TEXAS

Colorful Displays
Assemble bright collages of foliage and flowers for key plantings and containers. For upright foliage, use variegated Louisiana iris, 'Red Sensation' and 'Red Star' giant dracaena, or striped green-and-white dianella. Give this display skirts of drooping or low-growing sweet potato vine, such as the dark 'Blackie' or chartreuse 'Margarita,' gray-leaved helichrysum, or low-growing silver dichondra. Good flowers to choose include portulacas, Wave Series petunias, verbenas, and Profusion Series zinnias. --William C. Welch

Entire State
Water garden--Create a water garden this season in a low, boggy area; preformed tub; or large container. Plants such as hardy hibiscus--with its large, saucer-like white, pink, or red flowers--or swamp rose (Rosa palustris) enjoy wet feet. The swamp rose will have many drooping branches covered in pink blooms that are reflected in the water in springtime. Other options that can all be grown in pots in a water garden include Longwood Series cannas such as 'Endeavor' and 'Erebus'; rain lilies, such as the white Zephyranthes candida; and mint.

Panhandle
Trees--Plant trees now. Choose from bald cypress, cedar elm, bur oak, pecan, or Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia). Small- or medium-size trees in containers often become established sooner and grow faster than larger specimens.

Central, East, and South
Lawn care--Turf needs can be addressed now. For lightly shaded areas, choose St. Augustine grass rather than Bermuda. For more open, sunny areas, common Bermuda and Zoysia work well. In acid soils of eastern Texas, centipede grass is a good choice.

South
Vegetables--Let warm-weather vegetable gardening begin! Sow seeds of Southern peas and squash, or plant peppers and eggplant. Set out large tomato plants for quicker crop production.

North and East
Perennials--Try silvery artemisias, low-growing polyantha roses, sages such as autumn sage (Salvia greggii) in colors ranging from white to pink and red, mealycup sage (S. farinacea) in shades of silver and blue, Mexican mint marigold, firebush (Hamelia patens), and gaillardias.

Central, West, and South
Succulents--Brighten dry, hot areas with pots or plantings of succulents. One of the most successful and frost-resistant is ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense). Many sedums do well in containers or in areas where there is no foot traffic. 'Autumn Joy' sedum and 'Brilliant' showy sedum withstand more cold than most. Succulents are especially useful for weekend homes or other places where only occasional watering is possible.

"Around Your Garden" is from the April 2007 issue of Southern Living.