Fine, go with the simple solution first, but let me ask you this... where's the fun in that?!? ;-p Seriously though, I may have over-analyzed it just a tad. My father was a brick mason and I've seen lots of concrete jobs that looked like that a couple months/years later because crews didn't clean up their mess properly and whatnot. The worst I've ever seen was an entire cement pavement up to a house that was just graded over when the entrance to the house was remodeled from a small porch landing to a very large "country porch" wrap-around style porch...and then sodded over. There was always a perfect strip down this guy's lawn where the grass would die every other year. Apparently grass cannot grow when it's simply four inches of soil on top of concrete... go figure :shrug: ;-p

Hal, I also have a dry environment. I keep the compost piles covered with plastic during the summer to try to keep moisture in, but I find that the heat of composting will dry out the pile, too. I have seen both fresh (green) grass clippings, and freshly pruned tree chippings (ramial wood) get up above 140F and dry themselves out long before they are finished composting. For the ramial wood, I'll just have to turn it when it overheats. For the grass clippings, I think I'll dilute them with more leaves to prevent the overheating.

I would consider San Angelo Zone 7 for almost all planting you do but like stated earlier plantings on the southern side(micro-climate) of heat radiating objects may give you the chance to do some zone 8 plants. As to plant labels stick with full sun plants only for your afternoon sun and part to full sun for your morning side plantings. Most plants are planted in spring which is still when most people plant regardless if it is the best time to plant a given plant or not.(Hence nurserys (mine included) supply the broadest and most diverse selection and sizes at that time. Many plants can be planted in the summer but most people don't want to deal with the constant attention to water that these plants will need if planted during that time period. Many Evergreen plants that are zone appropriate can be plant year round yet I see very few customers in the November-Feb time period and again a nursery can't afford to stock and maintain a brimming full nursery selection when only a handful of customers are coming in and even considering planting. Fall is a great time for most but not all plantings. It starts as the first cool fronts start coming in and night time becomes cool enough to enjoy being outside and you start opening windows to enjoy some fresh cool air at night. Maybe as early as mid-Sept but more often Oct. is the month to get serious about fall planting of many things. The challenge will be what is available for you to plant because many nurseries have pared down inventory because not enough gardeners take advantage of this PRIME time of year and many that do want the plants at sale price (read at cost or below). Having been in the nursery business for 22 years (12 in Texas) this is an observation not to dis my fellow gardeners. I like many nurseries are trying to offer as much as is reasonble business-wise throughout the year but the customer is the ultimate driver of what will be carried and when, if you are going to survive in this challenging but personally rewarding vocation (read most of us aren't into for the pay). An average 1st year teacher makes more than a good nurseryman after 10 years of caring and teaching others about his plants(children). Do get to know your Ag extention and Master Gardners in the area as well as the native plant people in your area, also search out the best of type nurseries in your area and look for free seminars put on there and if you stop by throughout the year you will get lots of free and probably useful advise as well as see what is carried at any given time throughout the year. Any of these will give you much needed advise and ideas to work into your situation. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are great gardens or landscapes. Last but not least continue to frequent this forum and ask questions and lurk and search as anyone that does, no matter how long they have grown plants will find little gems of wisdom and of course a great bunch of caring folks that wish you all the best in you gardening future. Happy Growing David

I remind myself of a letter I saw in Dear Abby one time, where someone asked, "What is wrong with me? I would cry at the opening of a new K Mart." :)) The thing about it is, I never cry in my own life...you know how people say they can't stop crying and don't know why. I don't cry. I am fairly stoic about many things, but I cried like a baby when I saw the Budweiser Clydesdales and I used to cry just seeing my daughter marching in a parade when she was in school and when she graduated. I will tear up over a cute baby or a pet. I do get depressed for days over cruelty to animals. Some things I just cannot stand at all. But, I don't usually cry about it. Maybe if I did, I would get over it faster. I dunno.