Most people have a hard time pulling up flowering plants. In late May, spring bloomers such as pansies still provide a little color in the garden, but they begin to grow leggy and their bloom size decreases. Don't wait for cool-weather plants to totally decline, pull them out, and start planting for the summer.

Most summer-blooming bedding plants do best when they're put out in May and June before summer becomes unbearable. This gives them a chance to root in, get established, and endure late-summer droughts.

Take a look at some of the plants that performed well for us in the landscape. Texas sage (Salvia coccinea), purple heart, lantana, and narrow-leaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) are favorite summer beauties that beat the heat. It's a good thing we used these tough plants, because part of the summer we were unable to water due to drought-imposed watering restrictions.