April 10 , 2014
Good aggressives, bad invasives
First , update on freeze report . Before you shovel out that “ dead ” plant , advert on a routine , since we ’re receive tons of surprises like chile tepin / pequin .
Birds spread the wealth , but it ’s a bonus for all in part subtlety .
Lady Banks did n’t let me down after all .
Bulb parade : late Dutch flag is a bonus ! Here with aboriginal heart-leaf helmetflower hand for the sky . That Asarum virginicum will be all over the place next class . Good !
12 ° plus drouth did n’t offend my yearling nativeSalvia roemeriana .
Yes , some mass debate aboriginal salvias “ invasive , ” too , but they ’re actually considered “ strong-growing ” if they find the right smear . It ’s all in your position . I say : the more the mirthful to draw in wildlife .
Some nurseryman even yip about “ incursive ” bluebonnets and California poppies . Well , everyone ’s entitle to their legal opinion ! These are for certain pretty in this front yard than lawn , that ’s for sure .
Native pink eve primula walk over everything in its path , but attracts so many beneficial dirt ball .
It ’s a kick for me to see how they ’ve moved around my garden to find their happy spot in sun : here where I took out pasturage .
Native baby blue eyes ( Nemophila menziesii ) finds its well-chosen spot in part specter . I lose it in spots that get too much nicety , but it moves itself !
What a lovely combining with columbine .
Quite a surprisal to find out aboriginal prickly poppy produce in this Orient Austin garden ! Usually you see them in fields .
So why do we run for the shovel when milk thistle settles in our garden ? I care the variegated foliation all winter . This yr , I got a bee fillip , too .
As gardeners , if excessive plants take over , we can thin to pass along to friends who hanker for them . But when encroaching mintage like ligustrum take over , it can take an United States Army of volunteer to eradicate them from natural areas where they smother wildlife habitat variety . Animals ca n’t live by ligustrums alone !
This calendar week , Jessica Wilson from theCity of Austin Watershed Protection DepartmentjoinsTom to swap invasivesfor much more likable native plants that do the same job . For model , native cherry laurel instead of ligustrum .
My house come up with many on her list , like Japanese honeysuckle and ligustrums . We trend down our Ligustrum for a mountain laurel hedge ( from source , no less ) to veil a range of mountains link fencing . I planted crossvine to obscure the fencing until the mickle laurels grew up . Now we have a solid hedge and the crossvine is still there , even though it drive no supererogatory urine from me . I ’ll chasten it off the mountain Laurel ( along with mania vine ) , do n’t worry .
Jessica picks selection for elephant ears , nandina , vitex and roguish catclaw vine .
happen out more about invading plants .
In case you missed it last class , Daphne explainswhy it does n’t really take 100 days for a 100 industrial plant to bloom .
At Mayfield Park , these yuccas are sending out their flower . But they ’re not dying ; just losing their foliage as they trunk up .
Along with ditch invasives , the well thing I did for my garden in clay and even “ scarlet death sandy loam ” was to pile on leaves , compost ( some buy , some made ) and mulch . Over metre , there are spots where I can dig with my mitt .
Any compost is good , but this week William Glenn fromGarden - Villecompares the options , admit biosolids .
On tour , Laura and Andy Stewart worked withDavid Mahler of Environmental Survey Consultingto deliver their in - town hillside from invasive invasion .
Now , hoarded wealth like careen penstemon can breathe again .
Miró Rivera Architectsbeautifully combine their menage design into the hillside in a total indoor / outside experience .
Take the tour now !
Thanks for barricade by . See you next week as we preview the Master Gardener tour . Linda
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