GARDEN CHECKLIST FOR TEXAS
By William C. Welch

Garden Checklist (for all Southern states except Florida and Texas)
Florida Garden Checklist

Roses
Roses are one of our finest sources of garden color. They like sun and will perform best where they receive at least a half day of direct sunlight. Roses also like fertile, well-drained soil and open areas having good air circulation. Container-grown, bare-root, and packaged roses can all be transplanted successfully now. Old garden roses and new easy-care types such as 'Knock Out' (fuchsia), 'Carefree Beauty' (pink), 'Red Cascade,' and the 'Flower Carpet' series need no more attention than ordinary landscape shrubs. Consider roses for hedges, arbors, containers, and accent plants.

Entire State

• Pecans--Plant our Texas state tree now while it is completely dormant. Smaller fruiting types, such as 'Caddo' for East Texas and 'Sioux' for the West, are ideal for the home landscape. 'Kanza' is adapted for Lubbock and Amarillo areas.

Panhandle

• Indoor blooms--African violets, primroses, and kalanchoes come in cheerful shades you will love. Care is simple. Place in indirect light, away from heating vents. Soil should be well-drained and kept slightly moist. To learn more about carefree foliage for your home, see "Easygoing Houseplants."

Central, East, and South

• Seeds--Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants soon (six to nine weeks before planting outside) if you grow them from seeds. Garden centers and nurseries will have a good selection of the usual transplants, but starting from seed may be the only option for unusual types, such as 'Neon' and 'Casper' eggplants or heirloom tomatoes such as 'Arkansas Traveler' or 'Green Grape.' Plant colorful pepper selections such as 'Cherry Bomb,' 'Lipstick,' 'Chocolate Beauty,' and 'Jingle Bells' now.

Central, West, and South

• Flowering trees--Select and plant small flowering trees now so they will be well-established before summer. Among the best choices are Texas redbud, desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora), Parkinsonia, and crepe myrtle.

South

• Flowering shrubs--Among the best colorful shrubs for planting now are oleander, hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens), esperanza (Tecoma stans), Turk's cap hibiscus, Chinese hibiscus, and blue plumbago. Plant spectacular bougainvilleas now. They may be pruned like shrubs or allowed to grow as vines.

North

• Camellias--Plant these winter-blooming shrubs now. Sasanqua camellias are ideal as hedges and usually flower from September through January. Common camellia (Camellia japonica) blooms from midwinter till early spring. A hard frost may damage buds and flowers if the plants are not protected by tall trees or a sheltered location. Some traditional favorites include 'Pink Perfection,' 'Purple Dawn,' and 'Professor Sargent.