Three grasses that grow from seed, St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), Japanese zoysia (Zoysia japonica) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) are rated by Texas A&M University as having the highest shade tolerance for grasses commonly grown in Texas. Their growing qualities make them suitable for different parts of Texas.

Tree and stadium seating image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.comThe live oak trees that grow native to the United States are either in the Deep South or in the Far West. The “Trees of North America” field guide states that live oaks are part of the red oak family, but many differ from typical red oaks. The most obvious features the live oaks share is that their leaves are evergreen, remaining on the tree year-round until new ones replace the older foliage.

Pear tree blossom and leaves image by hazel proudlove from Fotolia.comNative to Korea and China, the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) was introduced commercially to the United States in 1963. Landscapers and homeowners appreciated the tree& 39;s vigorous growth, compact branches and white flowers. Additionally, the tree tolerates poor soils and pollution so it was frequently planted as a street tree in cities.

If you’re a homeowner with shrubs, chances are, one or more of them are yews. If you’ve chosen the right variety, you should seldom have to prune it. If yours is overgrown due to years of undisciplined “bolting,” though, you may be thinking about renovating it. Yews stand heavy pruning better than many conifers but follow these simple steps to increase the probability of success with yours.

Birch image by smarty from Fotolia.comSixty different species of birch trees (Betula spp.) grow around various habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. From a horticultural standpoint, birches provide ornamentation in their colorful or textured exfoliating barks, springtime drooping catkin flowers, yellow fall foliage.

Grapes - Zest-pk - to Propagate Grape VinesGrowing grapes is a great way to add a sweet and tasty addition to your garden. While there are several ways to propagate grape vines, one of the easiest is by rooting cuttings taken from a mature vine. For areas with adequate rainfall, you can start your cuttings in place in your garden or, in drier areas, try starting your cuttings indoors in pots and then transplanting them.