Page 30 - Sun Rays March 2013

30 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2013 ONLINE: SCTXCA.ORG
You have heard “Right plant, Right
place!” That’s true, but, we could also
add, “Right time!”
In the North, you plant in the spring,
so plants can be strong for the long,
cold winter. Subtropical plants like
Pride of Barbados should be planted
in the spring because they need time
to develop deeper roots to be strong for
the winter. But, in our mild Central
Texas climate, we need to plant most
vegetation in the fall to be strong for
the long, hot summer! If you succumb
to those strong urges to plant in the
spring, be prepared to hand water and
create microclimates to keep plants
alive.
March Tips for a Beautiful
Water Wise Landscape
NEXT MONTH: Join me to learn
about growing herbs.
Winola is a Williamson County Mas-
ter Gardener, a member of the Sun
City Garden Club, and a member of
the Sun City Water Wise Task Force.
Master Gardeners and other expe-
rienced gardeners are available to
answer questions a half hour before
Sun City Garden Club meetings
each month. The Garden Club
meets the second Wednesday of each
month beginning with the question/
answer period at 12:30 p.m.
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Remember that the south and west sides
of a house will be warmest, and north
and east the coolest. For plants needing
help during our long hot summer, create
a shady microclimate with shade cloth
(such as row cover) or plant taller plants
on the sunny side of them. In the hottest
part of summer, you can also move a
container plant suffering from summer
heat to a shady spot.
Some plants may need to get less water,
such as plants at the end of a slope.
You may need to dig down and add an
amendment like granite sand for better
drainage. You may even need to put tubes
with gravel in them deep below plant
roots to carry away water. Watch for
areas where your sprinklers and your
neighbor’s sprinklers overlap. If you
have an area where the sprinklers are
not watering enough, consider planting
some plants that hate watering, such
as Blackfoot daisy or four-nerve daisy,
in that spot.
Other plants are only marginally cold
hardy and need help in our winters. My
anacacho orchid tree is planted near the
south wall of the house for warmth. My
sweet bay tree died back even though
it was by a south wall, so I moved it
over beside a bay window that juts out.
Now, it not only has the warmth of the
south wall, but it is protected from wind
as well.
Near concrete, the soil has increased
alkalinity. While planting a flower bed
with a group, I asked why one corner
was left empty and was told that nothing
would grow there. Taking that as a
challenge and seeing this was a deeply
shaded spot beside concrete steps, I
planted a red columbine. This shade-
loving native that benefits from our
alkalinity thrives in that location! For
healthy plants, remember “Right plant,
Right place, Right time!
GARDENING TIpS FOR MARCH:
• Watch temperatures to avoid planting
too early in the month, or be prepared
to cover plants. Cut back healthy
perennials six (6) inches above ground.
Divide or transplant summer and fall
bloomers.
• Wait until soil warms up, then add
compost followed by mulch.
• Fertilize bermuda in late March to
early April, buffalo and zoysia in late
April to early May. Do not fertilize if
you spread top dressing this spring.
Source: Texas A&MAgriLIFE Extension
Service, 512-943-3300.
planting in the springtime can mean a
lot of hand watering for plants to survive
the Central Texas summer.