North Texas Fall Bulb Planting, Division and Pruning

North Texans enjoy fall gardening and landscape chores because the cooler temperatures offer welcome relief from the extended heat of August and early September. It is great to be outdoors again. The skies remain clear and rain occurs just often enough to limit the need for supplemental watering.

Bulbs and Perennials

Plant spring flowering bulbs in well-drained soil enhanced with compost and peat moss. Good bulb choices for North Texas fall planting include daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, Dutch iris and Ranunculus (R. asiaticus). Place bulbs in groupings of 9 to 12 plants using 3-inch deep holes for small bulbs and 6-inch deep for larger bulbs. Space the bulbs 6 to 12 inches apart. Place in sunny or shade locations under deciduous trees since the plants flower before trees leaf out. Plant bulbs with the pointy end facing up.

Clean up perennial beds by removing dead leaves, old stalks and any damaged areas on branches.

Prune perennial plants to remove dead leaves, stem stubble, old seed stalks and other debris. Add mulch over tender perennials. Fall is also a good time to propagate spring blooming perennials through plant division.

Propagate Perennials through Division

Division can propagate plants with multiple stems emanating from a center crown. In North Texas, a gardener can use division-based propagation on iris, Texas columbine, Texas Ageratum and daylilies. Use a sharpshooter spade or knife to divide the crown into two or three pieces. Gently remove from the soil and pull apart into sections that include some crown and roots. Immediately place the divided pieces into their own location at the same depth and firmly press soil around the roots. Add compost of balanced fertilizer diluted to 50 percent strength. Water thoroughly.

Pruning

Late fall and early winter is the best time to prune trees and shrubs during their dormancy. Pruning too early in fall may cause new growth that can be damaged during freezing conditions in late winter. Before pruning, remember that the purpose of pruning according to Texas A&M University horticulture is to train the plant, maintain plant health, improve quality or restrict growth. Use lopping shears, tree saws and hand pruners — a chainsaw is not a pruning tool.

First, remove all dead or broken branches. Cut where the branch connects to the main trunk or at a strong lateral branch just before the branch bark collar. Cut back lateral branches to shape the tree or shrub. After each cut, remember to disinfect tools in a mild bleach solution of nine parts water to one part bleach to prevent spreading any disease to healthy plants.

After completing your fall landscape and garden maintenance, recycle non-diseased branches and leaves to use later for mulch.