GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

May 9, 2009

Looking for a great gardening Mother’s Day gift? How about the prettiest yellow rose you have ever seen? That rose would be ‘Grandma’s Yellow’ which would make many years of enjoyment for that special lady in your life.

Drought tolerant and low maintenance Texas Superstar plants such as Texas Lilac Vitex and ‘Henry Duelberg’ salvia will add color to any landscape. Visit the http://texassuperstar.com/ site for more great plant ideas.

With warmer temperatures, this would be the time to sow okra seed into the vegetable garden. For best results, look for selections like Cajun Delight, Emerald, Clemson Spineless, and Lee.

This is the best time for starting or rejuvenating a lawn. Extension recommended grass varieties such as Floratam St. Augustine does well in warm weather. There is still time for turfgrass establishment before the summer heat arrives.

If you’re starting a new Bermudagrass lawn by seed, use 2-3 lbs. of Sahara, Black Jack, or an improved common selection per 1,000 sq. ft. on well-prepared soil and water twice a day. It will be up in 3-6 days and need mowing in about 3 weeks.

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.