Russell Womack

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currently in Austin

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Designer Russell Womack gives an old garden a new look with native drought tough plants.

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Fall Into Perennials

Recent Episodes

Panayoti Kelaidis, Denver Botanic Gardens

Philosophy for water-resourceful gardening crosses borders with Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens. On tour, John Hart Asher and Bonnie Evridge turned a weedy backyard into a native plant micro-prairie with room for organic vegetables and play area for their two small boys. Daphne explains why the fronds on | watch episode →

How Fragrance Impacts Decisions

A scent’s briefest whisper prompts powerful memories faster than an old photograph. Herb n’ Cowgirl Ann McCormick explores how fragrance impacts daily decisions—from food and flowers to cleaning supplies, candles, and perfumes. Find out where you fall on a fragrance wheel! In their first home, see what Susan Snyder and Mark Hathaway did with imagination, | watch episode →

December To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Hardy perennials, shrubs
Trees
Roses (best time!)
Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage
Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano
Avoid planting rosemary
Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives
Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze

Plant: food crops

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Prune

Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune
Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage
Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately
Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks

Divide/Move

Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant
Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant

Prep

Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost
Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals
Keep that row cover ready! Do not protect plants with plastic!

Lawn

Pluck out early weeds.

Other tasks

Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil
Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down
Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile!
Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched

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