Keep it Green, by Michael Womack
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Saturday, September 15, 2001

Fall is fine for planting wildflowers

Fall planting tips Now through Oct. 15: Plant tropicals such as hibiscus, bougainvillea October through April: Plant trees, hardy evergreen shrubs September through October: Plant wildflower seeds

Cooler temperatures are just around the corner, prime time to consider landscaping projects. Although most homeowners think of spring as the best time to plant shrubs and trees, autumn is actually an even better time to put in trees and some landscape plants.
   Autumn provides milder temperatures and increased precipitation which help plant take root. September through mid-October is a great time to plant most landscape plants in the Coastal Bend. There is still plenty of time for them to overcome transplant shock and prepare for our generally mild winters.
   If you want to plant tropicals such as hibiscus or bougainvillea, do it now or plan to wait until next spring. Remember that these plants come from much warmer climates so planting too late in the fall makes them susceptible to freezing temperatures. Spring planting of tropicals provides them with about nine months of strong growth at optimal temperatures before winter sets in. Planting before Oct. 15 provides approximately 60 days before our average first freeze date of Dec. 15 in Nueces County.
   Don't forget wildflowers
   After that time, most plantings should be limited to trees and hardy, evergreen shrubs until spring. Tree planting season in the Coastal Bend runs from October through April. Fall planting provides mild temperatures and more natural precipitation for trees to become somewhat established, expanding their root systems before our hot, dry summer season returns.
   Besides trees and shrubs, wildflower seeds also should be planted in September and October. The seeds germinate in the mild autumn days when moisture tends to increase. Newly germinated plants look like weed seedlings to the untrained eye during the fall and winter. The wildflowers use these mild seasons to develop an extensive root system and often produce a low-growing mat or rosette of leaves. Then during the warmer days of spring, plants grow rapidly and produce their spectacular displays of color.
   One common misconception is that establishing a reseeding wildflower garden should be simple since they appear year after year in nature without any help from man. However, providing a helping hand now will help them produce a more bountiful bouquet next Spring.
   Seek super soil
   First select a site with eight to 10 hours of direct sunlight and good drainage. Planting in shady areas will result in weak, spindly plants with sparse blooms.
   As with any garden endeavor, the soil needs preparation before sowing the seeds. Wildflowers need to make contact with the ground for successful germination and establishment. Seeds sown in thatch (dead grass leaves) or rocks will not germinate properly. Scalping existing grass and lightly tilling the area will help with germination. Deep tilling will simply stir up more weed seeds. Seeds can then be hand-sown and covered with a thin layer of soil by using a rake or walking over the area.
   After planting, make sure you water the area thoroughly. After the initial watering, be careful not to over-water. Over-watering is the number one killer of domesticated wildflowers. Remember, these plants are quite drought tolerant once established, and our increased rainfall during this time of year should suffice. If the area becomes too dry, occasional watering may help the plants.
   Again, timing is critical, especially for wildflowers. Make it a point this year to take advantage of the fall planting season for trees, shrubs and wildflowers. A little time investment now will have big landscape payoffs next spring.
   Michael Womack is a horticulturist with Texas Cooperative Extension. Contact him at 767-5217 or wm-womack@tamu.edu
  
  

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Michael Womack is a horticulturist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Got a question? Michael Womack will answer landscape and gardening questions. Call 886-4648, category 3025 to record your question. Write Keep It Green, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469 or email wm-womack@tamu.edu

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