There’s a FREEZE coming! What do I do?

Yes, that’s right our first hard freeze of the winter is just a few days away, forecast to hit Sunday night / Monday morning with lows in the 20s. And, it’s not just one night but expected to last 3-4 nights of hard freezing weather. But don’t panic. Most plants that we have in North Texas are winter hardy to zones 7a/b and should be fine, though they might go dormant. Summer perennials such as lantanas will die back to the ground, but they’ll be back next year. Summer and fall annuals that are not freeze hardy will die back, but that’s perfectly normal. Fall and winter annuals such as pansies, dianthus, and decorative kale will be just fine. For your sensitive perennial plants, those that are not particularly freeze hardy, there are a number of things that you can do. The first is, Sunday afternoon before the freeze hits…

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The Holiday season and your garden.

Well folks, it looks like we’re in for a warmer than normal winter. This will mean an extended growing season for most gardeners, although now that a mild La Nina system has set in we can expect things to be slightly drier than normal. Still, with night-time temperatures regularly reaching into the 40s right now all of your true tropicals such as plumeria, bananas, and bougainvillea should be brought inside for the winter. But is your gardening season really done? Heaven forbid! When your woody perennial shrubs and trees are dormant is the best time to plant them. That time of year is starting right now! During the summer, trees spend their time gathering energy from the sun and combine it with water and carbon dioxide to create sugars and starches that they store and use to live on later when they are dormant. It is during this time when…

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Your North Texas Garden in November

Cooler weather has arrived, and the leaves are falling. Some of the best garden color of the year is here right now! Depending on what plants you have, this fall growth can last well into December and, barring a freeze, even up through Christmas. In addition to planting pansies for winter color, camellias are known for their beautiful, waxy flowers that come in various colors, including white, pink, and red. They bloom from late fall through early spring, depending on the variety. Witch hazel produces unique, spidery flowers in shades of yellow, orange, or red from late winter to early spring. It’s a fragrant and attractive winter-blooming shrub. Hellebores, also known as lenten roses, bloom from late winter to early spring. They offer a range of colors, including white, pink, purple, and green. These hardy perennials are a great addition to winter gardens, and don’t forget their close relative the…

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October Gardens – Not much rain this year, but cooler weather is coming!

After this long hot and dry summer, it’s so nice to see gardens starting to perk back up and show off a little. It’s not even close to time to put your garden to bed for the winter. Just like our North Texas spring gardens are ended by the heat and lack of rain, fall gardens are only ended by the first hard freeze that usually comes in late December or occasionally January. That means your fall garden is just as important, and can be just as vibrant as your spring garden. Anyone who has a teenager even tangentially involved in high-school football knows that mums are a classic choice for fall color. What many people don’t realize is that this perennial can provide exceptional fall color to your garden. They come in various colors and sizes and can be used in beds, borders, or containers. Mums are one of…

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