Gardening Tips

If you have enjoyed the colors and winged visitors to Bentsen Palm then you already know my heart! I am passionate about creating experiences that bring people and the natural world together. My name is Lori Rhodes and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing in and creating your community gardens over the last few years!

I would like to share with you a few fall gardening tips I have gleaned from nature through my experiences. Nature already has the perfect plan in place to supply our native plants with everything they need to thrive in South Texas. That is why we only plant native or well adapted varieties at Bentsen Palm (well adapted simply means the plant can grow next to a native with the same care and thrive beautifully!)

Plant life begins in areas rich in humus (the thin layer of top soil rich in living organisms). Nature creates humus as plants and animals decompose. Think of the rain forest where plant and animal life are so very diverse, there is lots of decomposing going on and therefore lots of humus! To recreate that natural process in the gardens of Bentsen Palm, we imitate nature and in the process are building up the rich soil so desperately needed for nature to do her job! This is why our plants are so healthy and we have an abundance of wildlife hanging around Bentsen Palm. When the soil is healthy and proper plant species are selected for the gardens, there will be no need for harsh chemical fertilizers or pesticides… hence a happy home for the local and migrating winged friends and terrestrial visitors. The practice of chemical use is usually the culprit when you visit gardens alive with flowering nectar plants… but no wildlife present!

Bentsen Palm Fall gardening tips:

• Fall is a great time for cleaning up your gardens. Prune back overgrown plants. Most plants will tolerate removing up to 1/3rd of the growth without harming the plant. Some will tolerate more but if you aren’t sure… just stick with removing the top 1/3rd. You can always go back and remove more after 6 weeks or so after the plant has recovered! You may cut away dead branches or stems anytime.
• Fall is also a wonderful time to spread a 2-3 inch layer of compost over your flower beds. Compost is essentially humus. You can make your own or buy it from a local source. We like Valley Garden Center 956-682-9411 for bagged products and Soil-Tech 956-787-2533 for bulk products. After a few years (it varies but probably around 5-10 years) your soil will become naturally balanced in rich organisms and adding compost won’t be necessary.
• After you plants have been cut back and the compost spread, definitely add a top dressing of mulch. We recommend a 3 inch layer. You will notice after a few months that the mulch will seem to disappear… and it does…the mulch is decomposing slowly just like the blanket of leaves dropped on the forest floor… adding to the humus! Most home gardens do not have the layers and layers of understory plants below the large tree canopy or the animal presence to naturally create enough humus for soil to thrive… we have to help nature a bit in our yards! And mulch will slowly decompose and become humus *If your mulch still looks good, just rake it to expose the bare ground in your gardens, add the compost, then spread the mulch back out on top of the compost. Mulch is also an incredible water conservation tool and natural weed barrier!
• Remember, if you want to provide habitat for wildlife… NEVER spray chemicals (with the exception of Round-up to control grass in your flower beds!) Chemicals disrupt the natural balance and are completely unnecessary in native gardens!

Please check out the plant database to learn more about the plants of Bentsen Palm. We have also created a calendar available to all valley organizations committed to restoring and educating the public about South Texas Nature.