Creating a landscape that thrives in shade in Texas may seem a bit challenging at first. Plants thrive when they’re in the right environment. The first step is choosing shade plants suited for the overall climate zone of our area (8b – 9a) – sunlight, moisture and soil conditions are the most important factors. Before […]
Gardening Advice
How to Fertilize Citrus Trees
One very common question among citrus tree growers is “How much and how often should I fertilize my citrus tree.” John Panzarella, citrus tree expert, answered these questions and more at a seminar at the Kingwood Garden Center. A timed release fertilizer is recommended for citrus trees such as Osmocote. There are different options available, […]
Tips for the Water Logged Yard
Our hometown got national headlines this week with the severe rain and flooding we’ve experienced. Words like “catastrophic,” “deluge,” and “epic” were frequently used. The last few days may have caught their attention, but we know that 2015 has been a wet one. This is good news for the aquifers, banishing the last vestiges of […]
Marigolds: More Than Just a Pretty Face
After the spells of cold freezes we have experienced in the Houston area over the past month, the bright blooms of marigolds provide a cheerful promise of spring. However, marigolds are more than just a bright spot of color in spring gardens, they also provide a number of benefits, both in your home and garden. […]
Fire Blight in Texas Trees
In the past several years, Texas trees have taken a heavy hit from fire blight. It is a condition causing leaves to brown and dry up resulting from a bacterial infection. The leaves look like they have been scorched by fire, thus the name “fire blight.” (( Fire Blight of Ornamental Pears. Texas Plant Disease […]
Freeze Protection: Protecting Your Garden From Frost
After several years of warm winters, it appears that we are in for a cold winter. The benefit of the cooler period is that it will allow plants time to hibernate, result in greater vigor in the following spring as well as reducing the pest population. The downside is that the cold weather requires winterization […]