January 25 , 2018
Tricks, Troubles, Temptations, To Do
Since it ’s tree pruning prison term , here ’s an idea for all those branches!On Tuesday , the CTG crew lead to Custer ’s Meadow in Pease Park forStickwork creative person Patrick Dougherty’sstory about his classifiable designs woven from invasive works removals . To lionize thePeace Park Conservancy’s10th anniversary to repair this historic and very beloved park , they commission Patrick to create an interactive artwork with invasives cut down by volunteer and cleverly weave together . Already it ’s attracted lots of care ! unfold Clarence Shepard Day Jr. coming soon and our video later this year . I’ve get a few “ stick sculptures ” in my garden right now . Once I ’ve clean up dormant perennials , family - minded fowl will busily craft their own intricate sculptures to replace last twelvemonth ’s wind - bedraggle homes . Until native zexmenia ( Wedelia acapulcensisvar.hispida ) spiritual rebirth after its annual haircut , aboriginal dayflower ( Tradescantia gigantea ) take the green gloriole . My vast collection , starting from a few stray we collect , has diminished in recent years . Although they naturalise via roots , I ’ll roll up seeds this year to ensure future February – April bloom for bee and butterflies . Find out more about this spiderwort asDaphne ’s Plant of the Week .
Cobweb spiderwort ( Tradescantia sillamontana ) favors our summertime gardens with low - develop , clumping blurred foliage and spurts of pollinator - loving flowers . They turn to mush in wintertime , but typically return in my garden . After days of 20 ° temporary worker , this is a “ wait and see . ”No rationality to wait around about those French pancake myrtles , though ! Now ’s the secure sentence to clip off little twigs and wayward , crowded branch for pretty form and lot of give flowers . Trisha demonstrates how to do it and avoid the vile tree syndrome . Like many trees and shrub , including live oak trees , crape myrtle “ thicket ” or sucker . Trisha exhibit how to clip them down .
My yaupon holly and rusty blackhaw genus Viburnum are famous for this , too . I know some the great unwashed dig up viburnum suckers to replant elsewhere : mine defy me!Sherry Mason’sgot the same thing going on with her Southern magnolia ; gobs of suckers crowding the bottom of the tree . Daphne ’s arrive your answer about tree that thicket . Note : do NOT thin out oak tree wilt susceptible tree suckers from February – June if oak wilt ’s in your area . AND : do NOT apply herbicide , since suckers are colligate to the parent Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Now ’s also a good timeto get your soil tested for its nutrient numbers . Our soil also naturally contains many elements that help plants grow . Other elements , like lead , arsenic , and Cd can be harmful in sure comestible plants . It does n’t regard all of them and does n’t touch on flowers for pollinator .
My garden , for instance , was most likely once a farm where arsenic could have been used to repel insects . flake off lead paint is n’t just an issue indoors ; it continue in the soil .
This week , Christine Whitney , City of Austin Brownfields Program Manager , joins Tom to explicate why soils can be contaminatedand what to do about it . One affair is to remove the dirt for eatable gardens or grow in raised layer . happen out ’s Brownfield ’s programs . City of Austin utility customers can get a free stain test for nutrients and weighed down metallic element at theEast Austin Garden Fair on April 14 & 15.Outside of Austin , tally outTPS Labfor every soil trial under the sun ( or earth ) , admit heavy metals , compost , constitutional examination and more .
To get a solid grip on what ’s going on with plants — include nutrients and heavy metals — go over outHow Plants Workby Linda Chalker - Scott , Associate Professor and Extension Horticulturist at Washington State University .
On circuit in a standard backyard , Don Iden and Jana Beckham school over 100 metal money of intellectual nourishment , flowers , herb , and succulent , many raise from cum or divisions . When he bought his house , Don decided , “ Some people garner impression or coins , and I went for plants and so did Jana because you could grow them and glean the benefits as far as the food , or the opinion . ”
Since planting season intersect in Central Texas , they instal future crops while have the last harvests from the current bunch , turn out position every few twelvemonth . Don also grows tangerines , oranges , lemon , limes and even a pomelo . He raise a variety of miniature fruit trees from seed , growing them in pail that are easy to move to warm quarters in winter .
Jana build the key island ’s build for a color wheel of works for pollinator . Their vigorous tomato plant craw , including heirloom , begins in wintertime by starting last year ’s gather up seeds indoors , usually in January . Since window light is n’t enough , they install a grow light . A heat mat underneath the seed flat tire speeds germination . Last year , they added ‘ Patio ’ Lycopersicon esculentum . “It ’s a smaller bushy form and ideal for pots . We like to maximize the space that we have , ” Jana say .
To anchor larger tomatoes , Jana drill holes in the ground for bamboo stakes to stabilise typical tomato plant coop . She also drilled holes into the sides of recycled buckets and fill up them with homemade compost . Watering straight into the buckets nourishes with each drench . She stretch bird netting over the bamboo , wind together the seams with sportfishing string . Slices of pool noodles prevent buck . So far , her technique has dissuade birds and even squirrels . Lots more tips from Don and Jana , so watch now !
And thanks for stopping by ! See you next week , Linda
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