Episodes
Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews is your weekly guide to thriving West Texas yards—lawns, trees, beds, soil, water-wise strategies, seasonal to-dos, and practical fixes for pests and disease. Broadcast live at noon Saturdays on NewsTalk1560, KZQQ-AM (Abilene, Texas), Adam answers listener questions and shares expert tips tailored to the Big Country climate. Send your questions for on-air consideration to wcgardens24@gmail.com
Landscaping in the Big Country with Adam Andrews is your weekly guide to thriving West Texas yards—lawns, trees, beds, soil, water-wise strategies, seasonal to-dos, and practical fixes for pests and disease. Broadcast live at noon Saturdays on NewsTalk1560, KZQQ-AM (Abilene, Texas), Adam answers listener questions and shares expert tips tailored to the Big Country climate. Send your questions for on-air consideration to wcgardens24@gmail.com
August has arrived in West Texas, and with triple-digit temperatures settling in, Adam and Amber explain why this is the time to maintain rather than push new growth. They cover smart hot-weather landscape care, including watering, mild organic fertilizers, gypsum for heavy clay soils, and Hydretain to help landscapes make better use of available moisture. They also preview their trip to the 2026 Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Expo in San Antonio.Then it's all about vines for the West Texas landscape, beginning with Adam's Plant of the Week: Crossvine. This hardy, drought-tolerant na...
Fresh off a Taylor County Master Gardener seminar, Adam and Amber recap the basics of caring for houseplants and outdoor tropicals while discussing how gardeners can stay productive during the hottest weeks of the Texas summer. They also cover seasonal pest concerns including mosquitoes, spider mites, aphids, and grubs, along with practical advice for keeping landscapes healthy through triple-digit temperatures.This week's Plant of the Week is the ever-popular Crape Myrtle, often called the "Lilac of the South." Adam explains why it's one of the best ornamental trees for West Texas, highlig...
Fresh off a Taylor County Master Gardener seminar, Adam and Amber recap the basics of caring for houseplants and outdoor tropicals while discussing how gardeners can stay productive during the hottest weeks of the Texas summer. They also cover seasonal pest concerns including mosquitoes, spider mites, aphids, and grubs, along with practical advice for keeping landscapes healthy through triple-digit temperatures.This week's Plant of the Week is the ever-popular Crape Myrtle, often called the "Lilac of the South." Adam explains why it's one of the best ornamental trees for West Texas, highlig...
After an unusually wet July, Adam and Amber discuss how abundant rainfall is changing the gardening season across the Big Country. They cover timely summer tasks including grub prevention, fertilizing roses and crape myrtles, repairing storm-damaged trees, controlling mosquitoes, and restoring washed-out driveways and landscape beds after heavy rains. They also share details about an upcoming Taylor County Master Gardener seminar on houseplants and tropical plants.This week's Plant of the Week is the iconic Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), also known as cenizo or the "barometer plant."...
After a powerful July windstorm swept through Abilene, Adam and Amber discuss storm cleanup, assessing tree damage, and how to properly prune broken limbs to help trees recover. They explain why pecans, mesquites, and hackberries suffered the most damage while many oak trees weathered the storm remarkably well, along with tips for balancing damaged trees and protecting fresh pruning cuts.The episode also covers timely mid-summer landscape care, including treating squash bugs and spider mites, when (and when not) to fertilize St. Augustine lawns, and why pesticides, fungicides, and herbicide...
With West Texas settling into triple-digit temperatures, Adam and Amber focus on helping homeowners keep landscapes healthy through the hottest part of the summer. They discuss the importance of inspecting sprinkler systems, checking drip irrigation for hidden leaks caused by wildlife, and why watering early in the morning gives plants the best chance to thrive while conserving water. They also explain how products like Hydretain can help reduce irrigation needs during extended hot weather.This week's featured plants include two unique favorites. First is the beautiful American (Texas) Wist...
As summer officially arrives in the Big Country, Adam and Amber discuss the transition into hotter weather, Father's Day weekend, and why now is the perfect time to fertilize summer-blooming plants, control weeds, refresh mulch, and strengthen Bermuda lawns before the peak heat of the season arrives. They also share an update on rainfall totals and what recent moisture means for local landscapes.The conversation takes a fun turn into the world of houseplants, including the growing popularity of miniature tropicals, terrariums, fairy gardens, and carnivorous plants. Learn about Venus flytrap...
After a much-needed June rain, Adam and Amber discuss how recent moisture will benefit West Texas landscapes—and the challenges it can bring. This week's show covers mosquito control, lawn fungus prevention, grub treatments, pre-emergents, sod installation, and why prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to common yard problems.The Plant of the Week is the ever-popular Crape Myrtle, often called the “Lilac of the South.” Adam and Amber explore the many varieties, colors, sizes, and uses of this West Texas favorite, along with tips for preventing aphids, scale, and other common is...
Adam and Amber kick off Memorial Day weekend with gardening advice for the unofficial start of summer, including Water-Wise Tax-Free Weekend, sod season, and the best heat-loving plants for West Texas landscapes.This week’s Plant of the Week is the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) — a colorful, pollinator-friendly favorite that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees while thriving through the summer heat. The show also covers late-emerging warm-season plants like crape myrtles, hibiscus, Lantana, ornamental grasses, and creative alternatives to common landscape staples for adding fresh color...
Adam and Amber talk about preparing landscapes for summer, including pre-emergent timing, sod installation, Water-Wise Tax-Free Weekend, and why more homeowners are tackling landscaping projects themselves this year.This episode’s Plant of the Week is the Vitex (Texas Lilac / Chaste Tree) — a drought-tolerant Texas Superstar that thrives in West Texas heat while attracting butterflies, bees, and pollinators. They also cover landscape planning basics, mulch vs. weed barrier, xeriscaping, sucker growth on trees, and practical advice for building low-maintenance flower beds and yard designs in...
Adam and Amber celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with gift ideas from Willow Creek Gardens, including potted flowers, roses, hydrangeas, bird baths, pottery, hummingbird feeders, and kid-friendly planting projects.This episode also covers May lawn care, pre-emergent timing, fertilizing, sod orders, Vinca, Pentas, citrus trees, and Adam’s Plant of the Week: Hydrangeas. Plus, they talk crepe myrtle scale, spider mites, and what landscape issues are starting to show up around the Big Country.
It’s the last weekend of April, and spring is in full swing. Adam and Amber talk mowing, fertilizing, sod season, summer annuals, perennials, and why April and May are prime time for finding the best plant selection of the year.Adam’s Plant of the Week is Pentas, a heat-loving, pollinator-friendly annual that brings bold color to West Texas beds, pots, and commercial landscapes all summer long. They also dig into ladybugs, praying mantis eggs, native and adapted perennials, milkweed for monarchs, and how Willow Creek Gardens decides which plants truly belong in Big Country landscapes.
After a welcome April rain, Adam Andrews is back on Landscaping in the Big Country with guest Austin Starling for a timely spring update from Willow Creek Gardens. They cover mid-April lawn care, including why now is the right time for a second fertilizer application for lawns and trees, what kind of fertilizer to look for, and why spring remains one of the best windows for planting.The conversation also highlights what’s arriving at the nursery during the busiest stretch of the season—tropical hibiscus, bougainvillea, pentas, vinca, milkweed, ladybugs, praying mantis eggs, and more—along w...
This week on Landscaping in the Big Country, Adam and Amber tackle another dose of classic West Texas weather—summer heat one day, a cold front the next—and explain what that means for tender plants, new deliveries, and spring planting plans. They share practical tips for protecting outdoor pots and fresh plantings from sudden wind and temperature swings, along with a look at all the new color, pottery, tropicals, and blooming plants arriving at Willow Creek Gardens.Adam’s Plant of the Week is the Texas Bluebell, a striking Texas native also known as lisianthus, and he breaks down why it is...
It’s classic March in West Texas—91 degrees one day, near freezing the next—and Adam and Amber spend this episode helping listeners navigate the weather roller coaster. They cover what to do before the weekend’s strong winds and cold snap, including why it’s smart to water outdoor plants ahead of time, what should be brought inside, and why freeze cloth or an old sheet beats plastic every time when protecting tender vegetation.With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, Adam’s Plant of the Week is the clover, and he clears up the difference between true clover and oxalis while sharing why bot...
Spring is starting to wake up across the Big Country, and Adam and Amber cover everything that comes with it. This episode looks at the early signs of the season, from much-needed March rain to the flood of new plant trucks arriving at Willow Creek Gardens with fresh color, shrubs, pottery, tropicals, and more.Adam’s Plant of the Week is the live oak, and he explains why it remains one of the best long-term shade trees for West Texas, including its growth habit, durability, history, and what homeowners need to know about its annual leaf drop. The show also covers what to tackle right now in...
Willow Creek Gardens is rolling into the early spring rush, and Adam and Amber are here with the February game plan. With plant trucks arriving and the nursery turning green again, they break down what’s showing up first—fresh shrubs and trees, fruit trees, cool-season color, herbs and veggies, and some early surprises that usually don’t hit until later.Plant of the Week is Dianthus—also called pinks or sweet William—a tough, cool-season favorite loaded with color, fragrance, and variety. Adam explains why dianthus thrives right now, how it performs through the seasons, and why it’s a great...
Adam and Amber take advantage of the spring-like weather to walk listeners through what should already be on the early-season checklist. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, they share quick gift ideas from the nursery, then shift into the real timing window for winter work—tree pruning before bud break, cutting back overgrown shrubs, trimming roses (but not climbers), refreshing mulch beds, and getting lawn equipment serviced before repair shops get backed up.They also encourage homeowners to check sprinkler systems now for clogged heads or freeze damage, and to get on the schedule earl...
It’s the last day of January, it’s freezing outside, and Adam, Amber, George (and a napping Willis) kick off a “what now?” episode after a wild week of closures and nonstop firewood sales. With Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and a family wedding on the horizon, Adam names the Texas state flower—bluebonnets—as Plant of the Week and breaks down the real way they grow: the tough seed coat, how (and when) to scarify seeds, why you don’t need soil prep, and the hilarious truth about “it’s illegal to pick them.”Then it’s all about February prevention: pecan buying tips, the Farmers’ Almanac (fin...
A hard freeze is on the way, and Adam starts with the simplest move that makes the biggest difference: water before the freeze. He explains why hydrated plants handle cold better than stressed, dry ones—and which outdoor color plants and newly planted trees need a soak. Then it’s all about January tasks: freeze cloth basics, pecan-buying tips (dry and clean), and a quick look at what to start planning for now as vegetable season approaches—onions, asparagus, potatoes, and other cool-season favorites.In the second half, Adam welcomes special guest Eric Veith for a timely deep dive into pruni...
January may feel quiet in the yard, but broadleaf weeds are already thriving—especially after a mild winter and a little rain. Adam and Amber break down the most common broadleaf weeds showing up right now (like henbit, clover, prickly lettuce, aster, and spurge), plus what actually works to control them. They explain the big categories (broadleaf vs grassy vs nut sedge), how to choose the right product for your lawn type, and why temperature matters more than most people think when spraying.They also share a practical warning about weed-and-feed products near trees and shrubs, when dicamba...
Adam and Amber talk quick, practical cold-front prep—what to bring in, what to cover, and why winter watering still matters when it’s been dry. Then they spotlight lucky bamboo as a New Year “good fortune” plant (what it really is, how to care for it, and what the stalk counts symbolize). In the second half, they tackle mistletoe—the romantic tradition that’s also a parasite in our trees—where it shows up, how birds spread it, and the best ways to knock it out or prune it back before it weakens branches. They wrap with a reminder that, warm spell or not, this is still prime season for tree ...
With Christmas just days away and temperatures climbing into the 80s, Adam and Amber talk through what the warm, unpredictable weather means for your landscape right now. They explain why it’s best to leave green plants alone, when to wait on cutting back perennials, shrubs, and roses, and how mistimed pruning can actually cause more damage once colder weather returns.The conversation also covers tree planting season, why winter is ideal for getting trees established, and how proper placement can save homeowners years of problems. Adam walks through common mistakes—planting too close to hou...
Adam previews a warm weekend followed by a quick cool-down, then highlights Willow Creek Gardens’ Workshop Warehouse Open House—a come-and-go event where you can build terrariums, sand art, kokedamas, and succulent gardens. The workshop is open Saturday 10–5 and Sunday 1–5.Adam is joined by Dan Schueler, president of the Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, to talk about the club’s layouts, scales, and how family-friendly the hobby is—plus what visitors can expect at their open house, including interactive details for kids and a scavenger-hunt-style search for hidden features. Both events ...
Adam and Amber ride the mid-December weather roller coaster and kick things off with Small Business Saturday plus details on next weekend’s big double-header: the Willow Creek Gardens Workshop Warehouse Open House and the Abilene Society of Model Railroaders open house, with terrariums, sand art for the kids, and plenty of Christmas gift ideas. From there, they dig into holiday plants—clearing up myths about poinsettias, explaining how to keep them healthy indoors, and walking through the differences between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus, including how light and darkness affect...
On this post-Thanksgiving episode of Landscaping in the Big Country, Adam and Amber Andrews shake off the turkey haze and dive into late-fall yard care on KZQQ 1560. They start with Small Business Saturday, a quick Abilene weather rundown, and why today is the day to finish outdoor chores before the next hard freeze settles in.From there, they recap the first Workshop Warehouse open house and preview the next one coming up in December — complete with terrariums, sand art for the kids, coca-dama projects, and even a tie-in with the Abilene model railroaders’ open house next door.Adam then sp...
On this episode of Landscaping in the Big Country, Adam Andrews opens the show with a look at our much-needed rain, a mild forecast heading into Thanksgiving, and why now is prime time for leaf cleanups, winter color, and that “last mow” before putting the lawnmower to bed for the season. Adam also spotlights the Eldarica (Afghan) pine as Plant of the Week — explaining why it’s nearly tailor-made for West Texas and how it can pull double duty as a living Christmas tree you enjoy indoors now and plant in your yard later.Amber is across the street hosting Willow Creek Gardens’ Workshop Wareho...
It feels like midsummer in mid-November, but Adam and Amber lay out a smart plan for the week ahead: record-warm days now, a mild front with rain on the way, and how to prep without overreacting—bring in true tropicals, cover tender bloomers with cloth (not plastic), and switch sprinklers to winter settings while you tackle leaf cleanups and a final mow. They explain why fall is the best time to plant trees, why frost—not the number on the thermometer—does the damage, and why it pays to stock firewood before the first real cold snap.