November Landscapes - Autumn's colorful display!

[Sirhornsalot]

What kind of Fall color will we have?

Texans have to be scratching their heads right now, wondering where in the heck is the fall color? We look outside and we still see full canopies of green leaves. In fact, some of lost leaves for weeks now, though they haven’t changed color.

So what gives? What determines what kind of fall color we’re going to have? WHAT KIND OF FALL COLOR WILL WE HAVE THIS YEAR?

Trees know by the shortening of days and growing night that they need to prepare to go dormant. When this happens, the process known as photosynthesis begins to stop and the chlorophyl begins to disappear from the leaves. What is exposed are the orange and yellow colors that have been there all summer – just covered up by the green chlorophyl. Red is created by the fact that sugars get left behind and trapped in the leaf, causing the leaf to turn red.

A layer known as the abscission layer block transport of nutrients to the branch from the leaf. When this layer forms, fall is on the way. It does not matter where temperatures are cooler or warmer than normal.

The quality of the foliage display is influenced by temperature, sunlight and soil moisture. Cool temperatures at night with abundant daytime sun promote more anthocycnins (the color red). Drought stress during the growing season will cause leaves to start abscission without changing color and drop before that happens.

This year is best described by a very wet spring/early summer and a very dry end of summer/early fall with cool but frostless nights – spells the best combination of factors to produce the best fall color display. I am predicting a more colorful than usual fall display this year.

Thats right, the set up is in place for one of our more colorful falls in some time. It’s just come a little late this year. If the coming storm system will feature less wind and slower rain, more leaves will be in place to make a nice, dramatic display. Heavy rain and wind will blow off most of the leaves, however.

Sharing an emailed question regarding fall color and the Shumard Red Oak….

Question – I have a Shumard Red Oak that may be sick. I’m not sure. Last fall, it stayed green a long time even while the other trees were turning colors. It didn’t turn red until December. Is this normal? The leaves turned brown later and stayed on all the way until spring. Is that also normal?

Answer – Everything you just described is considered perfectly normal for a Shumard Red Oak. The great thing about the brown leaves staying on is that it still provides shade like an evergreen and leaf clean up isn’t needed until you start mowing again, pretty convenient.

WINTER FORECAST

The winter forecast models are calling for a wet, cool winter because of the El Niño now taking place in the western Pacific. This normally means more ice storms and fewer snow storms for North Texas. In preparation for such an extended weather pattern and the threats it poses to your vegetation, I would advise you to begin now purchasing freeze blankets.

There are many different types of freeze blankets, some offer more protection than others. Some offer the convenience of easier installation. Whichever type you buy, make sure you install it in a way that it will stay in place during 30-40 mph wind gusts, which we typically see right before winter storms arrive.

If you have a xeriscape, do not water these type plants (Agave, Yucca, Cactus, etc) before a cold front arrives. These plants are desert plants and by instinct will intake higher amounts of water when it’s made available. So an advance intake of water will set up for their demise once temperatures reach freezing. Best to cover these guys and try to keep them dry.

I advise you NOT to wait on this. Purchase your stuff now so that when these ice storms do come, you’re not in a position of trying to find something when supplies are probably going to be low or stretched.

Landscapes are an investment. Protect the investment!

These are some of the plants you should plan on protecting against ice and snow:

1. Pittisporums and Variegated Pittisporums
2. Sago Palms and other palms
3. Boxwoods
4. Azaleas
5. Xeriscape plants

If your trees need trimming, best to get that done now. Ice and snow will weight down a tree and if the canopies are heavy on the ends, it could cause damage to the tree(s) and whatever is beneath them. With the kind of weather they’re saying we’re about to have, unkept trees will be at heightened risk.

SPRINKLER INSPECTION

Now is a great time to have your sprinkler system look at thoroughly. Any leaks, cracks, dripping valves, etc., can be addressed on YOUR TIME and convenience instead of when it breaks or busts in the middle of winter when repairs can be more difficult.

Again, make sure you are watering during the morning and not during the evenings until the month of May.

MULCHING

Mulching is a great idea for winter preparation. Its like a blanket for the plants. In North Texas, the freeze line (depth of soil which freezes) is typically three inches. So adding mulch to the beds takes up more of that depth, adding more protection to the plant.

Honestly though, it’s more efficient to do this after fall leaves have dropped and been collected. Otherwise, you may lose some of your mulch through the leaf collection process. Hopefully, mother nature will help us out in the next week or so.

FALL/WINTER COLOR
There is still some time to get your Pansies and Kale planted. Supplies of these two colorful flowers will be running short soon so do not wait much longer if you’re still thinking of getting some planted.

BIRD HOUSE MAINTENANCE

Go ahead and bring in your bird houses if you have them in your landscape. They won’t be needed again until next fall and the nests left inside need to be removed before you put the houses out again next spring.

If your bird house needs minor repairs or refinishing, this is the time to get that done. But by all means, remove the nest inside or otherwise when the birds are shopping around for a place to nest in the spring, they’ll think your bird house is already occupied.

Bring in the Hummingbird feeders for the fall/winter if you haven’t already done so. We don’t want to give them a reason to hang around too long. Freezing temps will kill them.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTING
If you’re a homeowner thinking of doing Christmas holiday lighting, right now is the time you need to be getting the planning part out of the way. You will not feel like dealing with this during the Thanksgiving holidays, then the holiday shopping race against the clock begins. So get the planning out of the way now and let the professionals just come, do their thing, and be out of your way.

If your landscaper does not provide this service, many do. If you’re in the DFW area or Austin area, Green Thumb is one choice for you. (shameless plug here) Consultations/estimates are free. We install and take down and set up an automated system you’ll never have to fool with. You can set up an appointment by emailing greenthumbtx@verizon.net or calling 972-436-2841.

TREE OF 40 FRUIT?
“Chip Grafting†A tree that features 40 different fruit. Seriously.

Sam Van Aken is the creator of the Tree of 40 Fruit, a single tree that grows 40 different types of fruit.
Van Aken is an artist and professor at Syracuse University, and his latest project just might be his most delicious yet.
Van Aken's Tree of 40 Fruit grow a wide variety of stone fruits (i.e., fruits with large pits in the center), including cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and even almonds.
Read more at  http://www.upworthy.com/meet-the-tree-thats-wowing-folks-all-over-the-country-with-its-unusual-bounty-of-fruit?c=ufb3