January gardening in South Texas

It’s the start of the new year! There’s no better time than in January to spruce up your garden as the weather slowly grows warmer and the winter season is about to wrap up.

Here’s a helpful South Texas gardening guide for January:

What to plant

1. Trees
• Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
• Wild Olive (Olea oleaster)
• Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
• Rio Grande Ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana)
• Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora Secundiflora)

These trees, especially the live oak ones, are just some of the most popular native trees to plant in South Texas. Once fully grown, these trees provide ample shade and protection from the intense Texas sun.

2. Shrubs
• Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)
• Texas Baby Bonnets (Coursetia axillaris)
• Purple Sage (Salvia)
• Nopal Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)
• Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphylla)

Shrubs can actually be planted at any time, as long as they are on the ground instead of in pots. Just make sure to keep them watered and avoid fertilizing them.

3. Flowers
• Marigolds (Tagetes)
• Roses (Rosa)
• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
• Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
• Geraniums (Pelargonium)

Flowers make a beautiful addition to anyone’s garden. While they can also be grown in pots, they are best planted on the ground or in a planter

4. Vegetables
• Radishes (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus)
• Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
• Leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
• Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Due to South Texas’ temperate climate, it’s fairly easy to grow your own vegetables here. In fact, at least one in every three families in South Texas has their own home garden, according to the Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide.

5. Herbs
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Mint (Mentha)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
• Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

Herbs are essential to flavoring and cooking. They are also easily grown in South Texas as long as they are in a well-draining location with plenty of sun.

Gardening tips:

• Prune your trees and shrubs by removing dead or damaged branches. Aside from improving your yard’s appearance, pruning also helps to stimulate new growth production, treat diseases, and keep the plant healthy.
• Plan the trees and shrubs that you want to plant. The months of January to March are usually the first planting session in Texas. It is during this time when new plants start developing roots before the hot weather returns. It’s also best at this time to transplant small trees and shrubs.
• Harvest fruits and vegetables. Late winter is the best time to harvest your leafy greens, oranges, tangerines, and root crops because it is during this period, harvesting is most productive in South Texas.
• Inspect frost-damaged plants before throwing them away. If the weather was not too cold or severe, the stems may still be undamaged and can be replanted.
• Don’t forget to water your garden. Since it’s still the winter season, many home gardeners make the mistake of giving their plants little to no water during this particular period. The cold winter weather can actually cause significant damage to plants that are too dry.
• Refrain from fertilizing. Majority of trees and shrubs are dormant at this time. Instead, continue to keep your garden well-watered and wait for the early spring season before fertilizing.

If you’re looking for ranch and residential properties in South Texas, Desert Flower Realty would be happy to assist you. Call me, John Walker, at 361-449- 2051 or send an email to DesertFlowerRealty(at)DesertFlowerRealty(dotted)com.