What to Plant in Your Flower Bed: DFW Seasonal Guide

Choosing the right plants for your Dallas-Fort Worth flower bed makes the difference between a thriving garden and a struggling one. Our extreme climate—with hot summers, mild winters, and unpredictable rainfall—requires strategic plant selection.

Spring Planting (March-May)

Annuals

• Pansies: Early spring color, fade by May
• Snapdragons: Cool-season blooms until heat arrives
• Petunias: Plant after last frost (mid-March)
• Marigolds: Heat-tolerant, bloom through summer

Perennials

• Salvia: Texas native, attracts hummingbirds
• Lantana: Drought-tolerant, blooms until frost
• Black-eyed Susan: Native wildflower, low maintenance
• Shasta daisy: Classic white blooms

Summer Planting (June-August)

Heat Survivors

• Pentas: Butterfly magnet, thrives in heat
• Vinca: Reliable summer color
• Zinnias: Easy from seed, cutting flowers
• Portulaca: Succulent groundcover for hot spots

Fall Planting (September-November)

Cool Season Stars

• Pansies: Return for winter color
• Ornamental kale: Frost improves color
• Chrysanthemums: Classic fall blooms
• Asters: Native, feeds pollinators

Winter Interest (December-February)

Evergreen Options

• Dusty miller: Silvery foliage year-round
• Ornamental cabbage: Color intensifies in cold
• Violas: Hardy winter blooms

Native Plant Recommendations

These Texas natives thrive with minimal care:

• Turk's cap: Shade-tolerant red blooms
• Fall aster: Purple clouds in October
• Mexican bush sage: Purple spikes, deer resistant
• Coral honeysuckle: Native vine for trellises

Planting Tips for Success

1. Amend soil: Add compost to clay soil
2. Space properly: Account for mature sizes
3. Mulch: 3 inches after planting
4. Water deeply: Encourage deep roots
5. Deadhead: Remove spent blooms for more flowers

Professional Planting Services

Sandoval Landscaping sources quality plants and handles professional installation throughout DFW. We select varieties proven to thrive in our climate.