tel: 512-280-1192 Nov. 4, 2011
Nursery notes: Please join us this Sunday, 2 p.m. for Caroline Foley's
free lecture: An Intro to Creating a Water-Wise Landscape.’
Caroline (from Diamondscape ) is a dynamic speaker, and will cover
all aspects of planning, soil perparation, drainage, and maintenance.
(Next Sunday's lecture: backyard beekeeping with Jack Mills.)
Spooky plants! Spooky presenter! Cindy Arredondo pictured in the
garden auditorium for last Sunday's Halloween lecture. Thanks
Cindy for a fascinating lecture, and thanks to all who joined us.
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Rent-a-Sheep Lawn Mowing Co. In Ohio, shepherd Eddie Miller
offers this novel approach to lawn mowing - for $1 a day per sheep.
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On Central Texas Gardener (KLRU-TV): the art of small garden
design, with Mueller residents Betsy Hilton and Joe Denton: Justin
Kasulka (Big Red Sun) selects those perfect plants that tolerate freeze
and drought. Noon and 4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m or click here:
Paperwhite narcissi - easy and decorative
November in the Garden
by Chris Winslow
1.Plant a tree: now is still a perfect time to get that shade or orna-
mental tree in the ground.
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, 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 selection
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. Easy and decorative.
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.
8. Onions, scallions, garlic: November is onion, scallion, and garlic
month. To be successful with growing these vegetable gems, don’t wait
till 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 important.
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 at www.itsaboutthyme.com Visit the nursery at 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin 78748
