If you’ve been gardening for any amount of time, you have probably discovered practical gardening practices that work for you here in Central Texas. We’d love for you to share them with us! In coming newsletters, we’ll select and share one or two submissions. Please help us make this new monthly feature a success by sending your submissions to sanantonio@npsot.org. Be sure to include your name, fully describe the gardening tip, and possibly include an illustrative photo.
Create a Little Artificial Shade
Sometimes when we install a new sun-loving plant, it is not ideal timing. Maybe the temperature spiked early, the nursery only carries that summer blooming plant when at peak bloom, or you otherwise found that perfect plant when we’re having hot, sunny days. Nothing is more alarming than to find your new “full sun” plant wilting by 3 p.m. despite the wet soil, then to your relief, recovering overnight, only to wilt again the following afternoon. Ideally, you’ve “hardened off” the plant. (See, Baby plant boot camp – Garden Style San Antonio). But if you didn’t do this, or the plant was root bound requiring the roots to be significantly disturbed during planting, I’ve found that creating a little shade works wonders until the plant is past the planting shock and the roots are efficiently functioning again.
(Submitted by Pam Peck)
Shade Cages
If you “caged” your tender plant to protect it from critters, you can simply secure a cover across the top and perhaps down the sunny side. Anything that creates shade works –cardboard, a piece of opaque plastic bag, or fabric. Alternatively, you can use four poles and attach the four corners of your covering to them. For poles, I’ve used bamboo, odd metal pieces, and/or recently pruned tree branches. The cover can be as simple as cutting a shopping bag in half, spreading it flat, and utilizing the handles (cut at the halfway point) as ties to the poles. You will want the cover low each to actually create shade and you may even need to angle it to maximize the shade as the sun moves across. I’m sure you can find many other ways to rig up some artificial shade. However you do it, your new plant(s) will thank you as we all benefit from a little shade on a hot summer afternoon! (Submitted by Pam Peck)
Gardening Challenge
Readers: Please share any suggestions for suppressing root sprouts from a possumhaw holly tree (located in mulched beds).
