It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
(Part 2 of a 2 part series)
The first part of this series which began last week discussed gardening and landscaping activities for the first half of March. During the next several weeks, with the last average frost date behind us, we can shift to warm season gardening, such as:
• Fertilize turf grass. This will begin to grow as the ground warms up. An organic lawn fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio can be applied to the lawn at the rate of 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Be sure to water-in the lawn fertilizer thoroughly after applying.
• Insect control. With new growth from all our trees, flowers, and shrubs …
come the insects. Aphids will show up on just about everything. A safe, organic spray, like All Seasons Oil, will keep them at bay without harming the environment or poisoning ourselves. Our oak trees will be shedding their leaves and putting on new growth any week. With this change come the oak leaf rollers and forest tent caterpillars. Sprays with organic B.T. should be an effective and safe way to control these damaging insects. Look for products with names like Thuricide and Dipel to do the trick.
• Planting vegetables. The vegetable garden for the latter half of the month will see an explosion of activity. It’s finally time to plant tomatoes, peppers, snap beans, limas, corn, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplant, and squash.
• Flower garden. The winter flower garden should be in full force. Those snapdragons you planted back in October should be starting their second (and best) bloom. Flowering cabbage and kale should be at their peak. New annuals to set out are alyssum, dianthus, lobelia, phlox, geranium, gerbera daisy, petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and nasturtiums.
• Perennial care. Keep an eye out for those returning perennials; don’t mistake them for weeds and pull them up. Better to surround them with fresh compost and a little mulch. This spring will bring a world of new perennials to plant. Many will be natives that will thrive in our climate with minimal care and minimal water. Some to look for are ox-eye daisy, black-foot daisy, skullcap, rudbeckia and gloriosa daisies. There will be tons of salvia and lantana varieties to choose from.
• Have fun! Above all, get outside and enjoy yourself. Nothing can be more rewarding than eating homegrown vegetables and enjoying your own beautiful landscape.
Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
