Planting later in the year

Hello. I'm a new gardener and my fiancee and I just moved into our first home. There is no landscaping to speak of (other than dirt and weeds) :) and we'll probably be ready to start planting in about a month. Right now I've livened things up with containers. I wonder, though, is it terrible to plant shrubs, trees and your garden this late in the season? Should I just wait until next year, or will it be okay to plant some perennials and evergreens if I leave space for next year's annuals. Sorry if this is a silly question. I've never done any gardening before, but find myself completely entranced with my new houseplants and container plants. Thanks for the help!
Melissa

I definitely wouldn't plant things in the heat of summer, if you baby the plants just right some of them will make it, but some will die no matter how hard you try because it's just too hard to get established with the hot TX sun beating down on the new plants. Your success rate will be much better if you plant in cooler weather, either fall or spring. Since your winters aren't too cold I would guess that fall planting would work fine for trees/shrubs and perennials, then you can put the annuals in next spring.

I agree with Ecrane about planting in the heat of the summer, best wait till the weather cools a bit, especially when the evening temps are still high, young plants dehydrate at the rate or lightening, your soil will be baked dry right now also and it would be really difficult to mantain a good watering system for young new tender plants just now, good idea would be to clear the area where you want to have beds/borders etc, prepare the soil by adding as much compost/manure as water retention, and get everything planned and prepared for your new plants arival, then as the autumn comes, the soil will still be warm but not baked, then start to plant, have a little plan on paper as it saves you time, energy and wasted money trying to save dying plants, then they will be easier to care for over the cooler months, roots well set into the earth befor next years strong heat, now would be a good time to go along to your local librery and get some books on starting gardening, plants that you would like to grow etc, then you can read up on them and give them the best start that you can, so good luck and hope all goes well for you and you enjoy your new garden, WeeNel.

Here in TX this year we have had rain and overcast skies for weeks, and it doesn't look like it is going to let up. I have also been thinking about taking the risk and putting in a few perennials (a garden on the north side of the house). I know this is really unusual for here this time of year, and was going to try and take advantage of it. I don't want to waste money, though. The forcast says that it should be in the 70's overnights for at least a week. Any advice?

I have to agree with Ecrane re summer planting being unsuitable time, even in less tempret weather in Texas, it could change and get back to normal, if you really cant wait to get your hands into the soil, (new Gardeners be warned, It is most infectious as you wont want to stop) I would get all the beds you want marked out and dug if you feel you can cope, then prepare the soil by adding compost, manures etc that you can get your hands on, have your flower planting plan ready, and as the summer ends, everything should be ready for the best bit, the plants, that way, as a new gardener, you wont be overhwhelmed by stressed plants dying on you from the hot summer sun, because you will be giving them a chance to settle befor next years hot weather, you will enjoy the new growth that will appear in the spring and give you time to get to know all your planting, it will be a good time also to fill any gaps you find between your new plants and you can grow some seeds to fill these gaps, sort out any re aranging you want and gradually build up on the watering that will be non stop in the hight of the summe, go to the librery, a good soarce to get books on gardening in your climate, how to, when and what the plants you like will need, so to delay your planting for another couple of months will infact not be a waist of time, rather of great bennifit to you, your garden and the money you save by being patient, good luck, WeeNel.

A week is a nice start, but not nearly enough time to get things established, if it goes back to normal TX heat after that the plants are still going to suffer. The thing with summer planting is that it requires more effort to baby the plants and it's riskier, you'll have some plants that will make it but some that don't, and the success rate will be lower than if you planted at a more appropriate time. So if you're prepared to replace a few of them then you can try planting them now, but if you're worried about wasting money I'd wait until cooler weather. The other thing to keep in mind if you plant things now, the weather's going to get hot and stress them out and even if they survive they're probably going to stop blooming so you probably won't get to enjoy them until next season anyway.

Thanks for telling me to wait, even though it isn't what I wanted to hear! :o)! I really miss my cutting garden, and will be sad to not have any flowers. I have already been working on laying out my garden bed around the existing bushes. Maybe I can find some fall flowers that I can enjoy before winter sets in.

Oh my...I just purchased some perennials yesterday...is it too late for my area? I am new to Dave's and to gardening (recently retired) and would love to get my flower garden started. We do not get as dry or hot as Texas and usually have lots of humidity. Any help is greatly appreciated. Many thanks,

Rose

Summer planting is stressful for plants pretty much no matter where you live, especially if you're planting them in a full sun area. If you're prepared to put in the extra effort babying them and are prepared to replace some of them that don't make it, then you can certainly try planting things, some things will make it but your success rate will be lower than if you plant during a cooler time of year.

Thanks for you reply Ecrane. I will plant and baby them and hope for the best. I will remember next year to start my perennials in the spring.

Don't think we're quite as hot as TX but we get hot enough! Hubby and I built a house (finished about 2 1/2 year ago) and I began planting trees, shrubs, and flowers that spring. With LOTS of very hard work, I got many to survive (lost a lot too though) but have had MUCH better luck with plants that were fall-planted. Being dormant, they aren't as stressed, they have cooler temps and more rain. Even though y'all are getting LOTS of rain over there right now (actually too much for new plants), I'd still wait till fall. The added bonus is that closer to fall, lots of places will start putting trees on sale for at least half price which is great if you have an entire yard to do. And even though they are fall planted, I still mulch them real well for the first 2 or 3 years.

Dell~ you can also plant your sun pernnenials in containers with a thick mulch then place the containers in moderate pm shade. Protect the perennials esp. from the hot afternoon sun and baby them till Fall when you can plant them in the desired locations.

Thank you garden 6. That is a great idea! My back patio is nothing but concrete so I decorated with potted flowers. Some of them are perennials so I can plant them in the fall also. I am so happy to know this...thanks again,
Rose

i also had planned on starting lots of flowers, bushes etc in my texas yard--i am working on getting it pretty and special for my sons wedding in october--i have planted a few areas but now am planning on getting a load of dirt to put in my other areas and then a load of mulch--so--if i do not plant now and just get my beds ready--can i plant in september and have pretty bushes, flowers etc for october? i also thought that with all the rain it would be ok to start now but i am new and so appreciate all the wise advice ya'll gave--i am a teacher and would like to do as much as i can before school starts in sept when things get so busy and of course the wedding will be keeping me busy too!!!

You're welcome Dell! ;0)

Plano~ when I moved to the prairie, it was a very hot summer and I had to have a garden!! Soooo... I did the exact thing I recommended to Dell. I planted seeds, trees,perennials, azaleas, roses and hydrangeas in pots with a thick mulch and placed them in shaded areas of my deck and yard. They survived nicely and I even planted pansy seeds for the Fall as well. Of course avoid the hot, drying pm sun. If the sun perennials receive early morning sunlight they will thrive nicely without the stress. I also used light water- soluble fertilizer. In the mid Fall, I was a busy bee planting them all out, but the rewards were great. Plus the added bonus of buying so many plants and seeds at midsummer reduced prices. I'm sure there are other ways to obtain favorable results, but this method works very well for me!

thank you for your excellent ideas--i talked to our local nursery and the man had this idea for me--get everything ready to plant--topsoil, mulch etc--in late sept plant mums, pansies, ground cover, bushes etc --as he said "get completly ready and then just drop them in" --i think i will do a combination of your ideas--

Great and happy gardening!!! ;0)

I'm so glad to have gotten so many great ideas from the replies to this post. Thank you! I've planted several perennials in containers (plus some annuals - couldn't help myself) and am amending my soil right now. Hopefully I'll get some great planting done in the fall. :o)