Page 81 - Jan Sun Rays

January tips for a beautiful
Water-wise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Welcome to 2016! Would you like
your landscape to use less water
and require less maintenance,
all the while enjoying healthier plants
and wildlife? Is there a catch? Well, yes.
You will have to do a little extra planning
and work in the beginning, but you will be
greatly rewarded with a beautiful water-
wise landscape. The key is simply working
with Mother Nature!
Planning: Consider sun/shade, needed
wind/privacy protection and zone plants
by water needs for easiest watering.
Plan paths both for practical use and
to lead your eye through the landscape.
Most importantly, plan drainage. Some
drainage problems can be solved simply
by adding compost, but professional help
may be needed for others. Leave space
for air circulation between plants and
between house and plants. Study the
Sun City Texas design guidelines. These
rules are in place to save you from making
mistakes!
Soil: Feed your soil to feed your plants.
Have soil tested to learn specific needs of
your property. Compost gives roots more
nutrients, air and moisture, filling their
greatest needs. Spreading top dressing
(a mixture of soil and organics) can do
this for your turf and also help gradually
build up soil. Flower beds should be at
least one-third compost.
Do not use “weed and feed” products.
The timing is wrong and, over time,
broadleaf herbicide can harm your trees.
Additionally, chemical runoff can get into
streams, damaging plants and wildlife.
Choose native/adapted plants suitable
for this soil and climate. Plants will be
healthier, require less maintenance,
help local wildlife and support beneficial
insects.
Trees/shrubs: Consider mature size to
avoid later problems. Actually measure
space that will be taken by mature
tree. Place soil ball slightly higher than
surrounding soil. Do not amend backfill
soil, but you can put some compost at top
under mulch. For detailed information,
visit texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
treeplantingtools.html
Turf: Begin early in season by watering
both flower beds and turf deeply, but
infrequently, for deeper, stronger roots.
When mowing, never cut more than one-
third of leaf blade at one time.
Irrigation: Water deeply, less often. Use
drip hose or water by hand where possible.
The less water flying through the air,
the less water loss through evaporation.
Plants are much healthier if water can
reach roots but not leave moisture on leaf
surface. Consider moisture sensors to help
you use less water. Rain barrels save
water and this water without chemicals
is healthier for plants.
Stay tuned as these and more water wise
landscaping topics help you enjoy your
property’s full potential. These topics will
be expanded upon in greater detail in
upcoming water wise gardening articles
throughout 2016. Further research-based
information is always available at aggie-
horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind, as well
as at the Garden Club Help Desk before
Garden Club meetings and at the county
Agri-Life office.
JANUARY GARDENING TIPS:
• Time to plant chives, cilantro, chervil
and Italian parsley, as they prefer our
area’s cool winters.
• Evaluate your landscape. This is the
best time of year to see if you need more
evergreens to keep landscape interesting
during winter season. Would you like
more year-round color? Look for native/
adaptive plants blooming different
seasons. If your plants suffered from
too much sun last summer, consider
changing to other types. If turf is weak
under a large tree, consider some minor
tree pruning to thin canopy for better
growth of turf and bedding plants.
• Begin keeping a log of useful gardening
information, whether in the form of
notes on an “old-school” paper calendar
or with high-tech computer software.
I have a spreadsheet where I add new
plants purchased, my experience and
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.
information about care. Very helpful!
• During winter is the easiest time to
see weeds. Digging them now will save
much time later.
• Apply pre-emergent before Feb. 15.
• Trimming: You can trim oak trees now
when temperatures are cold, but all
wounds on oak trees must be painted—
any time, any size, immediately!
• Trim vitex, crape myrtles and other
shrubs/trees that have summer bloom
of this year’s growth this month.
Rejuvenate older multi-stemmed shrubs/
trees by removing stems at crown.
Unless you desire a hedge, it is better
to trim bushes for a natural shape.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at
512-943-3300
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