GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

February 5, 2011

When selecting fruit trees, consider the amount of chill hours required. The chilling requirement is the number of hours between 32° and 45°F required before a plant starts normal growth in the spring. We look for trees that require from 550-650 chill hours such as La Feliciana and John Fanick Peach.

Keep winter weeds like henbit in check by grubbing, hand pulling or mowing.

Pre-emergent herbicides such as Amaze applied now through early March will help minimize the germination of unwanted spring and summer weeds.

Conserve landscape water by performing an irrigation efficiency audit. Run each station, and look for abnormalities. Call a licensed irrigation contractor to repair problems.

David Rodriguez is the County Extension Agent-Horticulture with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County. For more information, call the Master Gardener “Hotline” (210) 467-6575 or visit our County Extension website at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu.