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Author Archives: sheryl.williams
Divide Agapanthus Now for Spring Blooms by Yvonne Schneider
Divide Agapanthus Now It can take four years or more for Agapanthus bulbs (Agapanthus africanus), to multiply or naturalize. Eventually you’ll want to tackle large bunches and divide Agapanthus to ensure your lilies continue to produce those lovely blue or white bloom clusters. In the Austin area, these lilies bloom in mid-to-late spring, typically around Mother’s Day. As these are also great container bulbs, you can pot extras to gift to family and friends, or to enjoy on your patio. Easy Dividing Technique Grab your gloves, a spade,… Read More →
Giant Sea Squill – a Fall Bulb to Try by Yvonne Schneider
Late Summer Surprise Last fall, I had seen bulbs called Giant Sea Squill (Urginea Maritima a syn. for Drimia maritima) that were perfect for the desert/arid air areas that bloom in the fall and go dormant in the summer. The online description said they would grow in sand and prefer to grow in a dry area. The site also claims that all I have to do to is dig a hole, water it in, and walk away. Could that work in Travis County? Looking for more late fall/winter… Read More →
Oxblood Lilies Require Patience by Yvonne Schneider
Oxblood Lilies: Plant and Forget I admit it, I am not patient. I couldn’t wait for the temperatures to dip so I could begin the fall gardening rituals. And then I saw a White (Fragrant) Mistflower just delivered to a local nursery and had to have it. I had the perfect spot – where I had planted three pink Oxblood lily (Rhodophiala bifida) bulbs in the spring, and nothing was materializing. As lilies go, Oxblood bulbs are the ‘plant it and forget it’ type. And I truly had… Read More →
In the Fall Vegetable Garden by Patty Leander
October is for Establishing the Fall Vegetable Garden By October the fall vegetable garden should be rocking and rolling! The arrival of fall in Central Texas brings cooler temperatures and the potential for more dependable precipitation, both of which revive the pleasure of vegetable gardening. This is the best month to get cool season vegetables in the ground and growing vigorously before cold weather sets in. Remember that vegetables need sunlight to thrive. Lettuce, arugula and other leafy greens may produce adequately in less than full sun conditions… Read More →
Iris Dividing Time by Yvonne Schneider
Iris Dividing is Easy Now that temperatures are out of the 100+ category, it’s time to get out there and begin dividing iris. Irises have no issues with being divided, making them the perfect plant to spread around your yard or share with neighbors. Here is how to divide overcrowded clumps. You’ll need a pair of gloves, a digging fork, a spade, hand pruners, and a bucket to store your extra rhizomes. How to Identify Overcrowding You can tell that your irises are crowded when the larger rhizomes… Read More →
In the Vegetable Garden by Patty Leander
Time for the Fall Vegetable Garden! Another triple degree summer is thankfully coming to an end which means it’s time to get the fall vegetable garden underway. There may still be a few scorchers ahead but at some point this month we’ll see a slight shift in the weather as nighttime temperatures g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y start to cool off making it more feasible to plant seeds and transplants, especially if you provide some type of shade cover for new plantings. The average first frost in Central Texas can be expected… Read More →
Don’t Plant Unidentified Seeds – Mystery Seeds Arriving Through the Mail
Over the last several days, residents have been receiving packages of unidentified seeds that they did not order. They arrive from China labeled as jewelry or other items. The USDA is investigating and is asking everyone for help tracking packages. It’s also important that you don’t plant unidentified seeds, no matter what the source. Do This if You Get This Package If you receive one of these packages, or knows of someone who does, please do the following: Do not open or plant the contents. Keep contents contained… Read More →
Travis County AgriLife Extension Goes Virtual – All Staff Teleworking
The office is closed, but we’re still here! In order to protect the health and safety of our employees and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhart issued an order directing Travis County Executives, Elected Officials, and Appointed Officials to implement temporary teleworking arrangements for employees whose job duties are conducive to working from home. That includes all Extension staff and volunteers for both Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M University Extension Programs. In addition to this, all face to face AgriLife educational programs… Read More →
It’s Time to Garden in Austin!
Spring has Sprung in Travis County St. Valentine’s Day is the first day of spring for many gardeners in Travis County. February 14th is usually the start of milder weather and with any luck, the hard freezes are over. Now is the time to garden: prune your roses, start your spring vegetable garden, restart your compost, and get a jump on weeds these few weeks before warmer air arrives in April. Get Expert Advice from Master Gardeners at These Events Travis County Master Gardeners are out and about… Read More →
Leaf Landscape Supply Rescues Pfluger Bridge Demonstration Garden
Pfluger Bridge Plants Replaced – Thank you Leaf Landscape Supply! Last month someone stole several plants from our adopted bed on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. Sadly, these sort of things happen in public gardening spaces. When Cathy, the Manager of Leaf Landscape Supply North, heard the story, she arranged for Leaf to donate several plants as replacements. The new plants went into the planting bed over President’s Day weekend. Texas Superstar® Plants and “Bling” Leaf’s donation includes several Texas Superstar® plants and a few flats of annuals to… Read More →