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Planning Time in the Garden

Now is the time for us to reassess our gardens. I am in process of completely redoing and relocating my garden. At first I put it too far from the house and then planted fruit trees that I didn’t bother to think would grow and shade the vegetable garden. See, we all make mistakes when we don’t take time to visit, observe the site and how it relates to what you want to grow. Then we need to do a soil test at the very beginning and then later in a couple of years to find out how you need to amend the soil or not to amend it.

I have planted so many plants in locations where I wanted them, only to find out later that they (the plants) liked it somewhere else. Believe me we need to spend more time finding the right locations for every plant we put in the ground or every potted plant we place around the garden or home site.

When we are reading about what a plant likes, keep in mind that when the pamphlet says it likes full sun it does not necessarily mean that it likes a full Texas sun. Be sure to orient your garden to take full advantage of breezes, sun and shade depending upon what you are planting. If you are new to the area ask your fellow gardeners and neighbors what does well in your area.

Believe me they will tell you quickly what will not work and what will work. Heed their advice; it will save you hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands and untold number of hours correcting mistakes that did not have to be made. Listen to the voice of experience, me. Or listen to my wife Patty and she will agree. Oh, while we are on the subject, men listen to your wives it saves a lot of time in the garden, and time spent in the

doghouse. Enough said.

What to do in the Garden

Now that Winter is here for at least two to three days it reminds us of what we are supposed to be doing.

1. Mulch and Mulch and Mulch some more, protection from cold and retaining moisture.

2. Water when it is dry. Don’t depend upon the rain.

3. Provide cover for those extra sensitive plants when it is cold

4. Great time to transplant those tree and shrubs

5. Prune the Live Oaks when it is really cold

6. Plant vegetable seeds: carrot, leek, leaf lettuce, spinach and shallots.

7. Plant onion plants

8. Plant strawberries

9. All the books say plant fruit trees, berries, grapes and nuts (Pecan, Walnut) Some orchard friends say it is better to plant fruit trees after the last freeze, they ought to know.

10. If you have your Christmas tree and it is not a live tree (shame on you, it could be planted) then chip it and use the mulch in the garden

Ashe Junipers are Active

If you are suffering from “Cedar Fever” there is a solution. Betty Branch shared her recipe for Cedar Tea and I have shared it in my book and on my web site www.TexasLand.net . Warning: Always check with your doctor. If they say it is alright, then proceed to take the tea. It works. But don’t believe me ask Sue Kersey what it has done for her. My wife Patty and I take it daily in our fruit juice drink.

The Weather 2008

As some of you have already heard 2008 has gone down in the history books as the driest year since 1956. I remember those days and very vividly when the drought broke. That was when Lake Travis lodges were under water as many house and cabins were.

There are a couple of reasons for bringing that up; one is beware and look to the sky for when it comes it will be a woolly-burger, secondly we need to water more as it has been a really hard year on all

vegetation and gardeners. So keep an eye to the sky.

Till Next Month!

Keep your souls and your soles in your garden! Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1

Have questions or comments? Contact Bill Luedecke at The Luedecke Group Realtors, P.O. Box 1632, Bertram, TX. 78605 (no Post Office in Oatmeal) or email bill@texasland.net. For additional gardening web sites, go to his web site; www.TexasLand.Net and click on links.