Here is some good news: fall is the best time to plant just about anything in Central Texas. In fact, this time of year could be called the “forgotten spring.”
What to plant?
Shrubs, roses and other perennials are best planted in fall so they grow through our mild winters and are more established when hot summer weather arrives. For these plants, be sure to amend the soil with organic matter. It enhances the typical clay soils of Brazos County, improves drainage and adds more air space. If the planting site is new, till or mix in compost before planting, let the soil settle a few days or weeks, then plant. If replacing just a few plants in existing landscape beds, mix in compost or other organic matter with a garden shovel and plant.
Fall in Texas is the absolute best time to plant trees. Smaller is better, so select 5- to 15-gallon size, but do not amend the soil. This seems counterintuitive, but research has proven that trees grow best if the soil that you dig out is the soil you put back. The bottom of the hole should be solid to avoid settling, the sides sloped and after planting the trunk root flares must be visible, just above the soil.
According to tree experts, planting and establishing trees is all about managing air and moisture in the soil. If like me, you appreciate some visual aids, check out our Texas Forest Service Tree Planting Guide website at texastreeplanting.tamu. edu/.
Vegetables and herbs
The easiest edible gardening season starts now! Plant beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, Swiss chard and leafy greens such as collard, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, spinach and turnips. Green onions, radishes, arugula, dill and parsley also may be planted.
Spring fever remedy
If you get spring fever, then remedy it by planting now. Early October is the perfect time to plant spring blooming wildflowers such as bluebonnets. If you want to plant wildflowers, don’t delay. I found seedlings of bluebonnets in my garden this week.
The seeds of our state wildflower have hard seed coats that are broken down naturally by rain and abrasion, a process known as scarification. Most all purchased seeds have already been scarified, so germination rate should be good.
Select a sunny site, with soil that is not too fertile but drains pretty well. Remove vegetation, rake the soil, then distribute seeds and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Lightly water and press seeds in to improve germination results. Get more details on planting bluebonnets and other wildflowers from The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here: www.wildflower.org/ learn/how-to/grow-bluebonnets.
Spring flowering bulbs
October and November is the time to plant the spring bulbs that have thrived and multiplied for generations in Texas gardens. These are not the one-time blooming and done bulbs like tulips or hyacinths that require weeks of chilling that our winters do not provide. These are bulbs that once planted provide weeks of winter and spring color year after year.
As proof, I have well over 500 of these bulbs that were planted 10 years ago in my flowerbeds. Some of them came from the garden of a beloved couple, where they had bloomed in Brazos County for more than 75 years and they still bloom reliably. Do you want to know more?
Probably the most reliable bulb for the South is the Narcissus tazetta Grand Primo. It typically blooms late winter, with each flower stalk producing clusters of white, fragrant flowers that have a pale yellow center cup. Of the white narcissus varieties that persist in the Brazos Valley, it is the most common.
Another excellent bulb is snowflake — Leucojum aestivum — that is similar to the northern snowdrop. In local gardens it frequently blooms in March. The flowers are white dangling bells about three-quarters of an inch long on stalks just a bit taller than the leaves, which can grow to 18 inches. Each petal has a tiny emerald-green dot at the tip. Do you prefer the look of a more traditional, larger daffodil? Here are some of the varieties that should bloom dependably year after year in Brazos County: “Carlton,” “Golden Dawn” and “Winston Churchill.” For a small, yellow one, try “Sweetness.” Then there’s “Thalia,” a double, pure white, late spring bloomer that is truly special.
Where to find these bulbs?
They can be a little hard to find. If you don’t have a gardener friend that has some to pass along, special groups such as the Brazos County Master Gardeners have them in their plant sales. A few may be found in garden centers in this region. However, there are nurseries that specialize in bulbs — so look online or in catalogs for reputable sources and place an order. The time to plant them is now, so don’t delay.
Charla Anthony is the horticulturist for Brazos County at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas 77803. For local gardening information, visit brazosmg.com. Gardening question? call 823-0129 or email cmanthony@ag.tamu.edu.
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