Question: My petunia plants look like they’re gassed. They’re lanky and falling over, and some seem to be dying. What can I do to get them to bloom and look good longer?

Answer: That’s a question that usually comes after petunias have been planted in late March or April and as temperatures begin to soar into the 90s. They need to be planted in the fall in South Texas, so they can bloom all winter and into the spring. In the northern two-thirds of the state you’d want to plant them before the last killing freeze date in your area, then plan on replacing them in June. Folks from the North are accustomed to leaving their petunias in from spring into the fall, but we can’t do that here in Texas.