What Texas Gardeners Need to Know This Spring

Written by Dayva Segal
Updated: March 10, 2023
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Texas is a giant state with a few different climates and weather patterns over different regions. Just like the rest of the world, the state has been experiencing more extreme weather lately. These weather changes may mean that Texas gardeners need to make adjustments to their usual gardening plans. Here are some factors Texas garden enthusiasts should consider for spring 2023.

2022 Texas Weather Extremes May Affect 2023 Gardens

In 2022, different areas of Texas had record-high temperatures and record-low levels of rainfall. For example, the San Antonio area had its second driest year on record. It also had its second-highest number of days that were over 100 degrees, second only to 2009. In fact, in the summer of 2022, Austin had at least 44 consecutive days that were over 100 degrees! The area also experienced a dry summer. The Dallas-Fort Worth area also had record-breaking summer temperatures. And many major metropolitan areas experienced summers that were among the top three hottest in their recorded history. These conditions led to some large wildfires in the state.

Even though there was a drought, Austin also saw flooding during a record rainfall in late summer 2022. Throughout the year, the state also saw severe storms with tornados and rare freezing temperatures in February and December. The latter of these is likely to affect gardeners the most, in addition to the possibility of late winter and early spring cold temperatures.

La Niña Is Behind Texas’ Unusual Weather

La Niña

La Niña does the opposite of El Nino, causing droughts and heat waves in the south.

©Fred the Oyster / public domain – License

The reason Texas has been having such hot and dry weather, as well as cold snaps, is La Niña. We are in a rare three-year stretch of the La Niña weather pattern. Usually, the weather follows El Niño, which brings moisture to the southern U.S. during the winter. However, La Niña does the opposite, causing droughts and heat waves.

Climate scientists say that general warming trends on earth, due to climate change, also contribute to these more extreme weather patterns.

How To Care For Your Texas Garden In Winter Weather

If you’re a Texas gardener, you may be wondering how to best protect your garden from freezing this spring.

Protect From Freezing

  • Before winter or cold weather, mulch your plants to insulate them. Just make sure to leave about 1/2 inch around the base to prevent rot.
  • Wrap appropriate plants, like trees, with burlap or garden blankets right before a frost or freeze. If you have the budget, floating row covers are a good option to keep frost and snow off plants.
  • Store potted plants indoors or under a covered porch during wintery weather.
  • Don’t water your plants during extremely cold weather to avoid extra freezing risk.
  • If you have the resources, consider building a small greenhouse to keep your plants warm and dry all winter.

After a Freeze

  • Experts recommend waiting until the weather warms up and fully stabilizes before taking action. Some plants have extra buds deep within that can emerge when the conditions are right, even if other buds were damaged. So, give your plants a few weeks to show you whether or not they are healthy.
  • Wait until you see new growth to prune back parts of a plant that are dead. That way, you will avoid pruning something that is going to have a new sprout in the future.
  • Give your plants some extra growing power this spring. Use a fertilizer to help them come back strong. Give them a bit of extra water, if the weather is dry. Pay extra attention to them in this critical phase of their recovery.

Important Spring Gardening Dates and Milestones for Texas

February

Beta vulgaris

Beets are usually best planted in February.

©Pingun/Shutterstock.com

The last frost in some areas of Texas happens by March 15th, while some areas rarely see frost at all. However, by March, the risk goes down in most places.

According to local folklore, mesquite and pecan trees will not start new growth until after the last freeze. So, some gardening lovers of Texas recommend checking one of these trees to gage the last frost.

Before March hits, experts recommend pruning plants, trees, and shrubs that require it. Many potted plants can be transplanted to the ground at this time. You can also start seeds for:

  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Swiss chard & other greens
  • Mustard
  • Radish
  • Turnips

February is also a good time to plant dormant grape vines, fertilize citrus trees, and apply herbicide to your lawn, as long as it is not a windy day.

March

farm

March is a great month to plant corn.

©Patricia Elaine Thomas/Shutterstock.com

By mid-March, some areas of Texas will see a dramatic drop in the freeze risk. However, some places in the northern part of the state, like Amarillo, may have a greater risk of cooler temperatures into April. For the most part, March is when spring starts to bloom, and there is a lot of garden work to be done.

In March, you should mulch your garden. Be sure to leave enough space around the bases of plants to prevent rot. Prune any perennial plants, but don’t prune flowering plants until after they have bloomed. Check all your irrigation lines and hoses for winter damage and fix or replace anything that requires it. Once you’re sure there won’t be any more freezes, set up your irrigation system or hose for regular springtime watering.

March is a great time to plant:

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Peas
  • Greens that take 40 days or less to mature
  • Eggplant transplants
  • Tomato transplants
  • Pepper transplants
  • Beans
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Summer & winter squash
  • Herbs
  • Ornamental plant transplants
  • Wildflowers

One important task for March: don’t spray pesticides on flowering plants. This helps to avoid hurting important pollinators (bees).

April

watermelon

In April, you can plant everyone’s favorite summertime fruit, watermelon.

©iStock.com/panida wijitpanya

They say that April showers bring May flowers. And that is true in Texas. By April, some places in Texas are getting a lot of rain. If your garden has received at least half an inch of rain per week, you don’t need to do supplemental watering for most plants. We recommend getting a rain gage to know for sure. Move your indoor houseplants outside, if that is your practice. April is too late to transplant trees in most areas of Texas. It’s also time to thin out fruit trees. Experts recommend it is best to have one fruit per 8 inches of area on peach, plum, and pear trees.

Watch your plants carefully for fungal infections as the temperatures and moisture levels rise. If you do suspect a fungal infection, you have a few options:

  • Remove the plant
  • Replant it in a separate area and try to treat it
  • Use organic fungicide

In April you can plant:

  • Bush beans
  • Greens
  • Chard
  • Eggplant transplants
  • Pepper transplants
  • Sweet potato transplants
  • Tomato transplants
  • Beans
  • Watermelon
  • Summer & winter squash
  • Marigolds
  • Zinnias
  • Periwinkles
  • Fall blooming bulbs

May

Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'

May is your last chance to plant morning glory.

©Hemerocallis/Shutterstock.com

Even though May is technically still spring according to the calendar, it probably feels more like summer in many areas of Texas. Now it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but there is still work to be done.

Mulching and watering become increasingly important as temperatures rise. Many varieties of wildflower have already bloomed, and many have gone to seed already. You can collect the seeds to use next year. It is almost too late now to plant many things, but early May is probably your last chance to get most things in the ground.

The main exception is some vegetables. You can plant tomatoes now as seeds indoors, and transplant them in July, to get more tomatoes before the frost comes in November. You also still have time to plant:

  • Eggplant transplants
  • Pepper transplants
  • Sweet potato transplants
  • Tomato transplants
  • Melon
  • Okra
  • Pumpkin
  • Peas
  • Summer wildflowers
  • Cosmos
  • Morning glory

Blackberries are abundant in May. If you have a blackberry bush, you’ll likely have plenty to eat yourself and give away. You will also likely need to thin fruit trees again in May.

Resources for Texas Gardeners

Wondering where to turn for Texas gardening advice? There are several organizations that provide trustworthy gardening information including:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/krosbonez


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About the Author

Dayva is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering astrology, animals, and geography. She has over 12 years of experience as a writer, and graduated from Hofstra University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Music and a Minor in French. She has also completed course work in Core Strengths Coaching, Hypnotherapy, and Technical Communication. Dayva lives in the SF Bay Area with her cute but very shy cat, Tula.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is the reason behind Texas' extreme weather in 2022 & 2023?

The reason Texas has been having such hot and dry weather, as well as cold snaps in the winter, is the La Niña weather pattern.

How can you protect your garden from freezing in Texas?

  • Before winter or cold weather, mulch your plants to insulate them. Just make sure to leave about 1/2 inch around the base to prevent rot.
  • Wrap appropriate plants like trees with burlap or garden blankets right before a frost or freeze. If you have the budget, floating row covers are a good option to keep frost and snow off of plants.
  • Store potted plants indoors or under a covered porch during wintery weather.
  • Don’t water your plants during extremely cold weather to avoid extra freezing risk.
  • If you have the resources, consider building a small greenhouse to keep your plants warm and dry all winter.

How can you help your garden after a freeze in Texas?

  • Experts recommend waiting until the weather warms up and fully stabilizes before taking action. Some plants have extra buds deep within that can emerge when the conditions are right if other buds were damaged. So, give your plants a few weeks to show you whether or not they are healthy.
  • Wait until you see new growth to prune back parts of a plant that are dead. That way you will avoid pruning something that is going to have a new sprout in the future.
  • Give your plants some extra growing power this spring. Use a fertilizer to help them come back strong. Give them a bit of extra water if the weather is dry. Pay extra attention to them in this critical phase of their recovery

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