GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

September 4, 2010

If you really have to bag grass clippings, spread them out in a sunny location for a day or two and incorporate them in a well balance compost heap or in vegetable garden walk-ways.

Tomatoes should be supported. Whether you cage or stake them is personal preference. Regardless of the method, plants with foliage and fruit supported off the ground will produce more than unsupported plants.

Cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprout that are planted now should be dusted at initial planting and every 7-10 days with Dipel dust to prevent and minimize cabbage looper caterpillars. If damage occurs later from caterpillars, spray with liquid Bt worm killer in the late evening.

The fall pruning of roses is lighter than in the spring and consists of removing twiggy and unproductive growth along with any crossing or dead canes. Feed roses in the ground with one cup of slow-release 19-5-9 analysis fertilizer for every three feet of height, repeat two more times in 21 day intervals.

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.