This is a month of transition,  as we move from the doldrums of

summer into what can be one of the busiest of seasons for central

Texas gardeners. Some guidelines for the month ahead:

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1. Cutback annual summer flowers, mulch, and feed. We have

approximately 75 to 90 days till the first frost . . .  plenty of time to

get a renewed flush of color.

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2. Water your trees, shrubs, turf grass and landscape beds. Slow,

deep watering will encourage a deep root system and make your

landscape more able to withstand drought.

3. Plant new vegetables for fall and winter harvests during the last

week of this month: broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage.

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4. Buy bulbs. The season to plant tulips, hyacinths, crocus, jonquils,

daffodils, grape hyacinths and anemones is just around the corner.

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5. Mulch all beds and trees with compost mixed with mulch. This

mixture will protect plant roots from heat and cold extremes, and

conserve water.

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6. Inspect trees for fall webworms, and if you find them, come up

with a strategy to get rid of them using Thuricide or Dipel.

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7. Fertilize lawn towards the end of the month. (Please choose an

organic fertilizer.)

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8.  Be on ‘brown patch alert’ for your grass, and be ready to treat

this disease with the organic Actinovate. 

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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.

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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!