GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

October 8, 2011

The fall season is the ideal time for establishing plants throughout the cooler winter season. This leads to optimal growth and development in the spring. New trees, shrubs, and most landscape plants would be happier in being established throughout our mild winters then throughout our extremely hot summers.

One of the best ways to minimize and control weeds in your turfgrass is through proper lawn maintenance. You will be surprised that a properly maintained lawn mower is a great tool in weed control if it used correctly and often.

If you have not done so, fall fertilization is crucial in putting everything to rest for winter. Apply 20 pounds of a naturally based granulated fertilizer of choice per 1,000 square foot for your lawn and around trees, shrubs, and flower beds.

Applying one to two tablespoons of 19-5-9 slow-release nitrogen fertilizer once a week on developing vegetable plants in the garden will rapidly increase their size and yield potentails.

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.