Central Texas Gardener - Oct. 6, 2012 - Native trees

>> HI, THERE, I'M TOM SPENCER. THIS WEEK ON CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER, TAKE A LOOK AT NATIVE SHADE AND UNDERSTORY TREES WITH MITCH FROM HILL COUNTRY NATIVES. ON TOUR, VISIT A NATIVE PLANT MAKEOVER THAT CHANGED THE WILDLIFE VIEW. DAPHNE ANSWERS YOUR TOP QUESTION AND MAKES HER PICK OF THE WEEK. ANDREA DELONG-AMAYA FROM THE WILDFLOWER CENTER SELECTS NATIVE PERENNIALS TO PLANT THIS FALL. SO, LET'S GET GROWING, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. >> SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER COMES FROM GEO GROWERS, OFFERING CUSTOM SOIL BLENDS FOR LAWNS, GARDENS, XERISCAPING, AND ORGANIC LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES. MORE INFORMATION AT GEOGROWERS.NET.     >> YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A GARDEN AND NOT JUST A YARD WHEN THE WILDLIFE RETURNS. ON TOUR, SEE HOW JACKIE DAVIS CHANGED THE VIEW WITH HER NATIVE PLANT MAKEOVER. >> JACKIE DAVIS IS ALWAYS THROWING A GARDEN PARTY. IT OFTEN INCLUDES FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS, BUT THE WILDLIFE STOPS BY EVERY DAY FROM DAWN TO DARK. HER OPEN INVITATION READS: I'M PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, AND WATER. ALL WELCOME. IT'S A FAR DIFFERENT SCENE THAN WHEN SHE MOVED IN. >> THERE WAS A HUGE CHINESE ELM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YARD, AND THERE WAS AN ARIZONA ASH OVER TO THE SIDE, AND THE REST OF THE LAND WAS BARE DIRT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A DOG RUN FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNERS. IN A WAY IT WAS GOOD, IT WAS A BLANK SLATE. I DIDN'T HAVE TO PULL OUT PHOTINIA AND LIGUSTRUM AND WHAT HAVE YOU. IT WAS JUST A BLANK SLATE. >> SHE RENEWED THE SOIL AND FILLED THE YARD WITH GARDENS USING MOSTLY NATIVE PLANTS. MANY SHE PROPAGATES HERSELF FROM SEEDS OR CUTTINGS. >>I HAVE AROUND 125 DIFFERENT SPECIES. A COUPLE OF THEM AREN'T NATIVES, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE NATIVES TO CENTRAL TEXAS. I HAVE A FEW NATIVES FROM SOUTH TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS.   >> HER ONE STRIP OF GRASS DIED IN SUMMER 2011. SINCE SHE'S CONSERVATIVE WITH WATER, A MULCHED PATH WILL TAKE ITS PLACE.   IT ALL STARTED WHEN JACKIE BECAME ACTIVE WITH THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. >> AFTER I WAS BIRDING FOR WHILE ON CERTAIN PROPERTIES, I DECIDED I NEEDED TO LEARN ABOUT THE PLANTS ALSO. SO THEN I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY HERE IN AUSTIN, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER. AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BUTTERFLY FORUM. I'M A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, AND IT JUST CAME NATURALLY TO DO THIS. IN MY JOB, I WORKED FOR ONE OF THE BALCONES CANYONLANDS PRESERVES PROPERTIES. I WANT NATIVE PLANTS. >> SHE INCLUDES LARVAL FOOD FOR BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS. AND NECTAR FOR HUMMINGBIRDS AND INSECTS. BIRDS AND MAMMALS GO FOR THE SEEDS.   SHE SUPPLEMENTS HER GARDEN'S FOOD WITH BIRD FEEDERS. >> THE MAIN FOOD I USE IS BLACK-OILED SUNFLOWER SEEDS BECAUSE MOST OF THE BIRDS CAN EAT THAT, AND THE CARDINALS LOVE IT. AND THE SECOND FOOD I USE IS THE THISTLE FOR THE FINCHES, BUT THE FINCHES EVEN EAT THE BLACK-OILED SUNFLOWER SEED ALSO. AND THE THIRD FOOD THAT I PUT OUT, WHICH EVERY BIRD LOVES, INCLUDING THE CAROLINA WRENS, IS THE PEANUT. >> AND ORANGES ARE A BIG HIT. >> I HAD PUT OUT ORANGE SLICES IN THE WINTERTIME JUST SEEING IF ANY HUMMINGBIRDS MIGHT BE COMING ALONG, AND AN ORANGE CROWNED WARBLER STARTED USING IT. MY YARD COUNT FOR BIRDS IS PROBABLY ABOUT 110, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY HUGE BUT FOR THIS LITTLE YARD, IT'S GOOD. AND MY BUTTERFLY COUNT IS MORE THAN 30 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES. >> ALONG WITH FOOD, JACKIE PROVIDES WATER. >> I JUST DUG A LINE AND TOOK A HALF-INCH PVC PIPE AND THREADED MY TINY LITTLE DRIP HOSE WATER LINE THROUGH IT. >> A NATIVE GARDEN FLUCTUATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MANY PLANTS GO DORMANT IN WINTER, WHILE WILDFLOWERS ARE EMERGING. EVERGREEN PLANTS MAINTAIN A STRUCTURAL PRESENCE.   ANNUALS IN ALL SEASONS SUPPLEMENT PERENNIALS. IT'S NOT STATIC TIDINESS, BUT THE REWARDS ARE WORTH THE SEASONAL TURNOVERS.   NATIVE SPIDERWORTS SWAP BEAUTY FOR AN EYESORE WHEN THEY'RE READY TO GO UNDERGROUND FOR THE SUMMER. >> I'LL JUST FOLD THEM BACK SO THAT THE NUTRIENTS CAN GO BACK INTO THE GROUND AND I'LL JUST LIVE WITH THEM LOOKING NOT VERY PRETTY FOR A WHILE. AGAIN, REALLY THIS GARDEN WAS TO HAVE A MINI-HABITAT FOR BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, INSECTS, BEES, ETCETERA. IF IT LOOKS NICE IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M HAPPY. >> WHAT'S REALLY NICE IS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DISCOVER.   EVEN BETTER IS THAT JACKIE'S PHILOSOPHY IS CATCHING ON. >> AND I'VE NOTICED A COUPLE O MY NEIGHBORS TAKING OUT THEIR ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS -- MOST OF IT, AND LEAVING JUST A LITTLE PATCH AND PUTTING MULCH ON THE REST AND HAVING JUST A FEW LITTLE SHRUBS, YEAH. IT'S AMAZING WHAT WATER RESTRICTIONS AND THE COST OF WATER WILL DO TO CHANGING PEOPLE'S HABITS. AND SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE LITTLE CHILDREN, AND I WILL BRING THEM HERE WHEN THE PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAIL HAS -- WHEN THE PIPEVINE BUTTERFLY HAS LAID HER EGGS. AND I'LL SHOW THEM THE EGGS, AND THEN WHEN THE EGGS HATCH INTO LARVAE I'LL BRING THEM BACK, AND I'LL SHOW THEM THE LARVAE. AND YOU CAN HOLD THE LARVAE IN YOUR HAND, AND THE KIDS JUST GO CRAZY OVER IT. AND THEN THEIR PARENTS BECOME INTERESTED. AND AGAIN, IT'S A FOSTERING METHOD TO GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTERESTED IN CHANGING. I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS MY OWN SELFISH REASON. IT'S PLEASURABLE. AND WHEN I HAVE FRIENDS OVER, WE HAVE FUN SITTING OUT HERE. I HAVE A LOT OF BIRDING FRIENDS, AND SO WE'LL COME AND SIT QUIETLY OUT HERE AND THE BIRDS WILL COME BACK, AND IT'S JUST FUN. >> THANKS FOR SHARING THAT BEAUTIFUL NATIVE GARDEN WITH US. VERY APPROPRIATE FOR NATIVE PLANT WEEK, WHICH IS HAPPENING OCTOBER 14-20. OF COURSE THAT MEANS ALSO ACTIVITIES AT THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER, INCLUDING THE BIG PLANT SALE, WHICH IS HAPPENING ON THE 13TH AND 14TH. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT AT WILDFLOWER.ORG.   WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUT NATIVE THEME RIGHT NOW. I'M JOINED NOW BY MITCH MITCHAMORE WITH HILL COUNTRY NATIVES. IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A CONCEPT THAT IS EXCITING TO ME, WHICH IS FOREST GARDENS AND NATIVE TREES. BEFORE WE DIVE IN AND START TALKING ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF THE PLANTS AND THE CONCEPTS HERE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THE PLANT BUSINESS. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS ACTUALLY KIND OF A NEW CAREER FOR YOU, IN A WAY. >> IT IS. I CAME TO IT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE DAYS, INVOLUNTARILY. >> OK. >> MY CAREER DISAPPEARED ONE MORNING, SO I SPENT SOME TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I COULD DO TO STAY OUT OF A CUBICLE THE REST OF MY LIFE. >> HA-HA, GOOD FOR YOU. >> IT TOOK A FEW YEARS, BUT I BEGAN GROWING TREES AS A HOBBY. THE MORE I LEARNED, PARTICULARLY FROM THE WILDFLOWER CENTER. >> UH-HUH. >> THE MORE INTERESTED I BECAME AND THE MORE INVOLVED I BECAME. EVEN MY WIFE BECAME INVOLVED WHICH WAS A MIRACLE IN ITSELF. SHE STILL HAS A JOB. BUT THE BUSINESS MORPHED ABOUT FIVE YEARS, I GUESS I'D SAY, BEFORE WE DECIDED TO CALL IT A COMMERCIAL ENDEAVOR. >> UH-HUH. >> AND UM, IT'S GROWN FROM THAT ONE GROUP OF 48 LIVE OAKS TO BETTER THAN 80 SPECIES AND MORE THAN 8,000 TREES, AT THIS POINT. >> WOW, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A RETAIL CENTER. YOU DO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ON A LIMITED BASIS ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, CORRECT? >> ALL OF THE ABOVE, REALLY. IF A CUSTOMER, POTENTIAL CUSTOMER HAS A NEED, I CAN BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO MEET THAT NEED. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING A DO-IT-YOURSELF LANDSCAPING AND MAY HAVE A SIZABLE PROJECT. SO WE MIGHT VISIT WITH THEM, SIT IN THE GAZEBO AND DRINK SOME TEA OR SOMETHING AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND TOUR OUR GARDENS AND IN MANY CASES, WE HAVE TREES GROWING THERE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN, EXCEPT IN PICTURES. >> SURE. >> SO THAT IS USEFUL. WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE IN THAT REGARD. BUT AS FAR AS SOMEONE JUST SHOWING UP TO BUY PLANTS, LIKE THEY WOULD AT A REGULAR RETAIL NURSERY, I'M A ONE-MAN SHOW, I CAN'T ALWAYS BE THERE. >> OK. THAT'S UNDERSTOOD. PEOPLE ARE WELL-ADVISED TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT IN ADVANCE BEFORE HEADING OUT. >> WE TRY TO BE THERE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER. >> OK. VERY GOOD. THE CONCEPT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT YOU ARE FORWARDING HERE IS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL ONE AND MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AS A TECHNIQUE FOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE KIND OF ECOSYSTEM IN YOUR YARD OR GARDEN. THAT IS A FOREST GARDEN. AND REALLY INVOLVES KIND OF A LAYERING OF TREES AND *** SPECIES TO PROVIDE KIND OF A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM AND IT ALL STARTS WITH A CANOPY, RIGHT? >> THAT'S RIGHT. THE IDEA WAS REALLY REINFORCED BY THE SUMMERS OF 2010 AND 2011, THE HOTTEST AND DRIEST WE'VE EXPERIENCED. WHEN ALMOST NOTHING WOULD GROW, I STARTED THINKING MORE AND MORE ABOUT GROWING STUFF IN THE SHADE. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A NATIVE CANOPY. >> LIVE OAKS AND CEDAR ELMS. >> LIVE OAKS, CEDAR ELMS, EVEN SOME JUNIPERS. SOME MATURE JUNIPERS, THEY GET ON UP TO 30 TO 50 FEET IN HEIGHT. IN THAT SHADE, THINGS WERE DOING BETTER THAN IN FULL SUN. SO I KIND OF TOOK IT TO HEART, AND STARTED PREACHING THAT AS A GOSPEL. THAT IF PEOPLE COULD PROVIDE PART SHADE FOR WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANTED TO DO, IT WOULD BE MORE PLEASANT AND MORE SUCCESSFUL. AFTER ALL, NEARLY EVERYONE STILL HAS A JOB. WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE GARDENING INTO A DIFFICULT THING, WE WANT IT TO BE PLEASANT AND PRODUCTIVE. >> AND HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT REFRESHING, AND A SHADE GARDEN COULD PROVIDE THAT LITTLE BREATH OF COOL. >> IT IS EVEN NICE IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE TREES YOU COULD HANG A HAMMOCK FROM. >> HEY, NOT A BAD IDEA. IN ADDITION TO THE TREES WE ALREADY MENTIONED AS CANOPY   TREES, LIVE OAKS, CEDARS ELMS, THE CEDARS THEMSELVES. I WANT TO THROW A COUPLE OTHER TREES IN THE MIX. I'M ALWAYS TOUTING THE LACEY OAK, WHICH IS A GREAT HILL COUNTRY SURVIVOR, SMALLISH TREE, SUPER DEPENDABLE ONE. THE HONEYLOCUST, THE TREE YOU ADVOCATE. TELL US ABOUT THE HONEYLOCUST. >> I WAS LOOKING AT IT QUITE FAVORABLY AS A LIGHT DAPPLE SHADE, DEEP-ROOTED TREE THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GROW OTHER THINGS UNDER IT. WE RECENTLY SAW THAT IS THE DOMINANT LANDSCAPING TREE IS SOUTHWEST COLORADO. THIS IS AN AREA OF LESS THAN 10 INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR. I TOOK THAT TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR A DROUGHT-TOLERANT TREE. >> THEY'RE A WIDELY USED TREE IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT NOT OFTEN HERE. I WAS INTRIGUED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. NOW, YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU SOME SMALL, ONE-GALLON SIZE PLANTS FROM YOUR GARDEN. SOME OF THESE ARE CANOPY SIZE TREES WHEN THEY GROW. I WANT TO START WITH THE ONE THAT I HAVE RIGHT NEXT TO ME, IN MY RIGHT HAND HERE. I LOVE TEXAS ASH. I HATE THE ARIZONA ASH. LOVE THE TEXAS ASH. ONE OF THE REASONS I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS PLANT -- THINGS I LIKE ABOUT IT IS GREAT FALL COLOR. IT CAN BE ONE OF THE BEST FALL COLOR PLANTS WE'VE GOT. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF THIS LITTLE TREE? >> TO ME, PROBABLY THE PRIMARY IS THAT IT IS DIFFERENT. A DIFFERENT VARIETY. WE WANT TO GET AWAY FROM A STRAIGHT OAK, CEDAR ELM AND INCLUDE SOME ASH, MAPLES, THE SOAPBERRY WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES. PLAYING OFF THAT, I WENT LOOKING FOR AN ASH THAT WAS NATIVE TO PLAY A ROLE IN THAT CONTEXT. I HAVE HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH THE TEXAS ASH. >> IT'S NATIVE IN THE HILL COUNTRY, GROWS IN THE PLATEAUS AS WELL AS IN THE CANYONS, GETS TO BE WHAT, TYPICALLY 35, 40 FEET TALL? >> TYPICALLY. I CALL A CANOPY LAYER 30 TO 50 FEET. IN THE HILL COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED, IT IS TYPICALLY MORE ABOUT 30 FEET, 30 TO 40 MAYBE. >> WELL, IT'S A SUPER PLANT, EVIDENT FROM THE NATIVE RANGE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY DROUGHT TOLERANT. >> YEAH. >> YOU MENTIONED THE MAPLE. AGAIN, ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PLANTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, BIGTOOTH MAPLE OF LOS MAPLES FAME. >> RIGHT. >> THIS IS A PLANT THAT IS STILL -- I WOULD SAY IT IS SOUGHT AFTER NOW, BUT STILL NOT COMMON IN THE TRADE. >> FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO GROW TO ANY SIZE IN A REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME. IF YOU ARE ESTABLISHING A NEW LANDSCAPE, YOU WANT SOMETHING TO MOVE RIGHT ALONG, AND THE BIGTOOTH MAPLE TYPICALLY DOESN'T DO THAT. ITS FIRST FEW YEARS, IT GROWS SLOWLY IN THE SHADE OF ITS PARENTS OR SHADE OF A CANYON, LIKE DOWN IN THE RIVER REGION. >> RIGHT. >> SO IT MIGHT BE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE IT GETS TO BE THREE OR FOUR FEET IN HEIGHT. IF IT'S ESTABLISHED AT THAT TIME, IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND DO TWO OR THREE FEET A YEAR. >> UH-HUH. >> GOOD FALL COLOR, AGAIN. >> OH, YEAH, SPECTACULAR COLOR. DEPENDABLE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, IN TERMS OF ITS COLOR. AND I FOUND THAT WITH EXTENSIVE SOIL PREPARATION, I'M -- IN THE GARDEN I'VE HAD, THESE THINGS ACTUALLY WILL GROW QUICKLY. >> THEY WILL. >> IF, AGAIN, THE SOIL IS PREPARED IN A WIDE AREA AROUND WHERE THE PLANTING IS. >> YEAH, THEY DO HAVE A SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEM COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER NATIVE TREES. >> RIGHT. YOU ALSO MENTIONED SOAPBERRY, WHICH IS A PLANT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT ON THIS PROGRAM IN, GOSH, I BET IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 10 YEARS. THIS IS A TOUGH-AS-NAILS LITTLE PLANT. >> ABSOLUTELY. FIND IT GROWING ALONG 29 OUT BY LLANO. IF SOMETHING CAN GROW OUT THERE, IT CAN GROW ANYWHERE. >> RIGHT. AGAIN, IT CAN GET TO SCALE, 25 TO 30 FEET TALL. KIND OF THE NARROW PECAN-LIKE LEAF ON THE MATURE PLANT. >> AND A DAPPLE SHADE, SO YOU CAN DO THINGS UNDER IT, IF YOU WISH. >> UH-HUH. I LIKE THE EMPHASIS YOU PLACE ON THE DAPPLE SHADE. A LOT OF US WANT TO USE THINGS THAT ARE XERIC, WHICH REQUIRE SOME SUN. GOING WITH AN APPROACH OF SOME DAPPLE SHADE, KIND OF AN OVERSTORY OR CANOPY KIND OF PLANTS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SOME OF THE SMALLER PLANTS TO GO UNDERNEATH THAT, YOU BROUGHT SOME OF THOSE ALONG AS WELL. I WANT TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE. ONE THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT IMMEDIATELY AT HAND IS THE KIDNEYWOOD. THIS IS ONE OF THE LITTLE PLANTS THAT IS IN THE MIMOSA FAMILY, I BELIEVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OBVIOUSLY HAS A VERY DELICATE MIMOSA-LIKE KIND OF TEXTURE TO IT.   THE HILL COUNTRY'S REPLETE WITH THESE KINDS OF PLANTS, THESE FEATHERY PLANTS THAT SEEM TO GO AND GO. >> THEY ARE. REAL OFTEN, FOLKS HAVE NOT SEEN HOW ATTRACTIVE THIS TREE CAN BE, BECAUSE THEY'VE ONLY SEEN IT IN PASTURES WHERE THE CATTLE AND DEER HAVE ACCESS TO IT. >> RIGHT. >> A FAVORITE DEER FOOD. SO A TREE LIKE THAT CAN GET A LITTLE BEAT UP LOOKING. BUT IF PROTECTED IN A YARD OR LANDSCAPE, IT CAN GROW INTO A NICE-SHAPED TREE. RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE BLOOMING, IT IS A GOOD FRAGRANCE. >> YEAH, THEY'RE VERY FRAGRANT, IT'S A DELICIOUS FRAGRANCE. IN FACT, WHEN THEY'RE IN BLOOM IN MASS, IF YOU DRIVE DOWN ONE OF THE HILL COUNTRY ROADS, AND THEY'RE IN BLOOM, IT PERFUMES AN ENTIRE RIVER VALLEY. REALLY WONDERFUL LITTLE PLANT. ANOTHER THING THAT YOU ADVOCATE AND THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE USE OF NATIVE FRUIT TREES AS UNDERSTORY. PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN ANY KIND OF FOOD PRODUCTION WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING THE LITTLE NATIVE PLUMS. WE ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH THE MEXICAN PLUM. YOU ARE ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THE CHICKASAW PLUM, WHICH IS A PLANT I HEARD OF, BUT I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT. >> IT IS A SMALLER TREE. MAY TEND TO FORM A THICKET. SO IT MAY NOT BE REALLY GOOD FOR A FORMAL SETTING. >> UH-HUH. >> BUT IF YOU HAVE A CORNER WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A MORE NATURALISTIC LOOK, A CHICKASAW PLUM CAN FIT IN REAL WELL AND CAN PRODUCE AN EDIBLE FRUIT. >> BLANCO CRABAPPLE, ANOTHER PLANT THAT ACTUALLY OCCASIONALLY, YOU WILL SEE IN THE MARKET. LOVE THIS PLANT, BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, AND INTERESTING FOLIAGE AS WELL. >> IT IS. AGAIN, IT MIGHT FORM A THICKET, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE A LITTLE LEERY OF IT CREEPING INTO A ST. AUGUSTINE LAWN. I'M FINDING THAT'S FALLING OUT OF FAVOR PRETTY RAPIDLY. >> YEAH, THAT'S A WELL-BEHAVED, SLOW-GROWING PLANT, TOO. >>YES. >> BUT BEWARE OF THE THORNS. >> TRUE. MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING TREE I'VE EVER SEEN. >> IT IS A MAGNIFICENT BLOOM. STUNNING WHEN YOU FIRST SEE IT. YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PLANT ISN'T USED EVERYWHERE. >> YEAH. >> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. >> HARD TO FIND. >> HARD TO FIND. THAT IS ONE REASON WHY WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU, MITCH, AND THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AT HILL COUNTRY NATIVES. REAL QUICKLY, TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN BE IN TOUCH. ARE YOU ONLINE? >> YES, WE HAVE A WEBSITE. IT'S HILLCOUNTRYNATIVES.NET. >> OK. >> I DO MOST OF IT BY E-MAIL. MOST COMMUNICATION. >> ALL RIGHT. OK. THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN AND APPROPRIATE CONVERSATION FOR NATIVE PLANT WEEK. PEOPLE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES AT THE WILDFLOWER CENTER AT WILDFLOWER.ORG. MITCH, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> OK. COMING UP NEXT IS OUR FRIEND DAPHNE. >> HI, I'M DAPHNE RICHARDS. OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK IS: "CA I USE OLD SHOWER CURTAINS TO SOLARIZE MY YARD?" AND THE ANSWER IS YES! SOLARIZING IS A GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH NEMATODES, WEEDS, AND EVEN GET RID OF TURFGRASS. YOU SIMPLY COVER AN AREA WITH PLASTIC, WEIGHT IT DOWN SO THAT IT DOESN'T BLOW AWAY, AND LET THE HEAT OF THE SUN BAKE THE AREA UNDERNEATH. NEMATODES ARE PARASITIC GROUND WORMS THAT LIVE IN THE SOIL AND INVADE THE ROOTS OF YOUR PLANTS. ONCE YOU HAVE THEM, YOU CAN NEVER TRULY BE RID OF THEM, BUT SOLARIZING THE SOIL DOES KNOCK BACK THE POPULATION PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY. AFTER REPLANTING IN A SOLARIZED AREA, THE NEMATODES WILL BOUNCE BACK, SO SOLARIZATION IS REALLY MOST EFFECTIVE IN VEGETABLE BEDS, WHERE YOU CAN SOLARIZE THE SOIL BETWEEN PLANTING SEASONS. TO BEST KEEP THE NEMATODES IN CHECK, YOU SHOULD SOLARIZE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, FOR AT LEAST A MONTH OR LONGER IF YOU HAVE A REALLY BAD INFESTATION, IN EARLY SPRING. CLEAR PLASTIC WORKS BEST HERE, SINCE THE SUN SHINES THROUGH TO THE SOIL AND CREATES EVEN MORE HEAT UNDER THE PLASTIC, DUE TO THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT. SOLARIZING ALSO WORKS WELL WHEN TRYING TO GET RID OF WEEDS AND TURFGRASS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO REMOVE THE GRASS IN ORDER TO PUT IN A PLANTING BED OR OTHER LANDSCAPE ELEMENT. IN THIS SITUATION, IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO USE BLACK PLASTIC, SO THAT YOU CUT THE PLANTS OFF FROM SUNLIGHT, FORCING THEM TO USE ALL OF THEIR STORED CARBOHYDRATES TO GROW, BUT LEAVING THEM NO WAY TO PHOTOSYNTHESIZE AND PRODUCE FOOD TO REPLENISH THE ENERGY THAT THEY'RE USING. SOLARIZING WORKS VERY WELL ON PLANTS WITH UNDERGROUND STORAGE ORGANS LIKE BULBS, RHIZOMES, AND STOLONS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF BY PULLING THEM OR EVEN WITH HERBICIDES. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF PERNICIOUS WEEDS, LIKE NUT SEDGE, OR NUT GRASS, AS IT'S MORE COMMONLY CALLED, OR BERMUDAGRASS, SOLARIZING MULTIPLE TIMES WILL BE NECESSARY. IN HONOR OF NATIVE PLANT WEEK, OUR PICK THIS WEEK IS DAMIANITA, CHRYSACTINIA MEXICANA. THIS CUTE LITTLE MOUNDING PLANT IS WHAT WE IN THE BIZ WOULD CALL A "SUB-SHRUB." WITH ITS VIBRANT FOREST GREEN LEAVES AND ITS YELLOW FLOWERS, DAMIANITA SEEMS ALMOST LIKE A PLANT OUT OF A FAIRY TALE, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT HANSEL AND GRETEL MIGHT PASS ON THEIR WAY TO THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE. IT MAKES A STRIKING ADDITION TO ANY GARDEN BED, BUT LOOKS BEST PLANTED AGAINST STARKINGLY CONTRASTING COLORS, IT IS EVERGREEN, BUT DOES REQUIRE SOME SHEARING TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING TOO STRAGGLY IN THE HEAT. THE FOLIAGE IS STRONGLY AROMATIC, BUT THE PLANT STAYS SO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT YOU MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO DETECT ITS SCENT AFTER A RAIN. DAMIANITA WILL ONLY GET ABOUT 12 INCHES TALL, BUT MAY SPREAD UP TO 2 FEET. IT LOVES THE FULL SUN AND WILL NOT TOLERATE SHADE. IT THRIVES IN THE HEAT AND NEEDS VERY LITTLE SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION, EXCEPT DURING THE HOTTEST, LONGEST DRY-SPELLS. DAMIANITA IS NATIVE TO AREAS WITH VERY POOR SOILS THAT ARE ROCKY, SO IT WON'T DO WELL IN HEAVY CLAY OR IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN AMENDED WITH ORGANIC MATTER. IT FLOWERS FROM SPRING ALL THE WAY THROUGH FALL AND IS LISTED AS HARDY TO ZERO DEGREES, SO IT WILL ALSO SURVIVE ANY UNCHARACTERISTICALLY COLD WINTERS THAT WE MIGHT GET HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS WEEK IN YOUR GARDEN, PLANT SOME ORNAMENTAL KALE OR CABBAGE. OR MAYBE SOME PANSIES AND SWEET PEAS. THESE PLANTS THRIVE IN OUR MILD WINTERS, AND WILL BRING A BIT OF CHEER TO THOSE GRAY DAYS AHEAD. YOU CAN ALSO PLANT DIANTHUS, NASTURTIUM, LARKSPUR, AND STOCK. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! SO PLEASE VISIT KLRU.ORG/CTG TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS OR PLANTS FROM YOUR GARDEN. >> THANKS, DAPHNE. NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH ANDREA DELONG-AMAYA FOR BACKYARD BASICS.   >> HELLO, I'M ANDREA DELONG-AMAYA, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE AT THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER. THIS TIME OF YEAR AT THE WILDFLOWER CENTER WE'RE PLANTING LIKE CRAZY. FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO PLANT CONTAINER GROWN PERENNIALS, GRASSES AND OTHER NATIVE PLANTS, AND THIS GIVES THEM A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO ESTABLISH A NICE RIGOROUS ROOT SYSTEM BEFORE THE STRESSFUL HEAT OF SUMMER HITS. SO WHEN YOU GET STARTED YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU'RE PLANTING YOUR CONTAINERS THOROUGHLY MOISTENED, AND IF YOUR GARDEN BED -- PRETENDING THIS IS A GARDEN BED IF IT'S DRY YOU MIGHT WANT TO WATER THE NIGHT BEFORE ALSO JUST TO MAKE THE SOIL A LITTLE LOOSER, EASIER TO DIG IN, AND THE PLANTS WILL GET ESTABLISHED A LITTLE BIT FASTER. SO, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS PLANT THE HOLE, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS PEOPLE MAKE THE MOST MISTAKES WITH. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPTH OF THE HOLE FITS THE PLANT. YOU DON'T WANT TO PLANT SOMETHING TOO DEEP OR TOO SHALLOW. SO I LIKE TO JUST TEST IT OUT LITTLE BIT, PUT THE PLANT IN THE POT IN THERE, YOU WANT THE CROWN OF THE PLANT TO BE RIGHT AT THE SURFACE OF THE SURROUNDING SOIL LEVEL. SO THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THE NEXT THING YOU WANT TO DO IS JUST TIP THE PLANT OVER AND GENTLY GIVE IT A LITTLE TAP, MAYBE SQUEEZE THE POT JUST TO LOOSEN UP THE ROOTS, LIKE THAT, LIFT THAT OUT. AND THIS LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, BUT SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE ROOTS THAT ARE REALLY COILED AROUND, YOU WANT TO JUST GENTLY PULL THEM APART, AND THIS HELPS THE PLANT GET ESTABLISHED A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THE HOLE. AND THEN PUT YOUR PLANT IN THE HOLE. AND WHAT I LIKE TO DO, ESPECIALLY IF I'M PLANTING THINGS LATE IN THE SPRING, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO GET YOUR PLANTS WATERED IN BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY BACKFILL SOIL, IF YOU FILL THE HOLE WITH MORE WATER, IT KIND OF CREATES A SLURRY WITH THE SOIL. AND IT HELPS REDUCE THE AIR POCKETS THAT YOU HAVE IN THERE. YOU MIGHT DO THAT A COUPLE TIMES, BECAUSE WE'RE IN A BUS TUB HERE I'M NOT GOING TO FLOOD IT OUT RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU WANT TO WATER IT SEVERAL TIMES AND GET THE PLANT VERY ESTABLISHED WITH THE WATER. AND THEN CHECK IT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN YOU DON'T WANT THE STEM BURIED. SO THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THE NEXT THING YOU WANT TO DO, IF YOU'RE PLANTING IN A GARDEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOME MULCH IF YOU'D LIKE. THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THE SOIL COOLER AND KEEP THE MOISTURE IN, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD IN TO THE SUMMER. AND THEN WHAT I THING IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHECK YOUR PLANT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WATERING IS GOOD AND THAT YOU'RE NOT OVER-WATERING OR UNDER-WATERING. AND AGAIN, CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROOT LEVEL IS CORRECT. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ADJUST THINGS AT TIMES. YOU MIGHT WANT TO LIFT THE PLANT UP A LITTLE BIT, GENTLY, OR YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF SOIL BACK AROUND THE PLANT. AND ASSUME THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF SETTLING AS THE PLANT IS IN THE GROUND, AND SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT. AND ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING A LITTLE BIT HIGH, THINKING THAT THE PLANT MIGHT SETTLE A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN YOU WAIT, YOU LET THE PLANTS GROW OVER THE COURSE OF THE WINTERTIME, ESTABLISHING THEIR ROOTS, AND THEY'LL BE READY TO GO IN THE SPRING, AND YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT, WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF FLOWERS IN THE SPRING. FOR BACKYARD BASICS, I'M ANDREA DELONG-AMAYA. PLEASE COME VISIT US AT THE WILDFLOWER CENTER AND ALSO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. >> FIND OUT MORE AT KLRU.ORG/CTG. NEXT WEEK, GET A PREVIEW OF THE MASTER GARDENER TOUR. UNTIL THEN, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE GARDEN. >> TO LEARN ABOUT TODAY'S PROGRAM, WATCH ONLINE AND FOLLOW CTG'S BLOG, CHECK OUT KLRU.ORG/CTG.   >> SUPPORT FOR CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER COMES FROM GEO GROWERS, OFFERING CUSTOM SOIL BLENDS FOR LAWNS, GARDENS, XERISCAPING AND ORGANIC LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES. MORE INFORMATION AT GEOGROWERS.NET.