Cooler Weather Brings Changes and Chores

by Lydia Holley September 16, 2024

Lantana is still blooming—it is slow to surrender and will fight until the first freeze. Butterflies are still flitting. But things are starting to change. The days are getting shorter and cooler. Rains are predicted, and dark clouds occasionally blanket the sky.

Roses, asters, sweet autumn clematis, brugmansia, sedums, spider lilies, and many other autumn-blooming flowers are (or soon will be) flush with blooms. Ornamental grasses will soon take a bow as the star of the show.

Now is a good time to get a second wind on weeding, mowing, mulching, and planning for new plantings. It is hard to keep up with garden chores in the summer when the temperatures are so high. But cooler weather usually brings more energy for getting caught up and whipping the garden into shape before winter comes.

Besides weeding and mulching, now is the time to sow seeds for carrots, collards, English peas, kale, leaf lettuces, mustard, parsley, radishes, summer squash, Swiss chard, and turnips. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants can be planted now. Plant Irish potatoes to enjoy later in winter soups. In East Texas, fall vegetable gardening is often more satisfying and more productive than a spring-planted garden coming to fruit during our hot summers.

This is also a good time to evaluate your landscape. Do you have some plants that are overcrowded and need dividing? Now is the time to divide ajuga, bearded irises, daisies, daylilies, liriopes, oxblood lilies, and spider lilies.

Sow wildflower seeds during the last part of September through November. Consider growing bluebonnets, cornflower, California poppy, baby’s breath, Indian blanket, larkspur, oriental poppy, and phlox. You can also order tulips now for chilling.

Next month will bring more chores. But do not forget to occasionally sit and enjoy your garden as you work to make it the garden of your dreams.

For more information, call 903-675-6130, email [email protected].