November 8, 2023

Pansies are a popular cool-season annual to add color to garden as the colder months approach. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

15 tips to prepare your garden for winter

By Paul Schattenberg

Texas A&M Extension Service

As colder weather starts to visit regions of the state, Texans need to prepare their gardens and yards. A good rule of “green” thumb is the farther north you live in the state, the sooner you need to start preparing.

“Texans should start thinking about preparing their garden for winter in early fall, ideally; however, it’s not too late if they haven’t done so already. And now is even a good time to think ahead to spring,” said Michael Arnold, Ph.D., director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University and professor of landscape horticulture in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

Winter gardening: How to take care of your garden and lawn in cold temperatures

Arnold shared key actions Texans should take to prepare their gardens for the coming seasons.

1. Plant cool-season annuals

Remove spent annuals and plant cool-season annuals for winter color in your gardens.

“Annuals are a cost-effective way to add temporary color to your garden year-round by purchasing season-appropriate plants,” Arnold said. Also, you should immediately plant wildflower seeds, if you have them, he added.

2. Weed and clean

As we enter the winter season, many gardeners will find it is the perfect time to remove unwanted plants. Weeding now will minimize the work your garden requires in the other three seasons. Gardeners should also apply a pre-emergent herbicide, or weed killer, for cool-season weeds in landscape beds and turf areas, if desired.

3. Plant trees and shrubs

Late fall is the ideal time to plant woody plants so roots can be established before the heat of summer. The Texas A&M Forest Service has several web applications that provide good tree species options and recommendations for specific Texas regions and how to care for trees, including managing pests and diseases.

4. Prune trees and shrubs

As the weather cools and plants truly go dormant for winter, it is time to prune. Arnold recommends removing limbs on shade trees and overlapping branches on trees, setting scaffold branching on orchard plants and pruning shrubs that bloom on new wood by early February at the latest.

He cautions about the importance of being aware if a tree blooms on new wood, like crepe myrtle, or on old wood, like apple or pear.

“If you prune branches on plants flowering on old wood, you are taking off the buds that were set in the fall and will bloom in spring,” Arnold said. He suggested to “prune plants blooming on old wood immediately after they bloom.”

5. Plant grass seed

In some places, temperatures have cooled enough to over-seed turfgrass or spread grass seed directly onto your lawn without turning the soil.

“But that’s a double-edged sword,” Arnold said. “You may get nice, green grass even in the winter, but you need to be prepared to maintain it. Water while the seed germinates, then mow. So maybe think twice if you want to do that.”

6. Divide perennials and transplant true cool-season plants

Choose cool-season plants such as pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, ornamental cabbage and kale. Keep in mind that annuals typically only last a season, whereas perennials can come back for years or even decades.

7. Consider planting winter vegetables

Many regions of Texas can get in one last late fall vegetable harvest. Now is the time to transplant cool-season veggies if you live in warmer parts of the state.

8. Use fallen leaves as mulch or compost

Fallen leaves make an ideal mulch or compost. In late fall, after the first few frosts and before the first hard freeze, Arnold recommends considering using those mulched leaves or shredded bark around the crown of tender perennials for protection.

9. Take cuttings of any tender, at-risk plants

If plants are sensitive to the cold, you might want to take cuttings to propagate and overwinter. Arnold recommends watching for cold nights and observing at-risk plants that may need to be protected. Light blankets or tarps may be placed on them overnight to protect them from frost.

10. Relocate potted plants that are not cold hardy

Potted plants have roots that will get colder than those planted in the ground, Arnold said. Be aware that plants brought indoors may drop their leaves in response to the change in sunlight but will then put on new ones. Tropical plants will need to be in a warmer area of a home with a sunny window, but other plants can be in a garage with a window or on a protected porch.

11. Visit your local public gardens

Now is the season to be inspired, Arnold said. He recommends a visit to local public gardens to take note of trees, shrubs and vines that provide fall and winter interest; consider planting them for future years.

“At The Gardens, we get all types of different forms and colors and textures from different plants to teach people what they can plant in their own garden,” he said. “With a little planning, you can create a garden that’s enjoyable for all four seasons.”

12. Clean tools and plan spring plantings

Winter is a good time to catch up on cleaning and maintaining tools like shears and lawnmowers, Arnold said. It gives gardeners time to repair and replace tools they won’t immediately need.

13. Prepare your pipes

Arnold said the single most important thing homeowners can do in advance of winter is to locate their drainage and cutoff valves to preserve and protect pipes and irrigation systems.

“Find your valves today and make sure you know how to turn them off.” Purchase or prepare insulation materials for exterior spigots and exposed pipes.

14. Think delayed gratification

Arnold said now is a great time to get some perennials into the ground and established before winter sets in.

“Long-term herbaceous perennials and bulbs need to be planted well before you want to enjoy them,” he said.

With bulbs, Arnold recommended refrigerating them for about six weeks to prepare them to be planted around mid-December, so they’ll be ready for spring bloom.

15. Be patient

Arnold said plants that may look dead may still be dormant come spring. As the weather warms, he said you can gently scratch the stem. If it is still green underneath, it’s alive.

“Be patient,” he said. “A little fertilizer, time and care can work miracles.”

Don’t hesitate to ask for help

Arnold encouraged homeowners to seek answers to questions they may have about anything garden and landscape related.

“There are so many resources available through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to help gardeners,” Arnold said. “If you have any questions, I recommend reaching out to your local county’s AgriLife Extension office because they can provide an answer or put you in touch with a horticulturalist familiar with your area.”

Similarly, if you are looking to get involved with gardeners from your area and join a community, he said Texas Master Gardeners could be for you.

“It is a wonderful, volunteer-based program run by AgriLife Extension. The volunteers are not only expert gardeners, but they have a wealth of knowledge about the plants of their specific region,” Arnold said. “They also offer learning events, workshops and have teaching gardens.”

Plan for the big picture

It is great that we’re getting people to think about winterizing their garden, he said, but we want to get gardeners thinking about spring now too, as well as their garden for the coming year.

“Ultimately, being knowledgeable enough to plan ahead means being able to optimize your garden,” Arnold said. “Most of Texas doesn’t have as well pronounced seasons as other parts of the country, so we can have the joy of gardening most of the year — with a little advance planning and preparation.”

Fall secrets to achieve a healthy spring lawn

By Valerie Smith

Sod Solutions Content Strategist

The changing of seasons often brings certain adjustments to your regular lawn maintenance routines. After providing your warm season lawn with constant hands-on care throughout the summer, many homeowners are ready to take a step back as their lawns approach winter dormancy.

Although fall lawn care can be less demanding than summer maintenance, a healthy lawn still needs attention to ensure green-up in the spring. What some don’t realize is that the success of the lawn’s spring green-up greatly depends on the maintenance that goes into it before winter dormancy.

We’ll reveal the top fall secrets to achieve a healthy spring lawn, but first, let’s talk about winter dormancy.

What is winter dormancy?

Winter dormancy is a natural process in which warm season grass enters a period of rest and preservation while sunlight and heat aren’t as available. Warm season grasses include zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, centipede grass and others.

Cool-season grasses like bluegrass, fescue or ryegrass also enter dormancy, but they do this during the summer season.

The purpose of dormancy is for the lawn to conserve its nutrients and enable it to survive the low temperatures of winter.

When does grass go dormant?

Warm-season grasses will not enter winter dormancy until late fall when soil temperatures drop and remain below 55 degrees (typically sometime after mid-September when temperatures are 65 degrees Fahrenheit depending on your geographic location).

As previously mentioned, cool season grasses like bluegrass, fescue or ryegrass also enter dormancy, but they do this during the summer season.

Of course, it’s important to note that every type of grass has a slightly different growing period. Thus, not all lawns will go dormant at the same time of year.

When do warm season grasses go dormant?

Warm season grasses like St. Augustine, zoysia, centipede and Bermuda grass will slowly stop growing once temperatures drop to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and soil temperatures are about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Apply a fertilizer

To ensure fast green-up in the spring, apply fertilizer to warm-season grass before it enters dormancy. This will provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to survive the winter. The grass blades will turn brown, but the roots underneath the soil’s surface are still alive and store these nutrients until it comes out of dormancy.

Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide

Fall is one of the most effective times to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to lawns. As the name suggests, a pre-emergent herbicide prevents weeds while a post-emergent treats currently existing weeds.

The application of pre-emergent herbicides will ensure weeds do not overtake your lawn once spring arrives. One of the most infamous hard-to-control weeds you may recognize is Poa annua. Post-emergents aren’t always effective, which is why it’s best to prevent them with a pre-emergent. Although this weed tends to show up in the spring, it actually germinates during the fall, which is why it can be tricky to control.

Apply a Preventative Fungicide

In addition to applying a pre-emergent herbicide, fall is the ideal time to apply a preventative fungicide. Fall is one of the prime times for disease outbreaks. Once the lawn goes dormant and turns brown, discoloration caused by disease damage is hard to see until the grass greens up in the spring.

This commonly happens with a disease called spring dead spot. Although it shows up in the spring, it occurs during the fall and winter months.

Don’t Stop Mowing Yet

Although the grass is no longer in its peak growing season, it’s still a good idea to mow your grass until it enters dormancy. Generally, it’s best to continue mowing until temperatures drop to below 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

Our recommendation is to keep your grass a bit taller than normal. When grass is too short, it doesn’t offer as much protection and allows for frost to get into the growing areas of your lawn. Keeping this area as protected as possible with slightly taller grass creates a barrier-like protection for the grass blades and stolons.

Now is also a great time to winterize your lawn mower.

Water Less

Finally, your lawn will continue to need water. Even though it’s brown and dormant, it’s not dead and still needs water to survive. However, irrigation should be reduced. It doesn’t have to be watered as much as the active growing seasons (spring, summer, fall).

Following these simple yet effective steps will ensure your lawn survives the cold temperatures of winter. Although your grass may not be growing as rapidly as during the summer months, it will continue growing until temperatures drop to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit and soil temperatures are about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, caring for your lawn during the fall will encourage healthy growth this autumn, as well as fast green-up in the spring.

Philodendron is just one of the low-maintenance tropical plant options. (Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com)

Keeping tropical plants healthy

By Melinda Myers

Tropical plants are filling our homes and workspaces, adding beauty, relieving stress, and boosting creativity, productivity, and focus. Keep these plants healthy and looking their best by providing for their basic needs.

Select plants that will thrive in the growing conditions found in your home or office and with your level of care. Busy gardeners should look for low-maintenance plants like ZZ plants, Chinese evergreens, pothos and philodendrons while others may choose ferns, peace lilies, baby tears and gardenias that require a bit more attention and care.

Light is the most common limiting factor when growing plants indoors. Matching the plants to the desired light is the first step in success. Plant tags, university websites and plant books can provide you with this information. If you are lucky enough to have an east- or west-facing window you can grow a wide variety of plants. High-light plants should be kept within two feet of these windows. Low-light plants can be set up to six feet back or off to the side of an east- or west-facing window or in front of one that faces north. Keep in mind buildings, awnings, trees, and sheers can decrease the amount of sunlight reaching the plants.

Fortunately, there are now more options for decorative energy-efficient grow lights available, expanding your indoor gardening opportunities. Pendants, clip-ons, floor lights and furniture-grade plant shelves provide the needed light for plants and add decorative elements to your home.

Proper watering is next on the list of key factors for healthy growth and longevity of indoor plants. Most tropical plants prefer evenly moist soil comparable to a wrung-out sponge. Water thoroughly preferable with tepid water when the top few inches of potting mix are starting to dry. Pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer. Allowing plants to sit in water can lead to root rot and plant death.

To achieve proper watering enlist the help of moisture-retaining products like organic Wild Valley Farms wool pellets. Made from wool waste, this sustainable product reduces watering by up to 25% and increases pore space in the soil for proper drainage and better plant growth.

Create attractive clusters of plants while increasing the humidity that most tropical plants need for healthier growth. As one plant loses moisture through the leaves, often called transpiration, the neighboring plants benefit. Go one step further by utilizing gravel trays. Set plant pots on pebble-filled saucers or trays. Allow excess water to collect in the pebbles below the pots. As this water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plants. This also reduces your workload by eliminating the need to pour off excess water that collects in the plant saucer.

Add a few terrariums for plants like Venus fly trap, ferns and spike moss that grow best in high humidity and moist soil conditions. Purchase one or create your own from an old aquarium, or another clear glass container and add a lid to create a closed growing system. Select or create one that supports plant growth, complements your home’s décor, and reflects your personality.

Provide a warm, draft-free location for your tropical plants. Most prefer the same temperatures, 65-75 degrees, that we do. Don’t worry if you turn down the heat at night, most plants will be fine. Just do not trap them between the curtain and window where it is much colder than the rest of your home. Avoid cold drafts from doors and windows and hot drafts from heat registers that can be detrimental to your plant’s health.

You may need to move plants, adjust grow lights, and fine-tune watering as you get to know each plant’s needs. Once you place them in the right location and provide the correct amount of light and water, your plants will grow and prosper.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms. Myers’s website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

NOVEMBER

Houston: Native Plants by Harris County Master Gardeners, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Robin Yates. Nov. 8, 6:00 p.m. Looscan Neighborhood Library, 2510 Willowick Rd, Houston. Discuss the many benefits of putting native, where to find them, and how to make a positive impact on the local ecosystem! The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

Houston: Pre-Freeze and Post-Freeze Landscape Care by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Brandi Keller, County Extension Agent – Horticulture. Nov. 9, 11:00 a.m. Central Library, 500 McKinney St, Houston. Learn how to prepare landscaping for a freeze and what steps to take afterward. The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

Online: If your organic gardening practices are not working to keep unwanted visitors from your lawn and garden, then you will want to learn from John Klipsch. John is a territory sales manager representing Bonide, which has been in business since 1926 and was founded as a trusted organic and natural brand providing the best solutions for insect, disease and animal control. Bonide products are sold in national and regional hardware and garden centers across America. John has been in the lawn and garden industry for over thirty-eight years. He started his career in the Garden Department for Payless Cashways and Building Materials. After 10 years with Payless, he moved to Spectricide for seven years and then Scotts for sixteen years. The last five years has been spent promoting Bonide’s products. Consulting Rosarians who attend this meeting will receive one hour of continuing education credit. CRs will be required to sign a registration form at the meeting or email president@houstonrose.org prior to the meeting with their email address and GoTo Meeting screen name. Please include the name of your rose society if outside HRS in order to receive credit. Join the meeting Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m. from the comfort of your home or office with a computer, tablet or smartphone by clicking https://meet.goto.com/450262805. Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install.

Houston: Organic Gardening Lecture by Harris County Master Gardeners. Speaker: Jean Fefer. Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m. Weekley Community Center, 8440 Greenhouse Rd, Cypress. Learn more about organic gardening practices and how they benefit gardens. FREE and open to the public, hcmga.tamu.edu.

La Marque: “Tree Selection for the Home,” November 11, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn the right tree for your home landscape, placement, and care. Saturday 9-11am. Location: Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

La Marque: “Plumeria Care in Winter,” November 11, 1-3 p.m.  Presentation by Galveston County Master Gardener plumeria expert Loretta Osteen. Location: Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

Houston: Rainwater Harvesting by Harris County Master Gardeners, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Teresa See. Nov. 14, 11:00 a.m. Central Library, 500 McKinney, Houston. Rain is the best water for gardens. Learn to capture some of it to help save money and be prepared during droughts. The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

Online: "Winter Protection" will be presented by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 2-3:30 p.m., Friday, November 17. This virtual presentation is free, but registration is required Landscape Success - Fort Bend (agrilife.org).

La Marque: “Fall Fairy Garden Workshop,” November 18, 9 a.m.-noon. You and your child learn to build your own Fall Fairy Garden. Materials supplied. Registration limited to 10 pairs (1 adult + 1 child, age range 8-12 years). Registration covers all workshop materials. Location: Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office classroom located inside Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Free. For additional information and to pre-register: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture or call 281-309-5065.

Houston: Fall Vegetable Gardening by Harris County Master Gardeners, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Teresa See. Nov. 29, 11:00 a.m., Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library, 3223 Wilcrest, Houston. Learn how to get Fall Vegetable Garden started and see how easy it is to grow tasty fall vegetables. The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

Houston: Living Holiday Tree Alternatives by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Brandi Keller, County Extension Agent – Horticulture. Nov. 30, 11:00 a.m. Central Library, 500 McKinney St, Houston. Learn about traditional cut holiday trees vs. alternative living tree options. Plantable tree varieties will be covered, along with care and planting guidance. The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

DECEMBER

Houston: Container Gardening by Harris County Master Gardeners, hosted by Houston Public Library. Speaker: Teresa See. Dec. 9, 11:00 a.m. McGovern-Stella Link Regional Library, 7405 Stella Link Rd, Houston. Learn how to grow vegetables or ornamentals in containers. The Houston Public Library Fall Lecture Series is available in person and also via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/houstonlibrary.

Monthly Meetings

If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details. 

FIRST WEEK

Jasper: The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting; Visit  https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.

Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardener Association meets the first Monday of each month (second Monday if the first is a holiday) the First Community Church at 1402 Trinity Drive in Crandall. An educational program begins at 10 a.m., followed by the business meeting. For topic and additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org/ and check Events. Refreshments will be available. For more information or to ask about accommodations, call 469-376-4520, or email Jackie Robertson at jrobertson@ag.tamu.edu.

Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet the first Monday of each month at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Announcements begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by an educational lecture. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series.

Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet the first Tuesday of each month at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road, Houston. Announcements begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by an educational lecture. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/lecture-series/. Location is subject to change for Holidays & Voting days.

Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.

Corpus Christi: The Coastal Bend Cactus and Succulent Society meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. The purpose is to stimulate an interest in cactus and succulent plants by providing a forum to foster and broaden knowledge of the plants. Join the society on Facebook: Coastal Bend Cactus & Succulent Society.

Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order 972-338-2233). For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at borderlineart1@gmail.com.

Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.

Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.

Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., at the First Baptist Church Family Life Building, 500 E. Holland St., Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door of the Family Life Building. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Garden Center meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September – May at 3310 N. New Braunfels @ Funston, San Antonio. Social and plant sale begins at 9:30 a.m. Program at 10 a.m. Open to the public. For more information visit www.sanantoniogardencenter.org.

Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org.

Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.org. 

Fort Worth: The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.

Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.

Gonzales: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.

SECOND WEEK

Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; club business begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.

Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at The First Methodist Church, 1031 TX-456 Loop, Jacksonville. For additional information, contact Kim Benton at kim.benton@ag.tamu.edu.

Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at www.hillcountrybloomers.com.

Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email stringer030@yahoo.com.

Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email prairierose.npsot@gmail.com. 

Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet at 11:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, in the Harrison County Extension Office, 2005 Warren Drive, Marshall. Meetings are held in the AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email hctxmastergardener@gmail.com.

Seguin/Marion: The Guadalupe Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of the month except for July, August, and December. The Chapter alternates meetings. Seguin, First Presbyterian Church, January, March, May, September and November. Marion, St. John Lutheran Church, February, April, June and October. Meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Program at 7:00 p.m., Visitors are always welcome. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/guadalupe.

Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail quitmangardenclub@gmail.com.

Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit http://dcmga.com/.

Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.

Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.

Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners. 

Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the

second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.org and http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.

Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each each month at noon at the Central Presbyterian Church, 9191 Woodway Dr., Woodway. For more information, call 254-757-5180.

Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.

Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at kshend@verizon.net or visit http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.

Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit http://txmg.org/orange for more information.

Pasadena: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

San Marcos: The Spring Lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., September-May, at McCoy's Building Supply Headquarters, 1350 IH-35, San Marcos. Contact Terri Boyd (512) 395-66644 x6134.

Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center. 

Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the second Friday of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by a brief educational program each month. For further information call 979-864-1558, ext.110.

College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 2201 Rio Grande Blvd., College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit http://www.amgardenclub.com/.

Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the second Saturday of each month,January through November, at 10:00 a.m. at the Copperfield Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at 281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.

Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com.

THIRD WEEK

Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at LJepson@aol.com.

Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardeners meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 6 p.m. An educational program precedes the business meeting.

New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit comalmg.org. 

Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or blackmtngardens@yahoo.com.

Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Big Country Master Gardeners Association at mgardeners@yahoo.com.

Alvarado: The Alvarado Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month during the months of September through May (excluding December). The meeting time is 1 p.m. and the locations vary for each meeting. The club hosts a different and exciting speaker each month that focuses on enriching the lives of all gardeners. Meetings are free and include a light lunch. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact 817-680-4291. 

Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the third Tuesday of each month, except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.

New Braunfels: The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at  6:30 pm at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer.  Note: there will be no meeting in June or December.

Rockport: Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call 361-790-0103.

Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.

Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.

Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardeners.org.

Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.

Waco: The McLennan County Master Gardeners host Lunch with the Masters on the third Wednesday of each month at noon at MCC’s Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC), 7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco. These educational programs are free and open to the public. Attendees bring their own lunch. For more information, call 254-757-5180.

Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email boeblingen@centex.net or call 817-454-8175.

Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 107 Fink Street, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses afterwards. Visitors are welcome! Please email Sharon Harrigan at sharonspetals@gmail.com for more information.

Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway, Houston. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit https://npsot.org/wp/houston/. 

Mineola: The Fannie Marchman Garden Club meets at the Mineola Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. For additional information, find them on Facebook or email FannieMarchmanGardenClub@gmail.com.

Ft. Worth: The North Texas Daylily Society is affiliated with the American Daylily Society and is located in AHS Region 6. Club meetings are held in the Camellia Room located inside the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, on the third Thursday of each month (excluding June and July). Throughout the year NTDS hosts guest speakers, special interest programs, an annual daylily show, an annual daylily sale, and social activities and outings. For more information visit, their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northtexasdaylilysociety.

San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Check http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.

Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.

Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email herbalhen@yahoo.com.

FOURTH WEEK

New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St, New Braunfels. Meetings are “hybrid” with in-person and Zoom available. They start at 5:45 PM. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting at 6:15 PM. Programs begin at 6:30 PM. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information about Zoom or to join, visit https://npsot.org/wp/newbraunfels/.

Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio.

Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Ct., Bryan. There is a public gardening program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.

Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312.

Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at khtromza@yahoo.com.

San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August, November and December, at the Gathering Hall at The Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park and via Zoom. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email npsot.sanantonio@gmail.com.

Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact hnpat@prairies.org.

Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.

Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email LeanderGardenClub@gmail.com.

Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.

Denton: The Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the fourth Thursday of each month to share information about native plants. Excellent programs are heard each month, January-September. Social time begins at 6:30, program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit https://npsot.org/chapters/trinity-forks/.

Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.

Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org.