Plant Forms and Styles

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Plant Forms and Styles

Ming fern shade plant Lynne Dobson Central Texas Gardener

First group (for shade)

Phlebodium pseudoaureum
Ming fern
Ramie
Golden globe (Lysimachia)
Japanese variegated sedge (Carex morrowii) Alocasia odora Persian shield
torenia
toad lily
strawberry begonia

Second group (for sun)

Echinacea ‘Sunset’
Blue lime grass
Echeveria ‘Afterglow’
Dwarf Pholmis
Rosemary ‘Roman Beauty’
bamboo muhly
golden barrel cactus
sedums
Agave Americana ‘Variegata’
Dyckia
variegated allium
Dwarf Hamelia patens

Third Group (full to half day sun)

chartreuse and purples
Agave ferox
Dianella tasmanica ‘Yellow Stripe’
Acalypha ‘Ceylon’ (copper plant)
Butterfly bush ‘Strawberry Lemonade’
Golden pineapple sage
Loropetalum ‘Suzanne’ 3-4′
Phlomis lanata (dwarf)
Little Ollie olive (for sun or shade)
Little Giant arborvitae (30′ x 30′)
nemesia

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December To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Hardy perennials, shrubs
Trees
Roses (best time!)
Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage
Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano
Avoid planting rosemary
Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives
Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze

Plant: food crops

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Prune

Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune
Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage
Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately
Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks

Divide/Move

Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant
Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant

Prep

Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost
Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals
Keep that row cover ready! Do not protect plants with plastic!

Lawn

Pluck out early weeds.

Other tasks

Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil
Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down
Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile!
Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched

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