It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
What can I plant in this heat and drought that will give me great summer color?”
This has been by far the most popular Ask Chris question this week.
I always direct folks to some of those tough and beautiful summer annuals that bloom constantly until fall and even beyond . . . and do this with little care or water.
Top of my list are the succulents purslane and moss rose (portulaca).
These low-growing groundcovers flourish during our hot summers. As with all succulents, they store water in their leaves and can handle long periods without water. They flower during the day, and come in a multitude of pretty colors and flower forms.
Purslane flower form is usually single petal (unlike the double petals of most rose flowers). The largest purslane flowers are the 2 inch wide Yubi series.
A new series of purslane is called Cinderella. The flowers are small, and are an attractive bi-color of pinkish-red with yellow.
The moss roses are almost always double flowered. The largest the Marguerita series that come in pink, red, orange, yellow, white, and the bi-color peppermint - a red and white combo.
Another pretty one is Spanish moss. It has large, single flowers of deep purple fuchsia with an occasional flower that’s mixed with white.
Besides being planted as a showy groundcover in the landscape, purslane and moss rose look good in hanging baskets and with mixed-succulents in cactus bowls. They can cascade over the edges and create the perfect basket.
Finally, as an added benefit, if you forget to water them at the beginning of a hot and windy day, they’ll still look okay when you get home.
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Activities for June
1. Water – Early morning is the best time… otherwise most of the irrigation water evaporates. Deep soaking is best because it gives the plant a greater reservoir to draw from.
2. Native Tree Care – It seems more than likely that this month is going to be hot and dry. Remember your trees are going to be thirsty too. A small amount of rain does little to carry moisture deep into the soil.
3. Mulch – This will cool the roots and slow the water loss from evaporation. Mixing your mulch 50:50 (bag-for-bag) with compost, will add nutrition and relieve stress.
4. Slow release fertilizers – When feeding flowerbeds and turf, be sure to use an organic-based, slow-release fertilizer. You will avoid burning plant roots in the summer heat and will have little impact on our watershed. Foliar sprays with seaweed will also help reduce heat stress.
5. Care for your roses – The first flush of your spring roses has finished. The flowering ends of the rose stems have probably formed hips (seed pods). Cut them off and there will be a new round of flowering. Also, give them some rose food. Examine them for any sign of insects, especially spidermites, and treat with horticultural oil (Sunspray or All Seasons) or Spinosad.
6. Mow high – Cut your grass as high as you can stand it. Longer grass blades will help shade the turf and conserve water. Leave clippings on the lawn.
Happy gardening everyone!
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 www.itsaboutthyme.com
