Transcript Successful Home Gardening

No-Fail (No Fake) Flower
Gardening
Whether a small
border is your plan . . .
Or a larger bed of
annuals and
perennials, the
basics are the
same.
You don’t have to resort to this. . .
First things first: You must improve the soil
 Have a soil test done and review the
results, adding amendments
appropriately;
 Add organic matter/compost
regularly;
 Remember to repeat testing every two
to three years.
Constructing New Raised Beds:
A Sure Way to Success
Use a garden hose to outline a curved bed
and preview its look in the landscape.
Make sure that turf grass is completely
removed or killed with an herbicide
Grass must be killed
when it is actively
growing
Til under the dead turf
Organic Matter is your most important
amendment:
• When adding organic matter to soil,
supply enough to physically change the
soil structure.
-- Ideally, at least one-third of the final
soil mix should be some type of
organic material.
Add all amendments, including expanded
shale where possible, and till after
each addition.
Recipe for success:
--Layer 3 inches of expanded shale over bed.
--Til it into the top 6 inches of soil.
--Add three inches of finished plant-based
compost.
--Till the bed again, incorporating the
compost.
--Crown the bed for optimum drainage.
1. Plan for proper irrigation:
Consider employing a drip system for
efficiency and to minimize foliar
damage from overhead watering.
2. Use Native and well-adapted plants.
3. Group plants according to their moisture
and light requirements.
4. Mulch beds to retain moisture and
suppress weed growth.
Drip Irrigation:
• slowly applies water to the soil;
• offers increased watering efficiency and plant
performance;
• also allows safer use of “salty water” in the
landscape in areas with poor water quality;
Experiment with drip products in small
sections of the landscape to become
familiar with the many benefits of this
watering technique.
Plant Selection:
Use Native and well-adapted plants including:
Texas Superstar Plants and
Earth Kind™ Roses
Plant the right plant in the right place!
“Always look for the
Texas Superstar Tag!”
Plants designated Texas
Superstars™ and Roses
designated EarthKind
Roses™ are highly
recommended by the Texas
A&M Agriculture program
Tomato 444
Belinda’s
Dream Rose
Gold Star Esperanza
Texas Gold Columbine
Knock Out Rose
Possum haw Holly
Burgundy Sun
Coleus
‘Warren’s Red’
Spice
Belinda’s Dream
Knock Out
Foliage
Purple heart
Lamb’s Ear
Artemesia ‘Powis
Castle’
Iris:
Bearded, Louisiana,
Siberian
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum 'Becky'
Shasta Daisy ‘Becky’
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum
Ox-Eye Daisy
Hemerocallis spp.
Daylilies
Trailing Lantana
Lantana
‘New Gold’
Narcissus
Phlox subulata - Thrift
‘John Fanick’
‘Victoria’
Phlox paniculata – Summer Phlox
Coreopsis lanceolata
‘Flare’
Hibiscus sp.
Perennial Hibiscus
Rudbeckia
‘Herbstonne’
Echinacea (Coneflower)
purpurea
Rudbeckia
fulgida
‘Goldsturm’
‘Magnus’
Gaura lindheimerii
Whirling
Butterflies
Asclepias Tuberosa
Butterfly Weed
Salvia greggii
Autumn Sage
Salvia
farinacea
Mealy Cup
Sage
Salvia leucantha
Mexican Bush Sage
Sedum
spectabile
Showy Sedum
‘Autumn Joy’
Mulch all beds
• Place a 3-inch layer of mulch around plants
taking care not to pile it up around plant
stems. This promotes disease and decay.
• Reapply when needed.
Plant Maintenance: Divide Perennials,
during the season opposite their bloom
time, every three or four years as needed.
Plant Maintenance
Cut back during the dormant season
by removing stems and foliage killed by
winter temperatures. This can be done
following the first killing frost or before
new growth begins in February.
HAVE A PLANT QUESTION?
Call our Horticulture help
line at
972-548-4232
or Metro 972-424-1460 x4232
Collin County Master
Gardeners Association
E-mail us at: [email protected]