GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

March 20, 2010

Proper watering methods are seldom practiced by most gardeners. Let’s make every drop of water count by installing drip irrigation. Use drip irrigation for watering vegetables, ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, vines and container grown plants outdoors. With proper management, drip irrigation reduces water loss by up to 60 percent or more as compared to traditional watering methods.

Apply approved bug baits in your vegetable garden if sow bugs (rolly pollies) are damaging the leaves of newly emerging seedlings.

Put the containerized tomatoes in the ground towards the end of the month. Save some tomatoes for April planting and a few for May in case of weather problems. Consider planting ‘Celebrity,’ ‘Solar Fire’ and the new ‘Phoenix’ tomato selection.

Tune up the lawnmower and be sure the blade is sharp. Dull blades tear the grass, sharp ones cut it.

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.