With all of the rain we have gotten in the past few weeks it is hard to remember that October and early November are traditionally beautiful times to spend outdoors in the garden in East Texas. While you are stuck indoors during inclement weather, you may have an opportunity to begin planning your future landscapes or gardens.
When considering creating a new landscape, gardeners are highly encouraged to look into using Earth Kind practices to limit the footprint left by our gardening hobby. Earth Kind practices are combine the best of organic and traditional gardening concepts, using research proven techniques to maximize garden and landscaping enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment. When using Earth Kind practices gardeners are encouraged to use plants that are native to our climate which in turn limits the need for excessive watering and fertilizing. Using plants that are native may sound limiting, but that is not the case. Whatever your landscape plans, there is a native plant to meet your need. They also do not lack in beauty, as there are many native plants that host colorful blooms many times throughout the year. To find native plants or plants that rate highly on the Earth Kind scale, visit ekps.tamu.edu. When you visit this website, you can input your zip code and the type of plant you are needing to complete your design. The program will give you a list of plants that will meet your need and are considered Earth Kind. I used a Cass County zip code and search to find a flowering plant that would show off it’s colors in the fall and winter. I was not disappointed when it showed me that beautiful sages and mexican hats were suitable transition season annuals that scored highly on the Earth Kind index. When planning and planting your garden, you do not have to compromise between beauty and ease of care if you utilize Earth Kind practices and principles.
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AuthorI have the best job in the world targetting community issues and solving them with community based education, geared specifically towards Agriculture and Natural Resources. Archives
August 2022
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