Have It All: Landscapes that Appeal to Both Wildlife and HOAs

I can’t do that in the front yard — I have an HOA! If you can relate to juggling your desire to landscape for wildlife with your desire to stay on your HOA’s good side, then listen up and let’s focus on what we can do. With or without an HOA, your rights are pretty similar. Texas Senate Bill 198* prevents HOAs from denying “a proposed installation of drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving natural turf.” Native plants definitely fall under that category. Furthermore, naturalistic landscaping is increasingly becoming more popular and appealing to the average homeowner. There is no better time than now to create a landscape that appeals to both wildlife and HOAs.

I know some of you have gotten the badge of honor - a cease and desist from the city of Houston. I know a lot of you have questions, namely WHYYYYYY?! So I have dedicated this article to y’all who need guidance through this challenge.

The key word in the City of Houston municipal code**, as it pertains to your yard is “uncultivated.” Be intentional, and you have already won. Your yard is awesome, and it’s that way on purpose. Disguising your habitat garden as an HOA yard-of-the-month is a totally doable goal. You’ve got this. Here are some tips…

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em…

First and foremost, I want to point out that your HOA is a form of local government and consists of your neighbors. If promoting natives is important to you, I can think of no more impactful work than joining your HOA. Think global, act local. Two of my close family members are presidents of their HOAs, and they come to me for advice. We are not oil and water! We mix well and both have an important trait in common: we care about our environment and want the best for our neighbors. Consider becoming more involved with your HOA and local government.

Soft Green and Fuzzy

Of course I’m talking about your LAWN. It doesn’t have to be bermudagrass. It doesn’t have to be St. Augustine. But you will please both the crowd and the caterpillars with a soft carpet of groundcover. Frogfruit, horseherb, or another hardy native of your choice will do the job effortlessly. You should choose a species that is evergreen or at least semi-evergreen and drought tolerant. Besides providing shelter and nesting habitat for wildlife, your herbaceous groundcover layer will provide an aesthetic juxtaposition of green and hardscape that will please the HOA. Mass plantings of a single species of native plant are easier to maintain and provide an abundant energy source to pollinators and herbivores.

Sharpen the Edge

Weedwackers are our friends. However, we want to be mindful of nesting wildlife, so mow high, infrequently, and sporadically. Don’t mow at the same time every year as this will disrupt the breeding cycle of keystone species. By the way, when I say mow, I am referring to mechanical activity such as that done by a mower, weedeater, brush hog, or other utensil for masticating tall vegetation. Sharpen the saw both literally and figuratively. Let your neighbors know you mean business by keeping that edge razor sharp.

Ahead of the Curve

Parallel lines and right angles have their place in society to be sure, but the wildscape isn’t it. Curves are not only easier for plants but also easier on the eyes of a passerby. The perfect curved landscape edge can be attained using a garden hose or rope as a guide and a drain spade or your favorite hoe. Use the bendy hose to plot out the line. Then, you may want to mark the line with flags or paint before slicing it in with the spade. You can use boulders or edging to support your edge or commit to maintaining regularly with a weedeater.

Evergreens Forevermore

Evergreens. You need them in your life. A) They provide structure and support to your landscape and your house foundation. B) They provide winter food and shelter for insects. C) They provide attractive foliage during the cold season.

Having consistent greenery will keep your landscape looking alive and attractive year round. Good for wildlife, good for curb appeal. Some examples of fluffy native evergreen shrubs that work great in the Houston front yard are yaupon holly, wax myrtle, and cherry laurel. For more variety, you may also enjoy the native semi-evergreen virginia sweetspire and coralberry. You can maintain these to the height of your preference by pruning as needed. Evergreen sedges, grasses, forbs, ferns, succulents, palmettos, and vines are also cold-season options that will serve your native landscape well.

Walk the Walk

When it comes to wildlife, the more the merrier. More garden means more garden paths. Keep this in mind as you fill in your yard with your favorite natives. A garden needs a place for the gardeners to walk. Otherwise, you risk stepping on desirable plants and compacting the soil. Creating a footpath in your garden can be as simple as mowing one or laying down mulch. If it’s being used enough, the foot traffic will maintain the path, but you may need to supplement footpath maintenance by weedeating and pulling large disorderly annuals.

Certified G

Your garden is beautiful, and you are beautiful. Let your neighbors know what you did and how you did it. This is your sign that you need a sign. I will add a list below of links to certify your garden. By the way, these links will cover all the information noticeably missing from this article about actually making your yard wildlife-friendly. These websites will guide you through the process, and at the end you will get a snazzy educational sign to hang in your yard — the ultimate conversation piece. You are a bamf who can absolutely do this.

• Natural Area Ordinance with the City of Houston https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/naturalresources.html 

• National Wildlife Federation https://certifiedwildlifehabitat.nwf.org/

• Homegrown National Park https://homegrownnationalpark.org/ 

• Houston Audubon Bird Friendly Spaces https://www.birdfriendlyhouston.org/spaces/ 

• Native Landscaping Certification Program with the Native Plant Society of Texas (This certifies You, the landscaper, not your yard.) https://www.npsot.org/our-work/class-schedule/ 

• Monarch waystation https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/index.html#register

• NABA https://naba.org/butterfly-gardens/certification-program/

• Texas Butterfly Ranch Pollinator Habitat Initiative https://texasbutterflyranch.com/resources/pollinator-habitat-initiative/

• Xerxes Society https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-protection-pledge

Did I miss any? Please let me know in the comments!

That concludes my tips on how to make your wildscape HOA friendly. I hope you found some takeaways to use while designing and planting your habitat garden. If you would like more tips on wildscaping, please leave your suggestions and questions in the comments below. Thank you for reading, and thank you for inviting wildlife into your yard. Together we are making a difference!

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*If you’re a nerd for legislation, you may read the whole bill here https://texashoalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/SB-198-Protection-of-Drought-Resistant-Landscaping-and-Water-Conserving-Turf.pdf

**Hello, again, nerds, you may read Article XI neighborhood nuisances here: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH10BUNEPR_ARTXINENU