Texas A&M University Press


Can you say "xeriscape"?

The New Central Texas Gardener
by Cheryl Hazeltine and Barry Lovelace
Illustrations by Kate Bergquist
Photographs by Jeffrey Lava

For almost twenty years, The Central Texas Gardener provided invaluable advice about gardening in the unique Central Texas environment. The growing population of Central Texas faces new challenges in landscaping and gardening, and now The New Central Texas Gardener addresses the similarly growing awareness of native plants, xeriscaping (ZEER-iscaping, or landscaping that needs little or no water), and natural ways to accentuate the beauty of home gardens.

Cheryl Hazeltine and co-author Barry Lovelace have written new material describing how to create attractive, low-maintenance xeriscape gardens, water-collecting ponds, and native-plant gardens that attract butterflies and birds. The book also contains a whole new section on gardening implements, plus a new bibliography.

The authors also have updated their recommendations on which plants are best suited to the Central Texas climate, soil, and growing conditions. Maps of temperature zones, freeze dates, and soil distributions will help readers make appropriate gardening decisions for their own corner of the region. A special feature is the month-by-month guide to planning, planting, tending, and harvesting Central Texas plants. Residents of Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Waco, San Antonio, Bryan-College Station, and the surrounding areas will find the information tailored to their needs.

In examining grasses, ground covers, trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables, The New Central Texas Gardener describes all stages of the gardening process, including soil preparation, mulching, pruning, watering, pest and disease prevention, and landscape design. Handy charts and checklists help with selection of plants by comparing the features and uses of a wide range of trees, shrubs, and flowers. These descriptions are supplemented by graceful, easy-to-recognize illustrations and a new section of beautiful color photographs.

A wealth of gardening insights from area experts and the enthusiasm and experience of Hazeltine and Lovelace are combined here in a lively and conversational text that is a pleasure to read. Amateur and seasoned gardeners, native Texans and newcomers will all benefit from this practical and attractive guide to gardening in Central Texas.

CHERYL HAZELTINE taught gardening in Austin-area community schools, contributed articles on gardening to the Austin American-Statesman, and owned a landscape design business. BARRY LOVELACE, an Austin-based management consultant, is past president of the Austin Area Garden Council and the Men's Garden Club of Austin and is a certified Master Gardener.

The New Central Texas Gardener
ISBN 978-0-89096-848-2 cloth $14.95

6x9. 224 pp. 16 color photos. 39 line
drawings. 3 maps. 4 tables. Bib. Index.
Gardening. Texana.

Publication Date: February 1999.


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