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San Antonio “Native” Landscaping
by John Hill, President, Hill Horticulture, Inc.
December 2002

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As winter approaches, there are things in the landscape which need attention. I find that many of our customers come from the north or other areas of the country. There are vast differences in what we plant, when we plant and how we care for the plants once established in San Antonio. Generally speaking, new plants and turf can be planted year round.

Here are some general guidelines for our area: Proper watering is the most important — make certain your landscaper has a firm grasp of your needs and what plants will work best for your specific area. Even though our climate is the same throughout the San Antonio area, there are many soil type variations which have a significant impact on the growth characteristics of any individual plant. Sandy soils are found south, caliche in mid town, heavy clay in the north and rock in the Hill Country. Sandy soils drain well, so the watering schedule has to be more frequent. Caliche is high in alkaline, drainage is okay, but requires more fertilization. Heavy clay soils do not drain, so cut back on the water or the plants will drown.

Even in the winter our plants and sod need water. One inch per month will take care of most plants, and flowers need an inch every week.

Fertilization is also critical. The tendency is to overfertilize with cheap, high sodium products. A professional landscaper should use urea-coated fertilizers. High sodium fertilizers cause your plants to crave water. While they have more immediate results, the effect also drops off more quickly therefore must be provided more frequently. We recommend 24-5-11 in spring, summer, fall and 15-5-10 for winter. Applying 4% iron is a good measure to keep plants green.

Finally, pruning is critical for all plants. Again, the tendency is to overdo it. Over-pruning seriously affects the longevity of plants. It is important to consider this when planning a landscape. If you need a plant that will stay low, don't plant something that likes to grow 10 to12 feet and keep it dwarfed by over-trimming it. Most of our perennials need to be cut back to 3 inches off the ground to keep them healthy and beautiful. Generally, a hard freeze will cause them to look unsightly enough that pruning is a must, but many years it doesn't get cold enough and before long you have a Lantana tree growing in your landscape. Crepe Myrtles also get pruned too heavily, which causes the plant to think it's dying and then you get all kinds of unsightly sucker growth. As a general rule, nothing larger than your pinky should be cut in late winter (February).

I hate to sound like a nag, but I hope that you are working with a landscaper who will speak up when asked to plant or trim something that goes against what the plant needs to perform well. Trust your landscaper. Many times I find that by listening and understanding what our customers are trying to achieve, we can get them the desired result and do it in a manner that will keep the plants healthy.

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