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

Rethinking Landscapes in Weather Challenges

Ongoing drought and disastrous flooding lead urban design conversations to meet climate change challenges and habitat loss. Emily Manderson, Conservation Director at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, explains how they responded with a master plan to build diversity and resilience along with nature engagement for all ages. On tour, Janie Orr and daughter Jennifer | watch episode →

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Thomas Rainer

How do we create nature and resilient, emotionally-resonant landscapes in planned environments? Thomas Rainer, Phyto Studio landscape architect, explores concepts from his book, Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes. In Dripping Springs, home, family, and native plant habitat come together for Leah and Jon Gillum. Daphne shows off our viewer’s | watch episode →

October To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Perennials, shrubs, ornamental (clumping) grasses
Cover crops for dormant vegetable beds: clover, hairy vetch, elbon (cereal) rye, Austrian winter peas, or annual rye
Late: native wildflower seeds like bluebonnets, phlox, Mexican hat, Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket (gaillardia). Also, non-native poppies, larkspurs, hollyhocks

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano, lavender
Cilantro seeds or transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage

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

Oak trees safe to prune

Divide/Move

Iris, daylily, fern, liriope, spring-blooming perennials, violets

Prep

Add compost to vegetable gardens along with organic fertilizer if not already done
Decide wildflower seeds and bulbs to plant in November
Mulch tropical and semi-cold-hardy plants like gingers, Esperanza, Pride of Barbados, Firecracker fern, bananas.
Take cuttings of tender annuals to propagate in warmth to renew your garden next spring
If temps dip, cut basil and preserve in oil in the freezer
Collect seeds of annuals to dry and store inside until next spring.

Lawn

Fertilize with an organic slow release formula like 8-2-4 or similar ratio. Avoid products with too much nitrogen. This is the best time of year to fertilize.
Brown patch: Apply a quarter inch of compost. Apply corn meal. Find out what’s causing the problem like low drainage spots or compacted areas.
Mow high to fend off weed seeds that are germinating. Taller grass shades them out.

Other tasks

Late month: get row cover or plan other protection in case of early frost in November
Cut basil to freeze in oil in ice cube trays to use this winter in soups and stews
Collect seeds from summer annuals to dry and store indoors until next spring
Get houseplants ready to move inside. Investigate for any “buddies” that could be coming indoors with them.

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