Might 10, 2023
Spring Ahead to Fall Planting!
Positive, already it’s scorching scorching and muggy sufficient to iron a shirt left within the dryer for 3 days. Nonetheless, proper now’s one of the best time to jot down the spring beauties we’d like to have subsequent 12 months.
Fall’s once we plant spring-blooming wildflower seeds. Mansi Parikh and Aditya Prasad sowed these native clasping coneflowers (Dracopis amplexicaulis) to germinate and develop up over winter, now coming into bloom. And simply have a look at these whorled leaves! That fabulous foliar dimension is an enormous cause that I’ve added them to my ever-growing checklist.
Alongside that very same fence, additionally they seeded annual tall winecup (Callirhoe leiocarpa) which will self-seed subsequent 12 months. Coreopsis peeks in, one you can additionally begin as transplants.
Bee balm (Monarda), firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella), and corn flower dot their new yard meadow, a shout out to each pollinator in flight distance. Hummingbirds hone in on bee balm flowers, and lots of birds will swoop in later when flowers go to seed.
October and November are perfect for planting transplants, too. James Barela and Ray Delgadillo planted three large coneflowers (Rudbeckia maxima) in 2018. This perennial maximized its towering flower energy by generously seeding out.
We will additionally plant transplants from March by means of the tip of Might, notes Leslie Uppinghouse, Wildflower Middle horticulturist. After that, it’s too flat out scorching, and we might lose them. Proper now on the Silo Backyard, benefit from the splendid present courtesy of large coneflower, pink coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and Texas lantana (Lantana urticoides).
Hummingbirds and butterflies go for scarlet or tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) that we are able to seed in fall or spring. We will get away with planting in early summer season as transplants, since they like shady circumstances. I do know from expertise, although, that it’s not all the time profitable. You’ll have higher luck planting earlier than Might. Since freeze takes them down, planting in fall is dangerous. Established ones might return, or present up wherever they seeded themselves final fall.
Viewers have requested if bluebonnets will return in the event that they’re mowed down now. It is dependent upon whether or not their seed pods had been ripe.
From the Wildflower Middle web site:
“Many individuals pull their bluebonnet vegetation as they’re yellowing or turning brown and dangle them the wrong way up to dry in a spot the place the falling seeds (ejected, truly) could be gathered. When the seedpods are totally mature and dry, they break up open alongside a suture and the small, onerous seeds are ejected fairly a ways – a intelligent pure technique for spreading the seed to new areas. You may choose solely the seed pod of your bluebonnets, however you’ll wish to wait till they’re dry earlier than doing so. By ready, you run the chance of the seedpods already being empty by the point you’re prepared to reap.”
Mark your calendars!
Rising Thoughts, Physique & Spirit Collectively
Saturday, Might twentieth
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
St. John Neighborhood Backyard, 7501 Blessing Avenue
Free admission
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Travis County Grasp Gardeners invite you to hitch them to have fun the 150-year historical past of the St. John Religion Neighborhood Backyard web site. Join with native consultants on nourishing the thoughts, physique, and spirit. Get pleasure from a free lunch, an entire herb container backyard develop bag equipment, and get well being and wellness suggestions from consultants. Get particulars and register!
Thanks for stopping by! See you subsequent week for a brand new backyard video. Linda
