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It's About Thyme tel: 512-280-1192 Feb 4, 2011
Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle...
a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to
unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream - Barbara Winkler
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Nursery Notes: Today, with schools closed and most of us off work,
I think we are all enjoying winter walks, snowball fights, and the
novelty of seeing our gardens beneath 'the cloak of winter.' February is the
transition month into spring, and fruit trees will be arriving towards the
end of next week. We also have a fresh supply of onion sets, and the
strawberries are looking good. ( We open today at noon.)
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strawberries are looking good. ( We open today at noon.)
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A touching tale appeared in The Times this week about a beloved
chicken gone missing in New York City: 'The chicken yard was
a classic crime scene: Coop open. Hatch lying on the ground. T-Rex,
Gertrude’s long suffering subordinate, standing dumbfounded...
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On KLRU's Central Texas Gardener this weekend, meet Mr Smarty couple who have removed all turf grass in a front yard living room
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'Everything’s Coming Up Roses,' a free lecture tomorrow (Feb 5)
Ten Activities for February
by Chris Winslow
Although it's hard to believe, with the snow on the ground this morning,
but this is one of the most important gardening months of the year! The
days are getting longer, and the last average freeze and frost dates approach.
Also the days are cooler and it’s more comfortable to work outside.
1. Clean up the landscape. Cut back perennials and apply a mulch-compost
1. Clean up the landscape. Cut back perennials and apply a mulch-compost
blend. Add green sand and sulfur to plants that like soil to be a little more
acidic than our alkaline soil provides. Check leaves for signs of iron
deficiency. Light green leaves with darker veins indicate a lack of iron that
green sand and sulfur will help to cure.
2. Plant fruit trees. Peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, apricots, pome-
granates, and apples do well in this area. For those with limited space, or
with an appetite for novelty, try a ‘four-in-one’ grafted apple or pear.
They have four different varieties grafted on the same tree. For those
without a yard, you might try a dwarf peach. They’re easy to grow in
a pot or whisky barrel.
acidic than our alkaline soil provides. Check leaves for signs of iron
deficiency. Light green leaves with darker veins indicate a lack of iron that
green sand and sulfur will help to cure.
2. Plant fruit trees. Peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, apricots, pome-
granates, and apples do well in this area. For those with limited space, or
with an appetite for novelty, try a ‘four-in-one’ grafted apple or pear.
They have four different varieties grafted on the same tree. For those
without a yard, you might try a dwarf peach. They’re easy to grow in
a pot or whisky barrel.
3. Plant vegetables in kitchen garden. Broccoli, Brussels’ sprouts, cauli-
flower, cabbage, pod peas (sugar snaps), swish chard, carrots, lettuce, and
asparagus crowns. Also onions, such as the white Texas Supersweet called
Contessa.
4. Plant winter hardy herbs. Thyme, oregano, Italian and curled parsley,
rosemary, winter and summer savory, garden sage, and chives. Herbs like
at least a half a day’s sun in a well-drained location.
5. Plant flowers in the garden. Calendula, pansies, stock, cyclamen, violas,
dianthus, bluebonnets, nasturtium, flowering cabbage and kale, and
larkspur. For a great show, plant snapdragons now for April and May color.
6. Plant a rose. Besides some good old standbys like peace, Mr. Lincoln,
climbing Don Juan and blasé, there are some interesting newcomers to
look for: the knock out series, home run and Belinda’s dream. But let’s
not forget our charming antique roses as well. Antiques are disease
resistant, hardy, and can shower our landscapes with very beautiful,
showy flowers.
7. Prune your roses. A mid-month activity. A word of caution: make sure
you know what kind of rose you have before you begin to cut them back.
Most shrub roses bloom on new wood, so a pruning will help to force
new growth and blooms. Climbing roses bloom on old wood, so this
means a pruning back of climbers will remove all the flowers before they
have a chance to bloom. Please give me a call if you have any questions
about this. I have some weighty rose books that have most of the answers.
8. Control lawn weeds. Spread a pre-emergent weed killer over the yard
and water it in. We recommend corn gluten. This is an effective organic pre-
emergent that will not poison waterways and aquifers. If you spread it over
the lawn, it will control those spring and summer weeds before they have
a chance to germinate. You can safely use it in the garden or in flowerbeds.
9. Maintain garden tools. Repair and maintain garden tools. Change the
oil on the lawnmower, and have the blades sharpened.
10. Garden plan. Put something down in a book, a diary, or even on a scrap
of paper that you tape to the wall. This will help you plan your weekend
activities and get your plants in the ground at the correct time of the year.
Wouldn’t you know it? February is the shortest month with so much to do!
Happy gardening everyone!
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oil on the lawnmower, and have the blades sharpened.
10. Garden plan. Put something down in a book, a diary, or even on a scrap
of paper that you tape to the wall. This will help you plan your weekend
activities and get your plants in the ground at the correct time of the year.
Wouldn’t you know it? February is the shortest month with so much to do!
Happy gardening everyone!
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