Garden gnomes have been experiencing a resurgence in popularity over the last decade.  This kitschy garden accessory is once again hip in an ironic way.  Perhaps you would like to jazz up your yard, maybe you need help with growing or guarding your garden, or perchance you would just like to know more about the garden gnome phe- gnome-non. Read on to find out everything you ever wanted to know about garden gnomes.

• Garden gnomes first appeared in the mid-nineteenth century in Germany.  Read more about gnome history here.
• Did you know that male gnomes can be easily identified by their red caps and gnomes have a life expectancy of over 400 years?  Read some little gnome facts here.
• There are so many gnome options out there. Do you need help selecting the right gnome for your garden? Here is a garden gnome guide.
• Now that you have a gnome, name him (or her).  What do you think about the name, “Basil, the Badger Baiting Gnome of Edmonton”?  If you need some help naming your name, try this gnome name generator.
• Are those traditional Gnomes just not cutting it.? Perhaps your style and aesthetic is a tad more modern.  Don’t worry you too can participate in the gnome phe-gnome-non, with these modern gnomes.
• Does your gnome need a home? Sometimes referred to as a fairy door, your gnome can have a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted gnome home.

To Buy:

• THESE flower pots glow-in-the Dark!  Awesome!
• These coil flower pots are modern-yet earthy (and they are on sale).   Here is the larger size.
• For a really earthy feel, how about this trunk planter, made from a once-living tree trunk…
• Ooh Shiny..

Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy

DIY

• If you want to get crafty, how about painting a regular pot with chalkboard paint, so you can right the herb/plant name or a message to your mom.  Here is a tutorial.
• This isn’t available commercially, but perhaps if you were REALLY crafty, you could figure out how to make this cool magnetic split flowerpot.  (Then write a tutorial blog post and share it with the rest of us).
• This DIY French flower pot would probably be rated at a medium level of difficulty to craft? Oui or Non?
• If French country isn’t your mom’s style feel free to go industrial and craft a smaller version of this planter made from cinder blocks.

Hope you found some inspiration and are now on your way towards acquiring/creating the perfect (but not typical) Mother’s Day gift. Happy Mother’s Day!

Ralph Waldo Emerson Stamp Originally Issued in 1940

• Remove faded blooms from your plants to help make room for new growth.
• This may seem odd, but if you want to grow your own pumpkins in time for Halloween, you will need to plant and fertilize pumpkin seeds now!
• Water was a major concern for central Texans last year and this year conserving water is still significant.  However, water is an important factor in keeping trees alive and providing shade.  By keeping track of the water moisture levels of your shrubs and trees you will know when water is actually needed. Do not lightly water frequently by sprinkling water shallowly on the top of trees and shrubs.  Instead let the water run slow and deep around the base of the trees, afterwards let the area dry out, so you do not overwater.  Watering slowly and deeply fewer times is more effective.
• Mulch! Mulch! Mulch! (Say that 3x fast!)  We are so emphatic about mulching because of all the benefits the mulch provides.  Mulch around new flower beds and vegetable gardens helps to retain soil moisture, aids in preventing soil erosion, and most impressive of all, mulch can save you two times as much water!
• Don’t forget about all the little critters in May.  Not every frog is a prince, but toads can sure help to rid your garden of pests!  Filling a shallow bowl or tray with water and leaving it out will help to attract toads, they will help to keep your garden pest-free!
• “Modest May” also brings out lovely hummingbirds! Make your own hummingbird food (remember to keep the solution 1 part sugar to 4 parts water) and clean-out and refill your hummingbird feeders every 2-3 days.

So how do you get rid of these weeds? If the Burr Clover is isolated in one area getting rid of these weeds will be much easier.  Using a natural weed killer in that area will take care of the problem,   However, if the Burr Clover is growing amongst grass and other plants (as is usually the case) your choices are more limited.  Options include spot treating the weeds or pulling them out roots and all the old-fashioned way.  You could use a natural vinegar-based weed killer such as Lady Bug Natural Brand Green Go Weed Killer, or you could make your own.  All you need to make your own is one gallon of 20% vinegar, 1 cup of orange oil and a few teaspoons of dish soap.  Use this mixture to individually treat the Burr Clover spots.  If you decide to weed by pulling out the Burr Clovers be sure and bag up the weeds, because the burrs are seeds that will spread and create more Burr Clovers.

Choosing plants that fit into the native landscape and that are naturally suited to the climate and environment of Austin will help both you and your yard.  Plants that are native to Texas and the Austin area will thrive and you will spend less time watering, fertilizing, and using chemicals to control pests.  Naturally drought tolerant plants that are resistant to diseases and pests, will also help with conservation and preservation of the environment and local water resources.  Look at the suggestions below for some ideal Austin plants.

Agave (Agave Americana) – This statement making plant is native to Texas, can grow tall, has a sizable spread and best of all requires no maintenance.  An ideal spot for an agave plant would be in a bed next to a door or entry way.

Silver Ponyfoot/ Silver Falls (Dichondra argentea) – This plant known for its silver-gray leaves makes an excellent ground cover, and is able to tolerate drought and heat conditions common in Austin.

Photo Credit: Grow Where Your Planted

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) – Horsetails are also native to Texas, spread easily and can be cut short or cropped for modern, clean look.

Muhly, Bamboo (Muhlenbergia dumosa) - A soft textured grass with lance-like foliage is silver-green in color and turns an attractive straw color in the winter.  This plant is both native to Texas and deer resistant.

Photo Credit: aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu

Mexican Feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima) – Mexican feathergrass is very drought tolerant and its elegant form with feathery seed heads show movement.

Japanese Lawngrass(Zoysia japonica) - Obviously this lawngrass is not native to Texas (so we cheated a little), but as an extremely drought-tolerant and disease-resistant turf this is an excellent choice.

Even though the first day of spring (March 20) technically occurred last month, April is really when the spring season begins.  The current Texas temperatures in the mid-80s hint at another unseasonably warm spring and hot summer!  Try to get some outside work done in the mornings or evenings and enjoy the pleasant cooler temperatures while you still can! Here are some spring suggestions to get you started.

• The beginning of the spring season ushers in the beginning of the lawn mowing season!  Mowing should now become a regular part of your lawn maintenance schedule.  Your goal should be to keep your grass slightly long in anticipation of the upcoming hot days and regularly mow lightly. Fertilizing is unnecessary and your lawn will require more mowing and watering.  Despite some recent rainfall, preserving water is still a priority.  Pay attention to rainfall patterns so you don’t over water your lawn.  Ideally your lawn needs at least an inch of water a week to remain healthy.
• To reduce chemical use consider disposing of insects in a more natural way.  Venture out in the early morning to rid plants of small black and red bugs, by tossing the bugs in a bucket of soapy water.
• Spring is planting season, so get your green thumb digging!  Plants in season include:
• Annuals- Cosmos, Zinnias, and Sunflowers
• Perennials – Turks Cap and Texas Betony
• Herbs- Basil, Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary
• Vegetables-  Beans, Corn, Cucumber, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Peppers, Squash, Southern Peas, and Watermelons

Summer Flowers (Photo Credit digginfood.com)

Why shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day?

The Irish shamrock or four leaf clover has become a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.  Wearing a shamrock or the color green is a tradition rooted in celebrating March 17. According to legend, the shamrock is related to St. Patrick’s day because the missionary Saint Patrick used the structure of the three leaf clover as a metaphor for the holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Despite the mythology and lore surrounding the the celebration of March 17, many scholars consider St. Patricks Day as an American made holiday.

For more on St. Patrick’s Day myths and history, check out this National Geographic article.

What exactly is a shamrock?

Identifying the actual shamrock plant is somewhat difficult, there are multiple contenders and an unclear consensus.  For a more in-depth discussion, peruse this article and let us know which plant you think should earn the title of “St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock”.

How can I grow my own shamrock?

For the sake of ease we will consider Oaxis acetosella a viable St. Patrick’s Day shamrock plant.  This plant is the one most commonly available and used in grocery stores, nurseries, and florist shops in March.  The best way to grow a shamrock is in a pot surrounded by other shamrock plants.  The simple root system of this plant lends to its preference for being crowded in a pot.  While the plant is actively growing or flowering, you should fertilize every two to three weeks.  Plants grown from bulbs, like this shamrock plant, experience a dormant period two to three times a year.  You can tell your plant is experiencing dormancy because it will begin to lose its leaves and appear sick.  These outward appearances should signal to you that it is time to put your plant in “hibernation”, stop watering, remove dead leaves, and move the plant to a cool, dark spot.  After three months or so, when new shoots begin to sprout up, move the plant back into the light and resume watering.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  We hope you will wear green on March 17 and continue to grow green all year!

Happy St. Patrick's Day (Photo Credit: Vicki Lynn Photography)

In Like a Lion...(Photo Credit: diaryofamadhausfrau.com)

We have all heard the sayings about weather in March-March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, or March wind and April showers will bring forth May flowers.  We can’t be completely sure what March weather will bring, but one thing is for sure we are all anticipating the beginnings of spring. Prepare for the biggest growing and gardening season of the year, by reading some tips below.

• To get one last bang for your buck out of your cool season flowers, fertilize them for another burst of blooming.
• If you are daring enough slip in one last round of cool weather crops: broccoli, carrots, carrots, lettuce or onion sets.
• To get a head start on the season you can begin growing cucumbers, melons and squash indoors in pots.  After mid-March transplant outside so that they have room to grow.  Tomato seeds can also be started indoors or in a green house and later moved outside.
• Herbs that work well in containers and can be planted in March include: basil, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, lemon verbena, and rosemary.  Don’t forget to add these to your garden so you can enjoy the benefits of seasoning your meals with your very own homegrown herbs.
• In March you can also plant trees, shrubs, roses and hardy perennials.  It is still just a tad early for the onslaught of planting that comes with spring and warmer weather.
• You will want to be prepared for the big growing season so check out your beds and make sure everything is ready now.  To prepare compost, trees, shrubs and thoroughly mulch.  If you want to create the best growing environment for your vegetables add manure and compost to your vegetable beds so there is time for aging before you begin planting.  This is also the time to compost and fertilize your rose beds.
• A final parting note, as always, remember to WEED!  Weed prevention now means less weeds to deal with later.

Now look beyond the sprinkler to  the condition of the ground beneath the stonework. Nothing here was prepared properly. Nothing was set properly. Nothing about this job was done properly! The folks who payed for this job thought they were saving a few bucks by avoiding the established, professional service. In the end, they are going to have to pay to have this removed, the sprinkler replaced and the entire thing done properly. What a waste of time and money!

The Fickle Gray Beast

Austin weather is fickle. One day it’s 40 degrees outside and the next it’s 85. There is no accounting for what you will deal with, especially in February, when Central Texas is teetering on the brink of Spring. Oftentimes we get a false start before everything drops back down to winter temperatures for another month. Other times, like this year, we suspect that the cold days are behind us. Time is running out. February is the safest last chance you will have to transplant your hibernating shrubs and other woody plants. We have some advice to get you going for the quickly approaching growing seasons. It’s mainly about pruning.

Prune and Prepare…

In Your Yard:

• Prune woody perennials and dormant native plants that look like sticks.Pruning them now will help new shoots to flourish in the coming months.
• Prune trees, especially oak trees. The colder the better to help diseases like oak wilt. If you were wondering, Crepe Myrtles fall into this category.
• Brown patches in your lawn typically mean you need to treat them with a fungicide. Late February is the time to get this done. Keep an eye on those brown patches however, because you might have to reapply the fungicide in a few weeks.
  

  Brown Patches

In Your Garden:

• Prune asparagus foliage to the ground, this will encourage emerging spears to shoot up faster and stronger.
• Properly tend to your roses, fertilizing and pruning them to maintain strong and healthy leaves and beautiful buds.
  

  Bulldog on Ice (Photo Credit: animalcareclinic.net)

Prepare (Before the infamous Texas heat!)

• Weed, weed weed! Weed now or forever deal with the seeds in the coming months.
• No chemicals by the way, even the safe ones this time of year. They are not going to do you any good. Get a shovel, get a trowel, get your kids, your wives and your husbands. Make it a weeding party (insert typical Austin joke about weed here…) Dig them out, get their roots and then spend 5-10 minutes each day scanning and pulling new sprouts. Mowing the lawn regularly will help to keep them gone as well. You will thank yourself come July.
  

  Weed with a Shovel (Photo Credit: make-it-do.com)

• Planting and transplanting of trees and shrubs should be wrapped up fairly quickly, before the onslaught of heat begins.
• Garden beds need your love right now, in order for them to give your peppers and tomatos love over the next few months. Prepare your beds with appropriate tests, fertilizers and soil turning. Doing this now is preparing you for all of your summer veggies really. If you have other summer vegetables that you are planting later, then be sure to prepare the soil for them right now as well.
• We know that we have already said this, but we will say it again. Get all of your transplants and planting of trees, roses, bushes, etc. done very quickly. Your time is running out!

If you have any questions or if you need any help with any of this, please contact us! We are very happy to help and wish you the very best for another exciting growing season.

For more information about local Austin and Central Texas gardening and landscaping info, please visit the Central Texas Gardener.