Weather, water and landscaping: What to know about gardening on the High Plains in 2024

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Spring has sprung once again in the Texas Panhandle and High Plains region, bringing with it struggles with seasonal allergies as well as the opportunity for gardening and other homesteading projects.

However, even seasoned gardeners around the High Plains may be in for a more challenging year in 2024, with average temperature increases and long-term drought conditions holding the possibility of impacting which crops and perennial plants are more likely to thrive.

MyHighPlains.com has compiled a roster of updates on the state of gardening on the High Plains in 2024, including plant hardiness and weather outlooks as well as resources on region-friendly plants, water reclamation and sustainable gardening practices.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The US Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map, as described by the USDA, is the standard used by gardeners and growers to determine which perennial plants have the best chance to thrive in their area. The map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature, displayed as 10-degree F zones and 5-degree F half zones that range from “zone 1” at the coldest to “zone 13” at the warmest.

The USDA updated the PHZM in November 2023 for the first time since 2012, and revealed that about half of the US shifted into a new hardiness zone, due partly to factors like warmer weather and more sophisticated mapping methods and data. The High Plains region includes zones ranging from “zone 5b” at the coldest in Union County, N.M. to “zone 8a” at the warmest in parts of Hardeman County, Texas.

Generally, the area saw increases of up to 5 degrees in temperature compared to the previous map; not a significant change for some, but enough of a range that neighbors in places like Armstrong or Briscoe counties might see a change in which perennial plants thrive the most in their gardens.

These zone numbers are often listed with the descriptions of perennial plants in catalogs and in other sale information. For example, a few “zone 7” plants include perennial flowers like daylilies, vines like honeysuckle, and crabapple trees. As noted by the USDA, though gardeners should also consult with other knowledgeable producers and gardeners or extension services in their area, keeping perennials with hardiness levels similar to those listed for their community might be one of many factors (light, soil moisture, temperature, cold exposure, humidity, etc.) that give them a better chance to thrive.

Choosing hardier plants for gardening on the High Plains may also be more important in 2024, with the most recent weather outlook for the region forecasting that drought conditions will likely develop and spread through the spring season. That outlook aligns with the expected fading of El Niño weather conditions between April and June, according to other recent national forecasts, which will cause a shift into a neutral phase that is neither El Niño nor La Niña. That shift could lead to another bout of drought conditions across the Texas Panhandle and High Plains.

Plant Lists for the Texas Panhandle and High Plains

The Texas Panhandle and High Plains region is considered semi-arid with low humidity and is mostly flat in topography, a natural grassland with temperatures that vary significantly according to the season and the time of day. Further, as noted by the Texas Almanac, the soil in the region ranges from caliche and clay to sandy loam soils; compacted clay and caliche soil with poor air and water drainage, sandy soil with minimal nutrients and water retention and general soil salinity levels mean that the region’s ground can be harsh and unfriendly to many plants.

Because of the climate and soil conditions, plants on the High Plains tend to thrive if they are sturdy enough to withstand drastic weather, with less water, and can adapt to a specific area’s soil type.

The Texas Department of Transportation has previously published a full guide to the grasses, weeds and wildflowers of the Lone Star State. Further, other resources such as the Native Plant Society of Texas, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and local blogs and associations like High Plains Gardening have all compiled lists of native and otherwise region-friendly plants for growers to consider.

A few of these lists include:

• The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Earth-Kind Landscaping Index
• The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Earth-Kind Plant Selection guide
• The Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Database
• High Plains Gardening Texas Panhandle plant lists
• USDA and US Forest Service Native Gardening resource list and plant profiles
• USDA and US Forest Service Plants to Avoid list

The listed sources and others not only encourage the use of native plants in lawns and gardens but also the use of sustainable design and growing practices to promote soil health, water conservation and ecological benefits.

Garden and lawn design strategies for the High Plains

Sustainable gardening practices encompass a wide range of names and strategic theories, from organic gardening and Xeriscape gardening to permaculture and natural landscaping. However, many of these gardening methods include the same principles as those described by the Denver Water Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for gardening:

• Creating a detailed layout plan for garden landscaping to promote favorable conditions for planting, sustainability and lifestyle goals;
• Using native plants suited to the soil and/or amending the soil to improve its physical, biological and mineral components to favor growth and sustainability;
• Creating practical and efficient areas of turf with appropriate grasses and groundcovers, to promote health and minimize water waste;
• Choose plants appropriate to the climate and conditions as well as the design and layout of the specific garden;
• Using water in a sustainable and efficient way that minimizes waste;
• Strategically using mulches (organic or inorganic, but not black plastic mulch) to insulate roots and minimize soil crusting, evaporation and weed growth; and
• Commit to practicing appropriate maintenance for each design, even if maintenance requirements decrease as the garden develops.

Called “Earth-Kind landscaping” by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, these principles and practices encourage landscaping for water and energy conservation, reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and reducing landscape waste. Methods used to achieve those goals include no or low-volume irrigation, raised garden beds, composting and recycling, using native plants and integrated pest management strategies.

Alongside promoting native plants and water-wise practices, many agencies and organizations such as extension services and the Texas Water Development Board encourage gardeners to adopt rainwater harvesting systems to use for lawns and gardens. These systems, as noted by the TWDB, can be manufactured storage containers or just as effective with simple at-home setups using buckets under gutter downspouts.

Altogether, gardening on the High Plains is a realm of opportunity in 2024, even with changing weather and water availability. However, long-term success may depend on individual gardeners and their communities taking steps to keep the unique climate and conditions of the High Plains region in mind and invest in strategies and setups the land of the Texas Panhandle itself may prefer.

For the latest Amarillo news and regional updates, check with MyHighPlains.com and tune in to KAMR Local 4 News at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. and Fox 14 News at 9:00 p.m. CST.