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.

Are bugs in compost normal?

Yes! Bugs like wood roaches (palmetto bugs) and ants are common in compost piles. They help break down materials. To reduce them, keep your pile moist and add more greens.

What’s the best compost ratio for Houston yards?

Aim for 2 parts browns (dry leaves, pine needles) to 1 part greens (grass clippings, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds). This balance helps compost break down quickly.

Can I compost Bermuda grass?

Only if your compost pile reaches 140°F+. Otherwise, Bermuda runners can survive and regrow when you spread compost later.

What perennials grow best in Houston?

Texas sage, lantana, salvias, Gulf Coast muhly grass, drift roses, loropetalum, and Esperanza are consistently reliable performers in Houston's heat, humidity, and soil conditions.

When is the best time to plant perennials in Houston?

Fall and early spring are the best times to plant perennials in Houston because those seasons allow strong root development before summer heat arrives.

Do perennials survive Houston freezes?

Most Houston-friendly perennials survive freezes, but some go dormant. Avoid cutting back freeze-damaged plants until spring when new growth appears.

When should I apply pre-emergent in Houston?

Apply pre-emergent by February 1st, before soil temperatures consistently reach 55°F. That's the threshold at which warm-season weed seeds like crabgrass begin to germinate. Use a soil thermometer to confirm — once the soil hits 55°F, the window has closed.

When should I fertilize my St. Augustine lawn in Houston?

When the lawn tells you it's ready — not when the calendar does. Watch for nighttime temperatures above 55°F for at least 5 consecutive days and your grass actively greening with new growth. In Houston this typically happens between late March and early May, but it varies year to year.

When should I fertilize Bermuda grass in Houston?

When it's fully green and you've mowed it at least twice. Bermuda wakes up later than St. Augustine — usually late April or May in Houston, but a cold spring can push it later.

Do I need to add a surfactant to my weed killer?

Yes — always. A non-ionic surfactant helps herbicide spray stick to the waxy surface of weed leaves and penetrate the plant. Without it, much of your spray runs off and loses effectiveness.

Should I get a soil test for my Houston lawn?

Yes — especially if you've been fertilizing and still not seeing results. Houston clay varies yard to yard. A Texas A&M soil test tells you exactly what's missing before you spend more money on product.

What is nutsedge and how do I identify it in my Houston lawn?

Nutsedge (also called nutgrass) is a sedge — not a grass or broadleaf weed — that is extremely common in Houston and Gulf Coast lawns. To identify it, pull a stem and roll it between your fingers. If it has three distinct sides like a triangle, it is nutsedge. It is also a lighter yellow-green color than surrounding turf, grows noticeably faster, and sends up three leaves from a single shoot at the base. Regular grass sends up two.

Why does nutsedge keep coming back no matter what I spray?

Nutsedge keeps coming back because it spreads through underground tubers called nutlets that regular weed killers cannot reach. A single nutsedge tuber can produce up to 7,000 new tubers in one growing season. Regular broadleaf weed killers and weed-and-feed products have no effect on nutsedge because it is a sedge, not a broadleaf. You need a selective sedge herbicide like Sedgehammer (halosulfuron) or Dismiss (sulfentrazone).

Why does pulling nutsedge by hand make it worse?

Pulling nutsedge by hand snaps the plant from its underground nutlet chain but leaves those nutlets in the soil. Each nutlet then sprouts into multiple new plants. Hand-pulling does not remove nutsedge — it multiplies it. The same problem occurs with rototilling without a follow-up herbicide program.

What is the best herbicide for nutsedge in St. Augustine or Bermuda grass in Houston?

Sedgehammer (halosulfuron-methyl) is the top recommendation for Houston homeowners with St. Augustine or Bermuda lawns. It is safe for both grass types, can be used throughout the growing season, and works systemically to attack the root system and tubers. Dismiss (sulfentrazone) is a good alternative when faster visual results are needed. Always add a non-ionic surfactant to either product — nutsedge has a waxy leaf surface that causes sprays to bead up and roll off without it.

How do I kill nutsedge near vegetables, flowers, or garden beds without harming other plants?

Use the Q-tip method. Mix Sedgehammer at the standard label rate with surfactant in a small cup. Put on gloves, dip a cotton swab or small foam brush into the solution, and carefully wipe it directly onto the nutsedge leaves. Avoid contact with surrounding desirable plants. The product absorbs through the leaf surface and moves down to the roots and tubers. This is the safest approach for vegetable gardens, raised beds, mixed flower beds, and containers where spraying would risk damaging other plants.

What is Kyllinga and how is it different from nutsedge?

Kyllinga (pronounced kuh-LING-uh) is a closely related sedge that is frequently mistaken for nutsedge in Houston lawns. The key difference is the seed head — Kyllinga has a small round ball-shaped seed head, while nutsedge has an open branched umbrella shape. Kyllinga also has glossier leaves, a distinctive minty-sweet scent when crushed, and spreads by forming dense low mats. The same selective sedge herbicides that control nutsedge — Sedgehammer and Dismiss — also work on Kyllinga.

How many treatments does nutsedge take to control?

Nutsedge typically requires 2 to 3 treatments spaced 6 to 10 weeks apart in the first season, with follow-up the next season as dormant nutlets continue to germinate. This is normal and expected. The goal of each application is to prevent new plants from maturing and producing more tubers. Most Houston homeowners see meaningful improvement by the second season of a consistent program using Sedgehammer or Dismiss with a non-ionic surfactant.

Does overwatering cause nutsedge in Houston lawns?

Yes. Nutsedge thrives in consistently moist soil, making overwatered lawns, low spots, and areas with irrigation heads that run too frequently prime targets. Even after a correct herbicide treatment program, nutsedge will keep returning if the underlying moisture issue is not addressed. Check your irrigation schedule and look for drainage problems in areas where nutsedge pressure is heaviest.

Best Perennials for Houston: 15 Proven Winners for Our Hot, Humid Climate

Horticultural AdviceBest Houston PerennialsTexas PerennialsDrought Tolerant Perennials

Jun 15

Written By Sabrina Farber

Best Perennials for Houston: 15 Proven Winners for Our Hot, Humid Climate by Todd Farber, Aggie Horticulturist + Expert Landscaper

Free Printable Garden Guide

The 15 Best Perennials for Houston Gardens

Tough, beautiful bloomers that come back year after year — hand-picked for our heat, humidity, and clay by Todd Farber, Texas A&M horticulturist (Class of ’91).

Get the free printable PDF →

Houston is a tough place to be a plant — blazing summers, heavy gumbo clay, sideways spring rain, and the occasional hard freeze. The good news? A whole roster of perennials doesn’t just survive here, it shows off. Plant these once and they return season after season, feeding pollinators and filling your beds with color while you do far less work.

Below are Todd’s fifteen favorites for Gulf Coast gardens. Each one is marked with its ideal light, so you can match sun-lovers to sunny beds and shade-lovers to the shady corners — that one step is half the battle to a garden that thrives.

USDA Zone9a / 9b

Water NeedsLow–Moderate

Comes BackEvery Year

☀ Full Sun

Green and quiet all year, then a pink cloud in fall that stops traffic. Zero fuss once it’s established.

Free Instant Download

Get the printable guide — free

Drop your email below and we’ll send the full 15 Best Perennials guide straight to your inbox. It’s a beautifully designed, print-ready PDF — every plant’s light needs and botanical name, Todd’s planting notes, and his 5 rules for perennials on the Gulf Coast.

All 15 plants with ideal light & care tips
Todd’s 5 Gulf Coast planting rules
Print-ready — take it straight to the nursery

Enter your email below to get it instantly ↓

Plant a handful of these and you’ll have color, pollinators, and a whole lot less fuss for years to come — that’s the Garden Guy way. Get the light right, water deep but not too often, and let Houston do the rest. And if a plant ever has you stumped, we’re only a photo away. Happy planting!

— Todd & Sabrina, Garden Guy

Keep growing: Water Smarter → How Long to Water in Houston → Get Weekly Tips →

Drought Tolerant PlantsHouston perennialsCurb Appeal

Sabrina Farber https://www.garden-guy.com

Best Perennials for Houston: 15 Proven Winners for Our Hot, Humid Climate

The 15 Best Perennials for Houston Gardens

The 15 Perennials

Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus)

Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Society Garlic (Tulbaghia)

Rock Rose (Pavonia)

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)

Coreopsis (Coreopsis)

Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida)

Mexican Heather (Cuphea)

Esperanza (Tecoma stans / Yellow Bells)

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

Gulf Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia)

Get the printable guide — free

Ask your question

What kinds of questions can I ask?

Best Perennials for Houston: 15 Proven Winners for Our Hot, Humid Climate

The 15 Best Perennials for Houston Gardens

The 15 Perennials

Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus)

Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Society Garlic (Tulbaghia)

Rock Rose (Pavonia)

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)

Coreopsis (Coreopsis)

Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida)

Mexican Heather (Cuphea)

Esperanza (Tecoma stans / Yellow Bells)

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

Gulf Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia)

Get the printable guide — free

How to Get Rid of Doveweed Without RoundUp

Before & After: A Poolside Landscaping Makeover in First Colony – Sugar Land, TX

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What kinds of questions can I ask?