|
SEPTEMBER
GARDEN GUIDE
1. Purchase and plant species
tulips. Although they are not as showy or tall as hybrids, species tulips will establish and bloom in North Texas more than once.
2. Spread seed of cool-season
grasses (rye and fescue) to fill in areas where grass has died. Thick grass won't allow weeds a foothold on bare soil during the spring. If you have spring weed problems, now is the time to sow these grasses over
the complete lawn area. To prepare the lawn, cut grass short. This is the only time that organic gardeners have a need to scalp the lawn. Spread seeds and keep moist during dry periods. The cool-season
grasses will be strong in the spring, thus not allowing weed seeds a place to germinate.
3. Collect annual and perennial seeds
at mid-morning after dew has dried. Label and store in envelopes or paper bags to avoid mold.
4. Rake and compost fallen
leaves. Too many? Find a gardener who will put the leaves to good use instead of adding materials to the landfill.
5. Plant elbon rye in vegetable bedding area where root nematode damage has been on plants.
6. Reapply two to four inches of
mulch over all bed areas. It will conserve water and regulate soil temperature.
7. To make spring planting
easier, mark flowerbed areas with wooden markers or stones where they need replenishing.
8. Plant Johnny-jump-ups,
calendula, salad burnet, chervil and parsley for salad greens. Plant pansies, kale, and other cool-season flowers. Toss out seeds of Iceland, California or French poppies for next year's blooms. Sprinkle annual
seeds such as sweet pea, love-in-the-mist, larkspur, phlox and Shirley poppy seeds.
9. Harvest garlic bulbs when foliage
begins to turn yellow. Save largest bulbs for replanting or purchase new varieties from Gourmet Garlic Gardens, Route 1, Box 44, Bangs, Texas 76823, (915-348-3049) or visit their website at
www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com
10. Apply fall application of corn
gluten meal to deter seed germination of weeds. Although dustier, organic gardeners report better results from the dust-like corn gluten rather than the granular product. Apply 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet two
weeks before fertilizing. Do not spread in areas where you've spread any seed.
11. Weekly foliar feed with liquid
fertilizer (Medina, Agrispon or Bioform) during cool morning or evening hours. Product labels provide mixing portions.
12. Plan and prepare new flower and
vegetable beds. Dig grass and weeds to a depth of two inches. Whatever you dig up should go to the compost pile to decompose over the winter. Place a thick layer of newspapers and apply compost as well as any
amendments you desire. Some soil amendments include greensand, lava sand, soft rock (colloidal) phosphate, molasses, sugar and earthworm castings. Purchase and spread a few bags of some or all of these materials and
you'll notice the difference when you dig the area in the spring.
13. Time for third fertilization of
lawn. For lawn, apply granular fertilization (Bioform Dry, Sustane, or Texas Tee) at a rate 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Take advantage of Mother Nature and fertilize just before or after a rain storm.
14. Take hardwood cuttings of favorite
plants that won't survive the cold temperatures outside. Propagate by placing a cutting into potting mix 1 or 2 inches. Keep moist. In early spring there will be enough root growth to transplant it to a larger pot
until temperatures are consistently warm in the garden.
15. Time for third granular
fertilization of the year to fruit and nut trees. Spread at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet and organic fertilizer, such as Garden-Ville, GreenSense, Bradfield, or Sustane. For additional nutrients, apply soft rock
phosphate or Sul-Po-Mag at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
16. Prepare houseplants to return
indoors. Run out critters by adding 1 tablespoon of seaweed and 2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water and drench the soil. A handful of dry molasses across the top of the container will run out the fire ants
in a few days. Hand wipe foliage to clean off spider webs.
17. Divide and trim foliage of iris,
daylilies, cannas, and peonies. Before transplanting, soak divisions for a few hours or overnight in a mild solution of seaweed. Fill the hole with water and allow it to drain. Place a handful of earthworm castings
and soft rock (colloidal) phosphate or Rabbit Hill Farms Bulb Food in the bottom of each hole before replanting.
18. Bring your poinsettia indoors to a
sunny area when temperatures drop below 60. In October begin placing it in complete darkness for 14 hours a day. For the remainder of the day, place in a sunny window. Continue this treatment until December. Then
bring it into full, indirect sun in December. By Christmas, it should produce its reddish bracts.
19. Order bulbs to plant in November:
tulips, narcissus, daffodils, snowflake, scilla peruviana, candy lilies, bearded iris, Louisiana iris, crocosmia, oriental lilies, madonna lily, crinums, Chinese ground orchid, oxalis, and rain lilies.
20. For winter color, visit your
nursery and purchase berry-laden trees and shrubs. The birds will appreciate the food supply and you'll enjoy the color.
21. If you have an area that has been
contaminated by synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or a location of the garden where nothing grows, treat with 3 pounds of activated carbon per 100 square feet. NORIT comes in forty-pound bags and can be purchased
locally. If you can't find it, call 1-800-641-9245. The charcoal binds with the contamination product (paint, etc.) and microorganisms in the soil will dispose of the chemical.
22. Fall is a great time to start a
compost pile. Fallen leaves, vegetable scraps and other non-greasy materials can be piled into a corner of the garden. Keep moist. Turn the pile once a month or leave to decompose naturally. When spring arrives,
you'll save money by having your own source of compost for the yard and garden.
23. Cooler temperatures encourage spider mite
infestations on stressed plants. Spider mites cause a light, freckled look on a leaf and create webs between leaves or twigs. To determine if an infestation is spider mites, hold a piece of paper below an effected
leaf and lightly tap the leaf. Look for tiny red insects on the paper. For a light infestation, spray a heavy shot of water throughout the entire plant. If a shot of water doesn't relieve the problem within a
couple of days, purchase predatory mites from an insectary or make and apply a spray mixture of ultrafine oil and dish soap or Neo-Life soap. One precaution - do not use these sprays on hibiscus. To make
your own oil, mix 1 tablespoon of canola oil and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Neo-Life to a gallon of water. Shake constantly before and during use. Lightly mist plants with water before spraying the mixture. Spray
the mixture every three days for nine days.
24. Spread rabbit manure around base of
strawberry plants. If the birds are getting to ripened berries before you, cover with row cover and remove the cover temporarily to harvest.
25. Harvest and store onions and
shallots in hosiery. Hosiery will allow air circulation. Store in dark, cool temperatures.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
AUGUST GARDEN GUIDE
1. Hang swags of tansy or Mexican oregano near doorways as pest deterrents.
2. Water lawn and plants at least
one inch per week if Mother Nature does not provided moisture. If you have planned for the heat with native plants, many will not need to be watered unless there is an extreme drought or if it is the plant's first
year in the ground. Learn and adhere to water restrictions imposed by your city.
3. For clean eaves on house and
shed, spray Cobweb Eliminator and vacuum or sweep. The product will not kill spiders but will make it difficult to reattach a web in the area. Spiders are beneficial to the garden so you should not kill them, just
encourage them to move away from the house or shed. Reapply in two months to maintain a clean area.
4. Collect seeds from annuals and perennials for next year's plantings.
5. Apply a handful of greensand around base of plants that are iron-deficient (yellowing).
6. Avoid the heat and come
inside. Use organic principles inside the house for cleaning. Window cleaner: Add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dishwasher detergent and 1/2 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. If you have a waxy build-up from using
chemical solutions, add a tablespoon of citrus oil in the first washing mixture. Use baking soda for scouring powder. Don't want to mix, then try one of the non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners, such as Simple Green or
one of the many citrus-based cleaners.
7. Drench fire ant mounds with 2
tablespoons of pyrethrum and 2 tablespoons of diatomaceous earth (DE) mixed well in a gallon of water. Another solution is spreading dry molasses in the mound area or container.
8. Watch for fall plant sales to
fill in blank spots in the garden. During the fall, plants will establish a large amount of root growth before next year's summer heat. Don't forget, seeds are on sale too!
9. Apply a light dusting of DE,
if necessary, to lawn areas for fleas, ticks, chiggers and mites. Begin on the outside perimeter of the garden and work toward the center. Use only 1 to 2 cups of DE per 1,000 square feet. Wear a mask and goggles
and apply on a non-windy day. Release beneficial nematodes is also helpful with these pests. Your local organic retailer will provide more details on these beneficials.
10. Companion plant a second season of
cool-season veggies: potatoes with nasturtiums or parsnips; lettuces with garlic, onions or strawberries; carrots with brussel sprouts, chives, onions or rosemary; cauliflower with oregano, rosemary or spinach; and,
broccoli with bush beans or carrots.
11. Don't have time to plant cool season
crops in your vegetable beds? Toss out seeds of vetch. The cover crop will provide nutrients to the soil and deter weeds. In the spring, turn over the first few inches of soil. Turning it into the soil
while the plant is still green adds nutrients. Tilling them into the soil after it has dried will improve the soil structure.
12. Before the growing season subsides,
fill in sparse lawn areas with buffalo, Bermuda, St. Augustine or zoysia grasses.
13. Mix and spray 1 tablespoon of
baking soda in a gallon of water for blackspot on roses. Spray in the cool evening hours when the wind is not blowing.
14. Foliar feed all foliage with fish
emulsion and/or seaweed products. Being diligent once a week will prepare plants for winter temperatures.
15. Stop deadheading antique roses if
you want rose hips during fall and winter for a Vitamin C source in hot tea.
16. Finish planting cool-season vegetables, including beets, radishes, peas, and cabbage.
17. Time for this growing season's
final spray application to fruit and nut trees. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses, 1 to 2 tablespoons of seaweed, and 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. Optional
ingredients: fish emulsion, garlic tea, baking soda, liquid biostimulants such as Agrispon or Medina, and citrus oil or d-limonene.
18. If you don't have the room inside
for an entire plant, take cuttings of your favorite scented and zonal geraniums before frost. Cut a four-inch piece of stem and remove all but three leaves. Plant in sterile potting soil and keep moist. By next
spring you'll have a healthy plant to place in the garden.
19. Cut lavender or bay leaves
for moth repellant. Place in small cloth sacks. Hang in cabinets, closets and place in sweater drawers. Do not use mothballs because they are highly toxic.
20. For second flush of bloom, cut off seeds from crape myrtle trees and shrubs.
21. To make a non-toxic furniture
polish, fill a spray bottle with 1/3 lemon juice and 2/3 vegetable oil. For dusting, mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of olive oil in a pint of water. Shake mixtures thoroughly before each use.
22. Plant saffron bulbs this month.
23. Continue to deadhead perennials to achieve another flush of blooms before winter.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
JULY GARDEN GUIDE
1. No fruit on tomatoes? Side
dress 1/2 cup to 1 cup of greensand (approximate analysis of 0-1-5) at base of plant. Feed plant with Bioform every 6 weeks.
2. If you have synthetic
fertilizers or pesticides, left over paints, or other toxic or hazardous products, there are drop-off sites for these materials. In Tarrant County, call 817-871-5276 for more information.
In Dallas, call 214-553-1765 .
3. If your lawn or plants need
iron, apply Ruffin or greensand or Sul-Po-Mag at a rate of 20 to 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet. One handful distributed lightly around the base of a specific plant will help with chlorosis. Plants that are in need
of iron, show signs of chlorosis on the foliage at the base of the plant. In the lawn, yellowing and dullness may occur. Earthworm castings may also be applied by spreader to green up a lawn.
4. Pinch tips of mums one last time. When buds appear, give the mums a bit more fertilizer.
5. Replace bay leaves on pantry
shelves to deter insects in and around dry products, such as cereal and rice.
6. Cut off spent blooms on roses, annuals, perennials and day lilies to encourage fall blooms.
7. Harvest and dry herbs such as
thyme, rosemary and lavender for potpourri and for cooking. Dried thyme stored in plastic bags now will provide tea material this winter during cold seasons. Thyme kills germs.
8. Give extra attention to
azaleas: Aerate and granular feed with organic fertilizer such as Rabbit Hill Farms Azalea Food or Bunny Trails or Ruffin and sulfur.
9. Water lawn deeply during early
morning hours if it hasn't rained in more than 7 to 10 days. Water no more than one inch per week and be aware of any water restrictions in your neighborhood.
10. Watch lawn for chinch bug damage.
Damage will appear as yellowing on stems and leaves of grass. Adult chinch bugs are one-fifth inch long, black insects with white wings. Young chinch bugs are red with a white band across the back. They are the size
of a pinhead. To test a sick turf area for an infestation, cut out both ends of a 1 pound coffee can and press it firmly in the turf. Fill the can with water. If more than 20 chinch bugs float to the surface, it is
an infestation. If you are uncertain that the floating bugs are chinch bugs, crush one. They have an offensive odor when crushed. Diatomaceous earth (DE) or pyrethrin or a combination of both will kill chinch bugs.
Apply while wearing a mask on a non-windy day so the products reach only the intended area. Lightly dust the products in the infested area. If the entire yard is infested, then apply lightly beginning from the outer
perimeter of the yard and walking toward the center of the yard. Apply the dusty products on a wind-free day to avoid killing beneficial insects. Use a total of 1 1/2 to 2 cups per 1,000 square feet of the products
in equal proportions.
11. If you are nursing your Christmas
poinsettia, outdoor summer light will stimulate growth. Place it in a protected area such as a patio or porch away from damaging winds. Fertilize every week during the summer with a high-phosphorous fertilizer such
as a bat guano product.
12. Scatter marigold, zinnia, cosmos
and tithonia seeds outside for fall color. Soak seed overnight in liquid seaweed mixture before scattering. This will speed the germination time. Lightly cover with soil and keep moist until seeds have
germinated.
13. Harvest comfrey to make an ointment
for scrapes, insect bites and stings. Lightly rinse and chop the leaves and roots of the plant. In a large glass container, heat canola oil. Pour over comfrey material. Simmer on low until the leaves are crisp. Cool
and strain out solids. For every four ounces of oil, add 1/4 teaspoon each of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Add a tablespoon of any essential oil for scent. Store in glass container. Refrigeration will prolong use.
14. Oil on the garage or driveway
floor? Soak it up with kitty liter or perlite. Sweep up and trash. Then sprinkle on baking soda, scrub with water and rinse.
15. Plant a second round of tomatoes,
melons, beans, corn, cucumbers, squash and peppers for fall garden. Companion plant with herbs to deter pests.
16. Fertilize caladiums and continue to
water them routinely, especially if natural rainfall is sparse. This will ensure they will remain lush and active until fall.
17. Sow seeds inside now of
snapdragons, pansies, calendulas, dianthus and other cool season flowers for outside fall planting.
18. Order spring-flowering bulbs now so
they'll arrive in October or November for planting or browse local nurseries for bulb arrivals. Although more expensive, buying individual bulbs instead of packaged bulbs allows the shopper to select the largest
bulb without mildew or rot.
19. Continue release of beneficial insects to establish a population in your garden.
20. Inspect lawn for damage of the larvae or grub of the June beetle (Phyllophaga species).
The winged, one-inch adults are brown, black or green. They emerge by July and feed on the foliage of hardwood trees and deciduous shrubs. The adults can be handpicked when their wings are still wet with dew. Put
them in a jar of water with 2 tablespoons of detergent to kill them. The young white grubs are one-half inch to one and one half inches long, with a dark head. They usually curl into a "C" shape when dug
up. Grub worm damage appears as patches of brown grass. The grass easily peels back when pulled. To test for an infestation of grubs, peel or dig one square foot of lawn with a spade. If there are more than ten
grubs in the square, treat with beneficial nematodes.
21. It may seem warm, but it's time to
prepare for the fall vegetable season. Alternate plant choices in planting beds and prepare areas for cool-season vegetables by adding compost to soil and allow it to settle over several months.
22. Pharaoh ants marching on your kitchen
cabinets? Mix boric acid, a minimum amount of water and 1 teaspoon of grape jelly. Place on wax paper out of the reach of children and pets. Ants will disappear in 1 to 2 days.
23. Having grasshopper problems? Mulch bare soil
where female grasshoppers lay eggs. If young grasshoppers are visible, spray with garlic/pepper tea or dust effected plants lightly with flour or diatomaceous earth (DE) with pyretheum.
24. Spread composted manure around the base of crinum lily to strengthen buds.
25. Order and spread wildflower seed
through the beginning of November. Wildseed Farms (1-800-848-0078) has several specific seed mix for North Texas conditions. To establish, mow Bermuda lawn short and throw out seeds. If you have St. Augustine,
remove the sod first. Toss out seed. Keep moist for several weeks and again during March and April for good germination. The wildflowers will need six or more hours of sun. Be patient and allow wildflowers to
produce and disperse seed naturally over several seasons. The area will improve with age.
26. If you need to fill in some gaps in your flower
beds, try these perennial blooms: gaura, lantana, verbena, salvia, blackfoot daisy, four nerve daisy. If you like the tropical look, try bougainvillea, hibiscus, pentas or mandevillas. Although
these tropical plants will not survive our winter temperatures outside, they provide bold color in the garden.
27. After harvesting, remove fruiting
canes of blackberries. Prune new canes to 3 feet in height to encourage side branching.
28. It's that time of year where most containers
will need daily watering, sometimes twice a day. Be diligent and you will be rewarded for constant blooms.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
JUNE GARDEN GUIDE
1. Analyze the vegetable garden,
and plant annuals that will fill in bare spots created by harvesting. Even if the garden is full now, plan ahead for fall harvests by spreading annual seeds now to fill in later.
2. Between June 1 and 15, apply
the year's third application of spray to fruit and nut trees. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of seaweed plus 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water.
Optional ingredients: fish emulsion, garlic tea, baking soda, liquid biostimulants such as Agrispon or Medina, and citrus oil or D- limonene. In addition, feed with a granular organic fertilizer at 20 pounds per
1,000 square feet, such as Nature's Guide, Garden-Ville, GreenSense, Bradfield, Sustane, and apply greensand at 40 to 80 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
3. If you are having problems
with mosquitoes in the garden, there are steps you can take that will help. Eliminate stagnant water. In ponds, use Bacillus thuringiensis 'Israelensis' called Mosquito Dunks or put mosquito-eating fish, such as
gambusia, in your ponds. Use diluted solution of essential lavender oil or eucalyptus oil on your skin to deter mosquitoes with scent.
4. Treat blight on tomatoes with
4 teaspoons of baking soda plus a teaspoon of veggie oil per gallon of water. Spray on plants routinely for 2 weeks.
5. Reapply mulch in areas where it has thinned. Don't forget containers!
6. Consult almanac for premium
dates to plant by the moon. Go to www.almanac.com/garden/plantingtable00.html
7. Fertilize container plants
every two weeks with one of the following: bat guano, earthworm castings, Garden-Ville Soil Food, GreenSense, Maestro Gro, Bioform Dry, Sustane, or Bradfield. Lightly rake into potting soil.
8. Cut off chive flowers before
they go to seed. The blooms can be used for cooking or in flower arrangements.
9. Prune blackberries to remove canes after harvest. Pruning new canes will encourage branching.
10. Trim or prune flowering shrubs that have finished blooming, such as wisteria.
11. Second fertilization of roses.
Spread one cup of one or more of the following: compost, lava sand, soft rock phosphate (colloidal), earthworm castings or a premixed
granular organic rose food. Throughout the year, dig a shallow hole and throw in banana peels to add phosphorus, no more than three to a bush in a year.
12. Apply second dose of lawn food with
granular fertilizer such as Nature's Guide, Bioform Dry, Sustane, or Texas Tee at a rate 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet (apply three times a year). Take advantage of Mother Nature and fertilize just before or after
a rainstorm. Apply liquid fertilizer (Medina, Agrispon or Bioform) five times a year during the growing season during cool a.m. or p.m. hours. Mix with 1 gallon of water to cover 1,000 square feet.
13. Pinch stem tips of mums for fullness. Pinch back annuals so they remain compact and full.
14. Deadhead spent rose blooms to encourage more blooms.
15. Make herbal vinegar for cleaning oven.
Choose and cut thyme or lavender or rosemary. Fill a Mason jar 3/4 with plain white vinegar. Add one handful of herb. Set in sunny window for a few days. Pour directly over burned-on areas on stove and in oven. Soak
for an hour before wiping off.
16. Grasshoppers eating plants? Apply a
light dusting of flour straight from the kitchen onto susceptible plants. It will become paste when chewed by insects.
17. Apply a light dusting of DE to lawn
areas, if necessary, to destroy fleas, ticks, chiggers, and mites. Begin on the outside perimeter of the garden and work toward the center. Use only 1 to 2 cups of DE per 1,000 square feet. Wear a mask and goggles
and apply on a non-windy day.
18. Plant fall pepper and tomatoes plants. Keep well watered during periods of drought.
19. Feed the birds, and they'll repay
you by eating pests in the garden. Some of the most beneficial birds are chickadees, wrens, sparrows and nuthatches.
20. Watch for webworms and tent
caterpillars in trees, shrubs and vegetables. Break open the webs with a stick or broom and allow native and trichogramma wasps to feed on the contents. Another solution for tent caterpillars and webworms is a spray
of diatomaceous earth (DE). DE is the razor-sharp skeletal remains of microscopic organisms millions of years old. The sharp edges cut the exoskeleton of insects. Mix 1 tablespoon of non-phosphate soap, such as
Palmolive, and 1 tablespoon of DE per gallon of water. Spray on effected foliage until it resembles light dew. One application should do the trick. As a last resort, spray at dusk with a product containing Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt). Bt is a bacteria that can be applied dry or in a spray solution. Follow label instructions for the amount of area that needs to be treated. Bt carries a toxin that kills all worms and
caterpillars.
21. Cut Salvia greggii and catmint in half by the end of the month to encourage fall blooms.
22. Keep newly planted shrubs and trees
watered during dry spells. After the first year of careful tending, native varieties require little, if any, moisture other than natural rainfall. Water deep and slow to establish deep roots. Short and frequent
watering won't establish the deep roots needed to grab moisture from deep beneath the soil's surface.
23. Unsure if your lawn is getting
enough water? Walk on it. If the blades don't spring back, it needs watering. If your Bermuda grass is producing seed heads, it's time to feed it.
24. Many herbs are at their peek now
and should be harvested for cooking and making oils. Cut at least one third of the plant after the dew has evaporated in mid-morning. General rule: 1 cup of herbs to 2 cups of oil or one handful of blossoms to 1 cup
of oil. Shake the mixture a few times a day for two days. At the end of the third day after herbs have settled, strain the oil through a coffee filter. Restrain with new filter if oil is cloudy. Refrigerate the oil
in tightly sealed bottle and use within two or three weeks. If you are growing herbs to use in cooking, keep the flowers pinched off. If it's producing seed, you are losing flavor. Use the herb stalks for fireplace
kindling or toss one or two sprigs in the grill to flavor meats and poultry.
25. If the birds are beating you to the ripe strawberries, keep plants protected with row cover.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
Visit Gail's pages on :
Preparing New Beds for Spring
Planning the Produce Garden
MAY GARDEN GUIDE
Plant caladium bulbs, begonias,
periwinkles and other warm-season annuals. Purchase plants that have buds that are not yet open. If you buy plants already in bloom, cut off spent blooms so new buds will form.
Replant your stored lemongrass bulbs if you dug them up last fall or purchase new lemongrass bulb for planting.
Prune climbing rose bushes after first flush, if necessary to contain size.
Fertilize container plants once
a week to 2 to 3 times per month, depending on the size of the container. Water the container's soil before apply fertilizer. Allow the water to soak into the soil, then fertilize. There are organic fertilizers,
produced specifically for container plants. If you choose to feed your container plants with a liquid, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of fish oil and seaweed solution per gallon of water.
After seasonal bloom finishes, feed
iris and bulb foiage with an organic fertilizer such as earthworm castings, or granular organic plant foods.
Continue pinching tips of mums and phlox for bushier plants.
Mix and spray 1 tablespoon of
baking soda in a gallon of water for blackspot on roses. Deadhead spent blooms.
Remove 2 or 3 peaches out of
every 4 to produce larger fruit and keep limbs from breaking from too weight. Thin fruit when it is about the size of marbles.
Cut up insulated can holder and tape
sections around shovel and trowels for added comfort and less blisters.
Peas are ready to harvest 3 weeks
after the first blooms appear. Use little scissors or pinch off by hand. Harvest often, they'll produce more.
Weeds or grass overtaking a flowerbed?
Solarize it. Place a sheet of black plastic over the area and weight down the edges with rocks or bricks. Leave it for a few months in the hot sun, then remove and plant.
Recycle tea grounds around roses,
azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Recycle coffee grounds around lilies. Unless you use unbleached filters, toss the filters to the trash. Otherwise, bury or compost the filter too.
15. Fill empty spaces in flowerbeds with a blooming container or stick in a colorful annual.
16. Repot, if necessary, and take
sun-loving houseplants outside until frost. Gradually acclimate inside plants by placing them in the shade for a few weeks.
17. Plant a pot of nasturtiums and move
the pot around the garden where aphids have set up shop. Nasturtiums are a trap plant for aphids as well as other small pests. Once the aphids are on the nasturtiums, move it to a concrete area and hose off the
aphids and reset "the trap."
18. To increase blooms on crape myrtles, sprinkle a light handful of Epsom salts around the roots.
19. Clean hummingbird feeder every three to four days with warm water and put in fresh sugar mixture.
20. Put out molasses traps for
grasshoppers. Mix and place in a flat lid or container, one part molasses to 8 to 10 parts water. Clean and replenish as necessary.
21. Cut off garlic flowers for bigger
bulbs. Harvest when leaves start to turn yellow/brown. Store in cool area that receives good air circulation.
22. Do you have a sickly plant? General
rules to start with: Abnormal dwarf plant? Then it's deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If older leaves are turning yellow and eventually brown, then add nitrogen. If foliage is dull, dark green or has
purple veining in foliage or stem, it is a phosphorus deficiency. If the lower foliage shows yellowing at leaf margin, there's a potassium deficiency. Catch any of these problems early enough, and they can be
remedied.
23. Color up your hydrangeas! Want
blue? Add elemental sulphur or organic fertilizer high in acidic content. Want pink blooms? Planting in the alkaline soil of North Texas should provide naturally. If not, add a cup full of lime around the root area
and water in.
24. Use plastic milk containers and plastic
tubs beneath melons. Keeping the melons from touching soil will prevent fungal problems and rot.
25. Set out beer cups for snails, slugs
and pillbugs or spread human and pet hair around base of plants. Crushed red pepper sprinkled around garden once a week for a month and then once every month to eliminate pillbugs and keep them from returning
to your yard.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
APRIL
1. Hang net bags with raisins in garden to attract ladybugs. A ladybug will consume 5,400 aphids in a lifetime!
2. Companion plant warm-season veggies:
squash with nasturtiums; beans with carrots; and melons with corn.
3. Plant tomatoes (a few suggestions for
North Texas: Carnival, Celebrity, Roma and Sweet 100s) and peppers (Hidalgo, Sweet Cherry, Gypsy, Summer Sweet 860, Jupiter, Mexibell). Sidedress with Nature's Guide Tomato & Pepper Food. Remove lower leaves and
plant at least half of the original plant below the soil. Plant wet roots into wet soil. Companion plant with dill, nasturtiums, basil, oregano or thyme. Want no-fuss plants? Locate them along the outside of a
compost pile and let the compost pile supply the fertilizer!
4. Second application of spray to fruit and
nut trees after flowers have fallen. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of seaweed plus 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. Optional ingredients: fish
emulsion, baking soda, and liquid biostimulants such as Agrispon or Medina, neem and citrus oil or D limonene.
5. Cut tansy to hang near back and front door
entries to deter flies and wasps. Cut tansy and Mexican oregano and sprinkle on top of fire ant mounds.
7. For caterpillar damage, apply a
light dusting in the late afternoon of one of the following: flour straight from the kitchen or DiPel or Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to turk's cap, hostas and cannas and other susceptible plants. NOTE: Bt kills all
caterpillars, including butterfly babies.
8. Pinch tips of phlox and mums for bushier plants.
9. Cut off hosiery legs and place around
broccoli heads to prevent caterpillar damage. The hose will stretch as the broccoli heads expand.
10. Reapply Nolo Bait to the garden area to stop crickets and grasshoppers from reproducing.
11. Finish planting perennials, shrubs and trees so they establish before summer heat intensifies.
12. Divide fall-blooming bulbs and perennials.
13. Spread animal compost to the roots of
clematis and shade clematis roots with a broken pot or heavy mulch to prevent them from drying out during summer months.
14. Tiny dragon or alligator-shaped bugs on
plants? Leave them alone! They are ladybug larvae, which will feast on garden pests, such as aphids.
15. Survey the garden for unwanted seedlings.
Pull and compost or gently transplant to an area that needs planting, after a rainshower.
16. Release trichogramma wasps (no, they
don't sting) near susceptible plants. Their larvae eat pecan casebearers, cabbage worms, tomato hornworms, corn earworms and other orchard pests. Release weekly for four to six weeks to establish a population.
17. Toss out seeds of sun-loving flowers, such as cosmos and marigolds, zinnias, and lantana.
18. Plant gladiola and caladium bulbs. Soak
overnight in a light solution of fish emulsion or seaweed before planting.
19. Problems with thrips on roses or day
lilies? Apply Rose Defense by Greenlight. Spray at first sight of new leaf growth and repeat twice at weekly intervals. Add a tablespoon of Palmolive or Neo-life soap to each gallon and shake bottle during spraying
process.
20. Spray fruit trees with garlic pepper tea
every 2 weeks until blooms appear. Spray during cool hours. Chop 2 bulbs of garlic and 2 peppers in a blender with 3 cups of water. Strain and make a concentrate with the liquids. Compost the solids. Dilute for
foliar spray by adding 2 to 3 tablespoons of the concentrate to a gallon of water. To use as a drench for the soil around a tree, add 1 cup of concentrate to 4 gallons of water.
21. Dye Easter eggs safely using the juices
of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Cranberry juice or beet juice for pink; violet blossoms for violet; red roses for pink; grape juice for lavender; instant coffee for brown. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar to
the water to set the color. The longer you leave the egg in the mixture, the more intense the color.
22. Plant strawberry starts in
well-prepared soil. To prevent rot and fungal problems, place chicken wire over starts and pull foliage through the wire and off the ground. Keeping foliage away from soil will produce healthier plants.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
March
March 1-6
Install new martin houses outside. Be sure to keep the nests of other birds out of the house.
Amend the soil in your lawn once or twice a year with 20 to 30 pounds
per 1,000 square feet of lava sand. Lava sand holds moisture and releases it when the soil becomes dry.
Aerate all areas of lawn and beds. Spread corn gluten meal on areas
where you have not recently spread any flower or grass seed. Corn gluten meal is an organic pre-emergent that prevents germination of weed seed. Although there is a granular form, organic gardeners report better
results from the dustlike corn gluten. Apply 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet two weeks before fertilizing.
Apply liquid (fish emulsion and seaweed) and granular fertilizers to
all roses. Granular organic rose food is available from Marshall Grain Co., Fort Worth, Texas, (817)536-5636.
Mulch all bed areas with shredded hardwood bark before temperatures
rise. Find the bark at Clear Fork Materials, 800 Old Annetta Road, Aledo, (817) 441-7777, and Silver Creek Materials, 2251 Silver Creek Road, Fort Worth, (817) 246-2426, and the mushroom compost folks at Advantage
Compost (972)228-8514. All deliver within the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex.
March 7-13
Companion-plant bush melons with corn and southern peas with carrots, cucumbers, radishes or potatoes.
For fruit trees, at bud break, begin weekly releases of 10,000 to
20,000 eggs of trichogramma wasps per acre or residential lot for three consecutive weeks. Release 4,000 eggs of green lacewings weekly for one month, and release 1,500 to 2,000 adult ladybugs per 1,000 square feet
at the first sign of shiny honeydew on foliage caused by aphids.
Divide cannas when new foliage appears. Place a handful of earthworm
castings in the bottom of each new hole.
Cut back the dead areas of perennials as new growth appears, and add material to the compost pile.
Fertilize heavy feeders, such as early daylilies and dianthus, every
two or three weeks during the blooming period.
March 14-20
Fertilize container plants every two weeks with one of the following:
bat guano, earthworm castings, Garden-Ville Soil Food, GreenSense, Maestro Gro, Bioform Dry, Sustane, Bradfield. Lightly rake into potting soil. Organic potting soil and foods available from Marshall Grain Co., Fort
Worth, Texas, (817)536-5636.
Apply Nolo Bait every few weeks during the spring around the yard to
kill off grasshoppers and crickets. Grasshoppers require bare soil or undisturbed, weedy areas to lay their eggs, so cover bare spots in the garden with mulch and keep lawns mowed. Beneficial nematodes applied in
the early spring feast on grasshopper nymphs.
Pour drench solution on all fire-ant beds. Mix 2 tablespoons pyrethrum
and 2 tablespoons diatomaceous earth (DE) in a gallon of water, or add 4 tablespoons of Organic Plus DE with pyrethrum to a gallon of water. Larger mounds may require more than one drench.
Apply new layer of pecan-shell mulch or human or dog hair around
ferns, hostas and other plants that slugs and snails enjoy.
Plant herbs and annuals. In case of a heavy frost, keep plastic milk
jugs with ends cut off handy to place over tender or new plants.
March 21-27
Cut back frozen or dead areas on rosemary and lavender. Sprinkle soft
rock phosphate (colloidal) on base of rosemary and lavender to increase blooms. Rate: 2 cups per 100 square feet or a handful per plant.
Still having problems with aphids or want to establish a population?
Release a second batch of ladybugs and green lacewings.
Seed or sod or plug lawn late in the month: buffalo and Bermuda for
sunny areas, St. Augustine and fescue for partial shade.
Dig out dallisgrass and Johnson grass from lawn area and reseed grass or plant plugs.
Plant bedding plants of petunias and impatiens. Pinch tips 1 or 2
times for more fullness. Plant tropical plants such as pentas, bougainvillea, hibiscus and mandevilla. Plant wet roots into wet soil.
If you are recycling your Christmas poinsettia, the plant will be
losing its bracts (the reddish, pink or white foliage) in late March. Prune the plant to approximately 8 inches in height. Summer sun will stimulate growth. When the temperature consistently remains above 60
degrees, move it outdoors. Place it in a protected area such as a patio or porch, away from damaging winds.
March 28-31
Problems with spring weeds? Mow every three days for three weeks. Then mow regularly once a week.
Apply beneficial nematodes, which attack chinch bugs and termites.
They are encapsulated in pellets. Soak in water before applying. The area to be treated should be moistened and kept moist. Buy nematodes from a local organic supplier such as Marshall Grain Co., Fort Worth, Texas,
(817)536-5636.
Plant perennials and fall blooming bulbs. Soak bulbs for a few hours
or overnight in a seaweed solution. Water the hole and allow to drain. Place a handful of lava sand and earthworm castings in the bottom of each hole.
If you have a problem with birds crashing into windows, try placing
ornaments and other objects just inside the window. Avoid hanging plants in front of the window. If a bird has a mishap, place him in a well-ventilated box in a warm area to recover. He may only be stunned. Never
handle birds or any other wild animal with your bare hands
Kill Slugs and Snails Organically
Organic Lawn Care
Growing Tomatoes Organically
Growing Roses Organically
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
February Guide
Feb 1-7
Prune peach and plum trees to encourage growth. Cut limbs at a
45-degree angle. Prune one of every three branches. Spray foliage with seaweed spray once a week until last spring frost (usually around March 15).
Prune all other fruit trees, if necessary, just before bud break.
Prune only if branches are in the way of humans and animals.
Make the first application of spray to fruit and nut trees when buds
are pink. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of seaweed plus 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. Optional ingredients: fish emulsion, garlic tea,
baking soda, liquid biostimulants such as Agrispon or Medina, and citrus oil or D-limonene. In addition, feed with a granular organic fertilizer at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet, such as Garden-Ville, GreenSense,
Bradfield, Sustane. Apply lava sand at 80 pounds per 1,000 square feet and apply regular cane sugar at 2 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Save time and mix the dry ingredients in a wheelbarrow and make one
application.
Feb 8-14
Companion-plant broccoli and brussels sprouts with carrots or bush
beans; cabbage with onions; cauliflower with potatoes, rosemary or oregano; peas with carrots, potatoes, radishes or beans; and asparagus with nasturtiums. Cover with row cover if a late freeze hits.
Select and plant annual color: petunias, pinks, snapdragons, alyssum,
calendulas and gladiolas. Fertilize at least once during growing season with earthworm castings or Rabbit Hill Farms Pansy Food.
Clean and place old martin house back in its original location. If you
had martins in your birdhouse last year, the scouts will be coming soon to make sure last year's home is ready. Wait until next month to put up a new house.
Prune grapes at least 80 percent.
Prune bush roses, unless they are a variety that blooms only in the
spring. Purchase and plant antique roses. Antiques survive despite Texas weather and lack of attention. During mild winters, many will remain evergreen.
Wisteria didn't bloom last year? Prune the roots to jump-start it for spring.
Transplant shrubs or bushes that are too large for their current
location. Dig a new hole before digging a large amount of root ball. Soak the root ball in fish emulsion or seaweed water before placing in its new home. Keep well-watered for several days, then taper watering to
once a week until the plant is established.
Feb 15-21
Cut off winter-damaged foliage from Asian jasmine, monkey grass and other groundcovers to renew growth.
Cut back deciduous shrubs such as butterfly bush and American
beautyberry to 12 to 18 inches tall. Cut back sweet autumn clematis to 3 feet of strong new growth to avoid dead foliage beneath new summer growth. Spread a layer of compost over their roots.
Divide perennials, if needed. Place a handful of earthworm castings in
the bottom of each hole when replanting.
Give aphids a blast of water or release ladybugs into the garden.
Lightly water infested plants at dusk. Release ladybugs directly onto affected leaves. Small containers or net bags contain between 1,500 bugs in a pint to 70,000 in a gallon for large-scale agriculture. Release
green lacewings for control of aphids, spider mites, thrips, caterpillars and other bugs.
First fertilization of lawn. Apply 100 percent organic, granular
fertilizer (Bioform Dry, Sustane, Texas Tee, Bradfield) three times a year at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Take advantage of Mother Nature and fertilize just before or after rainfall. Apply liquid
fertilizer (Medina, Agrispon or Bioform) five times a year during the growing season. Follow directions on product purchased.
Feb 22-28
First fertilization of all other plants: granular or liquid fertilizer
five times a year. Blackstrap molasses and vinegar also will improve the soil. Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of either one in a gallon of water. Spray when the dew is on the foliage in the morning or during late evening.
During dry periods, you may have to water an area lightly before spraying.
Position copper barrier strips around the strawberry patch and any other plants that attract slugs.
Make willow, oak-bark or pecan-shell tea to soak seeds or new plants
before placing them in the garden. Heat 1 gallon of water, add 1 ounce of bark or twigs or pecan shells. Turn off burner. Steep until cool. Strain and add enough water to make 3 gallons of tea. Store unused mixture
in plastic container. Shake well before using.
Plant a potato basket. Set out a bushel basket with the bottom cut
out. Place seed potatoes 1 or 2 inches deep in late February or March. When sprouts are several inches tall, add a generous amount of well-rotted compost on top of the foliage. Leave a little of the tops showing.
Water as needed but don't fertilize. Continue adding compost as plant grows until the basket is full. Pull up basket to harvest potatoes when the plant yellows. After harvesting mature potatoes, gently brush off
dirt and store in cool, dry place. Do not wash potatoes with water until you are ready to use.
Give your azaleas a boost: sulfur and Ruffin iron (granular
or powder) or Rabbit Hill Farms Azalea Food or Bunny Trails. Repeat in July.
Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram. She is a member
of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timber Master Naturalists.
all rights reserved
January
1st Week
Perform a soil test: Using a sharp shovel, slice a 12-inch-square,
6-inch-deep chunk of soil. Count the earthworms. If you see at least six healthy earthworms, you've got great soil. If not, improve it with organic amendments. Earthworms aerate the soil. Plants and lawn grasses
need aeration to be healthy.
If your soil fails the earthworm test, contact (and send soil samples
to) the Texas Plant & Soil Lab, (956) 383-0739. Ask for organic-method recommendations.
Turn your compost pile. If the compost is too dry, water it
down. Too wet? Add dry materials, such as leaves or spent perennials.
Apply humates to lawn for better weed control.
Place bay leaves on pantry shelves to repel insects in dry products, such as cereal and rice.
Buy flower, vegetable and annual seeds that require an eight-week
growing period before planting outside. Many can be planted outside in March, so you need to start seed now.
Plant anemones, ranunculus, hyacinth and daffodil bulbs. Soak bulbs
overnight in a gallon of water mixed with 2 tablespoons of seaweed liquid. Place a handful of earthworm castings in the bottom of each bulb hole. Plant soaked bulbs in wet soil.
Save human and animal hair to place at the base of plants to kill
slugs and snails. Chop hair finely before spreading. Slugs are attracted to the oil in the hair, but it will cut their bodies.
Powdery mildew on greenhouse plants or outside evergreens? Add 1
tablespoon of baking soda plus 1 tablespoon of nonphosphate soap (such as Palmolive) to a gallon of water and spray on foliage in the morning or early evening. Repeat spray in seven days until resolved. Works on
roses, too.
2nd Week
January is a good time to clean out old nests from birdhouses on your
| 
