GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

May 22, 2010

The use of drip irrigation is the most efficient means of irrigation in a water saving landscape. If you have not done so, this would be the time to covert or retrofit your existing irrigation system.

Most well-established shrubs and perennials mulched with organic material need to be watered deeply once every three to four weeks.

Supplement by watering turf grasses in lieu of significant rainfall once every seven to days when blades show signs of wilting in the morning or foot printing is visible.

At any given time, only remove 1/3 of the existing canopy of your turf grass type. If thatch becomes an issue, do make an exception on catching the grass clippings, but let them dry out and proceed by incorporating with other rich and diverse organic products into a compost heap.

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.