Q. Why do you need to have a “boy” holly bush and a “girl” holly bush in order to have berries?

In order to self-pollinate (make berries), a plant needs both male (stamen) and female (pistil) flower structures. Holly plants have either all male flowers or all female flowers. In order to produce berries, a landscaper needs to plant a male plant within 30-40’ of females in order to yield berries. The plant that produces the berries is the female holly.

Q. I was given two recipes for making my own insecticidal soap using “Dawn” dishwashing liquid and “Fels-Naptha” soap. Will these really work?

Insecticidal soap is a very safe and effective alternative to conventional insecticides in garden situations. It is used mainly for soft-bodied pests like aphids, thrips, scale insect crawlers and spider mites.

Q. I see mulch piled high around the base of all the trees planted within my condominium complex. Does this really help the tree?

A. Mulching trees and shrubs is a recommended maintenance method with many benefits, yet it can literally kill plants if applied improperly. A mountain of mulch, piled high against the tree trunk, does not kill a tree immediately – it results in a slow death.

A landscaping company in my area advertises for “Xeriscape Landscaping”.  What is it?   Xeriscape Landscaping is quality landscaping that conserves the environment.  It is considered to be water-wise or water-smart landscaping.  Its systematic method for promoting water conservation in landscaped areas is based on seven principles: 

Winters in Texas run cool, hot and everywhere in-between. Though it is  impossible to predict what’s in store for the next month, it’s an ideal time to contemplate the year ahead. For 2008, a little planning can deliver beautiful results.

During an evening lecture at Austin’s Waldorf School, Gunther Hauk cited a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live,” a statement that makes us wonder what Einstein knew then about what is happening now.

Often referred to as “Angel’s Trumpets,” the brugmansia and datura are mysterious night-blooming beauties, both intoxicating and dangerous.

The common name Angel's Trumpet refers to the dramatic, trumpet-shaped flowers of both plants, which grow from six to ten inches long and come in a variety of colors. Brugmansia blooms come in shades of yellow or orange, while datura blooms are usually stark white or light purple. Walk past these plants in the evening and you’ll take in an alluring scent sure to capture your attention.

I recently attended a rose seminar that was sponsored by a local rose grower. I was curious as to what the speaker’s recommendation was for a really great climbing rose. I was not surprised when he answered “4th of July”. In 1999, 4th of July was the first climbing rose to win the AARS (All American Rose Selections) award in 23 years. The blossoms are everything you would expect from a rose named 4th of July, clusters of large four inch flowers in vibrant red with white stripes, on 10-14 foot arching canes.

    

I’ve been gardening in the same spot and amending the soil in that spot for approximately 15 years.  How can I tell what condition my soil is in?

Well, its January, the holidays are over and any signs of spring are still months away.  Color is limited in the landscape, sometimes almost monochrome. For those of us that are lucky enough to have Witchhazel planted near the house, finding color is as easy as walking out your front door.

Where’s the best place to observe nature in your garden? Gunther Hauk, a beekeeper and biodynamic farmer who recently came to Austin to talk on the subject, knows from experience that the ideal view is from a hammock. He explains that from this reclining state of observation, one can develop a more spiritual reverence for nature’s dance, and if you watch very carefully you’ll see that the bee is clearly the hardest worker and most deserving of praise.  

When east coast transplants (the human kind) complain about a lack of fall color, Texans can lay claim to our adapted starlet -- the Japanese maple. Though not native, the Japanese maple does well with care and hydration, returning her gratitude with a burst of color in fall and spring.