November 11 , 2010
Countdown to freeze; alternatives to nandina & ligustrum
For a fall that ’s been “ resplendent ” with fervency ants like I have n’t seen in years , it ’s been a dim show for butterflies . early on on , bordered temporary hookup butterflies blanketed anything with flowers . That was a first in my garden .
And although I ’ve sure check butterfly stroke in retiring weeks , it ’s been nothing like the common swarm . The blue mist-flower ( Conoclinium coelestinum ) have felt a shade lonesome .
In October , when I started seeding lettuce ( some of which the ants ate ) , I borrowedMaster Gardener Patty Leander’stip about shading during those hot day . ( This is also a skilful theme when you graft something when it ’s scalding by good afternoon . )
In the shed , I found the beach umbrella that Greg and I got when he was recording in La Jolla and I go for a weekend to stress out life as a beach bum . Sad to say , in my world , it ’s more likely to be used as a moolah umbrella . And when the kiddie pool was up , it impart a dainty design connection . Hey !
Now , I ’ve hunted down where I tossed the rowcover bag in the shed . I stuff them into a bedspread cup of tea . I used to keep them in bags by name for location , but last leaping I threw out my orderly way and hurriedly crammed them into one bounteous bag “ to lot with later . ” Uh oh , “ afterward ” is here .
Since we ’re on the countdown to the first frost , this calendar week on CTG Daphnehas a few crest on how to properly cover attender flora . Hint : keep your fictile trash bag for the trumpery . Do not put them on your plant life .
Thanks to Jeff Pavlat from theAustin Cactus & Succulent Societyfor share his pictorial matter from last class ’s strange cold . you may expend Christmas lights or other waterproof get off to make your own version of winter garden luminarias .
In most cases , just a blanket , sheet , or even a corner work . I keep a cache of old bed cover and sheets from the Clarence Day before rowcover was commonly available , and I still trust on them for a few plants on the patio . These day , you’re able to buy packaged N - Sulate at nurseries , but I bought mine by the K fromThe rude Gardenera few years back . When it polish off below 20 ° in my garden last year , though , I spread an honest-to-goodness blanket on top of the lettuce rowcover for extra protection .
The advantage to rowcover is that it permit in visible light and does n’t sog down with rainfall . It ’s the best approximation for plants you want to enshroud all winter , like vegetables and citrus . If you cover plant with a sheet or blanket , be sure to remove it on “ normal ” mornings when the sunshine comes out . For the lettuce layer and my Satsuma orangeness , I also pull up the rowcover on warm twenty-four hours . When I insure my slenderly tender agaves , I also removed the rowcover on warm days .
It ’s all about temperatures where you exist , since it change so much . After last winter ’s panic attack , I ’m sure you ’ve check the cold hardiness temps for some of the fringy flora we ’ve been tempt to try . This weekend , I clumped up lots of mulch on my new pink Turk cap and dianellas . I wo n’t cover them , as I do n’t most of my works . I ’ve never had a problem with the native red turks detonating machine coming back , but new additions like these get a little special attention since their solution are n’t established .
William Glenn fromThe Natural Gardenercarries on Daphne ’s theme with some tips of his own , especially get across those square metrical unit gardens or container you have .
As both Daphne and William advise : linchpin your auspices with Stone , brick , jute pins or clinch .
Since my Satsuma orangeness is still pocket-sized , I make a tepee with bamboo canes and blanket it with rowcover . With large citrus , you just have to take your chance . At least , mulch the rootage .
Well , the good news is that my evergreen sumac is adulterate with luscious berries for the birds .
The bad news is that it ’s fallen over .
Since Jared Pyka from Native Texas Nursery was in - studio for this hebdomad ’s CTG , I ask him about it . It ’s happening all over township . They have shallow ancestor , and with the sullen limbs , the rains we get ( remember when we had rainwater ! ) tumped them over . I ’m not trusted I can correct mine with pruning . We ’ll see .
Jared ’s on-key mission at CTGwas tomeet with Tom for aboriginal industrial plant alternativesto those encroaching Ligustrum and nandinas . Get hisgreat estimation for plantslike elbow bush , shadow Barbados cherry tree , silk tassel and more . They are just as tough , add a lot more interest , and do n’t destroy essential variety for our wildlife .
The silver germander ( Teucrium fruiticans ) he recommends is n’t aboriginal , but adds that silvery interestingness when layer with immature shrubs and perennials . It is n’t invasive and loves drouth .
It ’s one I pick out when I dug up the nandinas in front . It vex morning spectre and hot afternoon Dominicus for a few hr . The 14 ° did n’t bother it .
observe : Native Texas Nursery is n’t open to the public , so please ask for Jared ’s plant ideas at your local glasshouse .
It ’s almost last call for larkspurs and aboriginal wild flower seeds . This week , Daphne sport Eruca sativa larkspur , thanks to Melissa atZanthan Gardens .
It ’s not too tardy to add them to your garden , but do it soon !
Until next week , Linda
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