Seasonal Gardening - Fall

Plant shade trees and other landscape plants now to take advantage of warm soils and milder air temperatures. Fall is one of the best seasons in San Antonio to establish trees and shrubs with less heat stress and stronger root development before summer returns.

Plant cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, and greens, using local planting dates and allowing enough time for crops to mature before hard freezes.

Prepare beds for cool-season flowers and vegetables by adding compost or other organic matter as needed and making sure soils are loose and well drained.

Deadhead flowering plants to stimulate continued blooming and tidy the garden as temperatures cool. Regular deadheading is especially helpful on roses and other repeat bloomers.

Fertilize roses for the last time before winter, then wait until late winter to fertilize again.

Complete the last major pruning of rose bushes before winter, ideally by early fall, then hold off again until late winter (mid-February).

Dig, divide, and replant spring-and-summer-blooming perennials while the weather is favorable so roots can establish during the cooler months ahead.

Sow bluebonnets and other wildflowers in fall, which is the key seeding season for spring bloom in Central and South Texas.

Reduce watering as temperatures cool and soils hold moisture longer. Avoid overwatering in fall, and continue adjusting irrigation downward as days shorten and plant water use declines.

Mulch all new plantings to help conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds, but keep mulch away from trunks and stems to avoid rot and excess moisture around the crown.

Do not allow weeds to go to seed, which will reduce future weed pressure and make spring maintenance easier.

Prepare to protect tropical plants or move them into a greenhouse or sheltered space before cold weather arrives.

Prepare exposed pipes and irrigation components for winter, and check irrigation systems for leaks, clogged emitters, or misdirected spray heads before colder weather sets in.

After the final use of mowers and other power equipment, prepare them for winter storage and do not leave gasoline in machines over the season.

Begin purchasing fall-planted, spring-blooming bulbs, but wait to plant until the hottest weather has passed and soils begin to cool.

Evaluate the landscape and make changes while conditions are still comfortable for planting and garden work. Fall is an excellent time to replace poorly adapted plants with native or well-adapted species better suited to San Antonio’s climate and water conditions