Cool Season Annuals

The season has once again changed in Texas. What? You can't tell? When the high for the day is below 90 degrees we know that fall is on the way! And how 'bout those cool mornings! I no longer begrudge those that work indoors as I did in August. I feel a little sorry for them now! It is a great time to be outdoors. And while your outside you may as well work in the garden. Your perennials should be prospering after surviving the heat of summer. Chances are your warm season annuals are beginning to look a little lost. Now is the time to pull out the annuals that are looking overgrown or stressed and plant cool season annuals for color that will last until it warms up again next spring.

• Pansies- The most popular of all the cool season bloomers. Many colors are available with the most striking pansies being those with contrasting colors and blotches. You can use them as low borders or in mass plantings. Rarely over 8 inches tall. A one-inch mulch and watering will protect them from severe cold. Top keep them looking their best you need to deadhead the old blooms. Remove the old flower with the first set of leaves on the same stem to promote bushiness and more flowers. It is best to plant these in middle to late October. If planted now they will either get tall and leggy or they will burn up in warm weather. Sun.
• Snapdragons- This is the annual that looks so beautiful in early spring. Plant them now so they can achieve their full potential. They will bloom sporadically through the season but are the showiest in spring when the tall stems rise above the foliage and are surrounded by many flowers. Tahiti is a variety that grows to 8 inches. Sonnet will grow 18 to 24 inches. Rocket will rise to 3 feet! Many colors and shades are available. Sun.
• Dianthus- Dianthus is in the family that includes sweet William and carnations. These attractive little plants are actually biennials and can live for two or three years. Most stay small at 6 inches but can grow to 12 inches. They come in shades of red, white, and pink with some having bicolored blooms. Use in borders, mass plantings, and containers. Sun to part sun.
• Chrysanthemum- Ok, mums are not really annuals either. They are perennial if you tend to them through the year. They stay green year-round but only bloom in the fall and a little in the spring. For that reason, most people treat them as annuals, not wanting to give up the space in spring for a plant that does not bloom much. There are many flower forms and colors. Mums are the most striking fall container plants. Sun.
• Flowering Cabbage and Kale- These varieties are not to be eaten. They are grown for their awesome foliage display. Here again you need to set these out now so they will be established by next spring. They grow to 18 inches tall and have wavy inner leaves in shades of pink, rose, red, and pink surrounded by wavy green leaves. Use them in the grown or surround them with lower growing winter annuals in pots. They do very well in hard freezes. Sun.

You can also plant marigolds, petunias, calendulas, and sweet alyssum for fall color. These plants are, however, not winter hardy and will die at the first hard freeze. As with all plants, water them in when a hard freeze is expected. The water acts as an insulator and protects the roots from damage. Don't forget to mulch. A quick note on hummingbirds: You should stop feeding hummingbirds two weeks after you have seen the last bird. Healthy hummers know when it is time to go. Many are already gone. By feeding for two weeks you will be providing food for the birds traveling through our area on their way south.