Published: September 10, 2009 11:13 am      

Pat Kriener: Fall is best season for planting

This is my favorite time of year because fall is for planting.

We usually have mild winters, especially when compared with our summers, so planting in the fall gives your plant several months to establish a good root system before the extreme temperatures of summer hit.

This is the best time to plant perennials, shrubs and trees in Texas.

zx Annuals — Mums are already in the garden centers. Soon many of the other fall and winter plants such as carnations, cyclamen, dianthus, kale, primrose and pansies will arrive.

zx Bulbs — Don’t forget many bulbs are planted in the fall in pots and in the ground for blooming in the spring. Start making plans now. Order your bulbs, and visit your garden centers to learn more about bulbs. Divide iris and calla lily at this time.

zx Compost bin — I have so much waste from the garden and kitchen that is considered wet material that I am adding bagged compost and turning often to even out the balance. Top-dress your beds and vegetable garden with compost because as you water or it rains it will slowly work its way into the soil for slow-release fertilizer.

zx Flower garden — Trimming, deadheading and fertilizing will keep the garden looking well maintained and encourage its beauty to last until frost.

zx Fruit trees — Most of our fruit trees harvests are over for the season except for a few varieties of apples and pears that are still producing. Remember to watered them even when they are not producing.

zx Greenhouse — Check for fungus related diseases and pests. Seed for winter annuals and vegetables. Transplant all plants with true leaves but first harden them off a few hours outside and then plant after three to five days. Begin cleaning to make room for cold tender plants already in pots. Prepare your pots and soil for any tender plants you need to dig up to winter over.

zx Lawn — Mid-September is the time to put down pre-emergent and fertilize for the fall. Leaves will be dropping soon. Don’t bag those leaves; mulch them into the lawn for fertilizer and mulch, or add them to your beds or the compost.

zx Mulch — Mulch to conserve water and so you don’t have to weed, weed, weed. If plants look over-watered, pull mulch away so they can air out.

zx Perennials — this is a great time to get out there and divide, propagate and plant perennials.

zx Problems — Molds, fungus, disease and an abundance of pests such as aphids, mealy bugs, scale and spider mites are a few of the problems plaguing our plants. Webworms are finally on the way out, and grasshoppers will soon follow them, but if you need help with any of these problems contact your local Extension agent, Master Gardener or garden center to help identify your problem and the appropriate solutions.

Rainwater — Build a dry creek bed to help to redirect water to your gardens or solve your drainage and runoff problems. Don’t forget to put out buckets to catch rainwater. For information on using rainwater wisely visit twri.tamu.edu/newsletters/TexasWaterSavers/tws-v3n2.pdf.

The fall vegetable garden — Write down an evaluation of garden successes and failures. Make notes on what changes you want to make for next year. Don’t rip out those tomato plants; cut them back and fertilize them. Most varieties will continue producing into the fall months. Harvest snap beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant into November and early December.

All the perennial herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano and others can be harvested all winter if you do not have them in your garden plant them now.

Vegetables to plant: Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, cucumbers, lima beans, snow peas, Irish potatoes, kale, leeks, lettuce, radish, rutabagas, shallots and snap beans.

Plant the broccoli, cabbage, collards and lettuce you started from seed last month.

Clean up beds, add compost, and add waste to the compost bin. Don’t have a garden? Or just don’t want to run out to the garden in the cold? Start a fall and winter container garden by the front or back door so you can enjoy vegetables and herbs all though the cooler seasons.

Watering — If we do not receive rain, a seven-day watering cycle is best for your plants. New plantings may need to watered more often to deal with the heat but soon they will have relief .

Fall is for planting so get out there and plant the landscape of your dreams.

For information on this or any gardening topic contact the Johnson County Master Gardener Association at www.jcmga.org or call Pat Kriener at 817-793-4625.



Pat Kriener is a Johnson County Master Gardener Wildbunch writer from Crowley.