It's cold and gloomy again! I know! This has been such a long, cold winter. I find I'm always saying that, even if it's been a short, mild winter. And this summer, you'll likely find me moaning about how hot it is. That's gardening. The weather is always wrong, no matter what. No matter where. Although I am glad I'm not buried under a foot or two of snow. Wouldn't like that at all!  | | My sweet dwarf cherry! |
Spring is stirring out there though. Can't you feel it? The "green haze" you see on the trees as they leaf out in the spring isn't quite apparent yet, but the spring-flowering shrubs are stirring and even the winter veggies seem to be growing faster. I believe you will see tomatoes at the garden centers by this weekend (some have already brought them in!) and if you haven't already picked out your favorites, here's the 2014 list. Read up! I'm still working on my backyard project. I've got an initial draft of the garden layout, but I'm meditating on it a bit before I share it with you. I'm not quite sure about the proportions yet and remember, there's no hurry. That's what I'm telling myself, at least!  | | The music of spring! |
When spring fever seizes you and you find yourself at the garden center, remember to get some compost. It's such a good idea to add organic matter to your soil every time you plant. Your flowers will thank you this summer when it's too hot to go out there and dig. And if you're planting seeds, there are many more to choose from now! All these seeds can be planted in February. I'm hoping the next newsletter finds us all warm and happy and working in the garden! Until then, thanks and garden on! |
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Fruit Trees
Some of you rushed right out and bought three or four fruit trees, at your local garden center or one of those fruit tree sales, didn't you? I know you did!
 | | Yes, you eat them! |
Well, now what? First, if you purchased a bare-root tree, you ought to get it in the ground ASAP. If not, keep the roots covered in moist bark mulch or sawdust until you can plant. If the roots dry out, the tree can die -- and quickly!
Most fruit trees need full sun and good drainage, and if you have to pick, good drainage is more important. Citrus and blackberry will tolerate a more shade and will produce fruit for you even in morning sun. But they will be more productive in full sun.
 | | Easy and fun! |
Bare-root trees need very little water right now. A good general rule of thumb is not to water until you see the first leaves emerging. After that, you'll still water rather sparingly. The tree doesn't have the root system in place to absorb large amounts of water. (Remember what it looked like when you bought it?) It will be this summer before you'll need to really drench it. Once a week, water just the area where the roots are growing.
Dormant fruit may need to be pruned once you get it home from the sale or the garden center. Here's a reminder if you aren't quite sure how to do it. And here's an article about growing citrus here. Enjoy!
If you bought tender tropicals like limes or avocados, I might recommend waiting to plant until March. That way if we get a late freeze, you can pop that baby into the garage to protect against freezes.
 | | 10:00am this Saturday! |
Need more information? I'm teaching 2 free classes this Saturday at my friend Terry's nursery, The Grower's Outlet in Willis. I know it's not exactly in the area, but if you're out and about, you might enjoy this free class. At 10:00am , I'll begin with Fruit for the Temperate Zone followed at 11:00 by Citrus and Subtropical Fruits. Stop by -- here's a map!
 | | 11:00am this Saturday! |
Questions about the class? Call The Grower's Outlet at (936) 856-5001. Hope to see you there!
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Winter Damage
I get this question a lot this time of year. Is it okay to prune back all the stuff that was killed by the freezes? Generally, no. I do clean up the soft and squishy stuff, as you might get from frozen amaryllis foliage. It can become a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal problems. For woody stems, though, as you might find on bougainvillea, I leave them alone as long as I can stand it. The risk associated with early pruning is, of course, the possibility of another freeze. In the event of a late freeze, even the dead leaves and stems on the top of the plant provide some protection to the living tissue down below. Cutting it all off just puts the vulnerable living plant parts right up there where the frost will form. Plants can also respond to pruning by sending up new growth. This tender new growth is not hardened off and is extra-sensitive. It will be killed in a new freeze. So if you can hold out and wait, please do! We should be safe from freezes sometime between February 15 and March 1 (or Mother's Day if you listen to the Biermeister. But don't listen to him!).  | | Fire Bush - Don't give up! |
And don't give up hope prematurely: some plants like fire bush (Hamelia) are notoriously slow to grow back from a freeze. If there's a scrap of green in the wood, I would let it try to come back. The ground did not freeze here so the roots should still be intact.
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Flowering Trees
This month I participated in a collaboration with other garden bloggers called "You Can Grow That!" This month, we are all writing about how to make our cities more beautiful. I chose to write about flowering trees.
 | | You can grow that! |
Really and truly, it's okay to replace an ugly tree with one you like better. Read more for my suggestions on lovely trees that are well-suited not just to our growing area but to our smaller front yards!
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Thanks for reading,
Elizabeth Barrow
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