VOLUME 20, ISSUE 28 • July 11, 2024

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Gardening This Weekend

With the holiday and the hurricane behind us, it's back to mid-summer as we know and love it here in Texas. Let's look at the most important tasks of this time. I've made them a quick and easy checklist for you. Click through to see them.

Photo: It's a great time for planting Angelonias!

Life is better on the porch

Diane Sitton visits the most beautiful homes and gardens. This week she shows us the joys of front porches across Texas.

Photo: Lovely porches speak “Relaxation” in anyone’s language.

Cora Cascade Trailing Vincas Perform

I got a text from Kenneth Cranfill, retired greenhouse grower second to none, six nights ago. He attached a photo from his own yard and wrote, "Cora Cascade Vinca. Hard to beat for summer color." I asked him to snap me a few more photos so I could tell you about this great group of plants. Click through to see them.

Photo: Cora Cascade Vinca mix.

Quick Garden Tip from Neil

Flowers aren't always the goal line when it comes to your garden plants. Sometimes they can spell disaster. Let me show you a few plants where you'll want to remove flowers as soon as buds start to appear. It's a message you don't want to pass by.

Photo: Coleus is just one example of a plant where flowers are not desired.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Interesting questions this week, ranging from a broken-down Rising Sun redbud to bermudagrass overrunning a bed of yuccas, mums that don’t know when to quit blooming to hostas that look like they’re covered in soot. What’s going on in this world! I’ll help sort it all out.

And, in closing…

A couple of weeks ago I gave you a link to watch highly respected Smith County Extension horticulturist (and friend) Greg Grant address the Collin County Master Gardeners on "Bulbs for Year 'Round Interest." It was billed as being for North Texas. However, I knew Greg would cover our whole state – and he did! Here is a link to the video of that talk. Hope you enjoy it!

That's what we call an e-gardens. My thanks to you for subscribing and reading. Please let others know about us.

I'll be on the air statewide over 33 stations 11-noon Saturday and in DFW on KLIF Saturday 1-2 and on WBAP Sunday 8-9 this weekend live. Give me a listen and give me a call. In the meantime, here are podcasts from last week's programs.

Finally in parting: soak those new plants deeply via your garden hose and a water breaker or water bubbler for their first couple of summers. Sprinklers and drip irrigation won't be enough.

Until next week,

Happy Gardening!