Brownwood's Extension Agent Says Fall Is the Time to Plant Trees, Shrubs and Wildflowers

Spring gets all the attention, but Brown County's extension agent says the smartest planting of the year happens right now.

Anna Davenport, the Brown County AgriLife Extension agent, wrote in an Oct. 15 column for Brownwood News that autumn is "the absolute best time of year to plant perennial flowers, trees, and shrubs." Her reason is simple. Long, hot summers and unpredictable rain put heavy stress on plants set out in spring. Planting in fall, she wrote, saves "water, time, money, and labor."

Why fall works

It comes down to the soil. In October the air is cooling, but the ground is still warm from summer. Davenport explains that a tree or shrub planted in October or November suffers little transplant shock. It isn't fighting triple-digit heat and fast evaporation, so it puts its energy into roots.

Even after the plant goes dormant and drops its leaves, the roots keep growing through the winter. By the time July heat returns, she wrote, a fall-planted tree or shrub is "already deeply established and highly drought-resilient."

There is a bonus for the birds and bees. Davenport notes that perennials and woody plants set out in fall give shelter to beneficial insects and birds over the colder months. Because their roots get a head start, they can bloom earlier and more heavily in spring, when early pollinators need nectar and pollen most.

Three steps to plant it right

Davenport's column lays out a simple plan:

• Dig the right hole. Make it twice as wide as the root ball but exactly the same depth. A plant set too deep can trap moisture and develop root rot.

• Loosen the roots. If the plant was root-bound in its nursery pot, gently tease or score the outside of the root ball so roots grow out into the native soil.

• Mulch heavily. Spread 3 inches of organic hardwood mulch over the root zone. It works like a blanket, holding warmth in the soil longer into winter and sealing in moisture.

She also encourages buying from local nurseries and garden centers. There you can check plant health yourself and get advice from growers who know local conditions.

Sow wildflowers now for spring

Davenport's column points readers to an Oct. 8 Texas A&M AgriLife Today article on wildflowers. In it, Michael Arnold, director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University, says the best time to plant wildflower seed in Texas is generally September through early November. The farther north you live, the earlier in that window you should plant.

Bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush in Georgetown, March 2024. Illustrative; not in Brown County. Photo: 8bit12man / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

"Planting wildflowers is all about delayed gratification," Arnold said.

His advice:

• Mix annuals, which can bloom the first year, with perennials, which may bloom better in their second or third year.

• Plan a sequence of blooms. Start with bluebonnets, tickseed and Indian paintbrush for early spring. Follow with evening primrose, Mexican hat and coreopsis for late spring into midsummer. Hardy sunflowers stretch color later still.

• Choose a seed blend suited to your part of Texas.

• Plant in full sun, at least eight hours a day, in soil that drains well.

• Loosen the soil, scatter the seed evenly and press it gently into the ground without burying it.

• Keep the soil moist while seeds germinate, but don't overwater.

• Let the flowers go to seed before you mow, so they come back next year.

Get help close to home

Choosing the right tree for a Brownwood yard is a decision that lasts decades. Davenport invites residents to call her at 325-646-0386 or stop by the extension office at 605 Fisk Avenue. She also recommends the Texas A&M Forest Service Tree Selector Guide.

The old wisdom still holds: the best time to plant a tree was years ago, and the next best time is this fall.

Related on Dock Line: What to Plant in Your Brazos Valley Fall Garden Right Now; Greenville Gardeners Still Have Time to Plant Garlic, Greens and Roots