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Author Archives: stephen.brueggerhoff
Stop the Chop on Crepe Myrtle
I recently delivered a presentation on pruning trees, and questions that often come at this time of year is the obsessive attention that we give to pruning an iconic belle of the south: our beloved Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.) There is a pruning practice that is ingrained in our culture called topping, often referred to as “crepe murder”, unnecessarily applied to these beauties and disrupting the elegance of their natural growth habit. I urge our readers to reconsider pruning traditions that can lead to malpruning, and guide you… Read More →
Methods for Planting Fruit Trees
I have never experienced discontentment in winter. I know that spring is just around the corner and that late winter is a great time to search for fruiting trees to put in our orchard, found at places like the Brazoria County Master Gardeners Citrus and Fruit Tree Sale on February 10, 2018 at the Brazoria County Fairgrounds. Once you get a tree, planting seems like it would be a simple task: dig a hole, plop the arboreal beauty in, water and done. Not so fast, my intrepid gardener,… Read More →
Using the USDA Hardiness Zone Map
I have written an article same time last year describing the effects that freezing temperature has on vegetation, and recent freeze events prompts me to bring up a common tool we use to choose our landscape plants that is related to annual low temperature: United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map. I often have clients refer to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map when thinking of purchasing garden plants. The department developed the map to define the mean minimum temperatures for areas within the continental and… Read More →
The Facts of Christmas Cactus
Nothing brings indoor cheer to my household more than a Christmas cactus in bloom. This group of cactus are easy to care for and unique in the plant world, and I would like to share their origin, offer tips to identify two popular species and give you the gift of simple care tips. There are three out of seven of this cactus species that are sold in the popular market: Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckley), Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri). Thanksgiving cactus has been… Read More →
Citrus, A Love Affair for the County
Residents of the Texas Gulf Coast have a long-standing love affair with citrus. There is a diversity of tastes, texture and colors among the different varieties of citrus that we can grow successfully in our own backyards. And fall is the season when many different varieties begin to ripen, whetting our imaginations of toasting a successful growing season with a tall glass of harvested crisp, sweet citrus juices. Organizations like our very own Brazoria County Master Gardeners will host citrus tasting events this time of year in December… Read More →
Sage Advice: Salvias for Brazoria County
Now that the fall season is in full swing, we’re both focusing on end-of-year vegetable/ornamental gardening or (literally) putting our gardens to bed and planning for the next spring season. I would like to offer focus to one of my favorite plant groups to help stock our planning diaries: salvias. No, not the familiar drought tolerant and tall Cenizo, or “Texas Sage” bushes (botanical name Leucophyllum) that proffer lavender-colored blossoms after a rain, but the low-slung and often tender-branched perennial plants that offer a variety of leaf texture… Read More →
Citrus Leaves Looking Bad: Asian Citrus Leaf Miner
There are many reasons to love gardening along the Texas Gulf Coast, one being the ability to successfully grow a variety of citrus trees in our landscape. Urban gardeners to small-scale orchard operators in Brazoria County have natural resources of temperate weather and access to full sun to entice sun-colored fragrant fruit from their trees. Citrus is a general term for fruit that includes the familiar lemon, key and persian lime, the unusual thick-skinned citron, the delectable sweet orange, easy to peel tangerine, huge pomelo, grape-sized kumquat and… Read More →
Landscaping After the Flood
Individually and as a community we are coming to terms with rebuilding our homes and landscapes after the storm damage, and I am beginning to receive questions from concerned citizens about the effects of flooding on their home landscape. There are some signs of plant decline I’ll review, and patience is key as we continue to recover. There are many factors that can affect a plants’ long and short-term health. The primary limiting factor is inadequate oxygen exchange in saturated soils. The roots of all plants need access… Read More →
Second Spring: Fall Gardening
I consider our annual fall season to be our “second spring”, a time of year projecting a promise of cooler weather and just in time to establish a fall vegetable garden. In a way, the fall gardening season is just like asking for second helpings at the table; we’re working our garden beds for a second serving of vegetables in one year, and we can be successful for our efforts with a little preparation and planning. You would use the same set of criteria for your fall garden… Read More →
The Dirt on Composting
I am delighted with the thought that in my lifetime the word compost is understood and embraced by many. I often interject the word ‘compost’ in casual conversation to watch for a glimmer of recognition from the person I’m talking with. While folks may recognize the concept, they may not necessarily practice this elegantly simple activity and I certainly encourage homeowners to consider composting benefits to adopt best gardening practices and start your own compost project. There are several benefits gained from composting as a household activity, primary… Read More →