Category Archives: Gardening
Water-Wise Lawns
The rainfall over the last couple weeks has been a blessing in Central Texas after a dry fall and winter. According to the national drought monitor, 72.19% of Williamson County is abnormally dry right now. In abnormally dry conditions, producers begin supplemental feeding for livestock, planting is postponed, forage germination is stunted, hay cutting is reduced, and grass fires increase. I usually like to write about happier topics than drought, but I am concerned about the long-term forecast for a dry summer. Not everyone is a farmer and… Read More →
Lady Beetles (“Lady Bugs”)
This week the Master Gardeners found a whole herd of lady beetles in the demonstration garden. Beetles or other insects are not always a fun find in the garden, but lady beetles are a good friend to have. Did you know there are more than 450 different species of lady beetles in North America, and more than 5,000 worldwide? They come in all sizes and color patterns. The twice-stabbed lady beetle is black except for two red spots, and the spotted lady beetle is dark pink with large… Read More →
New Planting After the Storm
Spring is in the air, and it is hard to believe that we were in a winter storm just one month ago! I have been preaching patience this spring as our plants recover from the freeze, but I think we are safe to get to work in the landscape now. Many of our plants seem to be recovering from the freeze as temperatures warm up with some exceptions. Viburnum, wax myrtle, and pittosporum did not fair very well in many landscapes around Williamson County and continue to droop… Read More →
Freeze Recovery
The top question on everyone’s mind is, “What do I do about my plants?” Winter Storm Uri has done damage to our lawns and landscapes, but it is too early to tell the full extent of the damage. The most important thing to do now is give your plants time to recover. Texas has not seen an extreme freeze like Winter Storm Uri since the 1980’s, and we experienced temperatures below freezing for several days. That’s tough on plants! I have been taking walks to check out plants… Read More →
Pre-emergent Weed Control
Now is the time of year that it seems like everyone is talking about weeds! The winter weeds are actively growing and being a nuisance, and we need to start thinking about preventing warm-season weeds.
Texas Onions
Nothing starts the new year off right like a good conversation about onions! Onions are fun to grow and even more fun to harvest. If you want to give them a try in your garden this year, now is the time to start preparing! Did you know that Texas is well-known for its onion crop? The Rio Grande Valley, Winter Garden area, High Plains, and far West Texas had 7,000 to 7,500 acres of onions in 2020. Sweet yellow onions like the Granex and Texas 1015 are well… Read More →
Ornamental Grasses
In the gardening world, there is always something interesting to see, no matter what season it is. During fall time in Texas, we get to see the beautiful colors of ornamental grasses. Fall is generally the time that grasses bloom. The inflorescence, or flowering part of the plant, opens and often has a soft, delicate color. Ornamental grasses in the landscape can be a beautiful way to add some color, texture, and movement. Just outside my office window is a field of King Ranch Bluestem. Normally I would… Read More →
Soil Preparation
Today, I had a fun opportunity to teach a group of kids about the things plants need to thrive and grow. The list is pretty short: soil, light, water, air, and nutrients. One essential thing for a gardener to understand is the importance of soil because soil is the storehouse for water, air and nutrients and it provides a place for the plant to grow. If you are just getting started in gardening, start with some good soil preparation!
Late Summer Lawn and Garden Tasks
The year has gone by so fast, and it is hard to believe August is already almost over! Our lawns, trees, and gardens are certainly showing the signs of a hot, dry summer. This time of year, we are trying to keep things alive during the heat and starting to prepare for fall. Here are a few tips to help.
Galls
Sometimes the things we find in nature can be so much fun! For example, have you ever heard of an Elm finger gall? It looks like little green fingers coming out of the leaf. Or how about gouty oak gall that causes round galls on oak twigs? Finding several round galls on your oak twigs or even fuzzy balls on the backs of oak leaves can be disconcerting! It looks like the tree is growing strange things, and something terrible must be happening.
