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November tips for a beautiful
Water-wise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
Your turf has the same needs: nutrients, Winola is a Williamson County
The weather has cooled a bit, we’ve drainage and moisture-holding capacity. Master Gardener, a member of
rushed to do our fall planting and This is why you need to spread one-half to the Sun City Garden Club and a
now we look ahead to winter. This an inch of organic mix, called top dressing, member of the Sun City Water Wise
is the perfect time to review the basics, on your turf at least once a year, in early Task Force.
make some improvements and plan for fall or spring. The optimum time is after
more enjoyment of the landscape! Do you aerating. The only time you should not Master Gardeners and other
want little maintenance as well as reduced spread top dressing is in hot weather, as experienced gardeners are available
water bills? The solution is to prepare the the high nitrogen could burn your turf. to answer questions a half hour
soil and choose native/adapted plants! before Sun City Garden Club
NOVEMBER GARDENING TIPS meetings each month. The Garden
First, the soil. If you have not had a soil Club meets the second Wednesday
test, that is a good place to start. It will – Williamson County’s average date of of each month beginning with the
give specifics of what is there and what is first frost is November 15. Purchase question and answer period at
needed. An inexpensive soil test could save frost cloth now and have it ready. 12:30 p.m.
you time and money. Find information for
soil test instructions and a submittal form – Mulch your flowerbeds two to three TURF:
at soiltesting.tamu.edu. inches to help ground retain heat
during the night, but keep away from – Top dress lawn with compost.
Soil can vary differently by regions plant stems. Tree trunks are to be – Turn off your sprinkler system now.
and even in other areas of your own kept free of mulch on the root flares.
community. The best way to create good In native tree wells, keep mulch at a Only water your lawn every four to
soil structure is to add organic matter minimum. When adding rock, do not let five weeks if inadequate rainfall, but
such as homemade compost, well-rotted landscapers lay filter fabric and rocks continue monthly irrigation check.
manure or leaf mold. Organic matter helps all the way up to tree trunks. Most of – The landscape maintained home
drainage, adds nutrients and increases the the filter fabrics do not have enough program is set up to serve 708
moisture-holding capacity of the soil. Add penetration for health of tree roots. landscapes in our community
about one-third organics (compost) to soil and is designed to address their
in new beds, and add to existing beds as PLANTING: most important landscape needs.
needed. Rake back the mulch, add more Suggestions in these water-wise
compost and stir it in without disturbing – Now is the best time to move woody gardening articles are addressed
roots of plants. It is best to replenish ornamentals. Be sure to mulch well, to avid gardeners willing to spend
compost between plantings at least once keeping mulch away from stems. extra time and money to apply soil
a year. If you add organic mulch to beds, amendments or other items to meet
it will break down and add nutrients. Soil – When you move plants inside for their specific needs.
prepared in this way will enable plants winter, they may need some water
to grow healthy roots, which means less spritzing while adjusting. Keep
work for you, the gardener! checking houseplants for spider mites,
scale and mealy bugs.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at
512-943-3300
40 | SUNRAYS NOVEMBER 2016 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
