Get Gardening

Well the rains have begun andn it looks like we have had our last of the cold cold weather. If you are trying to keep ahead of your gardening game this year then let's talk about upcoming tasks you shouldn't forget. Make sure you check the planting schedule below to determine which veggies you may want the grandkids to help you plant are and get those seeds before this weekend.

Begin Planting

• Remember that summertime annuals to replace pansies and other cool-season crops need to be in full swing. All time beauties for Texas are: trailing lantanas, copper plants, firebush, coleus, wax begonias, ornamental sweet potatoes, angelonias, cleome, moss rose, hybrid purslane and many many more
• If you are growing hearty food items that will tolerate our Texas heat, why not consider: okra, sweet potatoes (sandy soils), southern peas
• Consideration of planting those new trees and shrubs, check out all the surrounding nurseries which right now have the best supplies of the year. If you find the perfect tree for that special location, remember commit to water them by hand for the first two years. New trees must have their root balls soaked thoroughly. Often sprinkler irrigation doesn’t get the job done
• If you have brown patches, need to plant new turf from sod, seed, or plugs, now is the time for maximum growing seasons

Pruning Is A Must!

• Frozen hydranges, crepe myrtles, pomegranates, oleanders, and others my have suffered damage in Texas and you may beed to remove dead shoots from them. Remember to reshape the new growth that returns when appropriate
• If your spring flowering shrubs and vines are growing, be sure to check for dead branches and remove then reshape as new growth replaces those you pruned
• Establish the new height for the lawn and begin to mow regularly. This means you will eliminate a lot of spring weeds and get the grass off to a great start for 2017. Mow regularly and at recommended height to eliminate spring weeds and get grass off to a good start.

Begin To Fertilize Now!

• Turf, trees, shrubs and in general most things, can be fertilized with all nitrogen fertilizers. If you have more sand type soils, begin with a high nitrogen slow release form.
• Be sure all your container plants including hanging baskets; are complete with and encapsulated timed-release fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Supplement that with water-soluble, high-nitrogen fertilizer till next fall.

Controling Pests

• Watch for Cankerworms which might be devouring foliage from parts or all of some species of trees. While these types of insects will soon run their course and trees will fill in again; remember you may want to apply a Bacillus thuringiensis biological worm spray just to make sure
• Seridium canker is turning big areas of Italian cypress and Leyland cypress brown and dead looking. While there is no spray to control this fungus, it may be time to seek another replacement
• All Broadleafed weeds can be controlled with application of broadleafed weedkiller spray (containing 2,4-D). On the list would be dichondra, dollar weed, dandelions, clover and poison ivy among many others

Texas on average has approximately 250 days between the last and first frost. Using the planting schedules below will help you get the most out of your garden. See more at:   Planting Calendar  Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important to getting the most out of your garden. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time.