The last few years have been a trying time for gardeners in the
central and southern parts of our state. Typically, Texas droughts
are busted one of two ways: either through a tropical system or
systems from the Gulf or from eastern Pacific Ocean, or climatic
changes resulting from El Niño. This year’s El Niño developed
during the spring and has helped bring much needed rainfall over
our area.
In the simplest terms, El Niño occurs when eastern trade winds
subside over the central and western Pacific Ocean, causing sea
surface temperatures to rise in the eastern Pacific, near the coast
of South America.
This rise in temperature creates global changes in atmospheric
circulation (including the jet stream that affects our own weather).
Local weather changes include above normal rainfall, and fewer
tropical systems in the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean.
The stronger the El Niño, the more pronounced the effects, and this
one is expected to strengthen early this fall and may result in a col-
der/wetter winter. We should at the very least be in for some cooler
summer months!
What should we do with this information? This is a good time to
evaluate your grass and plant choices. The last 5 years will tell you
a lot about the hardiness of a certain plant.
If it was able to withstand extreme cold and heat and then years of
drought followed by way too much rain this spring, then it's definit-
ely a keeper.
We live in a geographic region wrought with wide swings in our
weather patterns, and although the last few years have been extr-
eme, they are not unusual for central Texas.
Since this is a great year to plant, while examining your yard, look
at where you have been watering during dry periods, either with a
hose or irrigation system. Are there spots that you missed that were
hard to reach? Maybe on a quick drying slope or in a super-hot spot?
Any of the areas would be good candidates to install super drought-
tolerant plants now that it is safe to plant again.
Esperanza (yellow bells) and pride of Barbados, salvias (S. namaen-
sis and big red are two of my favorites), agave, prickly pear, skele-
ton-leaf golden eye, and Knock-Out roses, rosemary, mountain
laurel and native lantanas are good candidates for super dry, sunny
spots (as long as you water them to get them established).
And don’t forget about your shady spots. This is the right time to
determine where the low, wetter spots are and install plants that can
take a wide range of water conditions. Dwarf nandinas, katie ruellia,
viburnum (see photo above) liriope (both big blue and giant) and sev-
eral native perennials including Turk’s cap, Texas columbine, wood
violets and inland sea oats are all good choices.
Take advantage of our feast that usually follows famine here in
Texas. Use this year to get a jump on our next dry spell (there will
always be one!) and establish your new beds now. Stay dry and
happy planting!
