In South Central Texas, planting in fall and winter just makes sense. Read on to learn why. Living in South Central Texas you might scratch your head when you hear that this is the best time for landscape planting. And with potentially freezing temperatures approaching, the very idea may seem to stretch your Farmer’s Almanac expectations. But in Texas, planting in fall and winter just makes sense. Here’s why. There are basically only three seasons in San Antonio (as described by horticulturist Mark Peterson): “bearable,” “unbearable” and “intolerable.” Summer months embody the unbearable and t ..read more

You have several options to get rid of autumn leaves. But it might be simpler — and more beneficial for your landscape — to just leave them where they land. While autumn and fall are loosely used terms around South Texas, there is one constant: sooner or later, our deciduous trees will lose their leaves. And that leads to the question of what to do with them. For many, the answer is simple. Rake, bag and send them off to the city’s solid waste management department to deal with. In a perfect world, they all end up as compost to benefit local soil. Unfortunately, green bins are underutilized an ..read more

Daylight saving time ended Sunday, Nov. 5. Remember to adjust the clock on your irrigation system controller too! For many of us, fall is the best time of the year as it brings cooler, more satisfying temperatures and a much, much awaited change in the air. As you go through the normal routine of turning back clocks, don’t forget to change the time on the irrigation controller too, especially with Stage 2 watering rules continuing. This is also a good opportunity to replace your controller’s 9-volt battery — which will retain the correct time, date and program even after power outages. With re ..read more

Patience, trust and no fuss — these are just a few of our recommendations to help your milkweed flourish. Many of us have heard about the plight of the monarch butterfly and we’ve discussed the benefits of using local milkweed species. But while some gardeners seem to have no trouble at all growing milkweed in their landscapes, there are many others who find it confusing, frustrating, or downright impossible. Admittedly, I’ve never had any difficulty getting milkweed established, so it’s always a little surprising to me that many struggle with what, in my experience, is a group of invincible p ..read more

Donkey Lady or dog barking? Beware the wildlife sounds that feed your fear of moaning monsters. By Dominique Silva La Llorona, La Lechuza and the thunderbird have a long-standing history in San Antonio lore. But are they really monsters or misidentified birds, frogs and insects? Let’s explore and investigate together … A female ghost known to dwell near waterways around San Antonio at night, La Llorona searches for her lost children while crying and screeching when someone approaches. Fun fact: Woman Hollering Creek in northeast San Antonio is named for her. What if you’re not hearing a ghost ..read more

Don’t let drought be a plot twist. Discover the secrets to a yard that thrills despite drought — and provides a wild escape for pollinators. Thrilling, spine-chilling and full of mystery — yes, that’s gardening in South Texas. Come closer and listen to my tales of the garden, full of a summer’s suspense and a caution for the fall. Three thrillers This summer was a roller-coaster ride of anticipation as I waited to see how the drought would affect my garden. Late summer was intense as San Antonio hit a record 74 days over 100 degrees. Could our plants survive the never-ending summer scorch? Swe ..read more

Cooler temperatures and increased moisture make your grass susceptible to frightful fungal foes. Cooler temperatures and increased humidity multiply the chances of disease problems in the autumn lawn, particularly after the summer’s exceptional drought and heat. And no turf is immune — especially if your watering is out of whack. Bermuda, zoysia and St. Augustine grasses are all susceptible to fungal disease if the following conditions are present: overwatering or high soil moisture, high levels of nitrogen, high soil pH, or improper mowing height. Here are the common fungal turf diseases in S ..read more

Our gardening experts share how their own landscape specimens are materializing after dreadful weather extremes. The past three years have seen some of the hottest, coldest, and driest Texas weather in a long, long time. Were you surprised to see some plants looking good while others were unexpectedly struggling or worse? So were we! With Winter Storm Uri still in our recent memory, and now with San Antonio’s hottest summer ever in our rear view, our landscapes have had a rare opportunity to show their extended resiliency — or lack thereof. By the end of summer 2023 it seemed like everything i ..read more

Soil should be loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter and nutrients. But what can you do if yours isn’t? Healthy soil is the basis of everything in the landscape and garden. But in South Central Texas, soils can be far from ideal. Fortunately, our Find-a-Plant pages include filters for soil types — if you know your type. Here’s a broad introduction to local soil associations, where they occur, and what it means for your landscape. If we all had our druthers for growing plants, soil would be loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter and nutrients with perfectly equal proportions ..read more

This one category of plants sails through sizzling heat with ease. It’s no wonder these fragrant floras are celebrated annually! If you were in San Antonio through summer this year, congratulations: you survived our hottest summer on record — and the fifth-driest. Between the heat and absence of rain, gardeners have had two very rough summers in a row. But one category of plants seemed to sail through the extreme heat almost without a struggle: herbs. It’s no wonder these fragrant florae are celebrated annually at the Herb Market! Come out to the Pearl Brewery on Saturday, Oct. 21 to join the ..read more