by CHRIS WINSLOW
When planning your garden for the future, I always think it’s a good policy to think of plants that bring with them a nice splash of fall color. Here are a few of my favorites:
Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis) – This fast-growing tree is much better suited to our Central Texas area than Arizona or Fantex ash.
It reaches a height of 40 feet with a width of 25 to 30 feet and lives far longer than the other ash varieties.
It doesn’t mind the heat, or alkaline soils, while its water requirements are relatively low. And this time of year the Texas ash turns red, gold, purple and orange. It’s quite a show.
Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) – A fall beauty known also as the maidenhair tree. This long lived tree is a “living fossil” and dates back far into prehistoric times, before dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Ginkgo is well adapted to our soils and makes a nice street tree between curb and sidewalk. It can grow to a height of 40 feet and turns a brilliant, incandescent gold before it drops its leaves.
Ginkgo leaf extracts benefit the circulatory system and are used in the treatment of headaches, memory loss and depression. Its extracts represent a billion dollar industry worldwide.
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) – This deciduous shrub grows 4 to 6 feet, blooms in the spring and summer and has beautiful purple berries in the fall. Its spring flowers are pale pink to lavender and its fall berries are borne on arching stems. Although poisonous to humans, its seeds are a favorite of birds.
Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) – This evergreen shrub or small tree occurs all over our area. Yaupon can grow to 12 to 15 feet and is happy in both sun and part shade. It blooms small white flowers in the spring and carries beautiful red berries through the winter months.
This plant is also a favorite food source for birds. Mockingbirds go nuts over these berries!
Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) – This is a deciduous form of yaupon holly that occurs throughout the region. It loads up with orange to red berries for the winter months.
There is a beautiful specimen on Manchaca Road (northbound) just before Crockett High School. Possumhaw grows to 12 to 20 feet and can be found growing in full sun to part shade.
Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) – Here is another native with great fall color. It grows to 12 to 20 feet, with a 15 foot spread. It blooms in the spring with white flowers and is a good source of nectar for wildlife, and is a good source of seeds for birds.
Unlike its East Texas cousin, this dogwood does well in our alkaline soil and drier conditions.
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Compost question: We have decided to try a compost pile and have no idea how to do this. Our hope is that we will be able to cut down on some of our garbage – A. Bridges
You might want to start by making a bin out of fencing material, wood and wire that is 3 to 4 feet tall and can be opened on one side for occasional stirring or turning over.
Composting begins with a mix of organic matter, water and compost starter (natural bacteria and microbes) that can be purchased in local nurseries.
A good recipe would be to start with a pile of grass and leaf trimmings from the yard and add a little water and starter. Let the pile sit for a few months and begin turning the compost material to allow air.
Keeping the bin moist is essential.
As the organic matter breaks down, you can begin adding chopped up kitchen scraps. Good things to add are grass trimmings, leaves and yard trimmings, coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit scraps.
You should never add meats, oil and greases or non-organic products such as plastic. Remember to turn the pile on a monthly basis. The more you turn, the faster the compost will be ready.
Happy gardening everyone, and keep those questions coming.
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected] or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme,11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 itsaboutthyme.com
