Central Texas Gardener - May 9th, 2009

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May 9th, 2009

Cindy Arredondo from Desert to Tropics designs with succulents for sun, shade, containers, and interior space.

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Stop applications of broadleaf weed killers. We don't recommend them at any time, but above 85° they can stress St. Augustine lawns.
Give new woody plants special attention now that it's warming up. If you planted a shrub or tree, perhaps last fall or during the winter or spring, it's still trying to get roots established. You want to make sure and soak those root balls regularly with a good deep soaking of water. If you depend on a thumb on the end of a garden hose you'll think you're really wetting it, but if you look and dig deep down after that, you'll see that you barely wet the soil at all. I like to build a berm of soil around the plants about four or five inches high, and maybe three feet in diameter. Think of it as a big soil doughnut in the ground around the plant and then fill that with water and that will ensure a big soaking of the root ball. You do that once or twice a week depending on the soil and the plant and how much sun it's getting, but that way you make sure that the plant is surviving through the first critical summer. Those are a good investment and you spent some money on them so take care of them. They'll not only survive but they will grow faster for you.
Cut back yellowing foliage on spring bulbs.
Prune fall-blooming perennials.
Continue planting warm weather seeds.
Deadhead and feed roses.
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