1. Prepare grass for winter Now is a good time to fertilize the

lawn. This feeding will help the roots through winter dormancy.

Inspect and treat for brown patch – a disease common with cool-

ing, moist weather conditions.
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2. Plant fall-flowering perennials Look around and see what’s

blooming this fall. Some good choices are Mexican bush sage,

pineapple sage, Mexican mint marigold, Copper Canyon daisy,

and fall asters. Also check out fall blooming ornamental grasses.

Tops on my list are coastal, big muhly, and maiden grass.

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3. Plant a tree Choose from central Texas’s great selection of

native and adapted shade and ornamental trees. Plant one of the

many oaks or elms for shade. Or add color to your late winter and

spring season by planting a redbud, mountain laurel, orchid tree,

flowering peach or pear, or Mexican plum.

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4. Plant a vegetable garden Now is the time for broccoli, cauli-

flower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts from transplants. Easily

grown from seed are collards, spinach, carrots, radishes, lettuce,

mustard and collard greens, beets, Swiss chard, spinach, and

turnips. Garlic and shallots (multiplying onions) can be planted

now with short day onions just around the corner in November. 
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5. Plant snap dragons These wonderful, winter hardy flowers

should be planted for a showy late winter and spring garden. They

almost guarantee a Yard of The Month sign in April. Other bedding

plants to choose from are dianthus, violas, pansies, stock and flow-

ering kale, and cabbage.

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6. Harvest basil and make pesto and also plant some winter-

hardy culinary herbs. Rosemary, oregano, parsley, cilantro, sage,

thyme, and chives love winter and can provide fresh cut herbs for

the kitchen.

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7. Plant winter grass seed: if you have a bare spot or would like to

get rid of a muddy patch, sow some rye grass or fescue. Rye grass

can also be planted in a vegetable garden area to provide green

compost in the spring and soil aeration. Elbon rye seed can also be

planted over winter in garden areas plagued by soil nematodes (a

disaster to tomatoes).

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8.  Plant wildflowers These need to be planted now. They will

grow leaves and stems while the days are short during the winter

and will flower in the spring as the days lengthen.

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9. Plant fall bulbs  For spring flowers, some of the best choices are

daffodils, grape muscari, tulips, jonquils, ranunculus, anemones,

hyacinths, and narcissus. When planting, remember to add a little

bonemeal to the root zone for some slow release organic nutrition.