P.F.
Hi,
Being brand new to TX, we were told by a Home Depot employee not to buy our plants from them. Not sure if Lowes is the same. He said the plants have been sitting for too long. I don't garden, but my husband does. The HD guy told us to check out a book called Neil Sperry's Complete Guide to Texas Gardening. We did and love it! We are also a fan of his on FB. We have posted questions and he answers them pretty quickly. I would check out his web site too. You may find some helpful tips for your situation.
Happy planting!