Page 89 - 604030_SC_SunRaysApr pdf flipbook
P. 89
April tips for a beautiful
Waterwise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Lucky us! Having enjoyed a warm to the community as well as for your Winola is a Williamson County
winter, we are now ready for a enjoyment, so be sure to check community Master Gardener, a member of
beautiful Central Texas spring! guidelines. The guidelines are written both the Sun City Garden Club and a
Take time to re-evaluate your landscape. to protect the community and to help you member of the Sun City Water Wise
Is the design working as planned? Is the avoid any installations which may cause Task Force.
drainage working well, and does your soil you problems down the road.
have adequate moisture-holding capacity? Master Gardeners and other
Do you have screening as needed for places The Sun City Texas Garden Tour will experienced gardeners are available
of privacy, a place for entertaining and feature seven yards and the Horticulture to answer questions a half hour
enough sun/shade? Gardens in bloom on Saturday, April 29 before Sun City Garden Club
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, April meetings each month. The Garden
Whether making changes to existing 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advance tickets Club meets the second Wednesday
landscape or planning something new, are available online at www.sctexas.org or of each month beginning with the
doing your homework in advance can at the Sun City Member Services Office. question and answer period at
add to your pleasure with the experience. Advance tickets are $12 each and will be 12:30 p.m.
Remember: this is your home. What do you available through 4 p.m. on Thursday, April
want? What do you need? What makes you 27. Tickets will be available at the door for to the roots where needed rather than
comfortable and brings you joy? $15 on the day of the event. on the leaves where fungus can develop.
APRIL GARDENING TIPS TURF
A good place to get ideas is to look around
your own neighborhood. The community – Avoid wounds on oak trees whenever – After the last freeze and when soil
has excellent planned landscaping in possible, as the beetle that carries the is moist but not wet, aerate with a
community areas as well as around our fungus is most active in spring. When machine that removes plugs and follow
homes. Take advantage of the Sun City necessary, such as when maintaining with a top dressing of compost. Fertilize
Garden Tour this month (information Firewise-recommended clearance of Bermuda and St. Augustine turf after
follows) when you can observe both front roof line, paint all wounds immediately. the second mowing of grass in late
and backyard landscapes. The tour takes March to early April and Buffalo and
place both Saturday and Sunday to give you – To help container plants with transition Zoysia in late April to early May. If you
more time for a good learning experience. from inside to outside location, first use top dressing, skip this fertilization
You are free to take photos and can even go place them in a shaded, protected area, as it would be too much nitrogen.
back either day of the tour to revisit a yard then later move to open exposure. Cover
to clarify your thoughts. With net proceeds surfaces with mulch, but keep mulch Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
going to worthy local charities, you have away from stems. Service.
nothing to lose and everything to gain!
– You can now divide and transplant Horticulture Questions:
While touring, consider if you might apply summer and fall-blooming perennials, Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
some of these ideas to your yard. Remember but mulch well and watch to keep evenly
always that your yard is an extension of moist until established. Extension Office at
yourself. Do you long for a secret garden, 512-943-3300
a place screened from public view for quiet – Ground covers should be trimmed close
contemplation, or are you seeking an open, to ground in spring to encourage thicker APRIL 2017 SUNRAYS | 87
welcoming area for entertaining? Do you growth. Dig weeds now, while they are
have a place for your plant collection or small, so they will not take up nutrients
other hobby objects? Could you use more needed by your plants.
height, texture or color in your flower
beds? Take this opportunity to study – Gutters should be kept clear to avoid
your own yard and look for new ideas. water damage inside your home, insect
In future months, we will be discussing invasion and to avoid washouts in your
these possibilities. Meanwhile, enjoy your flowerbeds.
observations, plans and adventures!
– Evaluate your sprinkler system for
You want your landscape to be an asset maximum efficiency. Look for places to
change to drip irrigation so you will not
only save water, but the water will go
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
