Certified Texas Professional Gardener – Garden with Perennials, Heirlooms, and Texas Superstars Made Easy
Published on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 12:02 a.m.
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a remarkable heirloom (native perennial) shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall and almost as wide, and thrives in shady areas. (gardenerspath.com)
What a difference a year can make! Last spring's weather patterns had a dramatic effect on the summer, with a significant reduction in rainfall.
Municipal public water systems (PWSs) instituted drought contingency plans that initially asked customers to voluntarily reduce water consumption. PWSs restricted landscape irrigation to late evening and early morning hours (8 pm to 10 am) two days per week to reduce evaporative losses during the day.
Last year's extreme heat and drought forced PWS to move from voluntary water restrictions to more stringent enforcement, including vehicle washing, pool filling and stricter landscape irrigation limits, with fines for violations.
Water pipes burst in several areas, including Beaumont and Nederland, forcing some customers to boil water before using it while others were left without water until the pipes were repaired. The bursts were directly attributed to excessive heat and little rainfall.
We've had a lot of rain this spring, so let's hope it keeps coming. According to the Farmer's Almanac, summer is on its way, starting June 20. Rainy days (not harsh weather) give gardeners a chance to rest, a chance to slow down a little and take a break.
Spending time outdoors (gardening) can be a lot of fun for horticulture enthusiasts, but sometimes we need to recharge our batteries and regain work-life balance. Let us tell you how to make gardening easier and more effective through your plant choices.
Although plant classifications can get complicated, there are three groups: perennials, natives (heirlooms), and Texas SuperStar®. Because they have similar characteristics, gardeners typically group them together into one “extension” category for ease of selection.
Texas Superstar® plants are rigorously tested by Texas A&M AgriLife and horticulture groups to determine whether they qualify to be called a Texas Superstar®. Plants are monitored (in numerous locations across Texas) over several years, observing their performance in specific landscapes. If plants grow successfully throughout the state, they are selected and added to the Texas Superstar® list. The list includes annuals, perennials, trees, woody shrubs, and specialty plants. Some of the most popular Texas Superstar® plants include Texas Bluebonnet, Plumbago, Lola Bush Petunia, Mexican Bush Sage, Belinda's Dream Rose, and Deciduous Holly. For a complete list of Texas Superstar® plants, visit the Texas Superstar® website at https://texassuperstar.com/.
Perennials live for more than two years and include many different plant types, including shrubs, trees, flowers, grasses, herbs, and vegetables. Horticulturists sometimes refer to these plants as herbaceous (herbal) plants, such as verbena, oregano, cornflower, and hardy hibiscus. However, some gardening books refer to herbs in the sense of herbaceous plants, so as not to confuse them with herbs used in cooking.
Native species (nativars) are plants that are indigenous to an area. There are many native plants such as cardinal flower, Indian pink, southern wood fern, black-eyed susan, milkweed, Texas mountain laurel, and many more. Native species have characteristics like perennials that return year after year. For more information about native plants in Texas, visit the Native Plant Society of Texas website at https://npsot.org/wp/.
Most Texas Superstar®, perennials and nativors are sun loving plants so choose your planting location carefully. Many are drought tolerant but will require irrigation during extended periods of warm temperatures and drought conditions. There are perennial options available that provide visual interest and blooms in all seasons, including winter.
It is important to take the time to plan your garden and be mindful of where you place your plants, placing taller plants at the back and shorter plants at the front so they are easily visible. We highly recommend reading about each plant to get to know its characteristics before planting them in the soil, to ensure optimal spacing between plants.
Learn from my past and recent gardening mistakes. For example, I planted an American Beautyberry shrub in the front of my flower bed (last year). The shrub grew into a large shrub (5 feet tall and wide) that outgrew and obscured many of my other plants. Naturally, I planned to move the shrub this spring, but forgot. The shrub has taken over the flower bed again and is growing even bigger.
When kept together, acid-loving plants can more easily maintain a higher pH level than other plants. It's easier, and takes less time and energy, to adjust the pH of an entire area than it is to adjust the pH levels of individual plants.
Preparing for winter is easy; just add a 2-inch layer of compost and mulch. The compost will keep the roots warm and nourished, and the mulch will retain heat through the winter. New growth takes time to appear in the spring, so be patient.
When plants begin to grow in the spring, strong, healthy plants make a great sight. Many of these plants have the added benefit of attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. When grown organically, other wildlife can also enjoy the plants' bounty.
Once you have selected plants for your garden, water them daily until they are established. Fertilize with a fertilizer that meets the plant's requirements. These plants will grow for many years in the location you choose and will thrive if you encourage them early.” Deadheading and pruning perennials is an important part of their care. Prune perennials as soon as they have finished flowering and as needed.
Remember that delayed pruning may result in no flowers the following year. Some perennials flower all at once in the spring and then, if pruned, will produce a second bloom in late summer. Check the flowering times and learn the appropriate time to prune for each plant you choose.
Please send your questions to Texas Certified Professional Gardener John Green and continue to send your comments to jongreene57@gmail.com.
