TEXAS
Foliage Accents
Replenish shady areas with brightly colored leaves. Chartreuse greens and golden variegated plants such as 'Gold Child' English ivy, 'Lime Zinger' elephant's ears, and variegated gingers contrast nicely with purple-hued Joseph's coat,
chicken gizzard plant (Iresine lindenii), and Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyeranus). Combine these with wax-leaf begonias and impatiens in shades of red, pink, and white. Be sure to spade in several inches of organic
material such as composted pine bark, peat, or mushroom compost before planting.
--William C. Welch
Panhandle
Vegetables--Okra, tomatoes, peppers, and squash benefit from frequent picking. To ensure maximum tenderness and flavor, pick eggplants just as their color develops. To extend the harvest in your vegetable garden, water deeply and
regularly and mulch.
Entire State
Fall favorites--Prepare for fall garden displays by setting out 1-gallon or larger containers of aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius), garden chrysanthemums, Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), Salvia 'Indigo Spires,'
firebush (Hamelia patens), and Mexican mint marigold.
North and East
Wildflowers--Wildflowers--Select some areas to sow wildflowers for blooms next spring. Lightly till the soil and rake in seed at this time. If you choose a wildflower mix, make sure it is suitable for your area. Bluebonnets
remain our most popular wildflower, but others include coreopsis, gaillardias, and purple coneflowers. Order seeds from Wildseed Farms (located near Fredericksburg), www.wildseedfarms.com or 1-800-848-0078.
Central, West, and South
Rose revival--WHybrid tea roses can be lightly pruned now for a bountiful harvest of blooms this fall. Begin by removing dead or weak canes; then reduce the length of healthy ones by one-third to one-half. Fertilize with commercial rose
food according to label directions, or for organic choices, use cottonseed meal or alfalfa meal (1 to 2 cups per plant). Water well, and add mulch, if needed.
South
Bougainvilleas--Add these vines to your garden for bright blooms from now through late fall. Dependable choices include 'Sea Foam,' 'Raspberry Ice,' and 'Sundown Orange.'
"Around Your Garden" is from the August 2007 issue of Southern Living.
