Don’t put a plant in the ground until you’ve thought through these. Seriously.
We plant thousands of plants every year—and we’ve seen just about everything.
Over time, we’ve developed a go-to list of questions we ask ourselves before putting any plant into the ground. It helps us avoid the most common mistakes we see from other companies—and yes, from our own earlier years too.
Many of you love choosing and planting your own plants. Others want to partner with us: you do some, we do some. And many prefer to hand it all off and let us handle it. Whatever your style, we’re here to help.
The 5 You Have to Ask:
1. How much sunlight does this spot get?
- Full sun = 6+ hours of direct light
- Part shade = 3–6 hours
- Full shade = less than 3 hours
- Not all sun is equal—afternoon sun is hotter than morning sun
- Some plants tolerate morning sun but burn in the afternoon
- Heat-lovers like rosemary or lantana need that afternoon intensity
How to answer this: Visit the spot at 9am, 12pm, and 3pm. Track when it’s in full sun—and whether that’s morning or afternoon. Write something like: “4 hours, morning only” or “6+ hours including afternoon.” That detail matters.
2. How much water does this plant need?
- Some plants survive on rain alone; others need weekly irrigation
- There are cases where overwatering can kill a plant—believe it or not
- If your plants are in a bed with irrigation, they’re likely all in the same zone
- That means they’ll all get watered the same amount
- Don’t mix thirsty plants with drought-tolerant ones in the same bed
How to answer this: Look up the plant on a trusted site (like the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or Texas AgriLife). Evaluate what other plants are nearby and how that irrigation zone is set up.
3. What kind of soil do I have?
- West Austin: rocky and alkaline over limestone
- Central/South Austin: clay-heavy, compacted
- East Austin: deeper but still alkaline
- Soil affects drainage, pH, and root growth
- Poor drainage = root rot and stunted growth
How to answer this: Dig a small hole and fill it with water. Time how long it takes to drain. Squeeze a handful of soil—clay sticks together, sandy soil crumbles. Match the plant to your soil, or amend with compost.
4. Can this plant handle my climate (and microclimate)?
- Austin is USDA Zone 8b: hot summers, drought, and surprise freezes
- Microclimates matter: next to a hot wall? Bottom of a slope? Under a tree?
- You can sometimes “cheat” and grow borderline plants in protected pockets
- But if you stray too far from your zone, you’re likely to lose the plant eventually
How to answer this: Search “[plant name] + USDA zone.” Then think about your yard’s specifics—sun, wind, stone, water, etc. We’re working on a deep local plant list to help with this, but it’s a big project in progress. In the meantime, we wrote this blog for you to understand USDA hardiness zones better.
5. How big will it get—and how fast?
- Don’t plant for today, plant for what it’ll be in 3–5 years
- Overplanting causes crowding, stress, pruning battles, or removals
- If you want immediate fullness, be okay with removing plants later
How to answer this: Look up mature size—not pot size. Ask how fast it grows in Central Texas. If you want long-term success, leave room.
The 5 That Level You Up
6. When does it bloom—and what color?
- Some bloom for days, others for weeks, and some for months
- Many plants come in different bloom colors—even within the same species
- If you want a color theme, plan for that up front
How to answer this: Look up bloom time and bloom color. Mix plants with staggered bloom windows so something is always happening in your yard.
7. Is it prone to pests or disease?
- Some plants (like red tips or certain types of roses) are known for issues
- Fungus, aphids, borers, and scale are common here
- Natives and well-adapted plants tend to resist these problems better
How to answer this: Search “[plant name] + common problems Texas” or ask your nursery, “What should I watch out for?” If a plant needs constant treatment, is that something you’re up for?
8. What kind of maintenance does it need?
- They don’t really hurt trees
- They feed tons of birds
- They’re just annoying
How to answer this: Ask, “What will I need to do to this every season?” Be honest with yourself: if it needs trimming 3x per year, are you up for that?
9. Is it helpful—or harmful—to wildlife?
- Many native plants support birds, bees, and butterflies
- Some are invasive and can crowd out native species
- Deer pressure matters—some plants get mowed down nightly
How to answer this: Look for tags like “Texas native,” “pollinator plant,” or “deer resistant.” Ask whether the plant provides food or cover for wildlife.
10. Is it easy to find and affordable?
- Some are easy to find and budget-friendly; others are specialty
- Larger plants cost more but make faster impact
- A plant that’s hard to find might not be worth the trouble
How to answer this: Call your local nursery or browse online first. If it’s always out of stock, you may want to choose something more available.
Bonus Question #11: What’s your budget?
This is a huge one—and it ties directly to question 10.
Depending on your budget, we can make totally different recommendations. You may want a full-yard transformation right now—or you may want to break it into chunks over time. Big, beautiful specimen plants can eat up a lot of budget quickly. If that’s worth it to you, great. But it’ll change how much of your yard we can refresh at once.
Ready to talk?
We’re happy to meet and walk your yard with you. We do this all day, every day—and we love helping customers find the right balance of beauty, resilience, and budget.
But before we meet, we’d love a rough budget.
It helps us guide you toward the best options and avoid wasting time (or money) on a plan that isn’t a fit.
— The Top Choice Lawn Care Team