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Author Archives: belinda.goodwin
Planting for Pollinators
Planting for Pollinators Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 9/14/2021 Pollinators play a vital role maintaining regional ecosystems and agriculture. USDA reports that an estimated 75 percent of plants rely on animal or insect pollination, with 35 percent food crops depending on the same. Homeowners can support this important service by planting for pollinators, creating habitat and sources of food to maintain biodiversity in the urban landscape. Take a moment to review basic pollination biology and understand the process. Pollination is the act of… Read More →
Plant Green Beans for a Fall Harvest
Plant Green Beans for a Fall Harvest Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 8/16/2021 Preparing green beans is just one part of my childhood gardening experience, a seasonal ritual at my grandmother’s house whenever we would visit in mid-spring and in the fall. Harvest appeared to be plentiful, preparation was necessary, and this was one tried and true activity that mamaw could use to keep me, my brother and my sisters corralled and contributing to the family meal. We are fast approaching our fall… Read More →
Blackberry Traditions in the Backyard
Blackberry Traditions in the Backyard Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 5/24/2021 It is high time for harvesting the fruits of our labors, and I am looking forward to the tart sweetness of home-grown blackberries. I suspect blackberry picking is a tradition for most families, and I distinctly remember my parents taking us to a pick-your-own business when I was a tween, my brother, sisters, and I figuring out best methods for avoiding the sting from blackberry prickles to harvest glistening purple and black… Read More →
Extending Your Tomato Harvest
Extending Your Tomato Harvest Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 4/26/2021 Tomatoes are currently well on their way to producing delicious fruit, with harvest anticipated anytime between mid-May to early June. I have witnessed fellow gardeners planting them in the ground the first week of March to ensure early harvest, and often limiting to one or two varietal choices. We have an opportunity to extend production by cultivating more than one tomato variety and staggering plantings. Estimating harvest is based on the individual varietal date… Read More →
After Freeze Spring Turf Care
After Freeze Spring Turf Care Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 3/28/2021 Winter Storm Uri inflicted widespread damage to our communities this past month, and some of our neighbors may still be recovering from the event. The freezing temperatures certainly impacted our landscapes, with each plant showing varying damage symptoms such as discoloration, vegetation softening and woody stems becoming brittle and prompting our desire to prune the problems away. I have asked neighbors to have patience and monitor their plants for any signs of… Read More →
Patience is Key to Gardening After a Freeze
Patience is Key to Gardening After the Freeze Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 3/1/2021 The recent winter storms that held Texas in its grip has had a severe effect on our landscape plantings, orchard, and vegetable gardens. After witnessing how quickly our landscapes were affected, our instinct is to take immediate action by pruning, fertilizing, and watering, practices that are based on annual cultural and seasonal activities. My colleagues and I are advocating to take a step back, to wait until your plants… Read More →
Time to Prune Woody Ornamentals
Time to Prune Woody Ornamentals Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 2/02/2021 While winter is viewed as a season of contemplation, there are still pruning maintenance tasks for woody ornamental plants we can accomplish at this time of year. Pruning is a landscaping activity that benefits and promotes healthy growth. The reasons we prune plants are to train, maintain, improve flower and vegetative quality, and restrict growth. One goal is to create and maintain the basic plant architecture using sustainable methods. Pruning during late… Read More →
Care for Gardening Tools
Care for Gardening Tools Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 1/05/2021 Consistent gardening tool maintenance, like beauty, certainly is in the eye of the beholder. You may fall under the spell of gardening processes while practicing sustainable pruning or digging techniques, and do not forget that the practice is only as sound as the care you take in maintaining your garden tools. Always make a habit of cleaning your tools after each use. There is a challenge keeping tools moisture free living in a… Read More →
2020 BRAZORIA COUNTY PECAN SHOW
Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Brazoria County AgriLife Extension is celebrating a fall tradition hosting the 2020 Brazoria County Pecan Show, an opportunity to celebrate pecan culture and bring attention to the diversity and health benefits of our native nut. Open to backyard growers and commercial producers, our office is accepting samples now until Tuesday, December 1, 2020. There is no fee for entry, non-mixed varieties with 50 nuts per submission must be delivered to 21017 CR 171 in Angleton during operating office… Read More →
Fall Flowers in the Fields
Stephen Brueggerhoff, CEA – Horticulture; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 10/12/2020 Exploring local natural areas can be a balm for our senses and well-being and may inspire you to include native plants into your home landscape. Fall is a great time to receive home gardening inspiration from nature, a season I often refer to as a second spring with native plants exhibiting brilliant colors before a short winters rest. If you are exploring local natural areas, you may see broad patterns such as pink or yellow hues appearing… Read More →