A new time to plant
Fall is for planting.
Whether that’s transitioning the summer garden or planting a new tree, the season is ripe for new life and growth.
Plant roots grow when the soil temperature is 40 degrees or higher, which can last all winter in many areas of the Brazos River basin, according to the Texas Agrilife Extension Service. The root system during winter has time to establish itself for full growth potential during the spring.
With fall rains returning, homeowners can use their rain harvesting barrels to capture what they can and reuse for their new vegetation. For those who haven’t embarked on the rain harvesting barrel journey, now is the time to begin the practice. Be sure to check in with your local city government as many offer incentives for installing harvesting systems. Here's an excellent place to start for more information.
Trees and Shrubs
“Plan before you plant.” It seems simple enough. And, this practice will help avoid future headaches or expenses.
“All plants have growing requirements. Think about the plant's needs before you invest. Is it adapted to your area's soil? Will it grow in sun or shade? Does it need a wet or dry location? Is it cold hardy,” writes Landscape Horticulturist Dr. Douglas F. Welsh. “Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will pay off in greater enjoyment of attractive and useful home grounds, and in increasing the value of your home. It's much easier to move plants on paper then to dig them after planting in the wrong place.”
Before bagging any leaves that have fallen, consider using them instead to help with the gardening.
Shred those leaves with your lawnmower and use the pieces as mulch for your existing, or newly-created, flowerbeds and greenspaces. For those short on leaves, the Brazos River Authority offers a selection of mulch and compost for sale at its Temple-Belton Regional Sewage System at 2405 East 6th St., in Belton. The eco-friendly product helps free up space in landfills, and the Tri-Gro compost and mulch is a humus product produced and sold since 1990 through a cooperative agreement with the cities of Temple and Belton.
The product is recommended for lawns and home gardens. Since the product is carefully processed at temperatures higher than 133° Fahrenheit, it is free of weed seeds, plant diseases, and pathogens. Compost has many benefits, including improving soil tilth, moisture retention, organic matter, and normalizing soil pH. Mulch, on the other hand, is great for aesthetic appearances, will insulate plants in the winter and keeps weed growth at bay. The product is not, however, recommended for food-related gardens.
Before digging to plant a tree or shrub, check with the local utility company to locate any underground lines. Also, ensure the location is far enough away from foundations or sidewalks that the root system won’t cause damage. Here are some other steps to perfectly planting trees or shrubs.
Eat your Veggies
If you’re more into growing food than flowers, certain vegetables are best planted in the fall. However, fall crops generally do better when started from transplants than from seed. Determining when each vegetable should be planted depends largely on where you reside in the state. Those residing in the northern portions of the Brazos River basin would fall in Zone II while those in the lower basin near the Gulf of Mexico are in Zone IV. The zones can be found on the Texas AgriLife Extension Service website. Information on fall vegetable gardening by zones with a chart listing average planting dates for specific fall vegetables is available here.
Beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, spinach and turnips are among the foods that are prime for this fall.
Since water is a precious and limited resource, conservation efforts should be included in any fall planting efforts. It’s also important to remember too much water is just as harmful as not enough.
Drip irrigation systems are one of the best ways to water a garden, even during the fall months. The system controls the release by doing it slowly over a longer period. If there’s already a sprinkler system in place, take this opportunity to check sprinkler heads to make sure they are working properly and adjust to eliminate wasting water on the pavement.
Selecting trees and plants that are native and water-efficient is as important as selecting ones that are drought and heat tolerant. The latest seasonal drought outlook calls for the drought in parts of southern and western Texas to remain or develop further through December, according to the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.
Regardless of planting selection, have a cover ready to drape across plants if an early freeze hits.