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March tips for a beautiful
Water-wise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
With the first breath of spring, a gardener’s
heart is stirred to plant. Last year’s
struggles with heat, weeds and bugs are
forgotten, but a bit of caution! There is a
time and a place for everything, and the
best time to plant in the south is the fall.
You can plant in the spring, but be prepared
for the extra effort required. At first, be
prepared to protect should we have a late
frost. Later, because the roots will not be
as established as those plants started last
fall, you may have to give some shade and
extra water when the heat of summer hits.
Always prepare soil before planting. For
a new bed, remove weeds, add three
to four inches compost and cover with
mulch. Plants must have good drainage,
so depending upon your soil you may
need to add additional amendments like
decomposed granite and/or expanded shale.
In future seasons, add an inch of compost
spring and/or fall and between plantings.
For now, however, it would be best to let
soil “rest” and give microorganisms time
to prepare the soil for your plants.
Leave your azaleas in Houston, and
plant native/adapted plants. Take into
consideration sun/shade, exposure to wind
and soil acidity. Research your plant to be
sure it is suited for the location. Assistance EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
can be found at the Garden Club’s Help
Desk (during Garden Club meetings) or in
the Grow Green booklet, available at the
Member Services Office for $2.17.
You can save yourself much work in the
future if you know the size of your plants
at maturity and give them space for air
circulation and nutrients. Mulch well and
water to root depth every time you water,
but water only as needed.
Remember that weeds take up nutrients
needed by your plants, so watch to dig
weeds when they first start to come up. If
you have mulched well, weeds should not
persist, and you will enjoy healthy plants.
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
GARDENING TIPS:
Our average last frost date is March 15.
Avoid wounds on oak trees February
through November because beetles that
carry the fungus are most active in periods
of mild temperature.
Divide summer and fall-blooming
perennials when new shoots are about
three inches tall.
Look for places to use drip irrigation so
plants will have water at the roots where
needed rather than on the leaves which
may cause fungus to develop.
TURF:
When soil is moist – not wet – aerate with
a machine that removes plugs. Follow with
a top dressing of compost.
Do not fertilize until after second mowing
of grass – not just weeds!
Fertilize Bermuda and St. Augustine turf
in late March to early April and Buffalo
and Zoysia in late April to early May. If
you use top dressing, skip this fertilization
as it would be too much nitrogen.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Spring is a good time for expanding your
gardening education at garden shows,
gardening classes and plant sales. Not
only are the plants at these sales fresh,
healthy and direct from wholesale growers,
but educated garden club staff and Master
Gardeners will be available to help you
with choices as well. Following is a list of
some sales and gardening classes open to
the public without charge.
– Sun City Horticulture Club Sale: March
25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Horticulture
Gardens (141 Sun City Blvd.). Featuring
a large variety of perennials, annuals,
shrubs, herbs, vegetables and Iris
varieties for sale.
– Williamson County Master Gardeners
Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale:
April 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Show
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 and answer period at
12:30 p.m.
Barn at San Gabriel Park (425 E.
Morrow Street). Drought tolerant plants
and herbs, speakers, learning centers,
vendors and Williamson County
Poultry Show. The 4-H youth will have
breakfast and lunch items for sale.
– The Sun City Garden Tour: Saturday,
April 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sun-
day, April 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An
exceptional opportunity to learn from
beautiful, water-wise Sun City gardens.
Advance ticket sales will begin March
13 at www.sctexas.org or at the Member
Services Office.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at
512-943-3300
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