TEXAN GARDENING

In The Ground

If you decide to plant your citrus trees in the ground, out in your landscape, plant it in a protected area such as the south or southeast side of your house to provide shelter from the cold Northwestern wind brought by cold fronts. The house will also provide a little bit of heat to keep it warmer during the winter. Be sure to plant your new trees at least four to six feet away from the structure to allow for future growth. Choose your citrus wisely and you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor before you know it.

If you’ve spent a summer afternoon basking aside a sweet-smelling citrus tree or if you have tasted fruit collected with your own hands, you know it’s worth the time and effort of planting a fruit tree.

MARC HESS is an author whose latest novel, “The Gillespie County Fair,” is available on Amazon. It’s a riveting story about the gentrification of rural Texas. He is also the editor of Milberger’s Gardening South Texas newsletter, a monthly (except January) publication covering the challenges and solutions of gardening in South Central Texas’s unique growing zone. It’s available on-line at no charge at https://www.milbergernursery.com/newsletter-archive/

TEXAN