Friday, September 28, 2012

It's a Great Day to Fertilize Your Lawn!

Today would be a great day to fertilize your lawn.  The rain predictions are looking pretty good for this weekend, and not too stormy, so you won't need to water the fertilizer in.  Even if you don't fertilize any other time of year, take a few minutes to fertilize your lawn in the early fall.  It gives your grass that little extra boost that it needs to build up a good root system this winter.  So when it wakes up next spring, it will have a jump start before the heat of summer hits!
Just use an all-purpose lawn fertilizer, and be sure to apply at the label rate.  At this time of year, "weed-and-feed" products would be a waste of money (since weeds are going dormant too), so purchase a product that is only fertilizer.  Also, if you have trees planted in your lawn area, the herbicide in weed and feed products does damage them, so don't ever use these products around lawns with trees. 
Lawn fertilizers are high in nitrogen, which is the mineral element that plants, including turf grass, need in the highest amount.  Some lawn fertilizers are labeled "winterizers," and are higher in phosphorus and potassium.  Here in Central Texas, our soil generally has plenty of these two nutrients, so just stick with an all-purpose lawn fertilizer that's high in N, but lower in P and K, even when preparing your lawn for winter. 
Even though it's a great time to fertilize your lawn, you should avoid fertilizing your other plants at this time of year.  Trees, shrubs, and perennials will put on a flush of new growth with that added boost, and that may be just in time for them to get nipped by our first frost, especially if it arrives early.  So just continue to water your landscape plants as needed, and let them begin to respond to the shortened days and cooler temperatures by beginning to move into dormancy. 

Augie watches vigilantly, to make sure that I follow the label directions.

Monday, September 24, 2012

This ain't no sippin' tea...



Compost Tea 101
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 10:30am-12:30pm
Hampton Branch Library at Oakhill
5125 Convict Hill Rd.
Austin TX  78749

Compost Tea is a great fertilizer for your garden. This seminar will cover what you need to know for setting up a simple "do-it-yourself" compost tea brewer, what goes in it, how to avoid problems, and recipes for using compost tea in your garden!

This free class doesn’t require a reservation but if you want to ensure a seat, sign up online at: http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture.   Please note that any empty reserved seats become open seating at 9:50 am. This seminar is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call (512)854-9600.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Small Acreage Pond Management Class - October 2, 2012

Do you have a pond or stock take on your small acreage land?  If so, please join Agriculture Agent Julie Ansley for this pond management program

3 TDA Pesticide Applicator CEUs Offered (2 General and 1 IPM)
When: October 2, 2012 – 9 AM to Noon
Where: Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management               
  2210 S. FM 973
              AUSTIN, TX 78725
              PHONE: 512-972-1950 (Call if you get lost)
Who: Dr. Peter Woods, Extension Fisheries Program Specialist
Topics will include:
-        Site Selection                       -     Harvesting
-        Construction                        -     Sealing Leaky Ponds
-        Fertilizing                            -     Clearing Muddy Ponds
-        Stocking                               -     Aquatic Plant Control
-        Feeding
The cost is $20 and can be paid at the event in the form of check or money order.  Doughnuts, coffee, sodas & water will be provided.  Please RSVP by 3 PM September 28th to help us plan for handouts and refreshments.  Registration after this time and date (including onsite) will be accepted; however the cost will be $25. 
For questions and to RSVP, please call Sue at 512-854-9610.
Persons with disabilities who plan to attend meetings or functions who may need auxiliary aids or services are requested to contact the Texas AgriLife Extension Service of Travis County at 512-854-9600 seven days prior to the event so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Extension Programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U. S. Department of Agriculture and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Next week learn all about caring for perennials in fall



Divide and Transplant Perennials
Thursday, September 20, 2012, 10am-12pm
Travis County AgriLife Extension Office
1600 B Smith Rd., Austin TX  78721

Perennials tend to increase in density and size over the years which diminishing the vigor of the plants.  Solve this problem by learning to properly divide and transplant these plants.  Learn which plants need to be periodically divided and how to correctly preform the task.   Discover what is needed to appropriately transplant the plants into new beds.   Gain an understanding of how to prepare the plants to pass on to friends.  This seminar is free and open to the public.  It is presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County. www.tcmastergardeners.org. For information, call (512) 854-9600.