October 14 2006 Timely Tips

GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY

BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

October 14, 2006

  • Provide sugar water for hummingbirds: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar by volume. Also, for a great fall blooming plant that the hummingbirds enjoy, consider planting Brazilian Firespike.
  • Begin filling your sunflower and thistle feeders this month. Steel weight-sensitive feeders will discourage squirrels, grackles, and white wings.
  • You can plant roses this month through the winter. Use lots of compost and don’t plant them any deeper than they were in the pot. Roses should be blooming now. Keep them watered and sprayed weekly. Look for this new released rose, Grandma’s Old Yellow. You will greatly enjoy its ever blooming stature.
  • Pansies, violas, and cyclamen are available, but it is best to wait to plant them until air and soil temperatures have cooled significantly before planting them. This usually occurs in late October and November. For best choices, look for pansy selections such as Majestic and Sierra cyclamens.
  • Apply Kocide 101 spray solution in late October or early November to peaches and plums after they have dropped there leaves. This process will help prevent bacterial leaf spot next spring.

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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