JANUARY 201 4 SUNRAYS | 59
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
Begin 2014 with plans to be Water Wise!
Remember that Water Wise landscaping,
or Xeriscaping, was never intended to be
hot, boring rockscapes. Xeriscaping is
quality landscaping in tune with where
we live that conserves water and protects
the environment. It includes amending
soil with organics, mulching, using more
native plants, practical turf area, and
efficient irrigation.
Yes, turf does take more water than
drought-resistant plants. Our hybrid
turfs used in Sun City Texas will
require deep watering at least once a
week. Some drought-resistant plants,
such as Texas Sage, four-nerve daisies,
and groundcovers like pony foot
dichondra and wooly stemodia―while
needing supplemental water the first
year and watching the second year―
once established, can survive several
weeks with little, if any, supplemental
watering. Look for areas to transform
from turf into friendly, inviting areas
with these drought-resistant plants and
groundcovers, perhaps with a bench or
chairs for a gathering spot or with a
sculpture or other garden ornament.
The most inviting garden ornaments are
something of personal interest. Do you
January Tips for a Beautiful
Water Wise Landscape
NExt MONth
:
Join me for fur-
ther suggestions for landscape
design and trimming!
Winola is a Williamson County
Master Gardener, a member of
the Sun City Garden Club and a
member of the Sun City Water Wise
Task Force.
Master Gardeners and other expe-
rienced gardeners are available to
answer questions a half hour be-
fore Sun City Garden Club meet-
ings eachmonth. The Garden Club
meets the secondWednesday of each
month beginning with the question/
answer period at 12:30 p.m.
By Winola VanArtsdalen
remember when The Victory Garden TV
show featured a garden with bowling
balls throughout? It immediately became
popular and was repeated many times. I
was fortunate to tour that garden with
the artist in Berkeley, California. What
an experience! Not only did she have
stories to share about the bowling balls,
but other personal items, like family
shoes used for containers! Think about
your interests, places you have lived or
visited, and periods special in your life
that could be shared in your garden.
What a way to start conversation with
visitors!
Looking for garden ornaments is a great
excuse for stopping at roadside stands or
visiting resale and antique shops. Most
of us have our houses already too full, so
here is a new excuse for those shopping
trips. You can now shop for your garden!
A word of caution―where we live in close
proximity, we need to be more careful
about colors and number of accessories.
There are some height restrictions: 36”
in our front yards and 48” in backyards.
Remember, too, that a few focal points
are more effective than too much, which
can quickly become clutter! See 8/23/13
Mod Com rules 5.10.6 and 7 for number,
color, and design limitations on accessory
features.
JANuAry GArDeNiNG tips:
• Transplant trees and shrubs now. If
you did not divide bulbs and perennials
as needed last fall, you can still do so,
but mulch well. Youmay delay or miss
this year’s bloom.
• Trim oaks, but remember to paint all
wounds immediately―any size, any
season! Trim crepe myrtles and vitex
now. Cut back ornamental grasses
and cold hardy perennials after a
hard freeze, but wait to prune spring-
blooming plants until after bloom.
• Incorporate amendments in bed for
spring planting, but be sure soil is
moist, not wet. Digging in wet soil
can damage soil structure.
• Turn off your controller and only
water when needed, but do turn your
irrigation on once a month to check
the system. Water everything before
a freeze.
• Watch for insect problems on
houseplants.
• Dig weeds now while they are easy to
see in turf. Keep beds free of weeds,
too, as roots will grow during our mild
winters.
Source: Texas Agrilife Extension Service
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County
AgriLIFE Extension Office at
512-943-3300.
PHOTO BY JIM VANARTSDALEN
This old, handmade farm equipment
part was used in a “country girl’s”
flowerbed with leadwort plumbago.
