no-fail (no fake) flower gardening no-fail (no fake) flower gardening

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No-Fail (No Fake) No-Fail (No Fake) Flower Gardening Flower Gardening

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No-Fail (No Fake) No-Fail (No Fake) Flower GardeningFlower Gardening

Whether a small Whether a small border is your border is your plan . . .plan . . .

Or a larger Or a larger bed of bed of

annuals and annuals and perennials, perennials,

the the basics basics are the are the same.same.

You don’t have to resort You don’t have to resort to this. . .to this. . .

First things first: You must First things first: You must improve the soilimprove the soil

Have a soil test done and Have a soil test done and review the results, adding review the results, adding amendments appropriately;amendments appropriately;

Add organic matter/compost Add organic matter/compost regularly;regularly;

Remember to repeat testing Remember to repeat testing every two to three years.every two to three years.

Constructing New Raised Beds:Constructing New Raised Beds:A Sure Way to SuccessA Sure Way to Success

Use a garden hose to outline a curved bed Use a garden hose to outline a curved bed and preview its look in the landscape.and preview its look in the landscape.

Make sure that turf grass is Make sure that turf grass is completely removed or killed with completely removed or killed with

an herbicidean herbicide

Til under the dead turfTil under the dead turf

Grass must be killed Grass must be killed when it is actively when it is actively growinggrowing

• When adding organic matter When adding organic matter to soil, supply enough to to soil, supply enough to physically change the soil physically change the soil structure. structure.

---- Ideally, at least one-third Ideally, at least one-third of the final of the final soil mix should soil mix should be some type of be some type of organic organic material.material.

Organic Matter is your most Organic Matter is your most important amendmentimportant amendment::

Add all amendments, including Add all amendments, including expanded shale where expanded shale where

possible, and till after each possible, and till after each addition.addition.

Recipe for success:Recipe for success:

--Layer 3 inches of expanded shale --Layer 3 inches of expanded shale over bed.over bed.

--Til it into the top 6 inches of soil.--Til it into the top 6 inches of soil.

--Add three inches of finished --Add three inches of finished plant-based compost.plant-based compost.

--Till the bed again, incorporating --Till the bed again, incorporating the compost.the compost.

--Crown the bed for optimum --Crown the bed for optimum drainage.drainage.

1.1. Plan for proper irrigation:Plan for proper irrigation:Consider employing a drip system Consider employing a drip system for for efficiency and to minimize efficiency and to minimize foliar foliar damage from damage from overhead watering.overhead watering.

2. 2. Use Native and well-adapted Use Native and well-adapted plantsplants..

3. 3. Group plants according to their Group plants according to their moisture and light requirementsmoisture and light requirements..

4. 4. Mulch beds to retain moisture and Mulch beds to retain moisture and suppress weed growth.suppress weed growth.

Drip Irrigation:Drip Irrigation:

• slowly applies water to the soil;slowly applies water to the soil;• offers increased watering efficiency offers increased watering efficiency

and plant performance;and plant performance;• also allows safer use of “salty water” also allows safer use of “salty water”

in the landscape in areas with poor in the landscape in areas with poor water quality;water quality;

Experiment with drip products in Experiment with drip products in small sections of the landscape small sections of the landscape

to become familiar with the to become familiar with the many benefits of this watering many benefits of this watering

technique.technique.

Plant SelectionPlant Selection::

Use Native and well-adapted Use Native and well-adapted plants including:plants including:

Texas Superstar Plants and Texas Superstar Plants and

Earth Kind™ RosesEarth Kind™ Roses

Plant the right plant in the right Plant the right plant in the right place!place!

Plants designated Texas Superstars™ and Roses

designated EarthKind Roses™ are highly

recommended by the Texas A&M Agriculture program

“Always look for the Texas Superstar Tag!”

Tomato 444Tomato 444

Belinda’s Belinda’s Dream RoseDream Rose

Gold Star EsperanzaGold Star Esperanza

Texas Gold ColumbineTexas Gold Columbine

Burgundy Sun Burgundy Sun ColeusColeus

Knock Out RoseKnock Out Rose

Possum haw HollyPossum haw Holly

‘‘Warren’s Red’Warren’s Red’

Belinda’s DreamBelinda’s Dream

SpiceSpice

Knock Knock OutOut

FoliageFoliage

Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’

Purple heart

Lamb’s Ear

Iris:

Bearded, Louisiana,

Siberian

Shasta Daisy ‘Becky’

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum 'Becky'

Ox-Eye Daisy

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

Hemerocallis spp. Daylilies

Lantana

‘New Gold’

Trailing Lantana

Narcissus

Phlox subulata - Thrift

Phlox paniculata – Summer Phlox

‘John Fanick’

‘Victoria’

Coreopsis lanceolata

Hibiscus sp.Perennial Hibiscus

‘Flare’

Rudbeckia Rudbeckia ‘Herbstonne’‘Herbstonne’

Rudbeckia Rudbeckia fulgidafulgida

‘‘Goldsturm’Goldsturm’

Echinacea (Coneflower) Echinacea (Coneflower) purpureapurpurea

‘‘Magnus’Magnus’

Gaura lindheimerii Whirling

Butterflies

Asclepias Tuberosa Asclepias Tuberosa Butterfly Weed

Salvia greggii Autumn Sage

Salvia leucantha

Mexican Bush Sage

Salvia farinacea

Mealy Cup Sage

Sedum spectabile

Showy Sedum‘Autumn Joy’

• Place a 3-inch layer of mulch Place a 3-inch layer of mulch around plants taking care not to around plants taking care not to pile it up around plant stems. pile it up around plant stems. This promotes disease and decay.This promotes disease and decay.

• Reapply when needed.Reapply when needed.

Mulch all bedsMulch all beds

Plant MaintenancePlant Maintenance: Divide Divide Perennials, during the season Perennials, during the season opposite their bloom time, opposite their bloom time, every three or four years as every three or four years as needed.needed.

Plant MaintenancePlant Maintenance

Cut back during the dormant Cut back during the dormant season by removing stems and season by removing stems and foliage killed by winter foliage killed by winter temperatures. This can be temperatures. This can be done following the first killing done following the first killing frost or before new growth frost or before new growth begins in February.begins in February.

HAVE A PLANT QUESTION?Call our Horticulture help line at

972-548-4232 or Metro 972-424-1460 x4232

Collin County Master Gardeners AssociationE-mail us at: [email protected]