Get Gardening Now!

Spring  rains have begun in North and Central Texas, and it's time for gardening.  So, what have you decided on doing for your gardening game this year?  Are the kids ready to learn about how to plant a garden or have a huge patio garden? Fathers 4 Kids wants you and your family to consider some gardenting projects for the family. If you are in a home, there are all types of gardening that you can teach them out there on the patio or even using raised beds or even containers. If you only have an apartment with a small patio then what about planting a few containers of peppers or strawberries? Either way, there are listed below  a few things you shouldn't forget about gardening here in North Texas.

Make sure you check the planting schedule below as well to determine which veggies you may want the whole family to work on as the next project this weekend. Get those seeds before this weekend. If your yard needs a couple of busy weekends, carryover with the family participation and get the kids to help select the plants they want to see. Here we go!

Begin Planting This Week!

• Now is the time for you to consider what new summertime annuals to replace. All those faces on the pansies and other cool-season crops need to be in full swing. All time beauties for Texas are: trailing lantanas, copper plants, firebush, coleus, wax begonias, ornamental sweet potatoes, angelonias, cleome, moss rose, hybrid purslane and many many more
• If everyone wants to begin growing hearty food items that will tolerate our Texas heat, why not consider: okra, sweet potatoes (sandy soils), southern peas; or check out more options with the calendar below like beets and broccoli
• Now is the time to think about planting those new trees and shrubs as well either to add to or replace challenges that need attention. Check out all the surrounding nurseries which right now have the best supplies of the year. If you find the perfect tree for that special location, please remember that you will need to commit to water them by hand for the first two years. New trees must have their root balls soaked thoroughly. Often sprinkler irrigation doesn’t get the job done. We have had 90* as early as May...
• If you have brown patches, need to plant new turf from sod, seed, or plugs, now is the time for maximum growing seasons

Pruning For Maximum Growth All Summer!

• Take a close look to see if you have any frozen hydranges, crepe myrtles, pmegranates, oleanders, or other bloomers that my have suffered damage or freeze in existing beds. Remember in  Texas and you may need to remove dead shoots from them. Also reshape the new growth that returns when appropriate
• If your spring flowering shrubs and vines have new growth, be sure to check for dead branches and remove then reshape as new growth replaces those you pruned
• You need to establish the new height for the lawn and begin to mow regularly. This means you will eliminate a lot of spring weeds and get the grass off to a great start for 2017. Mow regularly and at recommended height to eliminate spring weeds and get grass off to a good start.

Start To Fertilize Now!

• Turf, trees, shrubs and myrtles and in general most things, can be fertilized with all nitrogen fertilizers. If you have more sand type soils, begin with a high nitrogen slow release form.
• Be sure all your container plants including hanging baskets; are complete with and encapsulated timed-release fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Supplement that with water-soluble, high-nitrogen fertilizer till next fall.

You Must Control The Pests!

• Watch for Cankerworms which might be devouring foliage from parts or all of some species of trees. While these types of insects will soon run their course and trees will fill in again; remember you may want to apply a Bacillus thuringiensis biological worm spray just to make sure
• Seridium canker is turning big areas of Italian cypress and Leyland cypress brown and dead looking. While there is no spray to control this fungus, it may be time to seek another replacement
• All Broadleafed weeds can be controlled with application of broadleafed weedkiller spray (containing 2,4-D). On the list would be dichondra, dollar weed, dandelions, clover and poison ivy among many others

Did you know that North Texas on average has approximately 250 days between the last and first frost. Using the planting schedules below will help you get the most out of your garden. See more at :Planting Calendar Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important to getting the most out of your garden. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time.