Sand makes the soil here more powdery and easier to pull weeds out of. I know...chemistry-class wise, it makes no sense, but it actually works.
j/k. If you add enough compost, it's fine. It's just that some folks think that since sandy soil is the opposite of clay soil, that they need to add sand to clay to improve it (whereas compost is the solution in all cases). Still, pretty intense plot there. Don't know how you do all that in such a small space. I'm impressed. BTW, how do your tomatoes do in high-summer in Houston? What's your favorite? I think the yellow Brandywines have the best flavor.
Smeg, Do ya'll have many of the same ornamentals available as Europe and the States? And what are you getting ready to plant? Do you not have a cold season?
Texas Red Oak, Escarpment Live Oak, and Big Tooth Maple. Pretty much any tree I could find that would grow in the Hill Country.
The best ones I have found for Houston are the Celebrity tomatoes. They are disease-resistant, and they produce alot from April-July. They usually burn out after July 4th, but beforehand they produce lots of baseball-sized tomatoes.
There's a few more trees that would do ok here. BTW, you like fall colors (since you got a Red Oak and Maple)? I wanted a Red Oak, but some suspected that they were more likely to spread oak wilt, so I shied-away. We have 3 large live-oaks and planted 2 more small ones in the front yard, along with a Crape Myrtle, Moujntain Laurel, Japanese Maple and a Big Tooth (which I find to be v. slow growers). In the back, we planted a 2 Crape Mrtyles, Chinese Pistache, Purple Plum, Willow, Big Tooth Maple, Purple Redbud, Blue Ice Az Cypress, Mexican Plum, Monterey Oak, Smoketree, Purple Smoketree, Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Blue Spruce, Bald Cypress, Flameleaf Sumac, Black Bamboo, and 2 Wax Mrytles.
Last summer we had some trouble with our tomatoes not setting because we planted too late. Tomotoes don't set in high temps. I tried blossom set and it worked like a charm. This year we've planted three varieties of grapes, one each of sweet 100 tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and hot peppers and a few square feet of sweet peas, pototoes, onions, spinach, lettuce, carrots, radishes and green beans. Last years eggplant won't quit producing so I left it in to see what would happen. I've had to prune it back a lot but the eggplants taste great. Aside from the grapes, we've planted everything within two 16 sq. ft. raised beds. Judging from last year, the production is generally more than we can reasonably consume. On a related note: does anyone have any advice on killing grubs without poisoning vegetables? I love planting things and going outside every morning to see what's sprouting, growing, blooming or ripening but I'm rather terrified of all things creepy, crawly or otherwise icky.
yeah i guess we do have them available have a few different areas for planting near the backdoor, going to have a herb garden... nice and close for cooking near the driveway, will have some garden beds with maybe some minature fruit trees, esp lemon, lime and few others have one large garden bed which will most likely have natives planted in it, probably a species called eromophilas....... which look great and after they are established require minimal watering (we had water restrictions this current summer) there is another smaller garden bed, which i might put some palms in also have a veggie patch planned for near the back, will just plant whatever is seasonal thay we will eat around the fences at the back will likely have some more native plants and then there will also be a small patch of grass right now we are moving from summer to autumnm winter is still 3-4 months away.... so should be fine
I've heard that red oaks aren't any more susceptable than any of the other oak trees and they are great in the rocky soil. I was lucky enough to have about 8 live oaks trees on my lot so the trees I bought were more for privacy and color, and is why I bought the maple and red oak. My wife is falling in love with red buds right now so I might plant a couple for some color next spring. My problem right now is finding enough plants that grow well in the shade under the tree I have.
Want to put any trees there? Some good understory (dappled sunlight) trees for C Texas: Forest Pansy Redbud: Purple Leaved Redbud Royal Purple Smoketree: Stunning small tree/ large bush. Prefers sun, but will tolerate light shade. The standard green-leaved smoketree can have impressive fall colors. Blooms are like smoke, hence the name, and generally pinkish in color (I love these trees for the leaves and shape, not the 'smkoey' plumes). Mexican Plum: fragrant white blooms will bring the butterflies in Spring (unless it buds too early). Cool bark, often a lot of character in the shape. Little to moderate fall color. Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum: Recently plant of the week for both Austin American Statesman and the Central Texas Gardener, making a difficult to find tree even harder to find (and I found one ). Shiny green leaves, ultra-white spring blooms, fantastic structure, reportedly some of the best fall colors available for C Texas.
Milky Spore and Beneficial Nematodes. Once you establish them, they'll knock out the grubs for years.
Good point. We're heading that way in early July, so it'll probably be too late for tomatoes. Especially for a novice. At that time of year, what are good easy plants to try? I've never done a garden before, but I was hoping to grow some organic foods. Ideas?
I'd wait about 1 month and plant a fall garden. Here's a great site (Travis County Extension) w/ some veggie suggestions for July/August: http://www.tcmastergardener.org/html/august.html Here's Central Texas Gardener (a PBS show): http://www.klru.org/ctg/index.asp A great organic nursery: www.naturalgardeneraustin.com (if you're into organics, you'll learn alot about the owner, John Dromgoole). Other nurseries: http://www.tcmastergardener.org/html/vendors.html
GV, I'd also recommend installing drip irrigation for the garden. It's really inexpensive, flexible, effective, and easy to install. The most expensive component will prob be the timer, maybe $30-40 for a decent one.
