GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

January 26, 2008

Spray a selective grass herbicide in bluebonnet and wildflower patches to eliminate any cold-season grasses. Always understand and follow label instructions. It is the law.

Wear old clothes when cleaning up frozen and damaged banana stalks. Oozing sap will stain and discolor everything.

Tender and tropical Bougainvillea and Hibiscus lose leaves when brought indoors or into a low lighted area. So, keep soil moisten, but do not over water. Feed every three weeks with a water soluble 6-12-6 or 20-20-20 fertilizer.

Cut back to almost grown level and divide/replant ornamental landscape grasses. Fertilize with one half cup of a high accelerant nitrogen fertilizer (19-5-9) when young tender spring shoots appear and repeat in six weeks.

Cut back perennials that show significant winter damage to three to four inches above their crown. Mulch with finely shredded organic cedar or hardwood to about two inches and replenish this at least twice a year.

David Rodriguez is 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.