Somervell County Master Gardeners

The next scheduled CHES meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 19th at 11am. The location will be at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office located at 1405 Texas Drive in Glen Rose. As always, CHES meetings are open to the public. Christine Morgan, President of Somervell County Master Gardeners will present an interesting program titled Succulents/How to raise, care for and propagate    

Written by Dr. Christine Morgan, N.D., PSc.D., Master Gardener and Vegetable Specialist President of Somervell County Master Gardeners Most plant people like succulents, I really love them! In this article I am going to discuss the ins and outs of raising and caring of them. Sedums are included in the succulent group, most are cold hardy and outdoor, direct garden plants. Sedums are a little different from container succulents and I will be covering them in my next article! Most succulents are from the Sempervivum, Echeveria, Crassula, Euphorbia,… Read More →

By Shirley D Smith, Somervell County Master Gardener Every once in a while I do something right and this summer I picked up a plant I had never tried before but looked interesting. Since I am really into trying different, this one really appealed to me. The full scientific name is Angelonia angustifolia and is a member of the plantain family. It is also called Summer Snapdragon. This little plant has been a workhorse in a flowerbed that gets full afternoon sun. It has bloomed from about June… Read More →

  Submitted by Julie Conner, Somervell County Master Gardener Lasagna Gardening, sheet composting, or layer gardening is a no till method that is great for rocky or hard clay soils. This method creates a nutrient rich garden and is easy in either a raised bed or a ground surface area in your garden. For my flower garden, I created a raised bed with one row of landscape stones 4 inches high and placed in a circle. The first layer is of paper and cardboard, which will break down… Read More →

By Elaine Wilshusen, Somervell County Master Gardener As I am writing this little article, I look over at the outdoor temperature reading…a balmy 102 degrees. Truly, compared to the weather from the previous week, it is much cooler. But still, brutally hot and prolonged. Compared to prior seasons, my tomato harvest was short and fairly sparse, ending in late June. My pole beans look as if a blowtorch has been lapping at them. Spider mites, taking advantage of the hot dry weather, are drinking the remaining life out of… Read More →

By Merilyn Cranford, Somervell County Master Gardener Since we find ourselves in the doldrum days of summer, do you find your thoughts looking ahead with enthusiasm to planning a fall garden? Well, that’s natural and healthy. Fall promises cooler weather and a promotes a desire to plant crops that will enhance your family’s dining options. Where do you start? If you are an “ole timer,” you may need to think in terms of garden location. All vegetables require some sunlight; the most popular vegetables require full sun which… Read More →

Submitted by Mary Ann Steele, Somervell County Master Gardener If given a choice of one crop to grow, most gardeners would pick tomatoes. There are so many different kinds to choose from. Tomatoes are so easy to grow that most of us plant too many. Oh well, we can share! Tomatoes need full sun and protection from the wind. They also require a constant source of water and food. To meet their needs, poke a hole the size of a pin in the bottom of a gallon milk… Read More →

Originally posted August, 2016 By Julie Conner, Somervell County Master Gardener Perennials are a landscape’s best friend as they come back every year. In my yard I have 3 favorites: Gregg’s Blue Mistflower, Lantana and Mexican Petunias. All 3 are durable, tough and very hardy. Because they thrive so well in our Texas soil, I plant in confined areas, as Blue Mistflower and Mexican Petunias can become invasive if not controlled.   Gregg’s Blue Mistflower is a guaranteed butterfly attractor, even when the flowers turn brown. It’s a… Read More →

Originally posted July, 2015 By Mary Anne Steele, Somervell County Master Gardener   The gardener and the herb patch – one of the most easy-going and rewarding relationships you will ever have. Herbs make few demands: average soil, a little mulch, and some sun. Other than planting each year, annual herbs need little more. Tender perennials even come inside with you for the winter, asking only for a place away from direct heat, some indirect light, and a little water. An herb garden is a source of pleasure… Read More →

By Julie Conner, Somervell County Master Gardener. Solitary bees are prolific pollinators that are overlooked simply because they are loners. They are also known as carder bees, mason bees or leafcutter bees. One solitary bee will work as hard as 100 honey bees and will stay closer to a home territory than the honeybee. A hatchling will return to the nest from which it was hatched, making your garden their backyard. The female bee prefers to make her own nest in a narrow tubular space such as reeds… Read More →