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

Fall Blooms
Sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora) echoes the color of the clear blue autumn sky. The large, pale blue-to-light lavender flowers stand out against the dark green, heart-shaped foliage of this vine from late summer through fall. Plant sky flower in full sun to partial shade on a trellis, arbor, or fence. In frost-free areas of the state, the vine will be evergreen. In other regions, the top of the plant will be killed by freezing temperatures, but growth will resume the following spring.

Entire State

• Lawn weeds--If winter and early-spring weeds are usually a problem, take preventive action in late October. Apply a pre-emergence herbicide, such as atrazine or Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer, following directions on the container carefully. Check to be sure that your type of lawn grass is included on the label.
• Fall-blooming salvias--Plant salvias that bloom in autumn. Forsythia sage (Salvia madrensis) produces yellow flowers and grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Mexican bush sage (S. leucantha) is covered with velvety purple-and-white or solid purple flowers. The sweet-scented foliage of pineapple sage (S. elegans) is almost hidden in fall by the many red flowers. Rich burgundy-colored blooms of 'Van Houttei' scarlet sage (S. splendens 'Van Houttei') glimmer in the autumn sun. Don't plant these salvias near streetlamps or other artificial lights, which extend the perceived day length and will interfere with flowerbuds.

North and Central

• Flowers--Plant snapdragons, petunias, pansies, dianthus, alyssums, and flowering cabbage or kale. These blooms will give you color during fall, mild periods of winter, and early spring. The pansies and flowering cabbage or kale will provide color all winter.

South

• Blooms for winter--Plant floss flowers, alyssums, dusty millers, impatiens, geraniums, coleus, blanket flowers, nasturtiums, pansies, petunias, salvias, snapdragons, torenias, verbenas, and dianthus for color throughout the winter.
• Citrus--Feed citrus a final time this year with a fertilizer such as Schultz Slow-Release Citrus & Tropical Plant Food 10-4-10 or Vigoro Premium Citrus & Avocado Food 12-5-8. Add new citrus plants such as sweet oranges and grapefruit to your landscape.
• Bougainvillea--To limit the size of bougainvillea vines, prune off the old flowers, and remove half of the last growth flush. If you simply wish to create a more compact plant, pinch back the tips of new growth. Established plants will flower best if you neglect them now during the dry season. Withhold water and fertilizer from established plants but not from very young ones, which aren't yet established.