By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardener Association
My favorite shrub died a couple of years ago when we had a leak in the drip irrigation system in the flower bed, and unfortunately that specific Texas Sage (Cenizo) preferred a warm, dry environment. I finally decided to get another shrub after seeing so many Texas Sages around town this year, all covered with beautiful purplish flowers. Instead of a single replacement, I ended up purchasing 3 shrubs at the Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale.
I really want my new shrubs to be successful – and enjoyable – for many years. I researched the specific variety of Texas Sage I had purchased and found out that it is a popular ornamental plant frequently used for edges and area plantings. It requires minimal water, makes a great hedge, and has beautiful blooms over the entire surface of the plant.
Now, where do I plant my new shrubs and how do I care for them so they will survive and thrive in my landscape?
There are several factors to consider when purchasing and planting a shrub:
- Be sure to have a landscape plan so you can visualize the relationships between your plantings – trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, etc.
- Select the correct shrub to fit your plan to ensure success in your landscape.
- Fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials so they have time to develop good root systems before the Texas heat and drought arrive next summer.
I purchased my new shrubs after careful consideration and consulting my landscape plan so I know my shrubs will:
- Be the correct height and width when they are mature.
- Do well in full sun.
- Not be planted where I have an irrigation system valve that might become leaky in the future since I know what happened to the previous shrub in that area.
- Survive the summer heat and the winter cold in the area where they will be planted.
- Can be enjoyed from the outdoors as well as from inside when I’m gazing out the windows.
I just finished planting the shrubs and used the recommendations from horticultural experts:
- The area was cleared and the soil amended several weeks before I purchased the shrubs.
- The holes were dug as recommended – 2 times the width of the root ball and as deep as the root ball.
- Each shrub was carefully removed from its container and planted at the same depth as it had been growing in the container.
- The holes where the shrubs were planted were backfilled with the soil removed from the hole when it was dug and with no amendments added.
- Each shrub was watered.
- Mulch was added to the area but not against the trunk of the shrub.
The most important key to success now is proper watering. You want roots to develop so soak the soil deeply after planting, and then let the soil dry out before watering again. Check the soil to see if it is dry to the touch before watering. I read in some of the tips on growing shrubs that if they are completely brown after they have been in the ground 6 or 8 months, they were not watered correctly. Allowing shrubs to get totally dry even just once can damage the roots before they get established in their new environment. I certainly don’t want that to happen to the new additions to my landscape so I will monitor them carefully through the fall, winter, and into the spring.
Whew! There cetainly is a lot to consider when selecting shrubs and planting them, but all the work will have been worth it when I am able to sit and enjoy my landscape with the addition of Texas Sage shrubs.
If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit bcmgtx.org for all Big Country Master Gardener information and events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
