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September tips for a beautiful
Waterwise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Fall is the perfect time to plant spring wildlfowers.
Time to think spring blooms. What?
Yes, really! About mid-September
there will be definite changes
in the weather due to refreshing cooler
temperatures. Look around for needed spots
for spring color or an area to change from
turf to a flower bed. Whether perennials
or spring-blooming wildflowers, fall is the
best time to plant. With planting, roots have Choosing which wildflowers to plant is the
time to grow during winter to be strong and
prepared for the stress of summer.
If you are planning new perennial beds,
begin with soil. If you have not had a soil
test, this is simple to do and inexpensive.
Find that information at this website:
http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/
soil-testing/.
To prepare your planting bed, get rid of
weeds then add three to four inches of
compost. Compost helps greatly, but if soil
is really heavy (forms a ball in your hand
when squeezed while wet), add decomposed
granite or, better yet, expanded shale. It is
best to do this soil prep, cover with mulch
and let rest three to five weeks before
raking mulch back and planting. Can we
wait? Rarely!
Scatter wildflower seeds later this month
or early October. Wildflowers, like herbs,
do not need rich soil, but wildflowers,
herbs and perennials all must have good
drainage.
Most wildflower seeds need light to
germinate, so check instructions on the
seed packet. You can usually just scatter
them on loosened soil and press in with
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
your hand, foot or a board for cover. If you
cover too much, they will not survive. Go
ahead and water or just leave for Mother
Nature, but do ensure the soil is moist
during germination. Again, read info on
soil packet or ask the friend who shared
the seeds with you.
fun part! You can purchase a regional mix,
but I prefer a couple of favorites scattered
in abundance to create a “show.” A large
group is also easier for pollinators to find.
In shade, red columbine is most dependable
to bloom and will do so in all but the most
dense shade. In full sun, poppies and
blue bonnets are hands-down favorites.
Do remember that blue bonnet seed coats
must be scarified (scratched or nicked)
to simulate natural weathering before
planting if you collected the seeds yourself.
If you bought commercial seeds, this will
have been done for you. Get busy now and
enjoy the beauty next spring!
GARDENING TIPS:
– Apply pre-emergent for annual winter
weeds if you have not already done so.
– Sept. 15-30, monitor for brown patches.
– Apply one-fourth to one-half inch top
dressing after temperatures lower,
usually mid-September.
– Keep watering trees deeply and slowly
in dry weather.
– Clean the flower beds after the long,
hot summer and spread compost, then
mulch.
Winola is a Williamson County
Master Gardener, a member of
the Sun City Garden Club and a
member of the Sun City Water Wise
Task Force.
Master Gardeners and other
experienced gardeners are available
to answer questions a half hour
before Sun City Garden Club
meetings each month. The Garden
Club meets the second Wednesday
of each month beginning with the
question and answer period at
12:30 p.m.
– Old bulbs and perennials like irises,
daylilies and Shasta daisies should
be divided every two to three years
to encourage more blooms. Trim
foliage to six inches. Purchase new,
spring-blooming bulbs now while
good selection is available, but keep
new bulbs in a cool, dry place a few
months until planting time. Remember
that bulbs need good drainage.
– September (after mid-month when
weather cools) and October are good
months to plant groundcovers and
cool-season herbs like arugula, chervil,
parsley, borage, cilantro, dill, winter
savory and salad burnet as well as
year-round herbs like chives, sage,
rosemary and thyme.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at 512-943-3300
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