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general tips: December 2008 Archives


Fair weather gardener

3:22 PM Wed, Dec 17, 2008 |
Cindy Brummer

I admire folks who can go out into the garden in the winter and tend to their plants -- I really do. It's something I aspire to, but so far I haven't gotten very close to it.
Since I moved back to Texas almost 4 years ago, my body has become acclimated to this area, and I have lost my ability to withstand the cold. So when the wind starts blowing that frigid air, I head inside for hot chocolate and hope that all my plants make it.
I LOVED working in the garden this past weekend -- just before the cold front moved in. It was 75 degrees, and I raked leaves. I raked and raked and raked. I'm sure I will have more leaves to rake because that beautiful pecan tree in my yard wasn't done dropping them.
A huge pile of leaves awaits in the backyard, and hopefully it will warm up again so I can grind up the leaves and turn them into compost and mulch. I have not done a very good job of mulching all of the garden beds. Some have a very thin layer that can't possibly do very much to keep the plants warm. Unfortunately, buying extra equipment and supplies for the garden became a casualty of the economy at my house, and I have been waiting for Mother Nature to give me leaves so I can make mulch. While not what I would call an ideal mulch for landscape plants, they work in a pinch.
And oh yeah -- did I mention they're free?