Katy Lifestyles and Homes magazine Nov 2009: GARDENING SOLUTIONS -Joel Kempfer Answers Gardening Questions

I see pictures of Coral Bells in every gardening
magazine I read. Will they grow here?

The short answer is yes. Not all varieties do well in Southeast Texas, so I would avoid purchasing Heuchera (Coral Bells) from online or mail-order companies unless you have done some preliminary research.

Heuchera will never become the robust plants you see in plant catalogs or northern gardens, but they do add wonderful texture and color to shaded areas. Breeders have gone crazy over this plant in recent years, and the foliar color range available is vast. I have grown Heuchera successfully in my own landscape for the past three years and can say that variety selection is among the most important factors for success.

The species best suited for the heat and humidity of our area is H. Villosa, but there are several hybrids that will work. Some of the better cultivars include Citronelle, Georgia Peach, Southern Comfort and Cr ème Brulee. They look best planted in large quantities, making it more important that you only use heat and humidity tolerant varieties.

Heuchera need to be planted in bright shade with no exposure to afternoon sun. Good drainage and soil amended with organic matter are essential for success. They do not require frequent fertilization, making slow release granules the best option. Fall is the absolute best time to plant Heuchera, but they can be successfully planted throughout the winter and early spring. Planting in the fall gives the roots plenty of time to get established before subjecting them to our summer extremes. Heuchera usually sit patiently throughout the summer, doing virtually nothing until September when they put on a nice flush of fresh color and growth. The pictures you see in magazines usually show bell-shaped blooms atop the colorful foliage but most varieties do not bloom well in our area. There are varieties that bloom better than others but they are primarily grown for their colorful evergreen foliage in the Houston area.

When should I apply winterizer fertilizer
to my lawn? Is it really necessary?

Winterizer fertilizers are best applied in October but can be applied in November if the grass is still actively growing. Applying winterizer fertilizer after the grass has stopped growing due to temperature decreases is not effective. If applied before dormancy, winterizer fertilizers are highly beneficial. Winterizer fertilizers use quick release nitrogen and increase potassium content in their formulation. This will strengthen root development before temperatures drop to winter lows and build up carbohydrate (energy) reserves. What you should expect from properly timed winterizer applications is a lawn that stays greener longer, but, more noticeably, greens quicker in the spring. The strengthened root system and stored energy has your turf ready to grow quickly next spring; a welcomed sight that is quite refreshing after the often dull colors of winter.

Which Pansy variety do you recommend
for the best winter performance?

There are hundreds of Pansy varieties out there, and beyond flower size and color the differences among them are often undetectable to the average consumer. Flower size can be grouped into extra-large, large, and medium, with Violas representing the small category. I know this sounds counterintuitive to what you feel when you are purchasing Pansies, but the smaller the flower, the better the landscape performance. The smaller flowers may not seem as appealing in the nursery containers, but Violas and medium Pansies have the heaviest flowering and tolerate rain better than the enticing extra-large Pansies. Large flowered Pansies are beautiful, but for landscape performance smaller is better. Aside from the difference in flower size, plant based upon your color preferences. Vibrant colors like yellow really stand out in winter landscapes, so do not be afraid of being bright. These are my favorite series in each size category: Majestic Giants II (XL), Matrix (Lg). Panola XP (Med), and Penny (Sm).

I want to plant a groundcover in a bed of shrubs to fill the open spaces. What do you recommend for partial sun, preferably with flowers?

Ajuga Catlin’s Giant will quickly fill the areas where you allow it to grow. Catlin’s Giant has larger leaves and flowers than other Ajuga cultivars and is undoubtedly the toughest variety available for our area. The bronze-green foliage spreads aggressively by stolons but can easily be kept out of turf with the use of an edger. Each spring the dense mat of foliage is topped with tons of 4-inch deep-blue flower spikes.

If you can get a lawn mower in the area where you plant Catlin’s Giant, you can put the mower on its highest setting to remove the flower spikes after blooming. Otherwise, removing the spent flower spikes by hand is about the only maintenance required to keep this Ajuga looking its best. It can be grown in sun or shade and is evergreen. Blooming and foliage color will be best with at least partial sun but it will require more water with increased sun exposure.