BV/S neighbor and Travis County Master Gardener Reeve Hobbie is glad to be able to offer pertinent gardening subjects in articles throughout the year. His past month-to-month gardening tips may be found in the “Around the Yard” archives.
Around the Yard March - April
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This is an example of 'crepe murder'. Crepe myrtles should be lightly pruned, not hacked!
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As I write this March/April article, it’s beginning to feel like spring out there. It’s just the way it is in Central Texas. One day it’s sunny and warm. The next day it’s gray and feels like winter again.
Two quick reminder: one, it’s too late to prune oak trees even if a tree pruning crew says otherwise. I hope you know the reason why; and two, it’s too late to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn. Weeds, if you have them, have already emerged!
However, there are plenty of things that can be done in these next two months that will enhance your yard. Let me run you through some to help you prepare for another hot spring and summer.
March
Lawn Care
Dead live oak leaves are already coming down on our yards seemingly by the bucket and it’s a good thing to get them off your lawn as they won’t deteriorate very quickly on their own and are of no benefit to your grass. Add them to your home compost pile or bag or bin them up for city pick up.
If you stopped watering your lawn this winter, now is the time to begin watering again keeping to our city guidelines. Any weed removal from your lawn is now best done by hand, pulling the buggers out after a good soaking. You had your chance before February 15 to eradicate weeds with a pre-emergent weed killer, but now it’s too late for that application.
Soil Prep
If you are planning new flower beds or gardens or simply wish to rejuvenate old beds, this is a good time to get out there and fortify the soil. You may add one to two inches of rich compost and working it in. It is far, far better to feed the soil than to feed plants. Then when you are ready to plant new shrubs, groundcover, flowers and/or vegetables, your soil will be ready.
Shrubs & Groundcover
After the last danger of a freeze (usually by the first or second week of this month), most shrubs may be pruned to shape. If you have spring-flowering shrubs, wait to trim them until after they bloom. Most bushes can take a serious grooming at this time of year just before they produce their new spring-green growth.
Groundcovers, like Asian jasmine and liriope, may be sheared fairly close to the ground and will fill in pretty quickly. Old ratty-looking leaves of cast iron plants may be cut off and new ones will appear before long. By getting your groundcover shortened and in check, you may have fewer mosquitoes this summer.
Bulbs
If you are enjoying daffodil, narcissus or the flowers of other spring-blooming bulbs, remember that when they finish blooming you should allow their dying foliage to completely yellow before removing. Most other summer- and fall-blooming bulbs may be planted now with the exception of caladiums. They need really consistently warm soil (70º) before considering joining your beds, so hold off planting them until May.
Trees & Roses
Fruit trees, nut trees and rose bushes all need to be fertilized in March. They all can use the same 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer you plan to put on your lawn. Although your trees need only be fertilized once, roses would appreciate a feeding every five or six weeks. Mark your calendar now to remind you of upcoming applications.
Perennials
It’s a good time to divide existing clumps of fall-blooming perennials, such as chrysanthemums, fall asters, Mexican mint marigold, Mexican bush sage, obedient plant and the like. Consider sharing your divided plants with friends and neighbors. Leave spring- and summer-blooming perennial divisions until fall.
April
Lawn Care
Once you have mowed your greened-up lawn two or three times, you may finally apply a 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer. The point is that this application should not go down on the lawn until your lawn has naturally greened up. Federal Income Tax Filing Day, a date we all know, can serve as a good reminder of when the fertilizer may go down on the lawn. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper application. Remember, this is fertilizer only. No weed killer.
Do mow your lawn weekly in the spring months. When mowing, allow your grass clipping to drop back onto your lawn. There are multiple benefits for doing this. If you have a compost pile, consider bagging your lawn clippings every other week and add them to your pile that needs a good balance of green and brown.
Mulch
It doesn’t really matter what kind of mulch you select. What’s important is that you put a fresh, thick three- to four-inch layer of it on all your gardens. There are so many benefits to mulch. Like grass clippings on the lawn, mulch helps the soil retain its precious moisture. It helps to control weeds. It adds organic matter to your soil. It keeps the soil and plant roots cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Fresh mulch adds curb appeal to your property too.
Crape Myrtles
If you haven’t done it already, you may “lightly” prune your crapes, meaning remove old seed heads and cut them back just a bit, because by now they should have greened up. Please, no crape murder! Beneath their branch spread give them 1/3 cup fertilizer (3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio) per square yard. If powdery mildew shows up on the leaves and stems, start a fungicide application immediately after the first sign of the disease. It may be necessary to continue fungicide sprays until leaves are mature.
Trees & Shrubs
This is about the last month that container-grown or ball-and-burlap trees and shrubs may be planted in you landscape this spring. (The best planting time is late fall through winter.) Be sure to make planting holes two to three times wider than the containers the plant comes in. Don’t dig the planting hole any deeper than the plant’s soil depth in the container. Carefully remove the tree or shrub from container, loosen the roots, set the plant in the hole so that it is level with the existing soil grade or just slightly above. Return the original soil (less the rocks), tamp soil and water in. Build a mulch saucer around the plant and then continue to water to meet the new plant’s needs. Do not fertilize at this time. That comes much later.
Vegetables
If you planted peppers, tomatoes or any other spring vegetable plants in containers or in the ground, they could use a dose of liquid fertilizer this month.
Watering
It may be a challenge once again this year as we don’t yet know if we’ll have tighter watering restrictions from our city, but do try to maintain your lawns by watering deeply during allotted days and designated times. It’s not just your lawn you are trying to keep alive. Your trees and landscaping are thirsty too when nature doesn’t provide.
________________________________________
If you have questions about your yard or garden, please call Travis County Master Gardeners at 512-854-9600. If they don’t have an immediate answer, they’ll research it and get back to you.
Two quick reminder: one, it’s too late to prune oak trees even if a tree pruning crew says otherwise. I hope you know the reason why; and two, it’s too late to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn. Weeds, if you have them, have already emerged!
However, there are plenty of things that can be done in these next two months that will enhance your yard. Let me run you through some to help you prepare for another hot spring and summer.
March
Lawn Care
Dead live oak leaves are already coming down on our yards seemingly by the bucket and it’s a good thing to get them off your lawn as they won’t deteriorate very quickly on their own and are of no benefit to your grass. Add them to your home compost pile or bag or bin them up for city pick up.
If you stopped watering your lawn this winter, now is the time to begin watering again keeping to our city guidelines. Any weed removal from your lawn is now best done by hand, pulling the buggers out after a good soaking. You had your chance before February 15 to eradicate weeds with a pre-emergent weed killer, but now it’s too late for that application.
Soil Prep
If you are planning new flower beds or gardens or simply wish to rejuvenate old beds, this is a good time to get out there and fortify the soil. You may add one to two inches of rich compost and working it in. It is far, far better to feed the soil than to feed plants. Then when you are ready to plant new shrubs, groundcover, flowers and/or vegetables, your soil will be ready.
Shrubs & Groundcover
After the last danger of a freeze (usually by the first or second week of this month), most shrubs may be pruned to shape. If you have spring-flowering shrubs, wait to trim them until after they bloom. Most bushes can take a serious grooming at this time of year just before they produce their new spring-green growth.
Groundcovers, like Asian jasmine and liriope, may be sheared fairly close to the ground and will fill in pretty quickly. Old ratty-looking leaves of cast iron plants may be cut off and new ones will appear before long. By getting your groundcover shortened and in check, you may have fewer mosquitoes this summer.
Bulbs
If you are enjoying daffodil, narcissus or the flowers of other spring-blooming bulbs, remember that when they finish blooming you should allow their dying foliage to completely yellow before removing. Most other summer- and fall-blooming bulbs may be planted now with the exception of caladiums. They need really consistently warm soil (70º) before considering joining your beds, so hold off planting them until May.
Trees & Roses
Fruit trees, nut trees and rose bushes all need to be fertilized in March. They all can use the same 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer you plan to put on your lawn. Although your trees need only be fertilized once, roses would appreciate a feeding every five or six weeks. Mark your calendar now to remind you of upcoming applications.
Perennials
It’s a good time to divide existing clumps of fall-blooming perennials, such as chrysanthemums, fall asters, Mexican mint marigold, Mexican bush sage, obedient plant and the like. Consider sharing your divided plants with friends and neighbors. Leave spring- and summer-blooming perennial divisions until fall.
April
Lawn Care
Once you have mowed your greened-up lawn two or three times, you may finally apply a 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer. The point is that this application should not go down on the lawn until your lawn has naturally greened up. Federal Income Tax Filing Day, a date we all know, can serve as a good reminder of when the fertilizer may go down on the lawn. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper application. Remember, this is fertilizer only. No weed killer.
Do mow your lawn weekly in the spring months. When mowing, allow your grass clipping to drop back onto your lawn. There are multiple benefits for doing this. If you have a compost pile, consider bagging your lawn clippings every other week and add them to your pile that needs a good balance of green and brown.
Mulch
It doesn’t really matter what kind of mulch you select. What’s important is that you put a fresh, thick three- to four-inch layer of it on all your gardens. There are so many benefits to mulch. Like grass clippings on the lawn, mulch helps the soil retain its precious moisture. It helps to control weeds. It adds organic matter to your soil. It keeps the soil and plant roots cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Fresh mulch adds curb appeal to your property too.
Crape Myrtles
If you haven’t done it already, you may “lightly” prune your crapes, meaning remove old seed heads and cut them back just a bit, because by now they should have greened up. Please, no crape murder! Beneath their branch spread give them 1/3 cup fertilizer (3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio) per square yard. If powdery mildew shows up on the leaves and stems, start a fungicide application immediately after the first sign of the disease. It may be necessary to continue fungicide sprays until leaves are mature.
Trees & Shrubs
This is about the last month that container-grown or ball-and-burlap trees and shrubs may be planted in you landscape this spring. (The best planting time is late fall through winter.) Be sure to make planting holes two to three times wider than the containers the plant comes in. Don’t dig the planting hole any deeper than the plant’s soil depth in the container. Carefully remove the tree or shrub from container, loosen the roots, set the plant in the hole so that it is level with the existing soil grade or just slightly above. Return the original soil (less the rocks), tamp soil and water in. Build a mulch saucer around the plant and then continue to water to meet the new plant’s needs. Do not fertilize at this time. That comes much later.
Vegetables
If you planted peppers, tomatoes or any other spring vegetable plants in containers or in the ground, they could use a dose of liquid fertilizer this month.
Watering
It may be a challenge once again this year as we don’t yet know if we’ll have tighter watering restrictions from our city, but do try to maintain your lawns by watering deeply during allotted days and designated times. It’s not just your lawn you are trying to keep alive. Your trees and landscaping are thirsty too when nature doesn’t provide.
________________________________________
If you have questions about your yard or garden, please call Travis County Master Gardeners at 512-854-9600. If they don’t have an immediate answer, they’ll research it and get back to you.
Around the Yard January-February 2019
by Reeve Hobbie
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Proper Rose Bush Pruning (see February notes below) |
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Start 2019 off right by taking time every warm winter day we have to tend to your gardens and landscaping in preparation for the spring and summer to follow. Here are my month-to-month gardening tips that are applicable to Austin.
If you have gardening questions beyond what I cover each month, and I hope you do, please contact the Travis County Master Gardener Help Desk. The number is posted at the end of this article and you should find the TCMG volunteer’s answers most helpful.
January
Tools
Take advantage of this slow time of year to get your yard equipment (lawn mower, lawn trimmer, hedge trimmer, rototiller, chain saw, power washer and other equipment) tuned up and sharpened. If you wait until spring, it may take many weeks before you get your equipment back from the shop. Also take a look at all your other gardening tools (shovels, hoes, trowels, clippers, loppers, saws). It’s a great time to sharpen them and oil the blades of each. Consider replacing old worn out or worn down tools.
Soil
If you are planning new landscaping, new flower beds or gardens, or wish to rejuvenate old beds, now is the time to prepare your soil. You can add nutrients to our otherwise poor, rocky soil by adding rich compost. What nutrients do you need to add? Pick up a free soil test kit from a local nursery, follow the soil collection directions, and mail it in. At this time of year, results should come back to you in a few days and then you will know exactly what nutrients to add and work in. Getting soil fortified with the right nutrients and loosened up will make late winter and early spring planting a whole lot easier.
Trees & Shrubs
The best time to plant new trees and shrubs, or to transplant existing trees and shrubs, is in the winter. Yes, winter! Any new holes dug should be two to three times wider than the root ball or plastic container, but not an inch deeper than the soil depth in the ball or container. Stretch out the roots before refilling the hole with existing soil. Do not fertilize. Don’t let the bark of the tree or shrub sink below grade level. If anything, plant trees and shrubs on the high side. Then create a saucer of dirt and mulch around each and water in. Water sensibly, not too much and not too little.
Prune trees if necessary while they are dormant. If you hire someone, be certain that they are certified arborists. A list of these professionals may be obtained by calling the TCMG Help Desk. Regardless of whom you bring in, don’t let anyone trim your oak trees after January 31. The next chance to prune oaks won’t come up until July 1. If you are wondering about these time restrictions, read about the dreaded oak wilt in the Around the Yard Archives.
Hold off pruning shrubs, including crape myrtles, lantana, rose bushes, evergreens, until next month when they are just about ready to push out new growth. If pruned too early, it may stimulate fresh growth only to have that new growth frozen off. It could possibly lead to the death of those pruned plants. It’s simply better to wait until spring comes to Austin.
Lawn
Remove fallen leaves from your grass so your lawn doesn’t get diseased or stressed. Continue with an occasional watering if nature doesn’t provide. Plagued by spring weeds? Apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn this month. Do not even consider applying fertilizer to your lawn until mid April (Tax Day). Definitely do not combine pre-emergent weed killing and lawn fertilizing into one application.
Winter Annuals & Spring Bulbs
Consider a light application of fertilizer around those annuals you planted this fall. Spring-flowering bulbs pushing up their green leaves now could use a fertilizer boost too. Scratch the 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer you apply into the soil around each plant or bulb and water in.
February
Now that you have dealt with your mower and other gardening tool maintenance, tree pruning and planting, and garden bed soil fortification, you are ready for the early spring that usually comes to us in late February. There are several things that you need to get on top of during the course of this month.
Roses
On or before February 14 (Valentine’s Day) each year, just about every kind of rose bush may be pruned – severely. To encourage new and better growth and blooms, be prepared to remove 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of the plant. Dead or damaged wood needs to come out, inward growing and crisscrossing canes need to be removed, suckers and weak branches need to be cut off. What you are seeking with each plant is a nicely shaped rose bush that gets plenty of light and a lot of air circulation. As an example, a 6-foot Knock Out® rose bush may be trimmed back to 3 feet leaving just 4 to 6 canes. Within a few weeks it will be a beautiful, airy, and shapely bush ready to produce strong blooms this year.
Plant new roses this month in the bed(s) you have already prepared. Roses need eight (8) or more hours of direct sun each day to be good bloomers. Morning sun is essential, but light afternoon shade is tolerated and even beneficial in our hot summer climate. Consider planting any of the dozens of Earth-Kind® roses available – cultivars that do well in Central Texas.
Groundcover
Whether you have Asian jasmine, vinca, ivy, ferns or some other kind of groundcover, it may be sheared back just before it is ready to push out new spring growth. Trimming it short may help to reduce your mosquito population later on. Ragged-looking liriope and cast iron plant foliage may also be cut back to the ground at this time. Fresh green leaves will begin appearing in no time.
Shrubs
Most all evergreen shrubs may be pruned back later this month. Here’s your opportunity to shape them before they begin to push out new growth. If your shrubs are overgrown and too large a scale for your house, replace them with new ones now so they can get established before the hot summer. (See my Landscaping article under Around the Yard Archives.)
Lawn
Early this month is your last opportunity to apply an organic or chemical pre-emergent weed killer (without fertilizer) to your lawn. If you miss this window, then hand-pulling weeds may be your only way recourse. Actually, a thick, strong carpet of grass is the very best method of preventing weeds, so improve the quality of your lawn this year by removing winter thatch and tree leaves, watering deeply each week, mowing at the proper level each week, and fertilizing (earliest application in April, but not before).
Crape Myrtles
If you feel it’s even necessary, crape myrtles may be pruned to remove last year’s seed heads just before they break dormancy. All you need are hand clippers to cut back the little branches the size of your pinky finger or smaller. Do not bring out your loppers or saw unless you intend on removing a major trunk at the base of the plant. We see far too much “crape murder” around Austin. Once improperly pruned, a crape will always show its knobby scars encouraging more annual “crape murder.”
Perennials & Annuals
Even though some stores and nurseries will be selling perennials and spring annuals, it is still too early to plant them. Our average last freeze is usually not until early March. Instead, keep preparing your garden beds. Fortify the soil and loosen it up as you work those nutrients in. Then you can buy your heartier varieties of plants starting next month.
If you have questions about your yard or garden, please call Travis County Master Gardeners at 512-854-9600. If they don’t have an immediate answer, they’ll research it and get back to you.
If you have gardening questions beyond what I cover each month, and I hope you do, please contact the Travis County Master Gardener Help Desk. The number is posted at the end of this article and you should find the TCMG volunteer’s answers most helpful.
January
Tools
Take advantage of this slow time of year to get your yard equipment (lawn mower, lawn trimmer, hedge trimmer, rototiller, chain saw, power washer and other equipment) tuned up and sharpened. If you wait until spring, it may take many weeks before you get your equipment back from the shop. Also take a look at all your other gardening tools (shovels, hoes, trowels, clippers, loppers, saws). It’s a great time to sharpen them and oil the blades of each. Consider replacing old worn out or worn down tools.
Soil
If you are planning new landscaping, new flower beds or gardens, or wish to rejuvenate old beds, now is the time to prepare your soil. You can add nutrients to our otherwise poor, rocky soil by adding rich compost. What nutrients do you need to add? Pick up a free soil test kit from a local nursery, follow the soil collection directions, and mail it in. At this time of year, results should come back to you in a few days and then you will know exactly what nutrients to add and work in. Getting soil fortified with the right nutrients and loosened up will make late winter and early spring planting a whole lot easier.
Trees & Shrubs
The best time to plant new trees and shrubs, or to transplant existing trees and shrubs, is in the winter. Yes, winter! Any new holes dug should be two to three times wider than the root ball or plastic container, but not an inch deeper than the soil depth in the ball or container. Stretch out the roots before refilling the hole with existing soil. Do not fertilize. Don’t let the bark of the tree or shrub sink below grade level. If anything, plant trees and shrubs on the high side. Then create a saucer of dirt and mulch around each and water in. Water sensibly, not too much and not too little.
Prune trees if necessary while they are dormant. If you hire someone, be certain that they are certified arborists. A list of these professionals may be obtained by calling the TCMG Help Desk. Regardless of whom you bring in, don’t let anyone trim your oak trees after January 31. The next chance to prune oaks won’t come up until July 1. If you are wondering about these time restrictions, read about the dreaded oak wilt in the Around the Yard Archives.
Hold off pruning shrubs, including crape myrtles, lantana, rose bushes, evergreens, until next month when they are just about ready to push out new growth. If pruned too early, it may stimulate fresh growth only to have that new growth frozen off. It could possibly lead to the death of those pruned plants. It’s simply better to wait until spring comes to Austin.
Lawn
Remove fallen leaves from your grass so your lawn doesn’t get diseased or stressed. Continue with an occasional watering if nature doesn’t provide. Plagued by spring weeds? Apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn this month. Do not even consider applying fertilizer to your lawn until mid April (Tax Day). Definitely do not combine pre-emergent weed killing and lawn fertilizing into one application.
Winter Annuals & Spring Bulbs
Consider a light application of fertilizer around those annuals you planted this fall. Spring-flowering bulbs pushing up their green leaves now could use a fertilizer boost too. Scratch the 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer you apply into the soil around each plant or bulb and water in.
February
Now that you have dealt with your mower and other gardening tool maintenance, tree pruning and planting, and garden bed soil fortification, you are ready for the early spring that usually comes to us in late February. There are several things that you need to get on top of during the course of this month.
Roses
On or before February 14 (Valentine’s Day) each year, just about every kind of rose bush may be pruned – severely. To encourage new and better growth and blooms, be prepared to remove 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of the plant. Dead or damaged wood needs to come out, inward growing and crisscrossing canes need to be removed, suckers and weak branches need to be cut off. What you are seeking with each plant is a nicely shaped rose bush that gets plenty of light and a lot of air circulation. As an example, a 6-foot Knock Out® rose bush may be trimmed back to 3 feet leaving just 4 to 6 canes. Within a few weeks it will be a beautiful, airy, and shapely bush ready to produce strong blooms this year.
Plant new roses this month in the bed(s) you have already prepared. Roses need eight (8) or more hours of direct sun each day to be good bloomers. Morning sun is essential, but light afternoon shade is tolerated and even beneficial in our hot summer climate. Consider planting any of the dozens of Earth-Kind® roses available – cultivars that do well in Central Texas.
Groundcover
Whether you have Asian jasmine, vinca, ivy, ferns or some other kind of groundcover, it may be sheared back just before it is ready to push out new spring growth. Trimming it short may help to reduce your mosquito population later on. Ragged-looking liriope and cast iron plant foliage may also be cut back to the ground at this time. Fresh green leaves will begin appearing in no time.
Shrubs
Most all evergreen shrubs may be pruned back later this month. Here’s your opportunity to shape them before they begin to push out new growth. If your shrubs are overgrown and too large a scale for your house, replace them with new ones now so they can get established before the hot summer. (See my Landscaping article under Around the Yard Archives.)
Lawn
Early this month is your last opportunity to apply an organic or chemical pre-emergent weed killer (without fertilizer) to your lawn. If you miss this window, then hand-pulling weeds may be your only way recourse. Actually, a thick, strong carpet of grass is the very best method of preventing weeds, so improve the quality of your lawn this year by removing winter thatch and tree leaves, watering deeply each week, mowing at the proper level each week, and fertilizing (earliest application in April, but not before).
Crape Myrtles
If you feel it’s even necessary, crape myrtles may be pruned to remove last year’s seed heads just before they break dormancy. All you need are hand clippers to cut back the little branches the size of your pinky finger or smaller. Do not bring out your loppers or saw unless you intend on removing a major trunk at the base of the plant. We see far too much “crape murder” around Austin. Once improperly pruned, a crape will always show its knobby scars encouraging more annual “crape murder.”
Perennials & Annuals
Even though some stores and nurseries will be selling perennials and spring annuals, it is still too early to plant them. Our average last freeze is usually not until early March. Instead, keep preparing your garden beds. Fortify the soil and loosen it up as you work those nutrients in. Then you can buy your heartier varieties of plants starting next month.
If you have questions about your yard or garden, please call Travis County Master Gardeners at 512-854-9600. If they don’t have an immediate answer, they’ll research it and get back to you.
