• The spring vegetable garden will be underway soon. Evaluate successes and failures from the fall and winter plantings. Gardening should be fun as well as a learning experience. Especially, when we get children involved.
• Fertilize established shade and fruit trees with one pound of a slow-release 19-5-9 formulation per every inch of tree trunk diameter. Spread the fertilizer evenly under the drip zone of the tree. Conclude by thoroughly watering the fertilizer in. If an organic formulation is preferred, triple the application rate. Re-apply in six weeks if the trees are growing rapidly.
• Looking to put in grapes on an arbor, trellis or fence? Reliable producers include Champanel, a large fruited purple selection, Black Spanish/Lenoir which has small black fruit as well as Blanc du Bois, a tasty white grape selection. These varieties also have resistance to Pierce’s disease which eliminates most other grapes within the first three years.
• If you prefer to use a natural organic granulated fertilizer formulation, this would be the ideal time to apply on your lawn at an application rate of 15 to 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet of area.

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.