Tag Archives: Central Texas Horticulture

February – the Rose Pruning Month by Carolyn Williams

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Here in Central Texas, February is the month of on-and-off nasty weather, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day. All of these remind me it’s time to check on my roses. Choosing a mild day in Mid-February and arming myself with the necessary clothing (long sleeve shirt, hat, glasses, heavy gloves and no open toed shoes) I’m off to start the rose pruning process. Check your Tools First Before I start my rose pruning, I like to sharpen and then sterilize my clippers and pruners. Because you use your clippers/pruners… Read More →

Plant Freeze Protection from Arctic Blast

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Plant Freeze Protection in Abnormally Cold Weather Like most gardeners, I pay particular attention to the weather, combining observation and information to make a plan for garden maintenance. Usually, that decision-making process involves adjusting to excessive heat and drought. I’m downright vigilant about the heat. But the cold? Making plans for plant freeze protection? Well, I don’t really think too much about it. Like many Central Texans, I’ve grown a bit complacent about cold weather, not having seen much of it in the last decade. But when the… Read More →

The History of Roses by Carolyn Williams

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Roses Cultivated for Over 5,000 Years The history of the rose goes back around 5,000 years ago to China. There is fossilized evidence of the rose plant eons earlier. The Romans grew them, the English fought a war symbolizing them, (white rose of York and red rose of Lancaster.) The French Empress Josephine Bonaparte became an early collector and breeder of them at her estate, Château de Malmaison, outside of Paris. Cultivated roses were introduced into Europe from China in the late 18th century. Roses in North America… Read More →

In the February Vegetable Garden by Patty Leander

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Last Chance to Plant Cool Season Vegetables Your February garden checklist should include your last opportunity to plant cool season vegetables. They need to have a chance to mature before the arrival of hot weather. It’s also a time for hard decisions. If we fill our garden beds with broccoli, lettuce and carrots this month, where will we put tomatoes, green beans and squash next month? With the exception of quick-growing radishes and mesclun greens, the vegetables we plant in February will take 2-3 months to reach harvest… Read More →

Compost Treasure Hunt Time! by Yvonne Schneider

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Winter is Compost Prep Time You might consider winter a gloomy season with the trees shedding their leaves and perennials wilting with the cooler temperatures. But for gardeners, it’s compost treasure hunt time! This is the optimum time to begin gathering the ‘brown’ material needed for composting throughout the next year. My relatives (and husband) think I’m crazy about this time of year, as I scoop up as many leaves as possible, ask family to bag up their excess leaves, and volunteer to clear-off and bag-up my Mom’s… Read More →

The 2021 Drought to Deluge Austin Gardening Programs

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Learn from Gardening Experts If you’re gardening in Austin, sometimes it feels like everything is conspiring against you. The weather, the soil, the topography, and the number of pests and diseases can overwhelm even the most experienced gardener. Help is on the way! Travis County Texas A&M AgriLife will be hosting several programs in 2021 to help Austin area gardeners be more successful. Topics range from Planning and Design to Vegetable Gardening. The program features experts from Texas A&M University, AgriLife Extension, Travis County Master Gardeners,  and the… Read More →