recently planted and still adjusting
It's cut back too hard in the wrong season
It's hit by a sudden cold snap

Make sure the soil drains well, cut back on water, and trim lightly in spring — not fall. Once established, lantana does best treated a bit like a cactus: water deeply, then let it dry out completely.

Which shrubs grow best in shade?

For Houston's heat and humidity, these perform beautifully in part shade to full shade:

Azalea (Encore® varieties)
Gardenia
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Aucuba
Sweet Viburnum (dappled shade)
Mahonia
Fatsia Japonica
Camellia

Shade shrubs still need proper spacing and good airflow — Houston humidity is no joke.

What trees will survive a Houston freeze?

These have proven cold-hardy here, even through past freeze events:

Live Oak
Pecan
Bald Cypress
Crape Myrtle
Cedar Elm
Southern Magnolia
Chinese Pistache
Mexican Plum
Pines (Loblolly especially)

They're adapted to Texas swings — drought, heat, and those surprise cold snaps.

Is this bug harmful?

Depends on the bug. Some are destructive (aphids, scale); others are pollinators or predators you want to keep.

If the leaves are sticky, curling, yellowing, or covered in black mold or white fuzz, the bug is likely harmful.

If you're seeing ladybugs, lacewings, bees, wasps, or predatory beetles — those are the good guys.

Send a photo and we'll identify it. No guessing.

Help — I think my tree is diseased!

Tree trouble usually traces back to fungal disease, root rot from poor drainage, pests, a nutrient deficiency, or stress from drought and freeze damage.

Watch for:

Dead branches
Cankers or peeling bark
Mushrooms at the base
Sudden leaf drop
Discolored or spotted leaves

Send photos of the trunk, the leaves, and the base — we'll pinpoint it and tell you exactly what to do next.

What are the best perennials for Houston?

These handle the heat and humidity and come back year after year:

Lantana
Salvias (especially 'Mystic Spires' and Autumn Sage)
Pride of Barbados
Esperanza (Yellow Bells)
Coneflower
Black-Eyed Susan
Gulf Coast Muhly Grass
Verbena
Daylilies
Pentas

Plant in fall or early spring for strong roots before summer. Mulch, avoid overwatering, and they'll bloom a long time with very little fuss.

Ask your question

What kinds of questions can I ask?