TEXAS

Caladiums
Plant these colorful foliage plants to brighten shaded or partially shaded spots. They work well in flowerbeds and containers. You can even plant them in full sun if you choose the right selections. Sun-tolerant ones include red types such as ‘Fire Chief’ and ‘Red Frill’; white ones such as ‘Aaron,’ ‘Candidum Jr.,’ and ‘Seagull’; and pink selections such as ‘Carolyn Whorton,’ ‘Rosebud,’ ‘Mrs. W.B. Halderman,’ ‘Pink Gem,’ and ‘Lance Whorton.’ Make your life a little easier, and use a slow-release granular fertilizer such as Dynamite All-Purpose 18-6-8 or Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 for months of steady, easy feeding.

Entire State
•Great tool--Water your garden like the pros with a Rain Wand. Its aluminum extension and nozzle let you apply a shower of water to your plants and control the amount with an easy-grip shutoff handle. Ask for one at your nursery or garden center.

South
•Choosing sod--Bermuda grass is a practical choice because it can exist on natural rainfall; however, it needs to be irrigated during periods of drought or it will go dormant. St. Augustine grass will thrive in more shade than Bermuda grass but requires more water to keep it green. Buffalo grass is a good choice for dry areas and can be interplanted with bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

Panhandle
•Gourds--Select a sunny, well-drained site, and plant seeds now. Choose from the many types of gourds including bottle, birdhouse, spoon, or loofah. All of these require lots of ground, or you can train them on fences, trellises, or other structures. Gourd vines grow very rapidly and provide shade as well as flowers and fruit.

Central, East, South
•Long-blooming perennials--Salvias such autumn sage, S. ‘Indigo Spires,’ and various forms of our native mealycup sage are good choices. The spiky flowers of salvias contrast nicely with the blooms of purple coneflowers (Echinacea sp.), black-eyed Susans, and daylilies.

Central, West, and South
•Vegetables--Now is the ideal time to plant seeds of okra, squash, and Southern peas in your garden. Transplants of peppers and tomatoes are also readily available.

North and East
•Grooming roses--Remove the spent flower heads of roses to just above the first five-leaflet. Feed with a slow-release, organic fertilizer such as cottonseed or alfalfa meal at the rate of one to two cups per plant. Spread evenly over the root zone. Or use a commercial rose food, and follow label directions.

"Around Your Garden" is from the May 2008 issue of Southern Living.