Planting Tips - from the Texas Department of Agriculture

Reasons to Buy Plants Grown in Texas

• Texas growers produce an amazing variety of horticulture crops, including trees, shrubs, bedding plants, turf, blooming florals and tropicals - whatever you need!
• Texas-grown is home-grown: Buying Texas products puts Texans to work and boosts the Texas economy.
• The Texas environment can be extreme and plants not climatically adjusted can wither and die.
• Texas plants are better suited to Texas.
• Texas-grown plants improve the environment by filtering pollutants from the air, reducing erosion, saving energy and providing wildlife habitat. They also benefit our health by creating feelings of relaxation and a sense of solitude and security.

When purchasing plants, look for these signs to ensure you're getting a healthy buy:

• Choose plants with good color. Leaves and flowers should be true to their standard color. Yellowed leaves are usually an indication of low nutrient levels.
• Bedding plants that are tall and spindly may be old. Look for specimens that are compact, uniform and sturdy.
• Stay away from plants with dark, soft, mushy spots on the leaves - a sign of bacterial or fungal disease. Plants should be free of disease and insects.
• Avoid trees and shrubs that are one-sided or have obvious gaps in foliage. Several broken branches and/or young leaf loss signal poor care and health.
• Look for plants with a strong root system. If possible, carefully remove the plant from its container and inspect the roots. An abundant network of white strands growing throughout the soil indicates good health. Beware of dark-colored roots and roots winding around and around the soil ball.
• Look for plants labeled GO TEXAN to know you are getting a genuine Texas-grown plant.
  

Follow these steps when planting for a healthy, thriving landscape:

• Dig a hole, making sure the plant's soil line will be an inch above the level of the surrounding area.
• Remove the plant from the pot, keeping as much of the rootball intact as possible.
• Carefully loosen the bottom third of the rootball by pulling apart interwoven roots.
• Place prepared plant in the hole and fill with un-amended soil.
• Firm the soil around the rootball.
• Water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets and nourish your plant.
• Mulch the area around the base of the plant with bark, pine needles or compost to prevent water loss.
  

Follow these tips to become a water-wise gardener:

• Mulch, mulch, mulch. Mulch saves water by reducing soil evaporation and shades the soil, keeping it cooler. Bark chips, grass clippings, rock and compost are all suitable materials.
• Slow and thorough watering encourages deep, extensive root systems, allowing plants to better survive dry conditions.
• Build a small circular wall of soil around young trees to create a basin that will help hold water and preventing runoff.
• Water in the early morning hours when evaporation rates and wind speed are low. Midday irrigation is wasteful and costly.
• Do not fertilize during drought conditions.
• Select plants that are better adapted to the Texas heat and extreme environmental conditions.

These tips will have you gardening on the "wild" side:

• Any wildlife garden must fulfill three basic animal needs: food, water and shelter.
• Supply water by adding a simple birdbath or go all out and install a small pond.
• Wooded areas, dense hedges and vines create appealing shelter for wildlife. Don't forget the birdhouse.
• When choosing food sources, realize that diversity is the key to creating an optimum habitat. A diverse habitat attracts a wider variety of species, offers more choices for forage and ensures a constant food supply. Select various Texas-grown plants to entice butterflies, bees and birds into your garden.
• Limit use of pesticides, which can be harmful to wildlife.

LANDSCAPING

• Location and design of sculptures, decks, paths and water features are all a part of a good landscape design.
• A well-engineered, functional landscape usually reflects a minimum investment of 10 percent of your home's value. This investment adds between 7 and 14 percent to the value of your home.
• The first step to good design is site inventory and planning. Assess your existing site noting current trees, shrubs, paths, etc. Decide what you and your family need from the landscape - play area, entertaining site, vegetable garden or color scheme.
• Next, begin developing a master landscape plan. Several different concepts should be formed before generating a final plan. It is easier to move a tree on paper than one that is already planted.
• When your plan is finalized you can begin plant selection. Consider mature sizes, colors, blooming period and adaptability when choosing material, and always look for Texas-grown plants.
• Installation is last. Depending on your budget, this can be done over a period of weeks, months or years. Your master plan serves as a reference of where and what to plant.