Earth Friendly Gardening Techniques
There are many things one can do to be more earth friendly when gardening. Three of the easiest are using low-volume or drip irrigation, composting, and mulching planting beds.
Standard irrigation uses “pop-up” spray heads or rotors. These heads have the advantage of being able to shoot over the top of foliage to get water to most points needed. However, they have the distinct disadvantage of wasting a good deal of water as it gets blown off target by the wind and evaporates. A more efficient form of irrigation, especially for landscapes and vegetable gardening, is drip irrigation, which uses small diameter tubing with holes in it, or porous soaker hoses. Both are easy to use and can be installed easily by the average home owner.
Drip irrigation is more efficient due to the fact that the water is delivered right at ground level, where it can soak directly into the root zone. One doesn’t have to worry about the wind, and evaporation is kept to a minimum. This form of irrigation also helps to reduce leaf problems such as powdery mildew since water is kept off of plant foliage.
Utilizing mulch serves several purposes, including keeping the soil moist and preventing weed growth. There is less need to use herbicides and the mulch breaks down over time, slowly improving the soil. One should always ensure that he or she is getting mulch that has been aged somewhat; otherwise, if the mulch is “green,” it can heat up and kill the plants. In addition, as it goes through this heating up and aging process, it can pull valuable nitrogen out of the ground, causing plant leaves to be chlorotic. If one has to use green mulch, it is a good idea to put down a light application of nitrogen to compensate for this nitrogen loss.
For most landscaping, any good ground woody mulch, such as pine bark, cypress, or hardwood, is fine. Pine needles are increasingly used as mulch. If you happen to have pine trees in your yard, count yourself lucky, as you have a free source of mulch. I regularly rake up my pine needles and use them in my vegetable garden, where I place them over my soaker hose to help hold in the moisture and reduce weed growth. Other good mulches for use in vegetable gardens include composted leaves and hay. Both will break down through the year and can be turned in to the bed at the end of the season to improve the soil.
Some people use decorative rocks as a mulch. This is fine; however, there will be no benefit from it breaking down and adding organic matter to the soil. Be aware that some rocks can also raise the pH of the soil, depending upon their composition.
Compost is one of the best things one can add to the soil. It is a great way to feed the beneficial micro-organisms in the soil. It also helps to improve the structure of the soil over time as it breaks down and is pulled into the soil by earthworms and other soil microbes. For best results, apply a 2-3” layer of compost annually, topped by a 3-4” layer of mulch. Your plants and the Earth will love you for it! Printable pdf
Fall Gardening in Houston
Ahhh, fall, my favorite time of year. The sweltering days of summer are a thing of the past. Days spent out in the garden now are much more enjoyable. (more) Printable pdf
September 2009
Time to Gear Up for Fall
If you planted fall crops in July, they should really be going well by now. Hopefully, you at least tried your hand at fall tomatoes. (more) Printable pdf
August 2009
August 2009
Fall gardening may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s time to start thinking about it. Cooler weather will be here soon and now is the time to plant if you want a second crop in the fall. (more) Printable pdf
July 2009
Who Gardens in July in Houston?
Gardening fiends, that’s who! For those of us who truly love gardening, July is still a fine time. But be smart about it: garden early or late in the day, and drink lots of water. (more) Printable pdf
June 2009
Summer: A Time of Transition
Now that summer temperatures have arrived, it is time to switch gears in the garden for awhile. Gone are the cooler temperatures of spring and the humidity is really noticeable. Let’s take a look at some things to remember when gardening in the Houston summer. (more) Printable pdf
May 2009
Earth Friendly Gardening Techniques
There are many things one can do to be more earth friendly when gardening. Three of the easiest are using low-volume or drip irrigation, composting, and mulching planting beds.
(more) Printable pdf
April 2009
The Spring Garden
Where I grew up in Western Kentucky, mid-April was the average "frost-free" date. We looked forward to this time to get our gardens going again. Here in Houston, we've been at work in our vegetable and fruit gardens for some time now.
For those of you who got your tomatoes in the ground (or pots) in mid to late February or early March, you should really be seeing some good growth by now and maybe some fruit as well. Continue to give your tomatoes an occasional application of granular or liquid organic fertilizer as they will need the extra nutrients to produce well. Keep them mulched and well watered. (more) Printable pdf
March 2009
March brings us the Vernal Equinox and the return of gardening in earnest. Gardeners will be flocking to their local nurseries and garden stores, so be prepared. For all you vegetable lovers, this is the month you want to get your warm season vegetables planted. Typical fare include summer beans and peas, carrots, peppers, squash, eggplant, okra, melons, corn, cucumber, onions, and tomatoes, if you choose an early-maturing variety and get them in early in the month. More exotic choices include chicory, endive, horseradish, mache (corn salad), and mizuna. Be sure to get your plants off to a good start with the addition of compost as you plant, or a good organic fertilizer. (more) Printable pdf
February 2009
February is the traditional start of the spring vegetable gardening season here in the Houston area. Hopefully, by now you have your vegetable garden topped off with compost, tilled, and ready for planting. For those of you who love tomatoes (and who doesn’t?), timing is critical. Tomatoes are heat lovers, but only to a certain point.
The key to growing tomatoes here in Texas is to purchase early maturing varieties such as ‘Early Girl’ and to get them planted as early as you can. Mid-to late February is an ideal time in the Houston area. You might have to cover them once or twice if we get a cold snap but the key is to get them going before it gets too hot! Once daytime temperatures get over 90 degrees and, more importantly, nighttime temps stay close to the 77-80 degree range, tomatoes tend to stop fruiting. You may see flowers, but no fruit will develop. This is why planting early is so important. You must get your plants to set fruit before the temperatures get too hot. (more) Printable pdf
January 2009
January the Quietest Month
January may be one of the quietest months in the gardening calendar but it's a good time to get your garden beds ready for the spring growing season.
In Houston, one thing to remember is our high clay content soil. This type of soil can make ordinary gardening tasks like watering and feeding plants a major problem. Clay soil holds water, does not drain well and, the clay particles hold tightly to nutrient particles meant for your plants.
One option to bypass Houston's clay soil is to plant your garden in raised beds. (more) Printable pdf
By Brent Moon
January, 2009
Year-Round Gardening Guide
Houston Parks and Recreation
Urban Garden Program
Gardening Guide
January
This is a good time to test your lawn and garden soil for its pH level. Soil samples can be sent to Texas A&M for analysis. Go to http://soiltesting.tamu.edu for details.
Compost piles should be turned at least once during the month. Leaves are abundant and should be shredded before being added to the pile. Add animal manure or clippings from winter rye for a source of nitrogen. The pile should be at least 3 cubic feet in volume to hold in the heat generated by decomposition. Check the pile for moisture level. It should be neither too wet nor too dry. Add water if it is dry; add more coarse, dry matter if it is too wet. (more) Printable pdf
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Standard irrigation uses “pop-up” spray heads or rotors. These heads have the advantage of being able to shoot over the top of foliage to get water to most points needed. However, they have the distinct disadvantage of wasting a good deal of water as it gets blown off target by the wind and evaporates. A more efficient form of irrigation, especially for landscapes and vegetable gardening, is drip irrigation, which uses small diameter tubing with holes in it, or porous soaker hoses. Both are easy to use and can be installed easily by the average home owner. .jpg)
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Printable pdf
