By Julie Tomascik

There’s no prettier place than Texas in the spring when the country is ablaze with wildflowers and crops are growing in the fields.

Colors of every hue. Blankets of blooming flowers. A brilliant blue sky as the backdrop.

But that beauty gets its start now—in the fall season.

Planting seeds in the fall gives your wildflowers time to germinate and develop a good root system, according to Joseph Johnson, program manager for The Gardens at Texas A&M University.

First, you need to prepare your soil—just like a farmer.

Be sure soil to seed contact is established by tilling and tamping the seeds into the soil. Then water the area lightly. That helps settle the seeds into the soil.

Seed population is important. The thicker you spread the seeds, the thicker your flowers will likely be.

The seeds will need a little water and care this fall. They’ll go dormant in the winter, but emerge and bloom in early spring—depending on Mother Nature, of course.

Want to grow bluebonnets? Be sure to plant them in an area with good drainage and full sun.

Don’t water them too much. And don’t fertilize. A little TLC goes a long way for our state’s flower.

Click here to get more information on planting wildflowers from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

And dig into these tips to help your vegetable gardens blossom!