The recent rains have brought new life to my garden, and my plants have rebounded after the heat and dry weather of August and September. Fall time in Texas always seems to bring a new burst of energy to our landscapes, and I really enjoy the burst of color before winter.
Fall is a great time to plant and enjoy herbs in your landscape. Herbs add great color and texture, and they can also be used for cooking, adding scents to your home and garden, and attracting pollinators. Herbs have a great role to play in the kitchen because they can pack a flavor punch to your dishes and allow you to reduce sodium or sugar. Additionally, herbs have antioxidants with great health benefits.
Cilantro and parsley are cool season herbs that can be planted now by seed or by transplant, and they add a fresh taste to salads and other dishes. I have several varieties of sage and thyme in my kitchen garden, and they add beautiful color. Purple sage is one of my favorites; the combination of purple and silvery green leaves is so pretty.
Other perennial herbs that you can plant in October include chives, marjoram, mint, rosemary, lemon balm, oregano, and fennel. These herbs grow well in a garden, or you can plant them in containers for your patio.
Herbs grow in various conditions, so you have a lot of freedom to select the best plants for your space. Do you need something tall to fill a space? Consider lemongrass or bay leaf shrub. Or if you need a low growing, creeping plant for borders, you can try santolina, trailing rosemary, thyme, or oregano. Many herbs can grow well in shade or part-shade, so consider herbs if you need to fill a landscape bed under or near your trees.
Plant herbs in well-drained soil, whether that’s a landscape bed, raised bed, or containers. Herbs will benefit from soil amendments like compost, and a layer of mulch on top of the soil will help retain moisture and prevent weeds. Water herbs when the soil is dry and be sure to fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer or compost.
For more information about lawn and garden topics, contact Kate Whitney, Williamson County Horticulture Extension Agent, at 512-943-3300.
