Category Archives: Uncategorized
Snapdragons and Angelonia
One of my first memories of enjoying flowers as a kid was when my dad stopped in the garden section of Ace Hardware to show my brother and I how to pinch the flower on a snapdragon to make its “mouth” open and close. We were thrilled to see those flowers come to life, and I still cannot resist stopping by a snapdragon to make it talk. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) originated in southwestern Europe and have been enjoyed in gardens throughout Europe and the United States for decades. … Read More →
Take Advantage of Rain to Save Water
The recent rains have been a blessing in Central Texas, and I love seeing so much abundant green growth. When I watched the weather this morning, the meteorologist showed some great drought monitor maps to show how we are slowly catching up to our average rainfall amounts for this time of year. Even with the rainfall, water conservation is on my mind because our water sources are still low. As of May 24, 2023, Lake Georgetown is at 66% capacity and Lake Travis is at 45% capacity. Much… Read More →
Squash Vine Borer
May is the fun gardening month when vegetable gardens seem to grow overnight! Just this week we have enjoyed fresh lettuce and spinach salads, the last of the Texas Superstar Green Magic broccoli, and a homegrown blackberry cobbler from the garden. The onions are getting close to harvest, and I cannot wait to try out the purple potatoes that I planted this year. Unfortunately, a few garden pests have also started enjoying the daily buffet found in our garden spot. Warm weather brings out the garden pests, including… 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 →
Tree Diseases and Problems
Watch the Williamson County Master Gardener Monthly Meeting here. Master Gardener Wayne Rhoden gave a great talk on Tree Problems and Diseases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kouH9u1dRkY&t=112s
When Should You Plant a Tree – Now!
Summer has gone by so quickly this year, and it is hard to believe that we are almost into fall. This is great news for a gardener in Texas because we can do a lot of lawn and garden work in the fall, and we do not sweat quite as much while we do it! It might seem counter-intuitive but fall and winter are a great time to plant trees. Planting in the cooler months allows trees to develop a healthy root system before putting on new growth… Read More →
Polyphemus Moth
One of my favorite parts of being a County Extension Agent is that every day is different! Sometimes I’m out with vegetable farmers talking about weed control. Another day I might be talking about lawncare with homeowners in Sun City or visiting with a classroom of cute kiddos about growing a garden. It’s fun! On November 13, 2019, we had an interesting visitor at the office. A Williamson County resident brought in a big green caterpillar that she found eating on her tree. She was concerned about the… Read More →
Winter Weed Control
School has started and fall is just around the corner! I can’t believe how quickly the summer has gone by, but it’s time to start thinking about winter weed control. Winter weeds such as henbit, dandelion, annual bluegrass, rescuegrass, and ryegrass will be germinating soon. Now is the time to apply a pre-emergent weed treatment to your lawn to prevent these weeds from germinating. When you shop for weed control products, there are a few things you need to know about your lawn before you purchase anything. First,… Read More →
