14 minute read
SPECIAL SECTION Gardening & Outdoor Living
Advice from the experts at Texas A&M AgriLife
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by Cassidie Cox photos by Master Gardener Sonia Schuetze and Kate Whitney
The seasons are changing, and as spring approaches it is important to know how to prepare your lawn and garden. Kate Whitney, a horticulturalist with the Williamson County AgriLife extension, has tips and tricks for gardeners or yard tenders at all levels of expertise to ensure the very best care during these last winter months, and how to prepare for spring.
Prepare vegetables in February
There are many types of vegetables that should be planted in January and February, and there is still time to prepare them. Asian greens, asparagus crowns, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and chard are just a few. Whether planted as seeds or transfers, these vegetables will thrive when planted at this time of year. If you need a more flexible planting time, lettuce is a good choice.
Kate says, “These can basically be planted from September until the beginning of March. Onion sets are also great to plant now, and they can be found in any local feed store."
For more information on what to plant and when, for any kind of plant, there are planting calendars available on the Williamson AgriLife website (code on facing page).
Be ready to cover winter plants
If winter plants or vegetables are growing, prepare to cover them before big freezes. A freeze cloth (below) is a wise purchase, or old blankets or sheets work just as well. Plastic cover is not recommended; it does not provide insulation and warmth as needed. Also, be sure to stake cloths in and that all their edges are touching the ground to keep cold air away from the plants. You may fill plastic milk jugs with warm water and, before dusk, set the jugs around your plants and throw a cover over them. The water in the jugs will lose heat more slowly than the soil and air, and the warmth it emits will help protect your plants from the cold.
Mulch your plants Start basic lawn care
Kate suggests late winter is the best time to add mulch to flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and around young trees. Adding mulch around plants and packing it into the soil will help prevent weeds and keep plants safe during the cold weather. Since most trees and plants have lost their leaves by January, this process will be easier than in warmer months when they become more lush.
She adds, “Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and keep the soil moist. Younger or more fragile plants like young trees, flowers, and vegetables need this extra insulation and protection to withstand the freezes before spring weather arrives. Moist soil isn’t particularly necessary during the cold weather, but it will help plants keep warm."
Water plants before big freezes
Though it may seem like adding water to plants before a freeze might harm plants, it is actually essential to protecting them. Water will moisten and warm the surrounding soil, giving the plants the extra warmth they need. If a plant is too dry before a freeze, it could succumb more easily to the cold.
Cut back plants caught in the last freeze
For the plants that were not covered before the January freeze, most should be fine and ready to grow back soon. With plants like salvia and lantana, cutting them back until they’re low to the ground will help them come back very well in the spring.
Putting a layer of granular pre-emptive herbicide and watering it down will prevent weeds from germinating in spring.
Potential warm front could be coming
There are rumors of yet another warm front coming in from the north. As could be seen with many perennial plants that did not lose their leaves until recently, we are having an unseasonably warm winter. This should not harm your winter plants already growing.
Start tool maintenance
To prepare for the spring, February is a good time to check and refurbish lawn tools. Sharpening lawnmower blades will help cut grass more evenly, which can promote healthy growth. Jagged cuts from dull blades potentially make grass more susceptible to diseases. It is also worthwhile to sharpen pruners.
Take care of winter weeds
The 2021-22 winter has been unusually warm. This means winter weeds like henbit, clovers, and rescue grass are running rampant. Pulling them or mowing them down will keep them from going to seed.
If meeting in person with other lawn and garden lovers and experts would help, the AgriLife extension hosts numerous gardening classes. Scan the code below for helpful resources, guides, and tips to make your garden thrive.
GARDENS & OUTDOOR LIVING Time to Plant Summer-Blooming Bulbs
SPRING IS THE TIME TO PLANT SUMMER-BLOOMING BULBS, SUCH AS DAHLIAS, GLADIOLAS, LILIES, CALLADIUMS, AND ELEPHANT EARS. BULBS SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL, DRY PLACE UNTIL ALL DANGER OF FROST HAS PASSED. THEN IT’S TIME TO PLANT.
Experts at the USDA say the best time to plant seasonal flora depends on your planting hardiness zone. Central Texas is in Zone 8, identified by the average coldest extreme temperatures in this area—10 to 20°F. Experts recommend planting bulbs here in early to midspring; i.e., late March to May.
HOW TO PLANT
The best resource for knowing how deep to plant your bulbs is the packaging they came in but, generally: Dig a hole 2-3 times as deep as the bulb is tall. The pointy side of the bulb should face up. The roots should face down.
Give the bulbs a good watering. Continue watering whenever the soil is dry. Keep in mind that over-watering can cause the bulb to rot.
Most bulbs also need rich soil, so mix some compost into your soil for the best results, especially if the soil is heavy clay or has poor drainage. Loamy or slightly sandy soil is ideal.
It is also recommended to add 2-3 inches of mulch on top of the flowerbed to prevent weeds. Bulbs can easily grow up through the mulch and weeds will have a tougher time. Weed barrier fabric is not ideal to use when planting bulbs, because it can prevent moisture from reaching the roots of the developing bulb. If you must use weed barrier fabric, cut cross slits in the fabric at the site of each bulb.
PLANT FOR VISUAL EFFECT
To provide blooms all season long, consider when each flower type is likely to bloom. Some bloom once per season while others—seedum, daylilies, hosta, or bleeding heart—will bloom repeatedly until late fall and, at least, provide consistent, rich foliage. You may also want to mix plantings so flowerbeds provide visual interest all season long.
Scan to code to check Longfield Gardens’ Bloom Time Chart for Spring and Summer Bulbs and help planning your flowerbeds.
The groundhog really can predict the end of winter. Just not with his shadow. Groundhogs hibernate every winter, so the fact that he'd bother to leave his hideaway is a natural sign of spring to come. In Germany, it's "Badger Day."
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Your house and your taste aren't cookie cutter— your landscaping shouldn't be either.
For 20 years, the Hodges have been providing custom design and build services tailored to each client. "We don't simply give you a choice between a few designs," James says. "We start every project from scratch."
He and his wife, Laura, are eager to work with homeowners who, over the past two years, have opted to improve and enhance their personal space. "Vacations can be canceled and travel can be interrupted, so many people are fashioning new ways to enjoy their homes, where they spend most of their time."
In 2022, the same trends are likely to continue, but the Hodges assure, with the possibilities of new patios, walkways, water features, and outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, your escape can be in your own back yard.
For those thinking about planting, James' expert advice for this first post-Uri Spring is to focus on the basics of plant needs; lighting, nutrition, water, and temperature.
"It's natural to think the Texas climate is great for tropical plants but our winters can be hard on tropical plants. Texas has very alkaline water and soil; azaleas and other acid-loving plants will not do well. Also, commit a certain portion of your landscape to plants recommended for Zones 7 and northward to ensure their hardiness through occasional freezes."
LAURA and JAMES HODGES 512-755-9273 • 512-755-9272 JAMES@YARDBUILDERS.COM
PLANTS FOR WINDOW BOXES
Window boxes make for the perfect design elements to the exterior of your home. With the right flowers, they can serve as a stunning focal point of your backyard.
Window boxes are sure to catch some attention this spring. Before filling your boxes, it is important to know the growing habits and requirements of the plants you plan to use. Be sure to consider the sunlight, shade, and watering needs of each, as well as bloom time.
SHADE
SUNLIGHT
If your window is exposed to full sunlight, you have many options. From vinca to marigolds, you can find flowers with gorgeous combinations of green foliage and colorful petals.
Geraniums are low-maintenance bloomers that generally reach about 12"—the perfect option if you’re looking to add a little height.
A slightly shorter option is the petunia. These beauties grow 4-12" and, like the geranium, come in a trailing variety that can help you put together a flower box overflowing with vibrant colors.
If your box will be located in partial or full shade, choose shade-loving plants such as impatiens, begonias, or calladiums for maximum impact. All of these are available in a full range of colors and tones, making matching the hue of your home easy. Find flowers with pops of bright pinks and purples if you’re looking to make a dramatic statement near your home’s entry or any other prominent spot.
Heritage & Horizons
The Black Legacy of Williamson County
THE BLACK FAMILY, AND BLACK INDIVIDUALS, HAVE SHAPED AND LED WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN INNUMERABLE WAYS. ENSLAVED PEOPLES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS SETTLED THIS COUNTY, REPRESENTED WILCO IN WARS, TREATED THE ILL, AND LED US TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. THE BLACK FAMILY CONTAINS A MULTITUDE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GENERATIONAL LEGACIES OF EXCELLENCE.
~WILLIAMSONMUSEUM.ORG
HISTORICAL ICONS
Dr. James Dickey image credit: Taylor Library Archives
Cowboy Bill "Bulldogger" Pickett, image courtesy of Gerald Anderson
by Cassidie Cox
The Williamson Museum is a regal building and home to many relics and remembrances of Williamson County's history. Inside, visitors can peruse artifacts from across the years; and pictures, paintings, and signs fill every space on the walls. Now, in the living history area of the museum, rests the Heritage and Horizons: The Black Legacy of Williamson County exhibit.
Originally instituted in February 2021, the Heritage and Horizons exhibit showcases the legacy of Black history in and around Williamson County. Civil rights leaders, physicians, philanthropists, and many more called Williamson County home. This free exhibit will be open to the public February 10 through August 31.
DISCOVER THE STORIES
From internationally-known historical figures to exciting local pioneers, this exhibit takes visitors through time as they get to know the rich history of Williamson County through a new lens. Plus, museum curators and volunteers are eager to narrate the history and legacy among the rest of the exhibits.
THE BULLDOGGER: International celebrity and rodeo cowboy Bill Pickett grew up in Liberty Hill. His living descendants reside in Taylor and have kept his legacy alive through the years to enable new generations to celebrate is life. Through photographs and biographies, the exhibit highlights his career as a trick rider and performer, global celebrity status, and his cultural contributions to the area. His family has also assured the museum that Bill's exhibit may remain open to the public indefinitely.
THE PHYSICIAN-ACTIVIST: In 1922, Dr. James Dickey was one of only 130 Black doctors in Texas. Early in his career he created a dynamic vaccination program that helped control a typhoid fever epidemic. As the only Black doctor in Williamson County, he conducted health
campaigns and established a prenatal clinic where expectant mothers who were unable to pay were provided free examinations and advice. In 1952, Dr. Dickey made national news when the Rotary Club of Taylor, based on nominations from every civic and religious organization in town, recognized the contributions of this courageous African American by voting him Citizen of the Year.
In 2021, the museum commissioned a locally sourced mural to showcase Dr. Dickey’s incredible contribution to medicine and civil rights. It is also partnering with residents and family in Taylor to donate the mural to the Dickey Museum and Multi-purpose Center when it opens.
VISIT THE MUSEUM
Curator intern Margaret Taylor explained in an earlier news article, “The strong legacy of many Black families is evident in every part of Williamson County history. Being a part of this community and witnessing history come to life isn’t just educational, it’s gratifying. Visiting this exhibit will bring Black history to your home."
Another special facet of Heritage & Horizons is its designation as a community exhibit, which means much of what is on display is intimately connected to local residents. While the museum does have many items in archives and storage, nearly every picture and artifact shown was donated by living descendants of those represented in the exposition; their stories, history, and memorabilia are all gifted. Museum curator Nancy Hill says, “These are the vibrant lives and stories right from the families. We want to be able to tell all the stories in this rich and diverse community.” For a museum, donations like these bring confidence and assurance that the stories and pictures are not only factual and educational, but personal. So much direct involvement brings the stories off the pages of books and folds it into an experience akin to listening to the tales of neighbors. Nancy is very pleased to have been able to bring it all together for everyone to hear. “This is not just an exhibit for show, we are more like an avenue to pull all these stories together.”
THE LEGACY CONTINUES
At the conclusion of the tour, a wall mural suggests more stories and ways to learn about Williamson County’s Black history. There are several children’s books that discuss the topic, and QR codes that link to local Black foundations and charities. Visitors are encouraged to support the museum and all the organizations working to promote and expand the cultural impact of Black history and its icons with donations or volunteering.
Visit the museum on the Georgetown Square at 716 S. Austin Ave. Wed-Fri 12pm-5pm, and Saturday 10am-5pm.
During the Victorian Era, those who didn’t want the attention of certain suitors would anonymously send “vinegar valentines." These cards, also called penny dreadfuls, were the antithesis of customary valentines, comically insulting and rejecting unwanted admirers.
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