Do not locate your vegetable garden within six feet of hedges, shrubs or trees. Not only do these larger, more permanent plants compete for light, but they also gobble up nutrients and water necessary for healthy vegetables. The major consideration for garden location is sunlight. All vegetables require some sunlight; the most popular vegetables require …

The end of summer doesn’t mean that your gardening work is over. With the plants taken care of and watering arrangements compliant with city code, now is a good time to look at the tools that keep your garden green. Taking inventory is a good place to start before the organization work can begin. See …

Once plants have flowered and produced seed the plants puts all of its energy into maturing the seed and does not bloom again. Blooms may last longer in cooler climates but cooler climates do not have the potential for two spectacular bloom periods each year as South Texas does. Most of us expect our flowering …

South Texas summers mean a lot of sun, no rain and water restrictions. These conditions can be difficult on some delicate plants, but some do thrive in these drought or desert-like conditions. Here are a few plants that can stand up to the Texas summer heat and come out even more beautiful for having survived …

High heat, little rain and strict water restrictions can make gardening difficult in Texas. South Texas gets hit especially hard with a combination of high humidity and high temperatures. Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping and gardening that aims to reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from other irrigation means. Xeriscaping is a …

It is hard to believe that after having 10 inches more rain than the average in the first half of 2016, we are already irrigating lawns.  The same thing happened in 2015. It is what happens when you have shallow, poor soil and a high evaporation rate. There is a limited soil reservoir below our …

Too often when we think about landscaping we only consider lawns and shade trees.  It is important   to balance the landscape between shade trees and lawn with perennials, shrubs and small trees. In addition to the aesthetics involved, the perennials, shrubs and small trees allow you to increase color in the landscape and habitat for …

A large audience of children and adults flocked to Milberger’s to participate in our annual Birds of Prey Kids Last Chance Forever program. One of Milberger’s Kids Gardening Class the audience last weekend was thrilled by this dramatic, close-up educational experience with Texas predatory birds. Birds of Prey Conservancy’s Last Chance Forever program helps sick, injured and …

  Consider becoming a certified Master Gardener with the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners. We are a non-profit organization affiliated with the Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A & M. Our mission is to provide research based information and resources to people who want to garden in a successful, economical and earth Friendly way. …

Now is a good time to consider the hot weather root- hardy perennials. The list includes esperanza, poinciana, duranta, vitex, firebush, thyrallis and milkweed. Grow them all in full sun. All are drought tolerant.   Esperanza has yellow tubular flowers on light green foliage that the deer do not usually eat. They grow to 7 …