By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardner Association
I have been checking out my landscape and feeling a little – or a lot – defeated with the way it looks. I watered, I weeded, I added mulch, and I talked to the plants, but I still had plants that didn’t survive the hot, dry summer weather we had this year. I’m making notes in my garden journal so I will remember what survived as well as what didn’t live this year, and I’ll get started on cleaning out the beds and adding plants to the bare areas. Since I want what I plant to survive, I try to locate Texas Natives, Texas SuperStars®, and plants for our 8b Hardiness Zone, soil type, as well as not toxic to animals. I look for plants that grow in full sun for most of my landscape, but I do have a few areas that need either shade or part shade plants. Even using these plants does not always mean they will grow in my landscape, but at least I have a better chance of success if I start out with the right plants. The plant suggestions listed below are from Plants You Can’t Kill by Stacy Tornio, and she suggested plants that will help us be “less of a plant killer and more of a plant thriller.”
Let’s look at the different types of plants I might use in my landscape to fill in the areas that are bare.
Annuals – can be grown from plants purchased from a store or from seed.
These are popular plants because they provide great color in a short amount of growing time. They can be planted in pots, containers, raised beds, and in the ground or in hanging baskets so they are very versatile plants. You are able to purchase annuals that are already budding or blooming so you can plant them and have color immediately as well as for months. You can plant annuals that provide color in the spring and summer and others that provide color in the fall and winter. Even though annuals die every year, some “spit” seeds that will sprout the next year and provide you with the same wonderful plants you enjoyed the previous year.
Some popular and tough annuals: Zinnia, Celosia, Geranium, Coleus, Moss Rose, Petunia, Sunflower, Sweet Potato Vine, Cosmos, Sage, Snapdragon, Flowering Tobacco, Pansy, Marigold, and some varieties of Lantana.
Perennials – can be purchased as plants or grown from seed.
Perennials are the stars of the garden because they are reliable and come back year after year. There are long-lived and short-lived perennials, but they are all a good investment because you can get many years of beautiful plants by adding them to your gardens. We rely on them to be the anchors in flower beds and make them look great. There are so many easy-to-grow, resilient, and tough perennials that it is impossible to pick just one or two favorite plants in this category.
Examples of popular perennials: Salvia, Russian Sage, Bee Balm, Daylily, Hosta, Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis, Shasta Daisy, Catmint, Yarrow, Trumpet Vine, Sedum, Hens and Chicks, and Yucca.
Grasses
Ornamental grasses add beauty to the landscape, but they tend to be underrated plants in the gardening world. Most grasses are perennials, and they are grown for their foliage, texture, and color. They are great fillers among the other plants in the landscape. Grasses give winter interest, are easy to grow, and are low to no maintenance. They are wonderful additions to attract birds and butterflies.
Examples of popular grasses: Fountain Grass, Sedge, Maiden Grass, Switch Grass, and Zebra Grass.
Shrubs and Trees
Shrubs and trees are reliable plants that are often used to fill empty spaces in the landscape fairly quickly. Shrubs and trees can be lumped in the same category because large shrubs can sometimes be considered trees, and small trees can sometimes be considered shrubs. These plants can be great spots for birds to hide or nest, and many of them have berries that provide a food source.
Examples of popular shrubs and trees: Crape Myrtle, Forsythia, Rose of Sharon, Spirea, and Red Oak.
Houseplants
Houseplants can bring a little outside indoors, brighten your day, add nice color, and improve air quality. Many houseplants are poisonous or have poisonous parts, so do some research before purchasing them for your home.
Examples of popular houseplants: Snake Plant, Air Plant, Boston Fern, Christmas Cactus, Spider Plant, Jade Plant, and Pothos.
Veggies and Herbs – can be purchased as plants or grown from seed.
Veggies and Herbs can be grown in the ground, in pots, in containers, or in raised beds. Growing veggies and herbs is rewarding because there is something special about going out to the garden and harvesting something you grew from the beginning. The home-grown veggies and herbs seem to taste better too! It’s hard to grow vegetables without a good source of sunshine so be sure to pick out a sunny spot in the yard before planting your garden.
Examples of popular vegetables: Tomatoes, Onions, Beans, Cucumber, Lettuce, Potatoes, Squash, Corn, Peas, and Beets.
Examples of popular herbs: Basil, Dill, Oregano, Mint, and Rosemary.
BCMGA offers several education programs each month. There is a program at 6:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday of the month at the South Library Branch in the Mall of Abilene, and the same program is offered again at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Downtown Library. Watch the BCMGA website and Facebook page for the topics and the dates of these monthly programs.
The Big Country Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale will be held next month. The online sale begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9th and ends at 12:00 noon on Friday, October 11th. All online orders can be picked up on Friday, October 11th, between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Watch the BCMGA website for details.
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 our website at bcmgtx.org for information on all Big Country Master Gardener events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
Until next week, Happy Gardening!
