Spring is the time that many people set aside for gardening.  For those that are new to the world of gardening, those first steps into a garden center can be overwhelming. 
I have put down five tips that will help the new gardener get the best help and save time in a chaotic environment.
Click here to see the article.

Last spring, I had many people (myself included) that had plants damaged or dead from the unusual cold.  I told many people (myself included) that is was very unusual and that we wouldn't likely see another freeze like that for 30 plus years.  Then along came winter of 2011.  Just as cold, but with much longer periods below freezing.
If your garden is anything like mine, the damage is pretty wide spread.  Here are a few tips on what to do now.

#1- Yes, you can cut things back now.  Any leaves that are brown are not going to turn green again, so get them off.  If stems are brittle, remove them.  Especially important is to remove "squishy" stuff.  Agaves, aloes, and other succulents may have turned to mush.  I would leave the roots in hopes new plants will emerge, but get the "ucky" stuff out before it really starts to rot.

#2- Give things a little time. Not sure how brittle a stem might be?  Got shrubs that are still flexible but without leaves?  It is still a bit early to know what might happen.  If you can stand to look at the plants, let them sit a little longer.  Some of our best summer bloomers; Pride of Barbados, Esparanza, Hibiscus, etc... will not do much of anything until we really get several warm days.  It's not unusual for these to look sad until mid-late March. 

#3- Fertilize.  It's fianlly time for putting out a slow release, organic fertilizer for most of your trees, shrubs, perennials, and such.  We have several different formulations available for specific plants, or you can use our TGO 6-2-4 All Purpose for just about everything.  I put it on everything in my yard, except my grass.  IMPORTANT NOTE- Do not fertilize your lawn until late March or early April.  Our TGO 6-1-1 is the city's #1 recommended fertilizer!

#4- Look for new opportunities!- We all hate to lose plants, but Mother Nature has a plan we cannot work against.  Use this experience to add some new native or adapted plants to your landscape.

Ever had a hard time growing squash due to those pesky Squash Vine Borers?  Well have we got the squash for you.  Tatume is an heirloom (nearly ancient) variety from Mexico that is more resistant to the borers.  These guy do get pretty big, so they need some room, but they will pay for their space with pounds of great flavored fruits!  To learn more, check out this article from Texas A&M.