MARCH 201 5 SUNRAYS | 59
ONLINE:
SCTEXAS.ORG
It’s springtime in our hearts (regardless
of the temperature), so let’s roll up our
sleeves, sharpen our tools, dust off our
sun hats, and get ready to get to work!
As always, remember to avoid digging
or walking on wet soil, as this will cause
compaction.
Replacing turf with a drought tolerant
bed will save you money on your water
bill and reduce lawn maintenance.
Prepare for the switch with a soil test,
which will help determine the best
treatment plan for your landscape. For
many landscapes in our area, organic
amendments are the key to improving
moisture retention and providing
essential nutrients. A good example of
organic amendments in action can be
found in the Master Gardener Earth-
Kind rose bed at the Texas A&M
AgriLIFE Extension. Planted with
organic soil additives several years
ago, the only maintenance it requires
is replenishment of organic mulch and
trimming in the spring – no additional
fertilizer or use of any chemical required.
In addition to healthy soil, putting the
right plants in the right places will
get your beautiful, drought-tolerant
landscape off to the right start. Plants
which are native or adapted to this
area will be healthier for you and the
environment, while also requiring
less maintenance. To aid in your plant
choices, the Sun City Garden Club has
prepared a notebook titled,
What Grows
Here
, obtainable at both the Texas Drive
and Cowan Creek Monitors’ Desks.
Additionally, the Grow Green book,
Native and Adapted Landscape Plants
of Central Texas
by the Texas AgriLIFE
Extension and City of Austin is available
for purchase from the Member Services
Office.
March and early April are prime time
for garden shows, gardening classes and
plant sales! Take advantage of these
opportunities, as well as the Sun City
March Tips for a Beautiful
Water Wise Landscape
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
experienced gardeners are available
to answer questions a half hour
before Sun City Garden Club
meetings each month. The Garden
Club meets the second Wednesday
of each month beginning with
the question/answer period at
12:30 p.m.
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Garden Club monthly meetings, for fresh
plants and information to enhance your
landscape.
The following plant sales will have
experienced gardeners available to help
you with selection:
•Sun City Horticulture Club Sale: Sat-
urday, March 21, Sun City Boulevard
•Williamson CountyMaster Gardeners
Plant Sale: Saturday, March 28, Texas
AgriLIFEExtension, 3151 Inner Loop,
Georgetown, TX, 78626
Ample water wise gardening ideas will
be available during the Sun City Garden
Tour, taking place Saturday, May 2 from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, May 4,
from noon to 3 p.m. Advance ticket sales
will begin online at
on
March 2, under Buy Tickets.
MARCH GARDENING TIPS
•The average last date for frost in our
area will be March 15.
•Avoid wounds on oak trees February
through June. Beetles carrying a
fungus are most active in periods of
mild temperature.
•Divide summer and fall-blooming
perennials when new shoots are about
3” tall.
•To encourage bushier, branching
growth fromhigh-growing herbaceous
perennials, pinch back the leading
shoot tips. Do this at least a month
before flowering to reduce the plant’s
ultimate height by as much as a
quarter.
•Top dress bulbs with compost to ensure
good blooms next year. Remove spent
flowers, but leave foliage until it dies
back so bulbs can store enough energy
to bloom next year.
•Turf:
Aerate when soil is moist (but
not wet) with a machine that removes
plugs. Aerating followed by top
dressing of compost allows some of the
compost to filter into holes, amending
soil texture. You can hire a contractor
or get together with neighbors to rent
an aerator.
•Do not fertilize until after second
mowing of grass.
•Fertilize Bermuda and St. Augustine
in late March to early April. Buffalo
and Zoysia should be fertilized in
late April to early May. If you use top
dressing, skip fertilization, as this
would provide toomuch nitrogen. Over-
fertilization causes more leaf growth
and less root growth, making plants
more susceptible to drought.
Source: Texas A&MAgriLIFE Extension
Service
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County
AgriLIFE Extension Office at
512-943-3300
