PLOW & HOSE Gardening in Central Texas

Julie got some new birds which segued into the new Texas Right to Farm constitutional amendment, which ensures residential property agricultural pursuits.  

Spring planting season is here! If you didn't start tomatoes in January, but still want to--try micro tomatoes and micro-dwarf tomatoes!  

Julie visits with Mary Sigro from the Native Plant Society of Texas and Julie Shaddox from Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation to learn about a new gardening app dedicated to native plants--Wild Thumb

Fall in Texas brings allergens, weeds and an optimal planting window for pretty much everything! SPONSOR OFFER: Try Magic Mind if you want to improve your focus and energy levels while getting important nutrients. For a limited time you can get up to 48% off your 1st subscription or 20% off a one time purchase using code  JULIER20 at checkout. https://www.magicmind.com/julier

Although it's officially fall according to the calender, it's still pretty toasty. Julie has heat-fatigue which leaves her feeling unenthusastic about chores. Despite the seemingly endless heat, it is time to get serious about spring Texas wildflowers.  SPONSOR OFFER: Try Magic Mind if you want to improve your focus and energy levels while getting important nutrients. For a limited time you can ge...

July and August are tough months for plants in Central Texas, but it's the best time for preparing to plant a fall garden. Consider another round of summer faves. Don't forget to include shade trees in your planting plans.  SPONSOR OFFER: Try Magic Mind if you want to improve your focus and energy levels while getting important nutrients. For a limited time you can get up to 48% off your 1st subsc...

Newsflash! Summer is here! Julie enjoys endless blossoms from wild sunflowers! Learn about sunflowers and safflowers--cousins that keep our birds and squirrels fat and happy through the worst of summer. SPONSOR OFFER: Try Magic Mind if you want to improve your focus and energy levels while getting important nutrients. For a limited time you can get up to 48% off your 1st subscription or 20% off a...

Julie's veggie garden may be smaller than previous years, but still attract pests like spider mites. The spring rains continue even with the start of summer making it muggy and mosquito-y. It's fine because we can disrupt their lifecycle with a simple, organic treatment. With less veggies, Julie has planted more flowers--lots of native and adaptive perennials--including bee balm, also known as Mon...

Green peas have a really small planting window in Central Texas. Like potatoes, they need to be planted by Valentine's Day. English, shelling, sugar snap and snow--plant them and enjoy some tasty spring veg! SPONSOR OFFER 1 : Save 20% with code PLOWHOSE20 at www.magicmind.com now through the January 31, 2024 . Regain energy and focus with premium ingredients in Magic Mind! SPONSOR OFFER 2 : Try th...

So many things we can plant this time of year--but don't forget to get your seed potatoes ready for planting in mid-February! SPONSOR OFFER 1 : Save 20% with code PLOWHOSE20 at www.magicmind.com now through the January 31, 2024 . Regain energy and focus with premium ingredients in Magic Mind! SPONSOR OFFER 2 : Try the new Seed Selection Quiz at www.trueleafmarket.com to find seeds and varieties ba...

Julie is getting back in the swing of things...It's a new year, new season with new weather! It's the perfect time for garden planning and thinking about the summer garden. If you want to plant your summer garden as soon as possible--you need to sow seeds indoors NOW. As seed catalogs roll in and the temperatures rise and fall--January is an exciting time for gardeners in Central Texas! SPONSOR OF...

This summer has been brutal. Pretty much no rainfall since May, July was irrationally hot and August continues to be RUDE with its heat. But Julie is hopeful for a fall garden with a modest tomato harvest. The star of the summer is the Retama tree that popped up in her yard this spring. With absolute no care or attention, the retama is blooming and proves to be a winner for a xeric landscape. SPON...

No surprise, it's hot & gross. What's not dead is struggling, including the cucumbers which are growing weird and some times bitter. Yuck. In better news, Julie bought new plants while out of town and they are so freaking cute--Fame Flowers.  SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOW15 to save 15% off your next order at www.mcevoyranch.com 

It's so hot, Julie invented a new weather term. "It's an irrational heat." It's hot and people are talking about xeriscaping...including grey water. How to heat-proof your garden as best you can--plus ideas for improving watering habits + xeric landscaping garden design (a reminder of what it is and isn't) Enjoy! SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOW15 to save 15% off your next order at www.mcevoyran...

Lots of rain this week--which is wonderful, but present some challenges with heavy clay soil. Dirt is dead. Soil is very much alive. Learn some tips for keeping your plants (and soil) happy and healthy! Advice for dealing with blossom-end rot. SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

When Julie travels she looks at all the plants. She went to South Korea and took in ALL the landscaping. Springtime in South Korea is amazing--cherry trees (missed the big bloom), azaleas (every.where.), pine trees & gingkos--so beautiful, she didn't want to come back. :|  SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

Spring pollen allergy season is here. What's trying to kill us now? Pretty, but inedible hyacinth beans and lots of info about ladybugs! <3  SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

Cooler temperatures and rain pass through making for a pleasant Easter weekend. The bluebonnets have been beautiful and now going to seed, but other flowers take the stage. Plus, keystone plants for eco-regions and a teeny tiny rant anti-lawn rant.   SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

Julie went to a plant swap and acquired some new and coveted plants. Along with finally getting some spiderwort, she also got a bit of sunburn. Thankful she also obtained some aloe vera and shares the growing info about this handy and hardy medicinal plant! Spring planting info included too. Yay Springtime!!

Creeping up on Spring Equinox! Doesn't feel like it. Lots of wonderful things to plant in your gardens--plus it's time to plant summer and fall blooming bulbs. Julie explains the different bulb type plants and goes into detail about lilies and other plants called lilies (ones that grow well in Central Texas). Asiatic & Oriental lilies. daylilies, cannas, lycoris, agapanthus  SPONSOR OFFER! Use...

Julie is super happy--Nearly spring equinox and bluebonnets have arrived! Everything is blooming, even the parasites! But even freeloading plants can't dampen her spirit--YAY for SPRING!  SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

February ends with crazy weather. March starts with crazy weather. Recent rain caused weeds to go crazy, but Julie doesn't mind. Focus on spring weed henbit, plus couple of recommendations on foundation landscaping--hightlights on Indian Hawthorn and Pineapple Guava. SPONSOR OFFER! Use promo code PLOWHOSE10 to save 10% off your next order at TrueLeafMarket.com

It's not February. It's CRAZY DAYS. Fickle temperatures make Julie distrusting. Go ahead and plant a last round of cool season favorites and try garden peas. It's a great time to plant!

Ahaha! Another destructive ice storm! WHY?!! With her seasonal optimism, Julie is just going to move on and pretend nothing happened. Refrigerator clean out yields happy discovery, plus let's plant some things--so much to plant! Plus companion planting with strawberries and rose care. 

It's dreary and cool--hardly inspiring to garden--but Late January/Early February is prime seed season. Lots can be sown outside, plus we can start warm season indoors. Heritage, heirloom and open-pollenated plants & seeds are so important--Julie spends some time talking about biodiversity and the cultural significance of seed saving.