Garden & Soil Advice

How much do I need?

(Length x Width x Depth) / 324 = Cubic Yards Needed

What do I use to mulch plants? Texas Friendly Hardwood Mulch is a combination of aged ground mulch and compost.  This mulch is dark in color, keeps plants cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  It also retains more moisture and feeds plants.

What do I use to plant trees and shrubs? 5 in 1 Premium Potting Mix is a ready to use planting mix. It has humus compost (fungal based) and manure compost (bacterial), Decomposed Granite, and humates.

What material do I use on roses? 5 in 1 Premium Potting Mix is designed for roses and raised bed plantings.  You need to add Canadian peat moss to this for roses.  This mix has humus compost (fungal base) and manure (manure and stable bedding and poultry manure), Decomposed Granite, and humates.

What should I use as a low-maintenance ground cover around my brick house? Consider Granite Stone — the same stone used at the State Capitol in Austin.  These are long lasting, approximately 1″ in diameter, dark pink with black flecks, matching the coloring found on many brick homes.  Remember to use a weed barrier cloth, and your plants will love the rich minerals contained in these stones.  Use native or xeriscape plants that tolerate the heat, and you will have a low maintenance landscape.

What do I use on my trails and walkways? Decomposed Granite packs well, is easy to walk on, yet drains the water well.  It is not muddy and weeds appear to dislike the low pH.  You will see it around Towne Lake and the many miles of the Hike and Bike Trail.

What material is used for playscapes? Pea Pebbles are smooth, round stones that do not stick to children’s skin.  They’re used by many public schools for playscapes and play areas.

What material is good for ground cover where dogs dig? Our River Rock contains smooth stones with natural earth-tones that do not wash away easily.  Dogs won’t dig in them, either.

What do I use for a low maintenance landscape groundcover? Use a quality weed cloth that will prevent Bermuda grass runners.  Use xeriscape or native plants that tolerate heat.  Our Oyster-White matches the many limestone houses in Central Texas.

What do I use on turf to revitalize it? Use Dillo Dirt Compost and spread 1/4-1/2″ deep( 1 cubic yard will cover 1296 sq. ft./ 648 sq. ft., respectively).  It will bring life back to your lawn.  This compost won national awards by the City of Austin Waste Water Treatment Facility.  From my personal experience, I believe that what I spent to apply compost 2-3 times per year, I saved in water bill usage.  Plus earthworms returned to my yard and they are thriving.  I do not get brown patch fungus or even have fire ants.  My yard is a beautiful, safe place for my children to play.

What should I use to amend my flower and vegetable beds? Triple Power Compost is great — it contains manure, stable bedding, poultry manure, humates and hummus.  Mix approximately 1″ of compost into the top 4-6″ of soil.  Research has shown (see www.soilfoodweb.com) that the manure-based compost (bacterial based) provides excellent results in flower and vegetable plants.

Mulching Formula:

• Square feet divided by 9= 3” depth
• Square feet divided by 18=2”deep
• Square feet divided by 27=1” deep

We recommend 3” deep mulch on garden beds

Wild flower seeding rates:

• 1 pound per 1000 square feet (normal coverage)
• 2 pounds per 1000 square feet is fuller fill in coverage

Planting flowers spacing formula:

divide # of plants needed by square feet to get the number on the left

• 7.56= planted on 4” centers
• 3.08= 6” centers
• 1.92= 8” centers
• 1.57=9” centers
• 1.28=10” centers
• .088= 12” centers
• .063=14” centers
• .049=18” centers
• .023=24” centers

Deer Resistant Landscape Plants:

Deer proof landscapes are much in demand around Central Texas. Few plants are fully deer-proof: but the following plants will be left alone as long as there is other food available. During droughts and other stressful situations, deer will eat plants that are generally unpalatable under normal circumstances, including the resistant plants listed below: (please note: 1=observed heavily eaten under pressure  2=Texas Native  3= Shade tolerant)

Large Trees: No trees are completely resistant enough to leave unprotected. Trees can be caged until they grow taller than the deer.

SMALL TREES OR LARGE SHRUBS:

• Texas Buckeye 2,3
• Golden Ball Leaf Tree 2
• Texas Persimmon 2
• Fig
• Flameleaf Sumac 2
• Desert Willow 2
• Mountain Laurel 2
• Roughleaf Dogwood 2, 3

SHRUBS

• Ceniza/Texas Sage 1,2
• Jerusalem Cherry
• Oleander
• Red-leaf or Japenese Barberry
• Rosemary
• Mexican Buckeye 2
• Mexican Oregano
• Boxwood
• Cotoneaster 1
• Dwarf Yaupon 2
• Fragrant Mimosa 2
• Pyracantha 1
• Autumn Sage 2, 3
• Mexican Silktassle 2
• Juniper 1, 2
• Scotch Broom
• Agarita 2
• Blackberry (thorny only) 1, 2
• Evergreen Sumac 2
• Nandina 1, 3
• Autum Aster 1
• Turks Cap 2, 3
• Elaeagnus
• Dwarf Chinese Holly
• Japenese Aralia
• Acuba 3
• Abelia
• Wax Myrtle 1, 2
• Pampas Grass
• Lantana 1, 2

PERENNIAL SUCCULENTS AND LILIES

• Cactus (any with stout spines) 2
• Hens and Chickens (spiny varieties)
• Yucca 3
• Red Yucca (flowers eaten) 2
• Sotol 1, 2
• Sacahuista/Bear Grass/Nolina 2
• Lily of the Nile
• Cast Iron Plant

VINES

• Carolina Jessamine
• Star Jasmine 1

GROUND COVERS

• Asiatic Jasmine 1
• Santolina 2
• Aarons Beard
• Spearmint 3
• Myrtle/Vinca Major 3
• Carpet Bugle/Ajuga 1, 3
• Monkey Grass 1

FLOWERS, FERNS, HERBS

• Mexican Mint Marigold
• Bluebonnet 2
• Black-eyed Susan 2
• Mealy Blue Sage 2
• Cedar Sage 2, 3
• Verbena 2, 3
• Zexmenia 2
• Iris 1
• Begonia 1
• Indigo Spires
• Mexican Bush Sage 1
• Periwinkle
• Dusty Miller
• Ageratum
• Coreopsis 2
• Yarrow 2
• Cosmos
• Foxglove 2
• Purple Coneflower 1, 2
• Flame Acanthus
• Zinnia 1
• Blackfoot Daisy 2
• Chrysanthemum (flowers eaten)
• Sword Fern 3
• Wood Fern 2, 3

Things to plant in December:

Flower Plants: Alyssum, Butterfly Weed, Calendula, Candytuft, Cornflower, Dianthus, Daisy (African, Michaelmas and Painted), Liatris, Nasturtium, Ornamental Cabbage and Kale, Phlox paniculta, Snapdragon, Stock.

Flower Seeds: Bluebonnet, Calendula, Candytuft, Cornflower, Feverfew, Gaillardia, Gayfeather, Larkspur, Nasturtium, Poppy, Sweet Pea.

Bulbs: Agapanthus, Allium, Alostroemeria, Amarcrinum, Amaryllis (in container), Crinum, Hyacinth, Liriope, Monkey grass, Muscari, Star of Bethlehem, Rain Lily, Society Garlic, Spraxis, Aztec Lily, Watsonia.

Vegetables: Lettuce, Radish, Spinach. Protect cool season vegetables from hard freezes with row covers.

Fruit: Bare root or container grown pecans, fruit trees, grapes and berry bushes.

Things to Do In December:

Fertilize: Fertilize bulbs with bone meal in the planting hole. Feed winter bloomers (alyssum, dianthus, pansies) every 4-6 weeks.

Water: water all plants well before a freeze to protect against cold injury, but do not overwater.

Transplant: Transplant bare root and container grown roses, shrubs, trees, groundcovers and vines so they are well established before warm weather arrives next summer.

Prepare Soil: Prepare dormant beds for spring planting: clean out dead and spent plants, compost to enrich the organic content of the soil. Get your soil tested. Check winter mulch and replenish if needed. Stockpile leaves for mulching and composting throughout spring and summer.

Diseases/Pests to Look for: Watch for scale, mealy bugs and spider mites on houseplants.