Q: My cat has been chewing on my potted bromeliad sitting on the window sill. I pick mine when the bottom of the tomato turns white with a tinge of red, and bring it in the house where it continues ripening. Everyone has trouble with birds pecking their ripe tomatoes. This includes American beautyberry, holly, elms, figs, native persimmons, oaks, pecans, sunflowers, tomatoes, and yaupon holly. Q: Are there particular plants that will attract birds to my yard?Ī: Plants, shrubs and trees that have berries, fruits, seeds or nuts are available for our area. And remember, lantana, petunia, plumbago, all salvias and verbena attract hummingbirds to your garden. Perennials for the Texas summers are Firebush (Hamelia patens), Gold Star Esperanza, hardy hibiscus, lantana, petunia, phlox, plumbago, salvias and verbena. Sun tolerant caladiums and coleus also do well. Annuals that have heat tolerance are marigolds, periwinkle, portulaca or moss rose, purslane, scaevola, and zinnias. Otherwise, respiration continues and the plant wears itself out. Plants need lower nighttime temperatures in order to rest at night and reduce their respiration. What are some good plants that can withstand the Texas heat?Ī: Summer nighttime temperature in Texas is the problem, not daytime heat, according to Doug Welsh, Extension Horticulturist. Q: We have had such a lovely spring with nice rain, but now summer is coming. My suggestion for a small garden is not to plant from seed, but to put in small plants from the nursery.
When Welsh wrote his book, the first frost date for San Antonio was November 28 (so we would have planted August 28). My first freeze last year was December 23 but who knows what this year’s will be. So look at last year’s first frost and count back three months to know when to plant. Your warm season crops will be killed by the first fall frost.
You need to check your seed packets because some plants take two months from seed to the beginning of harvest, and others take three months. Insect pest populations are on the decline, and the weather is more pleasant for you (at least we will hope so this year). Also, rainfall is more frequent in the fall. Why so early? And why should I want a fall garden?Ī: Doug Welsh in his Texas Garden Almanac says that the quality of fall crops is much higher with less chance of bitter taste developing. Q: My friend tells me that she starts her fall tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins in July. Again, I suggest you have an arborist come on site, look, and tell you what to do. But your tree sounds awfully large for you to use this technique. On small trees I have had good luck cutting off dead wood and choosing one of the sprouts as a new leader. Wildflower suggests a sprinkler moved from place to place around the root area. This will be beyond the shade line or dripline of the tree. A mature oak will have roots at least two to three times the circumference of height of the tree. As the tree matures, the roots go farther out. This is effective because the roots are close to the trunk.
A young new tree needs water at least twice a week. Signs of internal decay on large trees or limbs should be inspected by a certified arborist for risk (such as cavity openings, nesting holes, mushrooms, carpenter ants, termites and missing wood).Īs for the water question, thinks that even mature trees need water infrequently. Twigs and branches that are dying might indicate root problems and overall tree decline. These include leaves that are scorched, wilting, unusual colors, prematurely shedding or turning brown without falling.
INDIAN HAWTHORN TEXAS FREEZE PDF
The site has a Tree Care pdf that lists signs of stress. Your local extension office should be able to help you find one. I think you should probably contact an arborist to come out and look at your tree. Should I cut it down, or top it out?Ī: First of all, why didn’t it produce leaves? Oak Wilt, stress from cold, stress from lack of water, herbicide-any of these could be a cause. This year, it’s sprouting from the trunk. As it was mature, I wasn’t watering it, despite the heat. Q: I have a mature live oak that did not produce leaves last summer. The Master Gardener research library is open Wednesdays from 1 to 4, at 210 East Live Oak Street in Seguin. If you have a question to be answered, call the Master Gardeners at 83 or leave a message to be answered. Questions can also be e-mailed to The Master Gardener research library is open Wednesdays from 1 to 4, at 210 East Live Oak Street in Seguin.Ģ023 Ask a Master Gardener Articles Clara Mae Marcotte is a Texas Master Gardener with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
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