Gardening : Odessa American Online

GARDENING: Mexican Elder a cool and hot plant

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Mexican Elders sort of act like cool-season trees or you might say semi-evergreen. They are full of fresh new leaves as of recent and look great. Just like cool season plants they seem to grow best in cooler temperatures and they tolerate light to...... Full story

GARDENING: Drip, drip may be the way to water

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

The focus has been on water lately, and it will continue to be on water as long as we are faced with extreme shortages. Improved irrigation is one of the best ways you can stretch your water resources, so let’s take a look at drip...... Full story

GARDENING: Point your water the right way to save

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Water is an on-going concern and we should be in an on-going state of adjustment make the most of our water and our landscapes. One way to adjust is to improve on irrigation.There are a number of ways to improve irrigation efficiency. One way is to...... Full story

In this 2010 image provided by Cliff Shackelford, after two growing seasons a colorful wildscape is shown at the Shackelford home in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is featuring a

[AP] Rethinking the yard in drought-stricken regions

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LUBBOCK Parks officials are offering Texans landscaping tips to cope with a historic drought that's taken a withering toll across the state.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department features a "Drought Survival Kit" on its website that encourages...... Full story

GARDENING: Time to repair storm damaged trees

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

A big, beautiful snow was a sight to behold, but a bit heavy for leafy branches to hold. If you have limb damage from the recent snow, a little repair work may be in order.All tree species are subject to winter storm damage...especially when snow or...... Full story

GARDENING: Time to tweak the landscape

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Many plants are stressed from the extreme cold, heat and drought of 2011. Help your limping landscape with some of the following practices for 2012.First of all, evaluate your landscape. What survived, what’s stressed and what didn’t...... Full story

GARDENING: Hey! Take care of those trees

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Trees take a lifetime to grow so the wrong decisions concerning pruning and tree care could be devastating. Mature trees are often the most valuable thing in a landscape and because they are living entities, poor choices can be irreversibly...... Full story

GARDENING: You can deck the halls all winter

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be decking your halls with boughs of holly this and every Christmas...especially if you have Nellie R. Stevens holly in your garden.Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Illex X ‘Nellie R. Stevens’) is...... Full story

GARDENING: Work that poinsettia to the max

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Who can resist the beautiful poinsettia? It is certainly the most popular Christmas flower we have and for good reasons...it’s big, beautiful and bold.Poinsettias have come a long way thanks to plant breeders. Find them in several...... Full story

GARDENING: Dear Santa: Bring me a rain barrel

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Dear Santa, I’ve been reasonably good and would like pearl earrings, an electric lap blanket, a digital reading device and oh yes...a rain water harvesting system. With water being a top concern, you may want this on your Christmas wish list....... Full story

GARDENING: Fall colors are still available

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Fall color was delayed this year with the extreme drought and heat, but here are a couple of plants that didn’t withhold their fall colors.For a small plant, Pigeon berry (Rivina humilis), has a lot to offer. Related to pokeweed, but much...... Full story

GARDENING: Bring on the bulbs

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Plant ‘em and forget ‘em. Well...almost. Spring flowering bulbs are some of the easiest flowers to grow and they give carefree color.Success with spring bulbs will depend on the selection of good, healthy, high quality bulbs. Second-rate...... Full story

GARDENING: Bring on the bulbs

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Plant ‘em and forget ‘em. Well...almost. Spring flowering bulbs are some of the easiest flowers to grow and they give carefree color.Success with spring bulbs will depend on the selection of good, healthy, high quality bulbs. Second-rate...... Full story

GARDENING: Color is key for welcoming winter

BY DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

Want cool season color but worried about water? Don’t feel like you have to plant the entire landscape with color.Since seasonal color typically comes from flowering annuals that bloom all season long be sure to place it where it gives the...... Full story

GARDENING: Think before you plant trees

DEBORAH BENGE-FROST

There’s no better time to plant a tree than right now or as the saying goes...20 years ago. But now is the next best time. Even in light of the drought and water limitations, now is a good time. But before you plant, consider the...... Full story