GARDEN CHECKLIST FOR TEXAS
By William C. Welch

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

Sweet Potato Vines
Revitalize containers and planting beds for fall with the colorful foliage of sweet potato vines. 'Marguerite' (bright chartreuse), 'Blackie' or 'Black Beauty' (purplish black), and 'Tricolor' (green, white, and pink highlights) all thrive in hot weather and can be purchased in containers now. Combine these with low-growing cannas such as 'Lucifer' (red edged in yellow), 'President' (bright red), or 'Princess Di' (pink). Giant liriope and purple fountain grass also work well with these combinations.

Entire State

• Roses--Lightly prune them at this time to encourage fall flowers. Cut back everblooming shrub roses by about one-third, and remove dead or weak canes. Climbing roses can also be moderately pruned by shortening canes, securing them to an arbor or trellis, and removing spent flowers and buds. Apply 1 to 2 cups of cottonseed or alfalfa meal per plant to the root zones, or use a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote 19-6-12 to stimulate blooms.

Panhandle

• Trees--It's still okay to plant container-grown trees such as Chinese pistache, lacebark elm, bald cypress, bur oak, and green ash if you provide irrigation. Mulching, staking, and wrapping the trunks help to ensure success. Once mature, large-growing trees planted 15 to 25 feet from the south and west sides of a home will reduce cooling costs. Place evergreen trees such as Eastern red cedar or Arizona cypress in naturalistic groupings 15 or more feet north of the house to reduce winds.

Central, West, and South

• Seeds--Sow seeds of broccoli, cabbage, and Swiss chard to transplant when the weather cools. Direct-sow cucumbers, green beans, squash, and Southern peas. With extra watering and attention, they'll be ready for late-fall harvest.

Central, East, and South

• Flowers and herbs--Prune geraniums (Pelargonium sp.), begonias, coleus, and ornamental basil to encourage a more compact form and increase flowering. Move potted specimens of these plants into shade until the cooler days of early fall.

North and East

• Hummingbirds--Attract these beauties by planting their favorites such as hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens), 'Indigo Spires' salvia, Turk's cap, and shade-tolerant firespike (Odontonema strictum).

South

• Vegetables--Harvest okra, peppers, and eggplants often to encourage production. Mulching and regular watering will help keep eggplants sweet and mild. Plant potatoes and a new sowing of green beans now for a late-fall harvest. Seed potatoes can be ordered from Ronniger's Potato Farm, (208) 267-7938 or www.ronnigers.com.