|
Greetings!
Things are kicking into high gear now! Even though it might be a cool windy day when you're reading this, I really think the freezes are behind us for the season. So, what's in front of us? The beautiful madness that is spring in the south. My maple tree is flowering, the grass is greening up, the roses are covered in new growth. It's almost upon us!
 | | Bad guy, definitely! |
Do you know what this is? If not, you better sign up for our Totally Tomatoes class, this Saturday at 2:00pm. Tom LeRoy is coming to Papershell, all the way from Montgomery County and he's going to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about tomatoes. Don't miss this one - we don't often have an opportunity to visit with Tom!
 | | Yum! |
Beginning February 1, our friend and farmer Stacey Roussel of All We Need Farms will have supply Papershell with fresh eggs on Saturdays! These are wonderful eggs from pastured hens, raised they way you would want them raised. You've never had better eggs, and if you're a baker, you owe it to yourself to get the freshest eggs possible. Stop by and pick up a dozen or so, only $5 per dozen.
 | | Join us for the fun! |
And February 1 and 2 is our Papershell birthday party! There'll be cake for everyone beginning on Saturday morning and rumor has it the Biermeister is planning a little special something too. Could be free beer, just sayin! Thanks for signing up for our email newsletter! Come see us soon! |
|
 |
|
An Early Spring?
We're all excited because the weather "powers-that-be" are strongly suggesting that winter is over. We have a cool night tonight but there isn't any indication that other weather systems will have the strength to make it to Texas before they play out. And every day brings us closer to February 15, which is about when we get our last freeze on average. More evidence: as of Monday, the soil temperature in Fort Bend County was 65° which is very warm indeed! It's soil temperature that influences weed seed germination. My recommendation is to get that pre-emergent herbicide down right now. Pre-emergent herbicides are very effective, but timing is critical. If you wait too long, the weeds will have already come up and you'll have to attack them some other way.
You can begin to fertilize your lawn when it has begun growing enough to require mowing. I really like both the Nature's Guide organic 4-3-2 Turf Food and Nitro-Phos' Imperial Turf Food. Some of the grasses in my back pasture are actively growing and these warm soil temperatures mean that both Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass will soon need their spring nutrition boost. Usually we have more time between pre-emergent herbicide and fertilizer application, but I'm very happy to have an early spring, so I won't complain!
 | | Yay! |
I'm also thinking it's okay to plant tomatoes now. I usually wait until February 15, but it's been so very warm and the long-range forecast is so optimistic! Planting tomatoes early gives you the best chance at a good harvest before it gets too hot for them to set fruit. Wait a bit longer on peppers though. While you're waiting, you can peruse the list of peppers we expect to have available. As with the tomatoes, if there's a pepper you just have to have, get in touch and we'll special-order it for you when it's available.
|
Fruit Trees
The first shipment of fruit trees has arrived at Papershell and all the trees are nicely pruned, planted and just beginning to leaf out. In my opinion, they won't be ready to go home until March but we are selling some now with the understanding that they are basically bare-root trees in containers. By March, they'll have established a good root system and will be easier for you to plant. In the meantime, the list of varieties is now on the website. There's also a link to a printable file, so if you prefer reading on paper, you can do that too.
 | | An apple a day! |
LeeAnn Barton of Dave Wilson Nursery will be at Papershell on Sunday March 3 at 2:00pm to talk about the temperate zone fruit trees (apples, peaches, pears, etc). She is a great source of knowledge about fruit trees in general and about our specific varieties in particular. You'll want to attend this workshop!
I am expecting to get the tropical and subtropical fruit trees in mid-February, so if there's a special variety of orange, lemon, grapefruit or other citrus you're looking for, please let me know ASAP. We'll try to get in on this order for you. The citrus seminar will be on Sunday, April 7 at 2:00pm and we'll also cover tropical fruits like avocado.
 | | Satsumas are easy to grow! |
The bare-root fruit tree season is in full swing and perhaps you've purchased a bare-root tree for your own garden. The initial pruning is critically important to the proper training of these sorts of trees, and most people don't prune quite aggressively enough. I've written a little guide to pruning and posted it on our website. This is by no means everything you'll ever need to know, but it will get you started.
Fruit trees can be fertilized once they begin actively growing. I don't recommend feeding pear trees, though. Too much nitrogen causes a rapid flush of growth that is susceptible to fire blight. Fig trees don't require fertilization either, except in very rare circumstances. If you're at all in doubt, remember we do soil testing and can make very specific recommendations for your own garden.
|
Pruning
Are you just itching to get out there with the pruning shears? Here are a few helpful hints to get you started.
 | | Sharp is good. |
1) Start with sharp equipment. If your pruners need sharpening, I recommend Premier Sharpening. They've been to Papershell before, and currently you can find them at the Imperial Farmer's Market in Sugar Land.
2) Don't prune shrubs that bloom in very early spring. This means azaleas, bridal wreath, forsythia, redbuds, wisteria, mountain laurels or any other shrub or tree that blooms early. These should be pruned immediately after blooming, before they begin to set buds for next year.
3) Please don't top your crape myrtles. It's senseless to try to keep a tree much shorter than its full height. If the tree is too big, get a smaller tree. Topping crape myrtles leads to rapid flushes of weak growth and makes unsightly "elbows." It's okay to cut back broken limbs, branches growing inwards, crossing branches or limbs that are poorly placed.
 | | No, no, no! |
4) Try to prune to a natural shape. Unless you have a thing for topiary, avoid too much shearing, which tends to destroy the natural shape of the tree or shrub.
5) When pruning hedges, try to avoid a top-heavy look. A full canopy on top prevents light from reaching all the way into the bottom of the hedge. Aim for flat tops and slightly slanted sides, with the bottoms wider than the tops. This allows sunlight to reach to the lower limbs. Even better, allow your hedge to slowly develop into a more rounded top for a natural look that is easier to maintain.
 | | Careful! |
6) The traditional day to prune roses is February 14, but that is really only necessary for modern hybrid roses. They like to be pruned heavily before spring growth begins. These bushes should be cut back to about 2' tall with only 4-6 main canes. Climbing roses should be pruned immediately after blooming in the spring. Remove any dead or damaged canes and only a few of the oldest canes to stimulate new growth. Landscape and shrub roses (like Knockouts and Drifts and Earthkind roses) can be pruned any time to fit the needs of the landscape. You do not have to wait until Valentine's Day to prune these roses. More information on pruning roses is here.
|
|
|
|
|
Please stop by and visit! Have a glass of world-famous lemonade (or a beer!) -- we'd love to meet you!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Barrow
Papershell: A Garden Gallery
|
|
|
Papershell Birthday!
February 2-3
All Day
My, how time flies! It's been another year and you know what that means: CAKE! Join us this weekend for cake as we celebrate our 2nd birthday. Thank you for all your kindness and support this year!
| |
|
Spring Tomatoes!
Saturday, February 2
2:00-3:30pm
Montgomery County Extension Agent Tom LeRoy tells you all you need to know about growing the perfect tomato this spring! And while it's just a little too early to plant them outside, it's not too early to get the garden ready. Learn about selecting the right varieties, plus insect/disease control, fertilizing & more. This class is $10 and includes a coupon valid for 15% off your garden center purchase.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
| |
|
Backyard Poultry for Beginners
Saturday, February 16
11:00am - 12:30pm
Mike Hensley leads this class for those interested in raising poultry in your own backyard. Mike has years of experience raising birds. This class is intended for beginners and is $10. Those who stay for the next class will receive a $5 discount.
Note: Mike will have birds available for sale also.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
| |
|
Backyard Poultry, Part 2
Saturday, February 16
1:00-2:30pm
Mike Hensley leads this class for those interested in raising poultry in your own backyard. Mike has years of experience raising birds. This class is intended for those with some experience raising chickens or those who have already taken the beginner class. The class is $10. Those who attended the beginner class today receive a $5 discount.
Note: Mike will have birds available for sale also.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
| |
|
Hypertufa Workshop
Sunday, February 17
2:00-4:00pm
Ever wanted to make your own rustic pots? Learn how in this unique 2-hour workshop. We'll start in the classroom going over the basics and then move outdoors to make pots. $35 registration fee covers all materials and your choice of two small or one large pot.
Please note: the pots require about 2 days of drying time before they can be unmolded and will not be completely dry for about 2 weeks.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
| |
|
Advanced Zentangle
Saturday, February 23
2:00-4:00pm
Certified Zentangle instructor Dawn Meisch leads this class in advanced techniques, intended for people who already have some experience with Zentangle. The class includes everything you need, and additional supplies will be available for purchase. Class fee is $35.
Space is limited - to reserve your spot, call (281) 232-4485 or email us.
| |
How to Prune Your Bare-Root Fruit Tree - a brief guide to pruning a new tree, and why it's important.
| |
|
|
