GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

April 2, 2011

A Texas Certified Nursery Professional is an experienced and trained employee who will guide you in making the best decisions pertaining to your garden and landscape needs. These individuals are dedicated in making their industry have the highest standards of professionalism and at the same time, making you their customers succeed.

Slightly increase the watering needs of plants which are in spring growth, if significant rainfall hasn’t come. The best means of watering moist efficiently is through drip irrigation and the use of organic mulches.

Certain insects are becoming prevalent in the vegetable garden. Colorado potato beetles on Irish potatoes, cabbage loopers on broccoli and cabbage as well as flea beetles on eggplant to name a few. Always identify the insect in question first, then only spray if need be with the most effective but least toxic chemical of choice.

Before fire ants become an issue, apply bait consisting of a pesticide containing Concern to actively foraging ants or directly onto their mounds with liquid Spinosad.

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.