August 19 , 2021
Native Plants: Summer Prune for Fall Flower Power!
I ’ve grown aboriginal plants a longsighted time , but I still ask , “ Should we cut fall bloomers in former summertime to encourage more flowers ? ” By the agency , this is n’t my yard!To pick up a few dress and planting pointers , I met with San Antonio aboriginal plant designer and wildlife steward Drake White , owner ofThe Nectar Bar(@nectarbarsa ) , a native landscape painting caller and small glasshouse . She also explains how to cut back tropical milkweed , a big question on our minds . ATexas Master Naturalistand member of theNative Plant Society , she ’s attached to make habitat for pollinators and all wildlife , plus teaching others how to do it and why to participate . “ Whether you have a huge thou or acreage , a pocket-size backyard , a small planting bit , or can only do it in a throne , everyone can utterly embed for wildlife and for butterflies , ” she encourage . Although give ’s a big fling , fall flower are equally important to nurture wildlife before winter . transmigrate wildlife , include Monarch butterflies , require solid food energy for their long flight . “Other butterflies need to kind of get themselves ready to go into what they call a diapause or a hibernation of such . They kind of hibernate in leaf litter and things like that , ” Drake said . Here ’s a Painted Lady on native shrubby boneset , also called white mistflower . To magnify flower power , Drake likes to prune between June 1 and the third week of August , depending on the plant . She cuts native frostweed back by half the first of June . This advertise stronger , duncical stem to avoid flopping over . ( After seeing her @nectarbarsa mail service this summertime , I cut mine back about 2 ’ in former July , since mine usually flop . Now I bonk why!)That pruning also produces more blossom for Monarchs that count on it during migration . Thesebold , marvellous plant for part shade and understory spotsstart blooming in August and early September to course many butterflies and various pollinators . It ’s also the larval host flora for Bordered Patch butterfly stroke . Native flame acanthus , salvias , and Maximilian helianthus can get leggy . Drake suggests cutting back straggling branches to the bushiest part or even just a few inches on salvias or other smaller plants . We ’re not dramatically pruning at this point ; imagine of it as a “ bang ’s trim ! ”
Do n’t be afraid to cut off a few flowers , Drake assured us . That will maximize blooms in coming calendar week — especially if we get September rain that cool things down a bit . 10 to 20 flowers will set off into 30 or 40 . Here ’s a lovely pollinator castle atTravis County Extension ’s demonstration gardenfeaturingSalvia farinacea , flaming acanthus , and four - nerve daisy . I’ve started cutting back some of my aboriginal zexmenias , since former summer ’s flowers have gone to ejaculate . It ’s such a treat to watch out picayune birds clump to them that I ’ll leave stems with remaining ejaculate . I ’ll trim down others for a fall flush loaded and more seeds for thirsty wintertime birds!Zexmenia ’s the host plant for Bordered Patch butterflies , but many pollinator head for those gilt flowers . So , what if the heat / humidity / time keeps us from pruning until the end of August or first hebdomad of September ? That ’s okay . Just trim back less drastically — just tip the remainder . I would n’t crop frostweed at this decimal point , but you could lightly trim Turk ’s chapiter , salvias , andshrubby boneset , also called snowy mistflower . Do we postulate to fertilize ? Nope . Sir Francis Drake advises compost only — the first of September and every three months or so . Fall ’s also the best time to plant . Even though this summer has been comparatively soft , it ’s unmanageable for plants to shew root and protect themselves from the heat . As they struggle to do both , we incline to overwater and at last moulder their root . Even at nurseries , you ’ll find various ageratum covered in Queen butterflies!Native plant society and botanical gardens across Texas usually bear fall plant sales . In Austin , theWildflower Center ’s 2021 gloam Plant Saleis Friday - Sunday from September 24 – November 7 . Register online to reserve a spot .
For full sun to part shade , Drake recommendsflame acanthus , a big draw for hummingbird and butterflies . It ’s also the larval master of ceremonies for Crimson Patch butterflies . Watch our archived story withJim and Lynne Weber , generator ofNative Host Plants for Texas Butterflies , a fabulous address to get you started on a pollinator garden . Salvias , likeS. leucantha , turn in full sun to part shade ( look on the plant ) . Some perennial bloom spring and spill . ruffianly - as - nail native snake herb ( Dyschoriste linearis ) grow only about 6 ” high . Drought - tolerant and deer - tolerant , it adapts to sunshine or shade . Although it spreads , it does n’t choke out its neighbor and would look endearing drape a container . Pale lavender peak attract butterfly in previous spring and belated summertime if rains come our way . It ’s a host flora for the Common Buckeye butterfly . For sun to part shade , bees and butterflies go for groundcoverGregg ’s mistflower ( genus Conoclinium greggii).Blue boneset ( Conoclinium coelestinum ) is taller at around 2 - 3’ . In recent years , we ’ve all step up interest in milkweeds since they ’re the larval host for Monarchs and Queens . For Central Texas , Drake recommend green milkweed ( Asclepias viridis ) , Texas milkweed ( Asclepias texana ) , Zizotes ( Asclepias oenotheroides ) and Antelope - horns milkweed ( Asclepias asperula ): here relish by a Monarch caterpillar . For container , she recommends Zizotes and Texas milkweeds that can palm winter ’s frigidness without trade protection . The grownup head : Should we cut back or dig up the easy - to - ascertain tropical milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica)?Drake commend cut it back twice a year : June 1st and then again in October through December . Spring ’s migration clusters butterflies together and thus a prospect that the OE ( Ophryocystis elektroscirrha ) spore can be deposit . Native frostweeds may perish back in summer , but the tropicals do not . By cutting them back in June , they ’ll regrow as healthy plants .
Should we worry about oleander aphids that feed on silkweed and oleanders?First , they do n’t feed on other works , but many beneficial insects feed on them . Ladybug , green lacewing fly , and hoverfly larvae chomp them up and then curb other pest , too . Second , Drake differentiate us that those aphids indicate that it ’s “ clean ” silkweed and not lace with pesticides .
Sir Francis Drake ’s also the chief docent manager of the Monarch Butterfly & Pollinator Festival founded by Monika Maeckle of theTexas Butterfly Ranch . This sport , family event is back in person this year on Saturday , October 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.atConfluence Parkin Antonio . Click here for detailsand to name a tail Monarch butterfly stroke after a loved one .
view now for all her tips !
In Drake ’s Book , “ public security , love and butterfly ! ” Thanks for halt by ! Linda
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