Using Fallen Leaves For Mulch
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener Well, leaves have started falling in great abundance. Unfortunately, they pile up on the ground, leading wives to gently (?) suggest they be removed. So, what are we to do? Fall leaves A solid or near solid ground covering of dead leaves blocks both water and air from penetrating the ground. Trapping too much moisture sets up the area for present and future rot and fungal diseases. Yes,...
Wolf Spiders in Your Home
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener As it gets colder, some of you will begin to see spiders in your home. They’ll come in all sizes, and you’ll try to kill each and every one of them. But hold on a second. Given a chance, some of the spiders do good in your home! These good guys are called wolf spiders. Wolf spiders are dull colored and are usually active at night. They capture prey by hunting rather than by waiting in a...
This & That for Thanksgiving
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener Sweet potatoes come from South America, and while regular potatoes are tubers or underground stems, sweet potatoes are actually roots. For any recipe that calls for apples, white potatoes or squash, you can substitute sweet potatoes. They have a 5,000-year history. White potatoes also come from South America and have a 400+ year history. Today, they’re the number one side dish in...
The End Of Tomato Season
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener As we approach the end of this year’s growing season, it’s time to remember that end-of-season for tomatoes is slightly different that several other garden plants. Tomato end-of-season varies by year, but the recommended procedures remain the same. If you grew determinate tomatoes, their productive lives ended months ago, and hopefully, you’ve already followed this article’s...
Try Purple Top Turnips This Fall And Winter
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener A potential food source for you or your garden soil next spring is the purple top turnip (PTT). Normally a biennial or two-year plant, you can plant them now and harvest or kill next spring. If growing them for your food supply, simply plant in October and harvest next spring. They take longer to grow than radishes, but they grow considerably bigger and have a better flavor. Purple top...
Earthworms After a Rain
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener I realize rains have been in short supply recently, but have you ever gone walking across your yard after a rain and noticed the number earthworms (from now on, just worms) on the ground surface? How about in the morning when the dew is heavy? How about going out on a hot day and finding dead worms on your sidewalk, curb, and driveway. Earthworm The obvious answer is they come to the...
Yellow Jackets Are More Aggressive This Time Of Year
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener I don’t know about you, but for my money, a yellow jacket (YJ) sting hurts more than any other wasp or bee. Worse, they often sting in force. Regrettably, I have often stuck my hand in a cucumber plant cage and got hit 4-5 times before I could get my hand back out. Honeybees and bumblebees are usually only defensively aggressive, but at this time of year, YJs are extremely aggressive and...
The Benefits Of Dandelions
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener Several years ago, I wrote an article on dandelions suggesting they probably weren’t anywhere near as bad as many would have us believe. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) have been valued since ancient times for their healing properties. Although this plant has a high overall value, it still can be quite a troublesome aspect for the gardeners. Dandelions The dandelion botanical name...
What to Keep In Mind If Considering Buffalo Grass For An East Texas Lawn
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener Almost every year about this time, people start asking whether they should try buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides). It’s a warm season grass that does well with little to no maintenance and has relatively little water requirements once established. Until then, it takes as much water as most other lawn grasses. It can be laid down as seed (not recommended) or sod, but it spreads by...
Considerations To Keep In Mind Before Constructing Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener This year, many are reconsidering raised bed vegetable gardens. The reasoning is simple. They’re compact, easy to work, easy to water, maintain moisture better, fewer problems with weeds, and usually produce more than a regular garden the same size. They come in all lengths, although widths are usually (not always) restricted to 4 feet. Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens Soil depth is extremely...
