Finally, fall is here. The weather is becoming slightly cooler, and gardeners are slowly migrating back outdoors after record-breaking heat this summer. Now is a perfect time to add a new tree or a grouping of shrubs to the landscape. Or perhaps you have an area in the landscape that needs ‘remodeling’ or rejuvenating. The fall may be the best season to plant, surpassing even the spring.

Many people prefer January through March for planting, but the fall months of September through December have distinct advantages. Fall planting follows the heat of summer, before a cool winter season, and trees and shrubs planted in the fall use this to good advantage. Plant roots grow anytime the soil temperature is 40 degrees or higher, which may occur all winter in Texas. During the winter months, the root systems of the fall-planted specimens develop and become established. When spring arrives, this expanded root system can support and take advantage of the full surge of spring growth.

Fall is the optimum time to plant balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. Balled and burlapped plants have ample time to recover from transplanting and proliferate roots before spring growth begins. Remember, however, all bare root plants, including roses and pecan and fruit trees, should be planted in late winter when they are completely dormant.

When buying plants for your landscape, be sure to get healthy, well-grown plants. Always buy from a reputable dealer. Those in the plant-selling business year-round depend on repeat customers, and only by selling customers quality plants can there be assurance of future business. Beware of plant bargains. They can easily turn out to be real headaches. A bargain is no good if it dies. The price tag, especially the cheapest one, is not the best guide to quality.

All plants have growing requirements. Think about the plant’s needs before you invest. Is it adapted to your area’s soil? Will it grow in sun or shade? Does it need a wet or dry location? Is it cold hardy? Some nurseries have this type of information on tags beside the plant. If not, ask a nursery professional or the county Extension agent.

‘Plan before you plant’ is always a good rule of thumb. Whether you are planting a single plant or an entire landscape, plan first, then plant. Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will pay off in greater enjoyment of attractive and useful home grounds, and in increasing the value of your home. It’s much easier to move plants on paper then to dig them after planting in the wrong place. A plan saves many planting mistakes.

Every plant in the landscape should serve a purpose. Ask yourself if you want a plant for screening, for privacy, or for shade. How large will it be five years from now? Plants, like people, grow up. Remember, that a small one-gallon-size plant will look entirely different after a few years of growth in your landscape.

Plant properly for success. Here are a few guidelines on getting the job done right:

• Dig a hole large enough in diameter so that the root system has at least six inches of clearance on all sides. The root ball should rest on a solid soil foundation, so don’t dig the hole much deeper than the ball.
• Plant the tree or shrub slightly above the level of the surrounding soil, to allow for settling and increased soil drainage.
• Carefully place the tree or shrub in the hole. Handle the plant by the root ball, not by the trunk. A broken ball of earth can mean a dead plant. Always remove any container before you plant.
• Backfill the hole, using only the native soil removed from the hole; do not use soil amendments when planting large shrubs and trees. Fill the hole, and firm the soil around the plant. Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and to eliminate any air pockets.
• Do not fertilize your tree or shrub after planting. Wait until early in the spring to do this, and even then, go lightly. Heavy applications of fertilizer may burn and injure the root system and could possibly kill the plant.
• Watering has been and remains paramount in transplanting. At the time of transplanting, soak the root ball and surrounding soil. A thorough watering every 7 to 10 days dramatically increases the success ratio. More frequent watering may encourage root rot. Remember more trees and shrubs fail from over watering then from under watering.
• Before calling it a day, add 4 to 6 inches of mulch around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs. This helps to keep down weeds and conserve soil moisture. Use pine bark, compost, grass clippings, or leaves.

Fall is for planting. Visit your nursery today and beautify and add value to your home.

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Basics of beekeeping for beginners starts Oct. 5 online

Four-part series covers honey bee hives, biology, beekeeping equipment.

Beekeeping 101 will take place as a series of virtual-live trainings in October. There will also be an optional in-person field day.

The online beekeeping course will cover the basics for beginners who want to start a hive.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service workshop is for those looking to learn more about beekeeping and start their own hives. The online course will run live from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 5, Oct. 6, Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.  

The series costs $45, and advance registration is required at https://tx.ag/Bee101Oct21Reg. The event will also be recorded for registered participants who can’t attend online at the time of the live broadcast. A beekeeping resources kit with catalogs, fact sheets and additional materials will be mailed to participants at the address they provided when registering.

Beekeeping is a hobby that has increased in interest over the past several years due to a combination of factors: media attention of a decline of honey bee populations, the need to increase pollination in an individual’s landscape, the desire for environmental stewardship, homesteading popularity, producing honey and other byproducts of bees, and for those looking to get an ag exemption for their property taxes,” said course instructor Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension senior program specialist and board certified entomologist, San Antonio.

An optional field day will take place in the Leon Springs area of far northwest San Antonio, located south of Boerne. Participants may choose between an Oct. 8 or Oct. 16 field day option when registering. Details will be confirmed via email to registered participants once location details are finalized.

Beekeeping 101

The course dates and topics for Beekeeping 101 are as follows:

– Oct. 5: Honey Bee Biology.
– Oct. 6: Beekeeping Basics.
– Oct. 12: What to Expect the First Year.
– Oct. 13: Risks to Honey Bees – Pests and Others.

Keeping, managing bees

“You don’t need much land to keep bees, you just have to be committed to managing the bees if you are in a smaller space,” Keck said. “There are plenty of urban, backyard beekeepers and even rooftop beekeepers. But for an ag exemption, you need a minimum of 5 acres and no more than 20 acres can be used for the ag exemption.” 

The course will cover the basics of beekeeping to prepare participants to have their own hives by covering honeybee biology, beekeeping equipment, managing a hive and pest management. Interaction with instructors will also help guide participants in learning what to expect during their early years as a beekeeper.

Keck said the focus of the course is very much “how to do, what to buy, where to buy” for beekeeping.