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by Gary Williams
It’s time to plant again in North Texas, and the efficient gardener will be planting perennials. Perennials will bloom year after year, spreading and growing to fill the area, or providing plenty to be trans¬planted elsewhere. This truly is the best time to plant; milder tem¬pera¬tures give your plants an opportunity to firmly establish them¬selves before winter arrives, con¬sequently preparing them to grow vigorously as soon as it starts to get warm next spring.
There are hun¬dreds of perennials to choose from that do well in Texas. Yarrow, basket of gold, butterfly weed or butterfly bush, cannas, Shasta daisies, chrysan¬themums, coreop¬sis, purple coneflowers, daylilies, oxalis, lantana, thrift and santolina are all proven performers. Roses are also perennials, as are many spring-blooming bulbs and most herbs.
Herbs are some of the hardiest and most versatile perennials you can plant because they will enrich both your garden and your cooking year round. Sage is a great choice for any garden. It is hardy enough to survive both summer drought and winter temperatures and still add a fresh taste to your cooking. Coriander or cilantro is much the same, as is fennel, staying green throughout the winter and into spring. Dill will die back after a frost, but will still do very well in the cooler temperatures.
Parsley is the one exception. It will fade with frost, and although it will come back next spring, it really should be planted each year to assure the best flavor. Thyme winters well, as will garlic (although garlic really won’t produce until next spring).
Whatever perennials you decide to plant this fall, remember that they will be in the same spot for years, so make sure to plant them in the best spot available. Start with a good location: any spot with lots of full sun and excellent drainage. Raised planting beds are best, but if not possible, just make sure the area drains well and doesn’t get soggy after a rain.
Secondly, remove any weeds or rocks, and till the soil about a foot deep. Add 4-5 inches of good organic mixture like peat moss, compost, shredded bark, or something else organic that will break down over time to supply the soil with plenty of nutrients.
What if you already have perennials and would like to transplant or divide them? Stick to one simple rule when it comes to transplanting—if it blossoms in the spring, transplant it in the fall, and vice-versa for fall blooming perennials. In most cases, you can’t go wrong.
Finally, after you’ve planted your perennials this fall, don’t forget them this winter. Keep your entire garden moist throughout the winter, never going more than ten days without watering or rainfall. Root systems that have dried out over the winter will be severely damaged, and possibly will never recover if we have freezing tempera¬tures. Stay on the lookout throughout the entire year for insects or disease, and treat your landscape accordingly should they appear.
And check the mulch levels on all your beds, maintaining 2-3 inches of mulch all year to keep winter weeds out, moisture in and to hold erosion to a minimum. Happy gardening. |
