December 29 2007 Timely Tips

GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

December 29, 2007

  • We have not had significant rainfall since early September. In saying so, plants require less irrigation during the fall and winter seasons. However, compared to last year’s severe drought, we are now eight inches below normal from the months of September through December. Most of us have received less then four inches of rainfall for that time frame. Established trees, shrubs and flower beds need at least one inch of supplemental irrigation per month during the winter time. Lawns need at least one inch of water every fourteen days, if no rain is in the forecast.
  • December through February is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. This includes fruit and pecan trees, grapes and berries. Visit the Bexar County website at this link for the best recommended varieties for Central/South Texas at
  • http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort/index.htm.
  • Prepare in advance for your spring garden. Look at specialty garden catalogs and order early for the spring. While reading mail-order seed catalogs, remember we live in Zone 8, and our soils are alkaline with very hot and dry summers.
  • Now is a great time to build walkways, retaining walls and raised beds. Use compost enriched soils instead of heavy top soils when filling beds.
  • Get cold frames ready for seedling flowering and vegetable spring transplants.

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.

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