Ask This Old House

Texas Drought-Tolerant Garden
Roger travels to Dallas to plant a garden using drought-tolerant, native species.

Where to find it?
Expert assistance on this project was provided by:

Texas Discovery Gardens
Dallas, TX 75210
Director of Horticulture: Randy Johnson

Randy recommended using expanded shale and compost to amend the clay soil. These are available at garden centers.

Small gas rototillers like the one Roger used are available to rent at home centers and tool rental stores.

These are the drought-tolerant plants that Roger and Randy planted. Most of these species are native to Texas. The adapted species are indicated by an asterisk (*)

Brazos Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis)
Lyre-Leaf sage (Salvia lyrata)
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Fall aster (Aster oblongifolious)
Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)
Lantana spp. 'Irene'
Mexican Feathergrass (Stipa tenuissma)
*Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantia)
Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Wright's Mistflower (Eupatorium wrightii)
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
Dwarf ruellia 'White' (Ruellia brittoniana)
Zexmenia (Zexmenia hispida)
Gregg's Mistflower (Eupatorium greggii)
Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
*Yucca (Yucca pendula)
Pigeonberry (Rivina humilis)
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)
Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra)
Chili pequin (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)
Scarlett Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Black Sampson (Echinacea angustifolia)
*Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) (endangered species)
Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus drummondii)
*Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'
Coreopsis 'Baby Sun' (Coreopsis grandiflora)
*Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

Check with your local garden center or horticultural office for native plant recommendations in your area.

Installing a Picture Window
Tom helps a homeowner remove a door and replace it with a picture window.

Where to find it?
The window that Tom installed was manufactured by Andersen Windows. It was purchased at the Home Depot.

The sheathing with a built-in air barrier is manufactured by Zip System.

Other supplies in this segment, including kiln-dried lumber and expanding foam insulation are available at hardware stores and home centers.