This is the first time in my life that I can actually say that I am grateful for the bad weather we had in January. Even though it rained one whole week in January and the guys were not able to work and we only had a total of 9 customers at our store, with the rain phone calls also began pouring in.

Now that the lakes are filling up and the drought has come to an end many homeowners are now willing to get back into their garden. Out with the old in with the NEW!

January came and left washing away all the dust that had accumulated over the last two years of drought that damaged or killed some part, if not all, of every landscape in areas affected by the lack of rain. Even in cities such as Dallas, that did not mandate rationing water use, one can drive around and see damaged lawns and landscape areas.

For the first time since 2000 we have landscape contracts that are already booked through the middle of March. In the last few years, due to the drought, we were scrambling to find work for the guys. What kept us busy was the installation of “hardscapes”.

Hardscape shall mean any inorganic decorative landscape materials, including but not limited to, stones, boulders, cobbles, pavers, decorative concrete and/or mulch, incorporated into an overall landscape design.

Rohde’s does installation of a lot of “hardscapes."

Retaining Walls, Trellis, Pavers, grills, walkways, patios, driveways and fences have allowed us to create useful and aesthetic outdoor living spaces for many customers who were wanting to tie their indoor and outdoor living spaces together.

All of the landscape projects that we do are constructed by our own staff who have proven to be capable of constructing any project that our customers can dream of.

I know that we do wonderful work and of course I like to take credit for as much of the work that I can. But, there is always someone who has to design the “hardscape projects” for us. As many of you know Carol Feldman has worked with us for many years and has been helping us create and install landscapes throughout North Texas.

Wikipedia defines Landscape architecture:
As the art, planning, design, management, preservation and rehabilitation of the land and the design of human-made constructs. The scope of the profession includes architectural design, site planning, housing estate development, environmental restoration, town or urban planning, urban design, parks and recration planning, regional planning, and historic preservation.

As a landscape architect Carol has the knowledge to allow for proper soil contouring allowing water runoff from any site, but Carol has gone several steps beyond that definition. As past president of the Dallas Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas, Carol has surpassed many landscape architects in plant knowledge. To be more specific her plant knowledge does not just consist of hardy ornamentals such as of hollies, azaleas and hawthorns. Or, trees such as Live Oaks, Crape Myrtles and elms.

Carol has an outstanding knowledge of drought tolerant plants and disease resistant plants. Plants that will give landscapes beauty and longevity regardless of harsh climates that may come upon us.

Call Carol at 972-980-4944.

What is going on in different gardens throughout Dallas?

In the last few days we have had numerous calls concerning plant survival. Questions ranging from:

Q: How do I know a plant is alive?
A:The first thing to do is gently bend the smaller branches and check for flexibility. If it snaps there is a good chance that the plant is dead. Check several areas of the plant before pronouncing it dead. Scrape the branches with your fingernail, doing this just deep enough to find a green layer of moist wood. If you find green wood the plant is alive.

Before the freezing temperatures arrived we did get a lot of rain. The rain would have helped the plants survive the cold temperatures since they were able to “shiver” and bring moisture up. Plants will desiccate during freezing weather when the soils are dry, because they are not able to bring up moisture.

On certain borderline plants the bark may separate from the stem due to expansion of internal moisture as they froze. If the bark peels off the plant could be dead. Karen had that problem with pomegranates. I had the same results with Hibiscus. This occurred last year after that October freeze. Both plants mentioned above re-sprouted last spring.

Do not get in a hurry to declare a plant dead. Give it time to emerge before pulling it out. If the roots are still alive the plant will quickly regain it past glory.

Q: Will the cold temperatures hurt my plants that are stressed from the drought?
A: As I mentioned above the freezes so far should not have affected plants. On the contrary I think that this mild winter may help some of the plants that have suffered through the drought. The soil temperatures have remained fairly warm, at last check the soil in my garden was at 51 degrees. My hope is that viable roots may rejuvenate in the warm soils and create a beautiful plant this spring.

By the way the soil that I checked was on the Southside of my building and is heavily mulched. To help plants revive fertilize as early as you can. Remember that when we talk about early fertilizing we only recommend this be done with organic fertilizers such as Green Sense.

Q: When should I replace the plants that I know are dead?
A: If you know that a plant is dead, do not wait. The soils are moist and warm and will allow for quick root establishment. This goes for new landscapes, too. If you have a landscape project do not wait. Start now.

Q: When do I cut back perennials and grasses?
A: I do not like cutting back perennials until mid to late February. In Dallas we have ever changing weather that can bring our temperatures up to 80 degrees for over a week and then plummet back below freezing.

The warm temperatures may fool certain plants and cause sprouting. When plants sprout they will have moisture in the new growth that can freeze causing injury to the plant. If you pruned the plant before the sprouting you may loose more of the plant as it freezes.

Grasses may have beautiful seed frowns that can feed birds and provide habitat with their long leaves plus the fact that as the leaves blow in the wind they create movement in an otherwise stiff cold landscape. I wait until I see new growth at the base of the plants or until the leaves start falling off of the plant creating an eyesore.

Some grasses may start to overpower an area, as the clumps grow wider. If that is the case then after the grass has been cut back get a sharp shooter and stab it between the clumps to keep it from taking over. Believe it or not a lot of these grass clumps can be replanted and should take hold fairly quickly, before composting them offer these clumps to some one else.

Q: Is it time to fertilize?
A: As long as you are fertilizing with organic products this is a good time to apply. Make sure you apply the proper amount. We recommend 20 pounds per 1000 square feet.

Measure the areas that you are going to fertilize and make a diagram of these areas in your garden diary. (Don’t laugh.) It is important for all beginners to get to know the square footage of your landscape and grassy areas to ensure proper application of foods for the soil. If the plants take up all available foods they will start to show effects of bad nutrition. Less color, less vigor, less ability to stand erect, fewer berries and smaller fruit. Flowers may be less vibrant and smaller both in numbers and in size.

As plants begin to starve they will attract more insects and be less capable of warding off diseases.

It does not matter when you start fertilizing, but it does take longer for organic fertilizers to break down and start doing their magic. Whenever you start, enter that date in your garden diary and repeat an application three months later.

Q: Can I apply 8% Vinegar to my winter weeds?
A: Yes, 8% Vinegar will kill most unsightly weeds with out harming the grass below it. For better results add some soap to help the vinegar stick to the weeds leaves. (1 tablespoon per quart of vinegar).

Q: Can I apply mulch now?
A: Yes, I have already seen more use of mulch in the first month of this year then in previous years. I think people are beginning to realize the benefits of mulch and are using it more and more to help protect the plants roots from cold temperatures and to conserve water. I always add a layer of compost over the existing soil or mulch before I add another layer. This compost will help breakdown existing mulch and feed the soil below.

Q: Why is Kelp recommended as a winter foliar spray?
A: Certain seaweeds or kelps contain ascophylum nodosum. These contain hormones that help protect plants in times of stress, such as from disease and insects, cold weather and drought by promoting the functions and structural integrity of plant cells.

Towards the end of February we seem to get drastic changes in temperature. Morning temperatures can be around freezing, rising to the 60’s or low 70’s by mid-afternoon to again plummet after dusk. Spraying all plants that are sprouting or putting on new growth will help them make it through the changing temperatures much better then untreated plants.

Growing up in Peru, I used to go camping with friends in The Nazca Desert, just south of Lima. Afternoon temperatures would be in the low to mid 80’s, but after the sun went down temperatures would drop at least 20 degrees in just a few hours. After you have been in dry, hot conditions all day long and your skin has been exposed to the sun’s burning rays, a 20-degree drop, if not more, can really make you chill quickly. We had contest to see who had the largest goose bumps. Even by the fire you would feel a deep chill.

Imagine that you are a plant, your roots are firmly attached to the soil. The temperature drops, the winds pick up. There is a fire just a few feet away; you turn your leaves towards the light hoping to get warm. But, the heat does not reach you. Believe me that plant is stressing!

In 1961, TL Senn did experiments on tomato plants at Clemson University. Untreated and treated tomato plants were exposed to temperatures of 29 degrees. The control plants were all killed and the treated plants all survived. Again, it seems likely that plant growth regulators have something to do with the effect, and possibly also the micronutrients provided by seaweed.

Please remember that Crape Myrtles do not have to be butchered. When trimmed only branches that are rubbing together or have grown to be a danger to passerby’s and property should be trimmed. Do not cut the trees down to stubs. This practice is not necessary even though many homeowners and landscapers continue to cut the trees down to the canes or trunks of the trees.