1. Prepare grass for winter Now is a good time to fertilize the
lawn. (We recommend Lady Bug 8:2:4. all purpose fertilizer;
$37 for a bag, and it covers 4,000 square feet.) Feeding now will
help the roots through winter dormancy. Inspect and treat for
brown patch, a disease common with cooling, moist weather con-
ditions. This is also a good time to apply corn gluten for weed
control.
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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 (see photo above). Don’t forget to check out fall
blooming ornamental grasses. Tops on my list are Gulf Coast
muhly, big muhly, and maiden grass.
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3. Plant a tree Choose from central Texas’s great selection of nat-
ive 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, flower-
ing peach or pear, or a 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 turn-
ips. 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 now 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 flowering kale, and cabbage.
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6. Harvest basil and make pesto 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 kit-
chen.
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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 nema-
todes (a disaster to tomatoes).
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8. Plant wildflowers These need to be planted in the fall. They
will grow leaves and stems while the days are short during the win-
ter and will flower in the spring as the days get longer.
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9. Plant fall bulbs For spring flowers, some of the best choices
are daffodils, grape muscari, tulips, jonquils, ranunculus, anemon-
es, hyacinths, and narcissus. When planting, remember to add a
little bonemeal to the root zone for some slow release organic nut-
rition. Happy Gardening Everyone!❦
