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Seasons

Seasonal management transforms static garden plans into dynamic, responsive systems. This is where theoretical knowledge meets practical timing, where climate realities shape daily decisions, and where adaptive management separates successful gardens from failed experiments.

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Seasonal thinking requires both long-term vision and short-term flexibility. Winter planning sessions determine spring planting schedules. Summer heat management protects fall harvest potential. Each season builds momentum for the next while demanding immediate tactical responses to weather, pest pressure, and growth patterns.

Seasons: Adapting Strategies Based on Current Phase

FLOWERING PLANTS & LANDSCAPE

 

PERENNIAL FLOWERING SYSTEMS

CLIMBING ROSE (Rosa spp.)

  • Plant: Dormant season planting

  • Spacing: 6-8 feet apart depending on variety

  • Soil: pH 6.0-7.0, rich, well-drained, organic matter

  • Support: Strong support structure, tie canes to trellis

  • Water: Deep, regular watering

  • Fertilization: January, March, September with Rose-tone

  • Pruning: Late winter pruning of dead/weak canes

  • Care: 3-4 inch mulch, disease prevention through air circulation

WISTERIA (Wisteria sinensis/frutescens)

  • Plant: Fall or early spring while dormant

  • Support: Extremely strong support required

  • Soil: pH 6.0-7.0, well-drained, moderately fertile

  • Water: Moderate once established, drought tolerant

  • Bloom: March-May, 2-3 week spectacular display

  • Pruning: Summer after flowering and winter dormant pruning

  • Patience: 3-7 years to first bloom, choose American varieties

  • Care: Control aggressive growth with regular pruning

HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea macrophylla)

  • Plant: October-November or February-March

  • Spacing: 4-6 feet apart

  • Soil: pH 5.0-7.0 (affects flower color), rich, consistently moist

  • Light: Morning sun, afternoon shade (4-6 hours max)

  • Water: High water needs, 1-2 inches per week

  • Bloom: May-July on old wood

  • Pruning: Immediately after flowering (July-August)

  • Heat Protection: Afternoon shade, consistent moisture, mulching

LANTANA (Lantana camara/horrida)

  • Plant: April-May after last frost

  • Spacing: 3-5 feet apart

  • Soil: pH 6.0-8.0, well-drained, poor soil preferred

  • Water: Drought tolerant once established

  • Bloom: April/May through first frost, continuous

  • Temperature: Heat loving, dies back with frost

  • Care: Self-cleaning, minimal maintenance required

  • Benefits: Attracts butterflies, deer resistant

YOUR GARDEN EXPERIENCE Variety & Performance: [Color preferences, size differences, sterile vs seeding varieties, winter survival]

Garden Design: [Companion plantings, color combinations, landscape integration, butterfly activity]

Care & Maintenance: [Drought performance, pruning timing, invasive potential management]

Photos & Notes: [Butterfly visits, seasonal color displays, garden design evolution]

RED TIGER ABUTILON (Abutilon pictum 'Red Tiger')

  • Plant: April-May after frost danger

  • Spacing: 3-4 feet apart, excellent for containers

  • Soil: pH 6.0-7.0, well-drained, fertile, organic-rich

  • Light: Partial shade to filtered sun

  • Water: Consistent moisture, not soggy

  • Bloom: Spring through fall, year-round in protection

  • Temperature: Tender, protect from freezing

  • Care: Regular feeding, winter protection required

 

ANNUAL FLOWERS

CUT FLOWERS (SPRING/FALL)

  • Plant: January, February, March, April, August, September, October

  • Spacing: Varies by species

  • Soil: Rich, well-drained soil

  • Care: Succession planting for continuous blooms

  • Harvest: Cut regularly to promote production

  • Design: Mix varieties for height, color, bloom time variation

SUNFLOWERS (Helianthus annuus)

  • Plant: April

  • Spacing: 12-24 inches apart depending on variety

  • Soil: pH 6.0-7.5, well-drained, tolerates various soils

  • Water: Moderate, drought tolerant when established

  • Support: Tall varieties may need staking

  • Harvest: 70-100 days, August

  • Benefits: Attracts pollinators, bird protection for seed saving

 

SEASONAL MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS

 

WINTER OPERATIONS (December-February)

Dormant Season Activities

  • Pruning: Fruit trees, grape vines, berry canes

  • Planting: Bare root trees and perennials

  • Infrastructure: Tool maintenance, trellis repairs

  • Planning: Seed orders, garden layout modifications

Soil Preparation

  • Amendment: Compost incorporation, soil testing

  • Cover Crops: Green manure establishment

  • Bed Preparation: New bed creation, existing bed renovation

SPRING ACTIVATION (March-May)

Planting Season

  • Warm Season: Tomatoes, peppers, herbs after last frost

  • Cool Season: Continuing cool weather crops

  • Perennials: Container planting window

Maintenance Initiation

  • Fertilization: Pre-season feeding programs

  • Irrigation: System startup and testing

  • Pest Management: Early intervention strategies

SUMMER MANAGEMENT (June-August)

Peak Production

  • Harvest: Daily monitoring and collection

  • Water Management: Deep irrigation, heat protection

  • Succession: Continued planting of appropriate crops

  • Preservation: Processing peak harvests

Heat Mitigation

  • Shade Systems: Afternoon protection for sensitive crops

  • Mulching: Soil temperature and moisture control

  • Variety Selection: Heat-tolerant cultivars

FALL TRANSITION (September-November)

Second Season

  • Cool Season: Fall planting of winter crops

  • Harvest Completion: Final warm-season collection

  • Storage Preparation: Curing and preservation activities

Winter Preparation

  • Protection: Plant and infrastructure winterization

  • Soil Building: Cover crop establishment, compost application

  • Planning: Next year's garden design and variety selection

 

 

GARDEN IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE

 

YEAR ONE: ESTABLISHMENT

Infrastructure Development

  • Soil testing and amendment program

  • Irrigation system installation

  • Support structure construction (trellises, arbors)

  • Perennial planting (trees, berries, permanent herbs)

Annual Crop Trials

  • Variety testing for local adaptation

  • Production record keeping

  • Family preference assessment

  • Preservation method development

 

YEAR TWO: OPTIMIZATION

System Refinement

  • Infrastructure expansion based on first-year results

  • Production scaling for family needs

  • Preservation equipment acquisition

  • Integration of successful varieties

Knowledge Development

  • Advanced technique implementation

  • Pest and disease management protocols

  • Seasonal timing optimization

  • Essential oil production initiation

 

YEAR THREE: MATURE OPERATIONS

Full Production Capacity

  • Perennial systems reaching productive maturity

  • Optimized annual crop rotations

  • Advanced preservation and value-added processing

  • Family education and tradition establishment

Legacy Building

  • Documentation systems for knowledge transfer

  • Multi-generational involvement protocols

  • Property enhancement through garden integration

  • Community sharing and teaching opportunities

 

Essential Oil Production Summary

  • Primary Candidates: Rosemary, Oregano, Basil, Thyme

  • Harvest Timing: Morning after dew dries, pre-flowering stage

  • Processing: Fresh material within 2-4 hours, steam distillation

  • Storage: Dark glass bottles, cool locations, proper labeling

Family Integration Strategy

  • Educational: Garden-based learning, skill development, documentation

  • Traditional: Seasonal celebrations, recipe development, preservation projects

  • Legacy: Multi-generational planning, property enhancement, knowledge transfer

Last Updated: [Date] | Property: Central Texas Zone 8B | Multi-Generational Garden System

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