Fertilizing lawns and upcoming events

By Tara McKnight

Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent, horticulture, Wichita County

Texas

The grass is beginning to green up and with that everyone is wondering when to fertilize. It is always best to fertilize after the majority of your grass has turned green. It is recommended to do a soil test in order to determine how to properly fertilize your yard. If you have not done a soil test in the last three years, you can get one from my office. My office is in the courthouse annex in Wichita Falls at 600 Scott, Suite 200.

If you are not able to have a soil test done, you should use a fertilizer with a ratio of 3-1-2 or 4-1-2. These numbers represent the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the bag of fertilizer. Follow the directions of the fertilizer you buy to know how much to put down.

Upcoming events

There will be a Spring Plant Swap on April 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Belair Park in Wichita Falls. Please feel free to bring any indoor/outdoor plants, seeds, gardening books/magazines, pots, birdhouses, garden tools, earthworms--anything to do with gardening. (Baked treats such as cookies and brownies are popular trading items, too....) Bring a folding table to put your swap items on. The plants/goodies that are available for trade will go on top of the table and plants/goodies that you are taking home under the table. Also, bring a pen and notepad to take notes about the plants/seeds that you receive. If you bring plants or seeds, please make sure that they are clearly labeled. Don't forget to bring a chair. Spread the word to your gardening friends and neighbors. Also, start thinking about what plants in your garden need to be divided.

Please also feel free to join the WF Plant Exchange Yahoo Group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wf_plant_exchange/ for arranging pre-swap trades. Directions to the Park: Turn on Del Rio off of Fairway Blvd., left on Lesley Heights, right on Opal Street.

The Benson Iris Society will hold their Spring Iris Garden Tours on April 19. The homes on the tour are the Reusch Garden at 42 Surrey Circle, Iowa Park, Texas; the Parker Garden at 1276 Business Hwy 287, Iowa Park, Texas; the Moser Garden at 1104 Decker Road, Wichita Falls, Texas; and the Rhoads Garden at 16012 FM 1954, Wichita Falls, Texas. There will be displays of several hundred varieties of irises. The public is cordially invited to tour any or all of the listed Iris Gardens from 9 a.m. to noon. There is no admission charge. For more Iris Garden Tour information, please call Benson President Deborah Rutledge at 940-569-0922, Bill Parker at 940-592-2508 or Annetta Reusch at 940-592-9001.

"Celebrating Special Days" will be the theme of the annual Benson Iris Society Spring Iris Show scheduled for April 26 at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall located at 4605 Cypress Avenue in Wichita Falls.

Anyone who grows irises is cordially invited to enter up to 15 specimens in the competition April 26 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The iris specimens must be named varieties. Vases will be provided for the exhibitions. Entry categories include Tall Bearded Irises, Medians, Arils and Arilbreds, Historical Irises (those introduced 25 or more years ago), Space Age Irises (horned, spooned or with flounces) and Beardless Irises. Collections and English Boxes may also be entered. Benson Iris Society members may enter Artistic Design arrangements in the competition.

Judging of all entries will begin at 11:10 a.m., and will be conducted by judges from the American Iris Society. Following the judging and presentation of awards, the Spring Iris Show will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend. There is no admission charge.

For more Spring Iris Show information, please call Show Chairman Bill Parker at 940-592-2508, Benson President Deborah Rutledge at 940-569-0922 or Annetta Reusch at 940-592-9001.

Your garden and landscape questions are always welcome. You may either contact me at our County Extension office, 940-716-8610, or by e-mail, tcmcknight@ag.tamu.edu. You are always encouraged to visit the Wichita County Master Gardner website at www.overthegardengate.org. Another great website to visit for very useful garden hints and answers is http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/. This article, along with every article, will also be featured on www.joetomwhite.com 24 hours a day under county agents.

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Date: 8/8/08

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