VOLUME 22, ISSUE 6 • February 5, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Better weather has given gardeners encouragement this week. We've assembled some important information in this week's e-gardens.

In this issue…
• This weekend's catch-ups;
• Plant Hardiness Zone Map needs revision;
• Steve Huddleston details Fatsias;
• Steve Houser protects trees from winter; and
• I answer your questions.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
A career's worth of experience

• 11 Chapters. 344 pages. 840 of my photos. 3 weeks of press checks in San Antonio - I was there!
• Covers every aspect of landscapes, lawns, fruit, flower, and vegetable gardening for every county in Texas.
• I worked a year writing this book, but it took 55 professional years to learn what I put into it.
• I sign every copy and I personally guarantee your satisfaction or I'll refund every penny.
• Not in bookstores and not on Amazon.

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To order: neilsperry.com
Or call my office
M-F afternoons (800) 752-4769
Also available at Calloway's and
Cornelius Nurseries

Photo: Violetta Chinese cabbage loves the cool weather.

Gardening This Weekend

For most of the state things could have been worse with last week's cold. As proof, look at videos from Nashville, northern Mississippi and about a hundred other places. But it still set us back. Let's assess where we are and reset our goals.

Photo: Violetta Pak choi can be planted now in South Texas.

Fatsias bring exotic good looks

Here's a plant that brings a bold and tropical look to its surroundings, yet it's adapted to two-thirds of our state. It probably comes as a surprise to new gardeners that fatsia is a close relative of English ivy. There's lots more to share. Let Steve Huddleston tell you.

Photo: Fatsia foliage draws attention to its part of the garden.

Winter Damage to our Trees

Winters can be especially challenging to trees and other landscape plants. Steve Houser of Arborilogical Services explains potential damage that could be done to trees and how a qualified arborist can help you avoid them.

Photo: Ice is your worst fear. It coated this bur oak completely.

Hardiness Zone Map needs revision - again

I've talked and written about this a lot in the past 12 days. Our most recent USDA Hardiness Zone Map needs further revision. The map they gave us 35 years ago was better. Let me explain why.

Photo: Last week's cold weather proved it again.

Q&A – Ask Neil

Not surprisingly, folks were reluctant to get out to take photos last week in the ice, so we had fewer questions. But we still had a wide assortment from paperwhites and cotoneasters to lanky Little Gems and pruning sealant high up in trees. See how I responded.

And, in closing…

So, my friend, you've reached the end of another issue of e-gardens and I hope you've found it of interest.

Image clickable for larger view.

If you've ever considered planting a bald cypress (so named because they drop their needles in winter - they're what you see piled up on the pavement), I present one photo for you to consider. I get many calls from home gardeners whose mowers are bent out of shape because of these "knees." It's just their genetic habit, not a matter of poor drainage.

I'll be on the radio live as always this weekend. Give me a listen and give me a call! Times, stations, frequencies, and phone numbers are at this link. Many of the stations live stream my programs from their websites. And podcasts of the programs are here on my website by Tuesdays.

For now, I wish you health and…

Happy gardening!

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