tel: 512 280-1192                                        thursday, nov 6, 2014

Nursery Notes: the great 50% off all metal art sale continues this
weekend.  Also all 1 gal. perennials, including some lantanas, plum-
bago and esperanzas on sale for $6.99 (reg $9.99). / The latest issue
of  Edible Austin is now available at the nursery - with an 'heirloom
theme,' and stories on barbacoa, rice in Texas, donuts, fried chicken
and Turkish manti.  
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Top tree choices from arborist Lisa Killander (AISD): chinquapin
oak, red oak, Mexican white oak, Arizona cypress, cedar elm,
American elm, escarpment black cherry and lacey oak. All of these 
beauties are either available at the nursery, or available by order.
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How to Light Your Plants and Yard: this helpful article covers 
uplighting, spotlighting, moonlighting and path lighting . . . and
every other type of lighting - and advises us about choosing the best
bulbs to choose to show off your plants. Seattle Times
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Central Texas Gardener: It’s time to plant trees, so let’s get to it
with some of our best picks. Visit a young couple who built their
garden with recycles and passalong plants under native trees.   Sat.,
4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. www.klru      
  
 
Plant ranunculus bulbs now for a beautiful showing in the spring of  '15
Ten Activities for November
 
1. Plant a tree: now is still a perfect time to get that shade or orna-
mental tree in the ground. (Coming in next week's newsletter, a guide
to planting new trees by Amanda.)

2. Plant flowering perennials: it’s never too late. Even though their
tops will be burned back with the first hard freeze, their roots will be
hardy. During the cool days of winter, they will establish a healthy
root system for a show in the spring.

3. Plant some winter blooming annuals: in central Texas, we can
grow pansies, snapdragons, violas, stock, cyclamen, and flowering
cabbage and kale. Remember to work in some organic plant food
such as blood and bone meal. These slow release plant foods will
feed your plants throughout the winter and into the spring. Pansies
love blood meal.

4. Plant fall bulbs:  there is still plenty of time. There is a great selec-
tion of late winter to early spring flowering bulbs to choose from.
Look for tulips, narcissus, jonquils, muscari, daffodils, ranunculus,
and anemones. Bulbs benefit from the slow release phosphorus found
in bone meal. Mix a tablespoon in the root zone when planting.

5. Force some bulbs indoors: this is a fun activity for Thanksgiving
and Christmas time. The easiest are paperwhite narcissus. Add some
potting mix to a clay or plastic 6” bulb pan (fill about ½ way). Place
3 to 5 bulbs on top of the soil and add some decorative gravel to keep
them upright and firm. All you need to do now is water the bulbs in
and place the pot in a sunny location. It takes around 3 weeks for the
bulbs to force out their foliage and open their flowers.
 
6. Winterize your lawn with a slow release organic lawn food. This
will give nutrition and strength to your lawn for the coming cold months.

7. Cutback your perennials after the first frost, and mulch your
beds with compost and mulch mixed together. This combination will
feed the roots while conserving water and warming the bed.
(Average day for first fall frost: November 28)
 
8. Onions, scallions, garlic: November is onion, scallion, and garlic
month. To be successful with these vegetable gems, don’t wait until
the days get long again. Success requires growing in the short days
of winter. You too can grow an onion 6” across! Timing is most im-
portant.

9. Keep on the lookout for a world of fall bedding (annual) plants.
As temperatures cool, we can begin to plant dianthus, snapdragons,
and petunias.

10. Watch for black spot and mildew on roses. With cooler weather,
these pesky rose diseases will begin to show up. An organic spray
of Neem oil or wettable sulfur should help in keeping it at bay.  
Happy Gardening Everyone!
  
  Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com
 Visit the nursery:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, 78748  Like us
 
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