By Deborah Benge Frost

Don't let the unpredictable weather of a West Texas spring keep you from pursuing your gardening goals. Even if you suspect there may be a late-season freeze lurking in the forecast, there are plenty of things to do.

Start by defining your gardening objectives. This can save you time, money and unnecessary frustration. There's no reason you can't have plants both to feed the soul and the body growing in the same landscape.

Edible plants will need full sun and adequate space.

There's a wide palette of recommended ornamental plants to choose from, even if shade or space is a limiting factor.

Dream big, but start small, especially if gardening is new to you. Gardening can be very rewarding and satisfying if you take the right steps and don't become overwhelmed.

Garden and landscapes projects can be started at several times during the year.

Analyze the site to make sure there are proper growing conditions and room for the project. If Bermuda grass is growing in a proposed garden site, turf removal needs to take place first. Bermuda grass is best controlled with glyphosate herbicide. Two applications, two weeks apart should be sprayed onto vigorously growing Bermuda grass for a good kill. It is still a little too early to spray, but the next couple of weeks will make a big difference in Bermuda growth rate.

Water and fertilize grass to promote vigorous growth before spraying. It takes about a month to get rid of Bermuda.

Soil management can make a world of difference in your gardening experience but it is the step most often skipped. Add 4 inches of compost or organic matter before planting for good soil conditions and plant growth. If raw organic matter is used, add small amounts of nitrogen or give it time to decompose before planting. After planting and before it gets too hot add 3 to 4 inches of an organic mulch to conserve soil moisture, control weeds, keep soil temperatures cooler and promote good growth. For permanent beds that are already established but need a little help, consider top dressing with compost and then refreshing the mulch.

Use these EarthKind principles for the best results in vegetable, herb, flowering plants, roses and other shallow-rooted gardens. Trees and large, deeply rooted shrubs don't need soil amendments but they do benefit from proper planting practices and mulch.

Water is essential for plant care, so consider soaker hoses and drip irrigation, which can reduce labor and water loss and preserve leaf quality and plant health. Even if you are planting native plants that have low water requirements, water is necessary for getting plants established - not too much and not too little.

Planting dates will vary with plants. This is why the entire vegetable garden shouldn't be planted all on the same day. Some vegetables like it cool and others like it hot. For example, most warm-season vegetables can be planted in mid-April to early or mid-May. Okra, a heat-loving vegetable, likes May or early June soil temperatures.

It's too late for cool-season vegetables, but good news - most can be planted in the fall garden, which will be August, September and October. The same is true with flowering color. It's too late for pansies, violas, and other-cool season color, but it is just a little early for caladiums and periwinkle.

Don't plant the same plants into the same site year after year. This can lead to soil- borne pathogens and other pests that will build up over time preventing the growth of certain plants. Periwinkles planted in the same location year after year will eventually fall victim to phytophera fungus. Non-rotated tomatoes can lead to verticillium and fusarium wilts building up in the soil. Planting the same annuals year after year also will deplete the soils of certain nutrients.

Follow a four-year rotation schedule to keep your landscape and soils healthier.

For recommendations of trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines and any number of flowering plants, contact Texas AgriLife Extension Service or visit Permian Basin Master Gardeners Web site at