GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

November 10, 2007

• If you didn’t get your lawn fertilizer down in October, do it now- before the first freeze and as long as the grass hasn’t gone dormant. This equates to about 5-7 lbs. of a 15-19% nitrogen manufactured mix or 23 lbs of 4 % organic mix per 1,000 square feet. The nutrients will be stored for a fast start in the spring. Be sure it says “Winterizer” on the bag.
• Do not allow heavy accumulations of leaves to pile up on the lawn area. If they get wet and pack together, the grass can be damaged. It is best to rake up the leaves or pick them up with a mower/bagger and place them in a compost pile or spread over the garden area and work them into the soil. Add a high nitrogen fertilizer to the leaves to assist in decomposition.
• Over seeding rye grass for a winter green lawn only works on established Bermuda; Zoysia and St. Augustine. Rye grass will kill buffalo grass. Plant only perennial dwarf rye grass seed at a rate of one pound per 100 square feet.
• If you’re going to plant a pecan tree, consider Pawnee. It makes a reasonably sized lawn tree that doesn’t seem prone to limb breakage. The nuts are relatively small and produce early so it does not require as much water or care to get a full nut.
• A late fall planting of radishes, carrots, beets, and greens may be added to your vegetable garden. Carrots that are planted now will be the sweetest tasting in late January through February.

David Rodriguez is County Extension Agent-Horticulture with Texas Cooperative Extension 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.