EASY VEGGIES TO GROW
- Sunday, April 07, 2019
by Texas A&M AgriLife
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/easy-vegetables-to-grow/
Organic Gardening
WHEN TO PLANT IN NORTH TEXAS
- Saturday, August 04, 2018
Refer to this planting schedule when planning your veggie garden: http://agrilife.org/urbantarranthorticulture/files/2010/06/Recommended_Planting_Dates_for_North_Texas1.pdf
PLANT THESE TO
- Friday, February 17, 2017
PLANTS THAT LOVE TO GROW HERE
- Saturday, September 24, 2016
Plants That Love to Grow Here -Native & Adapted Plants
Presented by Chrissy Cortez-Mathis to GDOGC August, 2016
Dallas County Master Gardener
To have a successful landscape in North Texas, you need to use plants that love to grow in our conditions. Lots of SUN, sporadic rainfall & clay soil.
My favorites:
Groundcovers:
*Horse herb –spreading perennial groundcover-It can be mown or leave it to grow to 8-10 inches. It
does die back with a freeze but comes back faithfully. Sun to shade.
*Frogfruit – spreading semi evergreen groundcover-host plant for some butterfly species. Sun.
*Plumbago Larpentae –spreading perennial with beautiful blue flowers summer to fall with bronze
leaves after frost. Part shade to sun.
*Dwarf Mexican Petunia-Ruella –spreading perennial -Texas Superstar Part shade to sun. Blooms
summer to frost.
*Pipevine -3’ mound – host of the pipevine swallowtail. Morning sun & afternoon shade
Perennial Plants:
*Gregg’s Mist – 2’ perennial – small purple flowers all summer. Butterfly attractor. Sun to part sun
*Purple Hearts -perennial-sun to part shade -easily propagated -pink flowers -melts with freeze but
comes back every year. Sun to part shade.
*Mealy Blue Sage – 1-3’ – sprawling blue flowers all summer. Sun. Good for hummingbirds &
butterflies
*Zexmenia – 1-3’-yellow flowers from May to Nov. Part shade to sun .
*Echinacea – 2-3’ – pink flowers from spring to summer – Part shade to sun.
*Inland Sea Oats – semi evergreen 2’ –Interesting seed pod, needs a little more water to establish &
may spread everywhere. Shade.
*Turk's cap-perennial-hummingbird favorite -can grow to 6'. The more sun you give it the taller it
gets but it tolerates shade well too. Excellent plant!
*Flame Acanthus -3x3 woody native perennial with red/orange tubular flowers. Hummingbird &
butterfly attractor. Sun to part shade.
*Russian Sage -perennial -Tall plant w/ lots of small purple flowers. The bees love it. Blooms from
spring to frost. Nice branches in the winter. Cut back in late winter. 3x5' -Sun to part sun.
*Oregano -evergreen -many varieties -some grow low & others grow tall -10-12".
*Thyme -evergreen -many varieties -great as a border.
*Lemon Balm & Mint – perennial herbs– all are part shade to sun. Will spread.
*Autumn Joy Sedum – 6-12” upright plant -Flower spike in late summer to fall. Sun-part -shade
Evergreen & Semi-Evergreen Plants:
*Rosemary -evergreen -3x6' – purple blooms in the spring & fall. Sun to part shade.
*Texas Betony – 2'– sprawling foliage with red tubular flowers March-Oct. Part shade to shade.
Tx. Columbine – evergreen 2x2' -feathery foliage & yellow unusual flowers in the spring. Shade.
*Clara Mum – spreading evergreen daisy like mum. Pink blooms in the fall. Sun to part shade.
*Bearded Iris – evergreen – flowers in spring. Many varieties. 2.5’ tall & spreads. Doesn’t like too much
mulch. Divide or plant in fall. Sun to part shade.
*Salvia Greggii -evergreen -red flowered shrub -great native plant that comes in many colors.
*Hummingbirds love the nectar. Can get 3x3 but you can always prune back. Can tolerate shade/sun.
*Catmint – 1x3’ semi evergreen mounding herb. Small lavender flowers all summer.
*Passion Vine -Unusual flowers, host plant for Gulf Fritillary butterfly – Sun to part shade.
*Rock Rose – semi-evergreen 2.5 x 3’-pink flowers May–Nov. Cut back in winter. Pt shade to sun.
*Knock Out Rose -evergreen -6x6 -Sun to dappled shade. Disease resistant, no need to prune & it
deadheads itself.
*Abelia -evergreen-6’-White flowers all summer -birds, butterflies & bees love it. Sun-part shade.
Tx.
*Sage – evergreen -5-8’-silver leaves with pink flowers after rain. Shade to sun.
*Nandina -evergreen-Many varieties-dwarf to standard size 6x7. Berries & fall color. Sun-shade.
*Oak Leaf Hydrangea – -3-5’ deciduous shrub – White flowers early spring to early summer. Beautiful
fall foliage. Do not cut back in winter. Shade-part shade
*Feathergrass – evergreen 1-2’ – Sun to part shade. Reseeds freely
A few tips to keep your plants happy:
***Mulch to 3-4” twice a year – Native Hardwood is preferred. Leaves & tree trimmings from
your yard is the best.
*Be sure not to touch the stem of the plant -Suppresses weeds
*Protects the soil -Conserves soil moisture
*Keeps root systems cooler -Your bed looks finished & uniform
Water Efficiently
*Turn off your sprinkler system if you have one -Water when needed not by the calendar
*Use a rain gauge & a moisture meter -Use rain water
*Only water 1” per week for turf & thirsty annuals, less for perennials, shrubs & trees.
*Use drip & soaker hoses go directly to the plant roots & there is no evaporation
Great websites & Resources:
• http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/ TX A&M Earth Kind
• http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• http://www.txsmartscape.com/ Texas Smartscapes
• http://www.seedsource.com/ Native American Seed
• Your public library for books on Texas Gardening
• Master Gardener Help Desk 214-904-3053
Happy Gardening