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Tag Archives: travis county master gardener
Fall gardening in a drought? Yes! by Caroline Homer
Texas in Drought Again (Still, Always) It’s mid-November and my garden is as dry as a tumbleweed rolling down 290 West toward Junction. My yard has received less than 3/4 inch of rain in the past two months. Nearly everyone in Austin got a good soaking in the second week of September. But my garden hasn’t seen much more than a brief shower or two since. Meteorologists confirm that Central Texas is in a “flash drought.” This means we’ve moved through at least two drought classification categories in… Read More →
Paperwhite Daffodil Bulbs for the Holidays by Yvonne Schneider
Start Now for Holiday Blooms Last year I planted Paperwhite daffodil bulbs (Narcissus papyraceus) in my mother’s yard in the Houston area, as well as in a container for enjoyment on the patio. Paperwhites are highly fragrant blooms, similar to a gardenia, and rise to approximately 12-18 inches in height, so a great joy to have indoors or out in the garden. Even though Paperwhite bulbs are inexpensive and easy to find, I had nearly forgotten I had stored a few bulbs to see how well they would… Read More →
No Rain Barrel? No Problem! Harvest Rainwater Simply by Liz Caskey
New to Rainwater Harvesting? You don’t need to purchase a premade barrel or install a full capture system to harvest rainwater. A great first step to collect rainwater for your garden is to use pans, buckets, or any empty drink container. I can tell a difference in my plants when I water them with rainwater, since it does not include the chemicals found in tap water. I prefer to use rainwater on my decorative plants and vegetables. My Japanese Maples especially like it, since they seem to be… Read More →
Store Iris Rhizomes for Later by Yvonne Schneider
What to do with all those Iris? It’s bounty time when you divide your iris clumps, but how do you store iris rhizomes and keep them healthy if you can’t relocate them immediately? After dividing my irises, I called on friends and family to donate for their beds, but my garage was still full of rhizomes. I have a few friends who want starters for future planting, so I have put them to rest until they could be relocated. If stored properly, the rhizomes will last a year…. Read More →
Time to Plant Ranunculus by Yvonne Schneider
Fall is the Time to Plant Ranunculus Plant ranunculus tuberous roots now and you won’t have to wait to find plants in late spring. The other advantage of buying tuberous roots from a nursery or online seller is that you can locate the color you want. Even better, ranunculus roots are about 1/5 the price of a full plant. The bloom options are wide and varied, so the biggest problem you’ll have is deciding on just a few! I saw a pink/salmon variety called ‘Elegance Salmon’ which touts… Read More →
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 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 →
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 →