By Valerie Smith
Sod Solutions Content Strategist
Preparing your garden for winter is a crucial step for ensuring healthy growth in the spring. The below winter garden care tips will help you get your garden ready for the coldest time of the year.
Whether it be a vegetable garden, flower boxes or even backyard trees, the cold temperatures of winter can have a harsh effect on your gardening space.
Additionally, many harmful insects may infest your garden through the winter months, consequently damaging your plants in the spring. To promote healthy plant growth next year, it’s important to prepare your garden for the coming winter season.
In this article, we’ll walk you through winter garden care tips to protect your landscape as temperatures begin to drop.
Remove Weeds
Over the winter months, many weeds and spent crops in your garden may create a haven for harmful insects and pests. Thus, it’s important to remove weeds from your garden before winter hits.
Removing weeds eliminates hiding spots for pests and is effective for garden weed control. Diseased plants should also be removed to prevent disease and funguses from appearing on new plants.
In addition to removing dead plants and weeds, removing all fruits and vegetables from the ground will discourage pests from entering your garden.
Once all crops are removed, gently till the garden bed to expose any insects that may still be hiding in the soil.
Amend Garden Soil
Although most homeowners amend their garden’s soil in the spring, early winter is an excellent time to add soil amendments. Compost and manure are a few options for improving the soil’s quality.
Adding garden amendments during the fall will allow the nutrients to break down and become biologically active once the growing season starts.
Prevent Insect Damage with Horticultural Oil
Horticultural oil is a type of pesticide that controls pests on trees, vegetable gardens and other plants. Applying horticultural oil before winter hits will prevent insects and other pests from damaging your garden.
Many brands of horticultural oil, including Parafine Horticultural Oil, are effective on several varieties of trees, flowers and vegetable plants. Always follow the label’s directions when applying, as certain brands require multiple applications.
Plant a Cover Crop
Planting a cover crop can greatly reduce erosion and weed growth, as well as increase organic matter in your garden. Generally, cover crops are planted one month before the first killing frost.
Cover crops mainly consist of mustard, clover, peas, rye or a combination of these crops. In the spring, simply turn over the cover crop to enrich your garden’s soil.
Plant and Care for Trees and Shrubs
Late fall and early winter are the perfect time for planting new trees and shrubs. Additionally, you’ll want to continue caring for existing trees and shrubs even during the winter season.
Spreading a 2–3 inch layer of mulch at the base of the trunk is one of the best ways to protect your trees from cold temperatures. Winter is also a great time to prune deciduous trees, as the branches are clearly visible.
Protect Your Garden from Birds
Although birds may be helpful for removing small insects and pests in your garden, some birds may cause damage to plants. To prevent birds from eating garden plants, provide nesting boxes, water and bird feeders at a distance from your garden.
Care for Perennial Flowers
For perennial flower beds, autumn and winter are excellent times to cut any dead or withered flowers. This will improve their appearance in the spring, as well as prevent insects from hiding in the dried flowers.
If you plan on growing more perennials for the spring, now is a great time to divide and plant new bulbs in your flower bed.
Continue Checking Your Garden Weekly
Although your garden may be shut down until spring, it can still benefit from weekly check-ups throughout the winter season. Checking your garden at least once a week allows you to evaluate any damage and perhaps treat it with insecticide.
Controlling pests at the first sight of damage will prevent issues in the spring. Researching a spring fertilizer ahead of time will also prepare you for spring.
We hope you found these garden care tips helpful for preparing your garden for winter. If you happen to bring plants inside for the winter, be sure to spray them with an insecticide beforehand to prevent insects in your home. Following these simple yet effective garden maintenance tips will ensure you have a healthy, thriving garden in the spring.
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Editor's Note: Gardening news is slow at the beginning of the year, and many gardeners are unable to work in their gardens during winter. We thought you might enjoy a change of pace during this slow season, so following is a gardening-themed short story presented for your enjoyment. — Michael Bracken, editor
By C. Dan Castro
The basement door squealed open, Dad arriving in time to prevent a triple homicide.
“Dad, I still need—” I said.
“Dad, whuh about muh—” Bill overlapped.
“My life is over and—” Laura wailed.
“SILENCE!” Dad commanded, cutting off us three. He removed his safety glasses, dropping them into a pocket of his yellowed lab coat, then pointed at Laura. “One at a time.”
“The play, Dad. Next Monday?”
“You’re playing Ophelia?”
“I’m the set designer!”
“Ah, that play.”
“I have to create a jungle. We need lots of green paint.”
Dad looked at me. “Pumpkin, is there budget for green paint?”
I looked down at the worn kitchen table, inundated with “Past Due” notices. And one copy of Plant Genome Magazine.
“Not exactly,” I said. Although only twelve, I’d been in charge of paying the bills since Mom died. When Dad paid bills, the inevitable result was the power company shutting off the electricity. Not good for the basement laboratory, much less for us.
“I’m ruined,” Laura whined.
“Nonsense,” Dad said. “Simply need a better solution to the green paint problem. Hum. What about you, young man?”
“We still gonna build the soapbox dewby wace-uh?” Billy was eight and missing many baby teeth after an “adventure” involving him, a grocery cart, and Deadman’s Hill. Entering him into a soapbox derby race, even putting him into one of those coffin-like racers, seemed a dubious parental decision.
“Pumpkin, budget?”
“Wood’s not cheap.”
“Hum. Well, we could repurpose two doors. Can’t spare the front, back, or lab doors. And certainly not the bathroom door.”
“We can teh-uh mine off!” Billy said, always happy to destroy things.
“That’s one! But we need a second. Pumpkin? Laura?”
“Not it!” we said simultaneously.
“Perhaps a better solution can be found. What about you, Pumpkin?”
“I need carrots.”
“For...?”
“Carrot cake.”
“Your story checks out. Wait, why are you making carrot cake?”
“Home Ec,” although I held the second word, so it sounded like “Home Ecccch!” I don’t mean to sound snobby about the class, but I’d rather be doing basement experiments with Dad. After years of disappointment, his accelerated cellular division work was showing promise. Or at least, so he claimed. And his publication in Plant Genome Magazine backed it up.
“Ah, the mandatory eyesore on your grade’s curriculum. Let’s see. Carrots. Carrots. Pumpkin, you’re in luck.”
“We can go groceries?”
“Better. I’ll grow some carrots.”
“I need them next Sunday, for the cake on Monday.”
“No problem.”
“Today’s Saturday.”
“Better get planting.”
* * *
Our home sat on a half acre, all land not occupied by the house serving as garden space. Or as Dad called the fallow land, our “External Laboratory.”
The neighbors, with their perfect green lawns, despised us.
Dad fired up Ol’ Bessie and drove the aerator/seeder/don’t-get-run-over-by-apparatus in concentric squares around the house.
I watched from my bedroom window. Maybe a babysitting job would come Friday? Parents loved going out in our town, especially Fridays.
But Friday came and I had no takers. School over for the week, I cranked out biology homework involving plant genetics, Green Day blaring on my little stereo.
Dad appeared at my doorway. “Impressive, huh?” he asked loudly.
I turned down the stereo. “Green Day’s okay.”
“Wha—no. Not the music. The garden. See ’em?”
I looked out the window and saw the dirt that neighbors thought should be our lawn. Except for a few errant weeds, it was brown, brown, br—
No, not quite. Here and there, tiny green spots stood out, like polka dots, to create the ugliest dress fabric ever.
“That’s great, Dad. But Sunday’s in two days—”
“Remember those specific growth rate calculations we did? And the power of exponential growth?”
“Yes, but—”
“Wait and see, Pumpkin. Wait and see.”
* * *
Saturday. I woke with the dawn and looked out the window.
Carrot greens. Big, leafy, and everywhere.
I ran outside and pulled one. A long, fat carrot, its hairs tightly clutching flecks of soil.
I brought it in, cleaned it, and gave it a chomp.
“Ow!” The carrot might as well be an orange stalactite.
“Hey, what are you doing? Oh, Pumpkin, are you okay? These aren’t eating carrots.”
I stared, incredulous, tongue probing my teeth to confirm they didn’t shatter.
“Not yet, anyway,” Dad said. “It is only Saturday.”
* * *
Sunday. I’d been up late, watching “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” with the family, and wondering what other experiments Dad might be up to.
Dad’s muffled voice floated through the door: “Wake up, Pumpkin. Carrot time.”
“Gimmeeaminutetofindmy…” I mumbled, stopping as I became more awake. I heard Dad tromp down the stairs, and I squinted out the window.
And gasped.
Carrots jutted from the garden, but like none I’d ever seen. Six-foot-tall orange pillars. I doubted Billy could wrap his arms around them fully. And the greens on top added another six feet of height.
I ran downstairs, crashed into Billy and Laura, and we stumbled outside.
Dad turned toward us, raising his arms to indicate the forest of carrots. “Behold. The optimal solution. Just takes considerable genetic manipulation, some chloroplast concentrating, a bit of cell wall modification, and voilà!”
Dad turned to one giant carrot, careful not to trip over a chainsaw he must have brought out.
With one big shove, the carrot fell, its base having only extended six inches into the ground. They could withstand a mild wind, but not a determined scientist.
We three went up, and I knocked on the carrot. Rock hard.
I frowned. “It’s still not an eating carrot.”
“Ah, the phenotype hides something. Stand back.” We did, all wary when Dad picked up his chainsaw. He slipped on safety goggles, and with a single cord pull, got the chainsaw to roar to life.
Dad chopped off the greens before splitting the orange body in half lengthwise.
He killed the chainsaw, then waved us over. “The shell is hard, true, but the core is soft. And we have tons of greens,” he said, handing a pile to Laura, “so you can craft a very realistic jungle set.
“Billy, we’ll carve the shell into your racer.”
“Awe-some!”
“And Pumpkin, we’ll need to scoop out the center to make that racer.”
“And the center,” I guessed, “is eatin’ carrot.”
Dad smiled, not just in joy, but in relief. His first in a long time. “The other carrots can be used for many things. Food. Ethanol. Maybe building materials, depending on shell durability.” He looked at me. “Should pay lots of bills.”
“The optimal solution,” I said.
Dan Castro enjoys writing mystery and crime stories. He’s had stories published in Sherlock Holmes Magazine (UK), Particular Passages (Volume 4), Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1884, and more. When not composing stories, Dan tweets writing tips (@CDanCastro43), dreams of traveling again, or studies languages to imbue his stories with je ne sais quoi. Whatever that means. He’s currently making a final polish on his first novel, a middle grade fantasy.
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Upcoming Garden Events
If you would like your organization's events included in "Upcoming Garden Events" or would like to make a change to a listed event, please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event.
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The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation or rescheduling of many events these past few years. If you wish to attend any of the events listed below, please contact the presenters in advance to determine if the event has been cancelled, postponed, moved online or if it will take place as scheduled. |
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JANUARY
Online: "Groundcovers for the Landscape" will be presented by Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent-Horticulture, at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 5. This virtual lecture is free, but registration is required: https://homegrown2023a.eventbrite.com.
La Marque: Urban Orchard Series: Wedge Grafting, Saturday, January 7, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office located inside Carbide Park at 4102-B Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardeners Herman Auer, Hazel Lampton, and Debbie Espinosa will discuss the how, when, & why of wedge, whip and tongue, and chip bud methods of grafting. This hands-on program will give you choices to graft stone fruit, pome and evergreen fruit trees. The possibilities are endless when you know how to graft your own fruit trees! NOTE: Class is limited to 20 persons participating. You must pre-register in order to attend. Other persons may attend for observation only. Register online: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars/, or call 281-309-5065.
La Marque: Urban Orchard Series: Growing Pecans at Home, Saturday, January 7, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office located inside Carbide Park at 4102-B Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Learn best practices for planting, maintaining and cultivating pecans with Horticulture Agent Stephen Brueggerhoff. Weather allowing, visit a remnant pecan orchard in Carbide Park. Register online: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars/, or call 281-309-5065.
La Marque: Veggie Garden Series: Growing Great Tomatoes, Part 2, Saturday, January 21, 9:00 a.m-11:30 a.m. in the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office located inside Carbide Park at 4102-B Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Part two of three programs Growing Great Tomatoes by Galveston County Master Gardener Ira Gervais. Gervais reveals his secrets of successful production of great tomatoes. Learn about various varieties that do well in this area, when to transplant your seedlings, and best growing techniques. Receive information about soil requirements, nutrients, and temperature range for best tomato fruit set. With this knowledge, you can become the tomato king or queen on your street and be challenged by your friends. Register online: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars, or call 281-309-5065.
La Marque: Urban Orchard Series: Propagating Fig Trees, Saturday, January 21, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. in the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office located inside Carbide Park at 4102-B Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Explore best methods propagating and pruning fig trees with Galveston County Master Gardener Barbara Canetti. Canetti will cover fig growth habit and fruiting varieties, as well as maintenance. We will visit the Discovery Garden Orchard for hands-on experience with the fig collection. Register online: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars, or call 281-309-5065.
College Station: The 59th annual Texas Pecan Short Course will be held Jan. 23-26 at the Texas A&M University Horticulture Teaching Research and Extension Center, 3199 County Road 269 East, about 9 miles west of Texas A&M University, College Station. The short course will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Registration is now open, but seating is limited. Cost is $300, and participants must preregister at https://tx.ag/2023PecanShortCourse. Lunch will be provided each day and participants should wear clothing and footwear suitable to outdoor activities in Texas during the winter. The four-day course will encompass both classroom learning and hands-on demonstrations. Nesbitt and other experts from the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences will teach the course. Demonstrations will take place nearby at the Texas A&M University Pecan Orchard, a research and teaching pecan orchard covering 56 acres with over 1,500 trees. Demonstrations will include: Harvest equipment, spray equipment, tree planting, and training, pruning and grafting.
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FEBRUARY
Online: "Backyard Poultry Fundamentals" will be presented by Shannon Dietz, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent-Horticulture, at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 2. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required: https://homegrown2023a.eventbrite.
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MARCH
Jacksonville: Cherokee County Master Gardeners Spring Conference will be held March 25, 2023, 1:00-4:00 at the First Christian Church, 1920 Beaumont, Jacksonville. For questions contact Brenda Sheridan at 903-571-7417.
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Weekly Meetings
Galveston: The Young Gardeners Program is a school garden and healthy eating program operating on Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. Every Saturday, 9-11 a.m., they host a garden Community Day at one of the schools. It's an opportunity for community members to work and play in the garden and it's kid-friendly. First Saturday - Crenshaw, 416 State Hwy 87, Crystal Beach; Second Saturday - Rosenberg Elementary, 721 10th St., Galveston; Third Saturday - Morgan Elementary, 1410 37th St., Galveston; Fourth Saturday - Oppe Elementary, 2915 81st St., Galveston.
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Monthly Meetings
If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details.
FIRST WEEK
Jasper: The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting; Visit https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.
Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardener Association meets the first Monday of each month at Landmark Church of Christ, 402 South Jackson Street, Kaufman. January through April and August and September meetings are at 10 a.m., with the remaining meetings beginning at 7 p.m. For additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org, call 972-932-9069 or email to [email protected].
Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the first Tuesday of each month at a location in Houston to be determined. For additional information, visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/ or call 713-274-0950.
Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.
Corpus Christi: The Coastal Bend Cactus and Succulent Society meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. The purpose is to stimulate an interest in cactus and succulent plants by providing a forum to foster and broaden knowledge of the plants. Join the society on Facebook: Coastal Bend Cactus & Succulent Society.
Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order 972-338-2233). For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at [email protected].
Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.
Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.
Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., usually at the First Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, 302 Nolan Street, Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door of the Family Life Building. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.
Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org.
Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.org.
Fort Worth: The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.
Gonzalas: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.
New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.
SECOND WEEK
Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; club business begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.
Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at The First Methodist Church, 1031 TX-456 Loop, Jacksonville. For additional information, contact Kim Benton at [email protected].
Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at www.hillcountrybloomers.com.
Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email [email protected].
Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email [email protected].
Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Harrison County Annex building, 102 W Houston St. (south side of the square), Marshall. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email [email protected].
Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except July, August and December at St. John Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John Lutheran Church: From FM 78 turn south onto FM 465 and the church is just past the Marion School on the right. From IH-10 go north on FM 465 towards Marion. The Church will be on the left, just before you get to town. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Visitors are always welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT contact [email protected]. Or visit https://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/
Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit http://dcmga.com/.
Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.
Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.
Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners.
Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the
second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.org and http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.
Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each each month at noon at the Central Presbyterian Church, 9191 Woodway Dr., Woodway. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at [email protected] or visit http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit http://txmg.org/orange for more information.
Pasadena: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.
San Marcos: The Spring Lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., September-May, at McCoy's Building Supply Headquarters, 1350 IH-35, San Marcos. Contact Terri Boyd (512) 395-66644 x6134.
Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center.
Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the second Friday of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by a brief educational program each month. For further information call 979-864-1558, ext.110.
College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2201 Rio Grande Blvd., College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit http://www.amgardenclub.com/.
Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the second Saturday of each month,January through November, at 10:00 a.m. at the Copperfield Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at 281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.
Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com.
THIRD WEEK
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at [email protected].
Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 2 p.m. October through April, except December and at 6 p.m. May through September. An educational program precedes the business meeting.
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit comalmg.org.
Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or [email protected].
Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Big Country Master Gardeners Association at [email protected].
Alvarado: The Alvarado Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month during the months of September through May (excluding December). The meeting time is 1 p.m. and the locations vary for each meeting. The club hosts a different and exciting speaker each month that focuses on enriching the lives of all gardeners. Meetings are free and include a light lunch. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact 817-680-4291.
Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the third Tuesday of each month, except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.
New Braunfels: The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer. Note: there will be no meeting in June or December.
Rockport: Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For additional information, e-mail [email protected] or call 361-790-0103.
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.
Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.
Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardeners.org.
Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Waco: The McLennan County Master Gardeners host Lunch with the Masters on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at MCC’s Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC), 7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco. These educational programs are free and open to the public. Attendees bring their own lunch. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email [email protected] or call 817-454-8175.
Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 107 Fink Street, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses afterwards. Visitors are welcome! Please email Sharon Harrigan at [email protected] for more information.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, Houston. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit https://npsot.org/wp/houston/.
Mineola: The Fannie Marchman Garden Club meets at the Mineola Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. For additional information, find them on Facebook or email [email protected].
Ft. Worth: The North Texas Daylily Society is affiliated with the American Daylily Society and is located in AHS Region 6. Club meetings are held in the Camellia Room located inside the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, on the third Thursday of each month (excluding June and July). Throughout the year NTDS hosts guest speakers, special interest programs, an annual daylily show, an annual daylily sale, and social activities and outings. For more information visit, their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northtexasdaylilysociety.
San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Check http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.
Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email [email protected].
FOURTH WEEK
New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St, New Braunfels. Meetings are “hybrid” with in-person and Zoom available. They start at 5:45 PM. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting at 6:15 PM. Programs begin at 6:30 PM. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information about Zoom or to join, visit https://npsot.org/wp/newbraunfels/.
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio.
Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Ct., Bryan. There is a public gardening program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.
Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312.
Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at [email protected].
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email [email protected].
Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected].
Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.
Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email [email protected].
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
Denton: The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the fourth Thursday of each month to share information about native plants. Excellent programs are heard each month. Social time begins at 6:30, program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/wp/trinityforks/.
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.
Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a garden Open Days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Drop-in tours are permitted but pre-registration is encouraged. Docent led tours are $10 for guests, free for members. For more information, http://peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org.
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Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher.
Texas Gardener's Seeds has been published each Wednesday since April 26, 2006.
Texas Gardener's Seeds, P.O. Box 1676, Brenham, Texas 77834-1676
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