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Embrace the Beauty of Texas Superstars this Fall
Do you need help choosing plants for your landscaping needs? Are you looking to create a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that thrives in our Texas climate? Consider incorporating Texas Superstar plants into your landscape! These plants have been rigorously tested by Texas A&M AgriLife Research to ensure their superior performance in our challenging conditions. Fall is an ideal time for planting in Texas since the cooler temperatures reduce stress on the plant’s root system leading to more rapid root growth and ultimately a healthier plant. We suggest that gardeners follow the Earth-Kind® principles when planting a Texas Superstar® or any other desirable plant. These principles provide recommendations for plant placement, soil, spacing,…
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Let’s Grow: Brassica Vegetables
What Are Brassica Vegetables? Brassicas may be associated with cool weather and root cellars, but this massive family of flavorful, easy-to-prepare cold crops has something to offer year-round. Brassica vegetables are part of the genus Brassicaceae, or mustard family. Brassicas are also categorized as cruciferous vegetables (Cruciferae), or members of the cabbage family. Brassicas are among the most commonly cultivated vegetables in the world, and some of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat. The Brassica oleracea family of vegetables contains hundreds of subspecies with a range of health benefits, like vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene, and glucosinolates. Brassica vegetables are also a great source of soluble fiber. 15 Favorite Brassica Vegetables…
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Autumn in the Garden – 2024 Edition
Greetings, Lakeway gardeners! As the summer heat wanes and the days grow shorter, autumn arrives in Lakeway, bringing with it a unique opportunity for gardeners to rejuvenate their landscapes. Local gardeners know this favorite fall season offers a perfect time to plant fall vegetables, divide bulbs, plant trees, harvest late-season produce, and prepare your garden for the upcoming winter months. With its milder temperatures and abundant rainfall, autumn in Lakeway has an ideal climate for gardeners to actually enjoy the outdoors once again during this season of renewal. . This newsletter is your guide to keep your garden healthy and thriving throughout the fall months. We’ll cover fall planting and…
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Summer in the Garden – 2024 Edition
Howdy, Lakeway gardeners! Buckle up for another sizzling Texas summer! June, July, and August bring scorching temperatures and relentless sunshine, but that doesn’t mean your plants have to wilt. This post is your guide to keeping your green garden thriving through the hottest months. We’ll cover harvesting tips for your summer bounty, strategies for outsmarting the heat, and even how to get a jumpstart on your fall plantings. So, grab your hat, sunscreen, and watering can – it’s time to conquer summer gardening in Lakeway! LGC Member News Our next Lakeway Garden Club (LGC) Member Mixer is only a few days away! So mark your calendars for next Thursday, June 6th! We…
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Understanding Climate Zones
The climate is the reoccurring average weather found in any particular place, measured over 30 year intervals. The Earth’s tilt, rotation and land/sea distribution affect these global weather patterns, resulting in variations between different locations. Travis County Climate Zone is Cfa C – Moist Subtropical Mid-Latitude Climate f – Wet year-round a – Hot Summer German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Köppen (1846-1940) divided the world’s climates into categories based upon general temperature profile related to latitude. He worked with Rudolf Geiger to modify these categories into what is known today as the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system The major categories are as follows: A – Tropical Climates Moist tropical climates…
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Grow Big in a Small Space: The Magic of Square Foot Gardening
Dreaming of a bountiful harvest but limited on space? Look no further than square foot gardening (SFG)! This revolutionary method, developed by Mel Bartholomew, allows you to maximize your yield in even the tiniest of balconies or patios. What is Square Foot Gardening? Imagine your garden bed divided into a grid of 1-foot by 1-foot squares. Each square becomes its own mini-ecosystem, planted with specific vegetables, herbs, or flowers according to their spacing needs. This eliminates wasted space and allows for intensive planting. Benefits of Square Foot Gardening: High Yields: SFG utilizes a special, lightweight soil mix that promotes healthy growth, leading to impressive harvests from a compact area. Low…
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Cultivate Longevity: Your Guide to Blue Zone Gardening
After our Lakeway Garden Club Spring mixer last week, we had many requests to share more information about Blue Zone gardening. Enjoy! Have you ever wondered what the secret is to a long and healthy life? Look no further than the Blue Zones! These five regions around the world – Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Loma Linda (California), and Okinawa (Japan) – boast populations with exceptional longevity. And one key element they all share? A deep connection to gardening. Here’s why you should consider incorporating Blue Zone gardening into your life: Move Naturally: Gardening isn’t just about planting seeds. It involves weeding, watering, harvesting – all activities that…
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Spring in the Garden – 2024 Edition
Greetings, Lakeway gardeners! Spring in a Lakeway garden is a beautiful and bountiful time. March, April and May are bustling with garden activity and the busiest time of year for local gardeners. This season will paint Lakeway with vivid and colorful blooms, but be patient and wait to transplant flowers until mid to late March to avoid any late winter frost. By late March, cheerful annuals such as poppies and cosmos can be planted outdoors. Late April and early May welcome heat-loving flower favorites like zinnias and sunflowers, plus warmer-temp vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and squash. This season, experiment in your garden with some new vibrant flowers and plant a few…
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When to Prune Roses in Central Texas
It’s the season of love, and in Central Texas, that means showing affection to your roses, too! Pruning your rose bushes around Valentine’s Day is crucial for encouraging those stunning blooms you crave. So, grab your pruners (and maybe some heart-shaped chocolates for yourself), because it’s time to learn the art of the rose-loving snip. Why Prune Now? While Valentine’s Day might seem like an arbitrary date, it actually aligns perfectly with central Texas’ rose dormancy period. Pruning while roses are slumbering avoids damaging new growth and ensures they wake up energized for spring. Don’t worry, this tough love will result in more blooms, better air circulation, and healthier plants…
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Texas A&M AgriLife hosts Monthly Open Houses in 2024
Join Us in the Texas A&M AgriLife Demo Garden for our monthly Open House! The first Friday morning of every month is designated as a FREE open house for the Texas A&M AgriLife Earth-Kind Demonstration Garden at 1600 Smith Road, Austin. You’ll be able to visit the garden and speak with the Travis County Master Gardener volunteers who maintain it as well as get your gardening questions answered by the Plant Clinic staff. Each month will also feature some sort of demonstration or workshop that deep dive into subject areas. See monthly topics below. Monthly Topics January 5th – Tree Trimming February 2nd – Houseplant University March 1st – Rose…
