Gardening Articles from Local Master Gardeners
Gardening Articles
Use the Category Filter to narrow your search for Articles
Gardening with Kids? Let’s weed the Garden!
In a previous article I wrote about the satisfaction and joy of teaching kids how to grow vegetables from root veggies and how much fun we had learning and watching their plants grow. There’s a twist to the story which I didn’t see coming. Our gardening experiment didn’t take up the entire afternoons while they…
Fall Rose Pruning
As September rolls in, it is time to focus on giving your roses a little TLC for a showy fall bloom. Just as you mark your calendar for spring pruning on Valentine’s Day, Labor Day or soon after is the time to prune roses for the cooler months. Pruning not only keeps your roses healthy…
What To Do When Grass Won’t Grow Under Your Trees
As our beautiful trees finally become mature, it can be challenging trying to get something to grow under the shade of their canopy. We’ve probably tried various grasses and shade tolerant plants but they aren’t as tolerant as they use to be. So what do we do now? Groundcover! Groundcover can be the answer to…
Caladiums
Plant of choice for shady spots in your garden… These shade lovers produce exceptional foliage that can be tucked away in the shadier parts of your yard or garden. Though they are not known for tolerating direct sun, many newer varieties can take some exposure a few hours during the day. Those varieties that have…
Waiting for the Oxblood Lilies
If we can survive until October, East Texas will enjoy what I like to call a “second spring.” Meanwhile, as the blazing heat of summer begins to ease, our gardens shift gears. Ruby-throated hummingbirds and monarch butterflies begin their long migrations, while a burst of deep red oxblood lilies signals “the end is in sight.”…
Growing Peppers
“If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?” One peck is the correct answer, which is a quarter of a bushel or approximately 12 pounds and that would be perfect for a family of four to enjoy during the growing season. Peppers are one of my…
Landscaping for Energy Conservation
Our typical Texas summer has arrived, and my house and landscape are both hot. Mrs. G wants more shade. Energy conservation in the landscape is more than just a marital mandate or environmental buzzword. It is a practical, cost-saving approach that every homeowner can put into action. By following Texas A&M AgriLife’s Earth-Kind® principles, gardeners…
Growing African Violets
Mature size:Height: 6-9 inches(15-23 cm)Spread:6-9 inches(15-23 cm)Colors: white, pink, deep purple, maroon, blueSite: Bright, indirect light for 12-16 hours/dayNorth or east facing window or fluorescent or LED lightsSoil: soilless mixWhen to plant: anytime indoors African violets originated in East Africa and are colorful and attractive houseplants that come in a variety of colors. Known to…
Stand Up for Strawberries with Tower Gardening
Tower gardening? No, it’s not like Jack’s Beanstalk, but tower gardening can come with many advantages. Tower gardens are: You’ll find many other advantages to having a tower garden of your own. There are a variety of towers available to purchase. I purchased two: one with 30 pockets (each with a 10-inch depth) and one…
It’s a Christmas Cactus! Or is it?
I’ve had a Christmas Cactus in my house nearly all my life. My mother had a huge one, as did her mother before her. Now, I haven’t had the same Christmas Cactus this whole time. I admit to killing a few over the years either by kindness (too much water) or by sheer neglect. I’ve…
Let’s Talk Succulents
Let’s start as beginners in the Succulent World. We all start somewhere, right? Succulents are a great way to get started in the plant kingdom. Easy and very rewarding to grow, not to mention just plain fun! Basics, Succulents are defined as plants that have thickened, fleshy and engorged leaves, usually to retain water in…
East Texas Tomatoes!
One of my favorite summer memories growing up in the Midwest, was eating delicious vine-ripened tomatoes! Absolutely delightful! I assumed everyone could easily enjoy this treat every summer. Then my husband and I moved to Oregon…ah! We would jokingly say summer never truly arrived until July. I would start my tomatoes from seed in February,…