|
Q. How do I overwinter my plumeria and other tender tropicals?
A. Plumeria, a frangipani, is fragrant Hawaiian lei flowers that we can enjoy in our summer gardens. As we approach freezing weather, simply dig it up, shake off the soil, and hang it upside down in the garage. Or, you can just store it in a paper bag in a cool, dry area. In spring, after frost, replant in a pot or the garden.
Other things, like bougainvillea, for example, can be moved into a cool or even cold spot, provided that it's protected from hard freezes. It'll die back into a dormant state or if you have a little bit of light, it may stay green in a holding pattern. In spring, clip it back, fertilize and set back outside.
If you have no place to store your tender potted plants, often bringing them near the house, out of the wind, and covering with blankets, does the trick. Other people create warming tents with light bulbs or even decorate tree lights. |
|
Naturalizing Bulbs
There are a number of bulbs that return year after year in our central Texas landscapes. Choose from rain lilies and Habranthus, which emerge at different times of the year, depending on variety. In fall, they can join the oxblood, or schoolhouse lily, and lycoris. Through winter and spring, there are daffodils, Paper White narcissus, allium, and many others.
For more information, two excellent books: Garden Bulbs for the South by Scott Ogden, and Bulbs for Warm Climates by Thad Howard.
|
- Plant stock, snapdragons, alyssum, dianthus, and cyclamen.
- Plant bulbs and perennials.
- Continue dividing spring and summer blooming perennials. Lift the clump up, divide it with a shovel or a knife, and reset it back in the garden. Keep it watered during these continued windy, dry spells.
|
