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 cooling, moist weather conditions.
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.
3. Plant a tree Choose from central Texas’ 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.
4. Plant a vegetable garden Now is the time for broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts from transplants. Easily grown from seed are 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.
5. Plant snapdragons 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 flowering kale, and cabbage.
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.
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).
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 get longer.
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.
If you have a horticultural question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
