Our web site and the email version of this newsletter contain many color photographs, how-to-do-it diagrams, more complete articles, links to many gardeners references and many more answers to your gardening and landscape questions. Visit www.MilbergerNursery.com to sign up. We respect your privacy and we will not share your address or information with anyone not associated with this newsletter.

If you have gardening or landscaping questions we have the answers. Just ask any of the friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced nursery staff at Milberger’s Nursery.

PLANT QUESTIONS

THE GARDENING NEWSLETTER FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SEPTEMBER 2014THE GARDENING NEWSLETTER FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS DECEMBER 2014

(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Will container grown geraniums make it through the winter outside? No. They need to be protected during freezing weather.

Why would I want to wait before I cut down freeze-damaged foliage such as lantana or rose? A freeze will defoliate the plant but not kill the stems. If you leave the stems and they survive the winter, the plant does not have to start from the roots and will be larger. A second more esoteric reason is that birds use the plant material for shelter and hunt for seeds and insects in the tangle.

Why isn’t plastic as good as fabric in preventing freeze damage? When foliage touches the plastic the cold transfers directly to the plant and kills it as quickly as direct exposure. If there is an insulating layer; such as warm air when the plastic is mounted on a frame a combination of cloth and plastic then plastic becomes an effective protector.

Care of Poinsettiasafter ChristmasIt’s holiday time and you are probably admiring your poinsettias. Dressing your house with the bright cheer of poinsettias and giving the gift of poinsettias is one of your season’s great traditions. Poinsettias are tropical shrubs from Mexico and Central America where they have had a rich history in the culture of the Aztecs who used them to dye clothing, cure fevers and in their religious ceremonies. Since the poinsettia is a tropical plant, it flourishes in warm temperatures. To maximize the plant’s bloom time, which can extend from Thanksgiving to Easter you will need choose a strong plant to begin with, moderate it’s temperature, keep it watered.

HOLIDAY GARDENING EXPERTISE

Poinsettias are the favorite holiday flower. They are very decorative when they come fresh from the nursery or florist and can stay attractive for months if you follow a few easy care guidelines.

3920 North Loop 1604San Antonio, TX 78247(210) 497-3760

To find us:Take the Bulverde Exit off of Loop 1604. The entrance to Milberger’s is next to the Valero gas station.

Milberger’s Landscape NurseryOpen 9:00 to 6:00 Monday to SaturdayAnd 10:00 to 5:00 on Sundays

Or on the World Wide Web atwww.milbergernursery.comnursery@milbergersa.com

PlantAnswers on the air at KLUP (am 930)Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

To have your gardening questions answered during show hours ONLY call 308-8867 or 1-866-308-8867

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PAGE 2 www.MilbergerNursery.com

DECEMBER GARDENING EVENTS

Watch for our weekly sale specials inThe San Antonio Express-News

or atwww.MilbergerNursery.com

Our Writers have the answers: Dr. Jerry Parsons is a well renown Horticulture Specialist who is retired from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in San Antonio; Dr. Calvin Finch is the Director of Water Conservation and Technology at the Texas A&M University System.The Gardening Newsletter for South Central Texas is edited by Marc Hess mhess@hctc.coop.

Find more Gardening Events – visit www.MilbergerNursery.com

Sat., Dec 6 – all dayMilberger’s Annual Christmas Open House. Swing into the holiday season. Let the kids enjoy some fun activities while you pick the perfect Christmas tree, poinsettia, decorations or gift for the holiday. Photo with Santa. Ride the Little Red Choo-Choo. Caroling with the Sweet Adelines. Hot chocolate, wassail, candy canes. Fresh cut Christmas trees. Garlands, wreaths, Poinsettias, decorations and unique gifts for the gardeners on your list. (210) 497-3760.

Sun. Dec 7 – all dayMilberger’s Annual Cowboy Christmas. Cool Music and Hot Chili. Live music by Keith Wells and friends noon to 4:00pm. Chili by Prize Winning Mark Hoffman ($1 Donation to the Food Bank). Hot chocolate, pop corn, wassail, Moon Bounce and Choo-choo rides in an Western-theme Holiday celebration at the nursery. (210) 497-3760.

All Month to Feb 9, 2015Master Gardner’s Registration. Advance your gardening expertise, plus gain self-satisfaction through volunteer efforts which enhance the quality of life for citizens of your community using the science and art of horticulture. Bexar County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer Master Gardener Intern Training Class #59 from February 25, 2015 to May 27, 2015 (Noon-4pm, each Wednesday) at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, San Antonio. Registration for Class 59, is open NOW through February 9, 2015. See the attachment for details, application form, and planned class agenda. For more information, call 210 467-6575.

Holiday Break: There is no Kids Gardening Class in November or December. Classes will resume in January and continue on the last Saturday of each month throughout the year.

Milberger’s NurseryDecember Features

You are invitedAnnual Christmas

Open House WeekendSaturday Dec. 6

Come and enjoy the holiday season. Bring the kids. Let the kids enjoy some fun activities while you pick the perfect Christmas tree, poinsettia, decorations or gift for the holiday.

HOT CHOCOLATE ~ WASSAIL ~ CANDY CANESFRESH CUT CHRISTMAS TREES ~ DECORATIONS

LIGHTS ~ GARLANDS ~ WREATHS ~ POINSETTIAS

And Unique gifts for the gardeners on your list

Sun., Dec 7Cool Music and Hot Chili

Mark Hoffman and his Hot Chili

($1 donation to the Food Bank)

Noon to 4pm – The Music of

Keith Wells and Friends

COWBOY CHRISTMAS

THE GARDENING NEWSLETTER FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS PAGE 3

You will find winter blooming plants on sale at Milberger’s Nursery through the season. Watch for our weekly ads in the San Antonio Express News or you can keep an eye on our web site at www.milbergernursery.com. Our web site will also provide you with may tips and guidelines for gardening, lawn care, tree selection and water gardening in our part of Texas.

HOLIDAY GARDENING EXPERTISE

“Many mistake the poinsettia’s bright redleaves as flower petals, but the flowers are actually the smaller, yellow buds in a poinsettia’s center. Poinsettias bloom in December, making them an ideal holiday flower.” ~ Sam Abramson

Poinsettias(CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE)

Poinsettias should never dry out to the point of wilt. The typical plant has a relatively small root system supporting a large top with lots of leaf surface that is transpiring moisture. If you can, place a catch pan under the container and water when the soil surface dries to the touch. The water ideally should wet the whole root ball and begin to trickle out the pot into the catch pan. This may mean water every day or every other day. The second best option is to use the ice cube trick. If you can water the poinsettia well once per week, placing 6-8 ice cubes in the container every day will do a good job of keeping the soil adequately moist. You could become quite sophisticated with the ice cube tactic and calculate exactly how many cubes you need to provide all the water needed each day.

How long your poinsettia lasts depends on the maturity of the plant, when you buy it, and how well you care for it. To keep your poinsettia looking its best throughout the holiday season, follow these simple tips.

After selecting and purchasing your poinsettia ensure it is well wrapped to insulate it during the ride home. Exposure to extreme temperatures even for a few minutes can cause leaves and bracts to drop prematurely. Never purchase your poinsettias and leave them in the car while you do other shopping.

Place your poinsettia in a bright, naturally sunny location. Six hours of sunlight a day is ideal.

Poinsettias do not like fluctuations in temperature. Ideally temperatures should be in the mid-70s during the day and mid-60s at night. Do not place your plant near radiators or stoves. Also, placing on a windowsill can cause damage to leaves and bracts that touch the cold window.

After the Holidays cut-back the poinsettia and keep it in extremely controlled lighting for it to have any chance to re-bloom.

You can find a poinsettia's scarlet, star-shaped leaves everywhere you turn during the holidays. Poinsettias are one of the most popular Christmas decorations around.

PAGE 4 www.MilbergerNursery.com

Amaryllis – The Holiday BulbBy Marie Lannotti, AboutHome’s Gardening Expert

For Amaryllis and many other holiday gifts for the gardener on your shopping list visit Milberger’s Nursery where you will find wreaths, garlands and fresh cut Christmas Trees. Join is on the weekend for Dec 6 and 7 for a day full of holiday cheer at our annual Christmas Open House and Cowboy Christmas celebration.

Amaryllis are hard flowers to categorize. They look tropical and exotic; large, lily-like trumpet blooms on tall, straight stems, with a base of strappy leaves. Flower colors go from white to deep red and include some eye-catching stripped varieties. You’ll pay more for the more exotic varieties and larger bulbs, but larger bulbs produce more flowers. You can expect your Amaryllis to bloom 7 weeks or longer.

Most amaryllis will go dormant naturally and re-bloom sometime during winter. However, many people prefer to force their amaryllis into bloom for the holiday season. As an alternative you may purchase ‘prepared’ bulbs that are sold in the fall, ready to pot up and have in time for Christmas.

Planting Amaryllis Bulbs

Choose a bulb(s) that’s plump and still has some roots at the base.

Make sure the pot you chose is just large enough for the bulb. Generally a 5 - 7" pot will work fine. The bulb needs to feel crowded to bloom.

Partially fill the pot with potting mix and place the bulb so that top third of it will be exposed when you fill in potting soil around the sides of the pot.

BULBS

A popular indoor plant in the winter and spring the amaryllis, with large lily-shaped flowers on tall stems, are a popular holiday gift. As a bulb, it shares some care and growth methods used with other bulbs. However, because of its background as a tropical plant, and bloom cycle, there are differences. With proper care, your bulb will flower again each year.

Place a bamboo stalk along side the bulb. The flowers can get top heavy and inserting the

stake now will help you avoid damaging the bulb and roots

later. Water well.

Place the pot in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist, but not wet.

A thick flower stalk should shoot up within

a few weeks. The flat leaves will follow as the

flower stalk matures.

Turn the pot every few days, so the flower stalk gets uniform

exposure on all sides and grows straight.

You can feed your Amaryllis with

a half-strength water soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

When the flowers fade, cut the flower stalk back to just above the bulb.

Keep watering the plant until it goes dormant in the fall. You can

move or plant the Amaryllis outdoors for the summer, in partial shade.

THE GARDENING NEWSLETTER FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS PAGE 5

Milberger’s Nursery offers the largest selection of turf grass sod available in South Central Texas. Visit our website www.milbergernursery.com or ask the experts at Milberger’s where Raleigh, St. Augustine is available by the piece everyday and Floratam is available by the piece every Friday—weather permitting.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Use Texas natives to create a hedge that will thrive and be distinctively Texan. Evergreen shrubs can tempt us to get architectural and plant long Versailles-style hedgerows along our property lines. However, nearly all hedgerows encounter multiple microclimates along their length. Among them are different levels of shade, full scorching sun, and root zones compromised by changes in soil depth, drainage and compaction.

An easier path to create hedges is to plant shrubs this winter. Then, consider adopting an informal cottage garden aesthetic in your plan:

Break it up. The rule of three is an easy way to compartmentalize a hedge by arranging plants with similar requirements into smaller groups. This helps address subtle site changes and offers a chance to add pattern and texture. Drought-tolerant plants should get full sun while more delicate plants generally do better in just morning sun.

Hedging Your BetsBy Brad Wier, Conservation Consultant for San Antonio Water System.

A natural Texas hedge made up of roses used as a hedge with blue salvia and other perennials.

“Plants that are exotic to our region tend to not be as hardy as natives. Milberger’s Nursery stocks a wide selection of native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in Central Texas.”

Go native. Avoid shrubs that will still be dependent on a lot of water when they’re fully grown. If you favor boxwoods, hedge your bets instead with indestructible cenizos, muhlies and prickly pears.

Let them breathe. Space your shrubs out based

on their mature size (not their size in the pot). Overcrowding them almost guarantees future stress for both you and your landscape.

Given our climate and soil, steer clear of hedges that require regular trimming in the summer – spring and fall are quite enough. Too much pruning leads to stress, and stress encourages higher water consumption. And we never encourage that.

PAGE 6 www.MilbergerNursery.com

Milberger’s Tree Lot stocks only the most healthy trees ready for transplanting. Visit our web site, www.milbergernursery.com where you will find illustrations and specific information on planting trees in South Central Texas. Also you can talk directly to the tree experts when you visit Milberger’s Nursery.

TREES AND SHRUBS

Live Holiday TreesBy Dr. Calvin Finch

For as much as you to pay for a harvested Christmas tree, you could have a live tree for your landscape. If you select the right variety and make a few special preparations you can plant your Christmas tree and have it forever. Once the tree is chosen (if it isn’t tubbed), a container must be chosen as well. If the tree roots are balled and burlapped, a container must be used that will allow at least an inch of peat moss, potting soil, or compost around the ball to prevent drying out. If the plant has been grown in a container, it can be made much more attractive by placing it in a redwood tub, ceramic or clay pot, or even a wooden box lined with a polyethylene film liner. All containers should be well drained to prevent damage to the roots caused by excess moisture. A pan underneath the container will also prevent floor damage.

After Christmas, it is best to plant the tree in the landscape as soon as possible. The selected site for the tree should fit into the landscape design, and allow sufficient room

for growth and development. The pit dug for the tree should be large enough to allow three to four inches of soil on all sides of the soil ball. It should be planted

at the same depth it was planted at the nursery or in the container. For the backfill,

add one part peat moss, pine bark, or compost to two parts soil, and pack this mixture firmly around the ball. When the pit is three-fourths full, the tree should

be watered thoroughly, and then filled the rest of the way. If the plant was balled and burlapped, the burlap should be loosened before completely filling the hole.

Among the conifers that do well in our South Texas soil and weather are Italian stone pine, Aleppo pine, along with bald cypress, Montezuma cypress and several junipers (cedars).

Rosemary topiaries groomed into a conical shape make excellent indoor trees for the holidays. Like any joyful Christmas tree, rosemary is excellent for releasing fresh herb scent throughout the house or the patio. Once the holidays are over you can replant this perennial herb into a permanent place in your landscape or repot into a slightly larger container and let the branches fill in naturally. When Christmas rolls around again, you can shape last year's rosemary back into a Christmas tree.

“Live holiday trees are desirable if you plan to address the issues involved in using a live tree as the decorated holiday tree and then planting it successfully in the landscape.”

~ Dr Calvin Finch

Subscriptions to Milberger’s Gardening Newsletter for South Central Texas are free, compliments of Milberger’s Landscaping and Nursery. The newsletter is published at the beginning of each month.

TO RECEIVE this free newsletter, complete this form and return it to Milberger’s Nursery or by calling (210) 497-3760. You can sign up on-line at www.milbergernursery.com.

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www.MilbergerNursery.com PAGE 7

IN YOUR GARDEN BEDS: Plant pansies, the premier color plant for the winter here in South Texas. They’re hardy, will bloom over a long season, and come in a wide array of colors. You can also plant flowering kale, Dianthus, calendula, viola, Johnny jump-ups, alyssum, and snapdragons.

PLANT: December is a good month to plant trees and shrubs. This is a good time to move trees and shrubs as well. Planting now gives the plant time to establish its root system before the shoot growth develops in the spring. Also, usually little supplemental watering is required through the winter. Look around at the fall color and see which plants you would like to add to your landscape. Make certain your final choices are from the list of recommended trees and shrubs for this area found on our web site.

PRUNE: Lantana, mallow hibiscus, Esperanza and other cold sensitive plants. Cut them back severely – to the ground. Over-plant the cut-back perennial area with winter annuals such as pansies, Johnny-jump-ups and dianthus (pinks), larkspur or bluebonnets rather than looking at the barren bed all winter. The lantana will come back next spring in May to provide beauty during the hottest part of

the summer. Most container plants react to the season by reducing growth rates. Cut back on the water and fertilizer until next spring.

PRUNE: Your trees and shrubs. If you have oak trees in need of pruning, begin now. It is especially critical in areas where the oak wilt fungus is a problem. Apply horticultural tree wound dressing on all oak cuts. Prune out dead, damaged or diseased wood from trees and shrubs. Avoid topping or dehorning.

LAWN CARE: If you have procrastinated the application of the most important lawn fertilization of the year – the application of a “Winterizer” fertilizer to condition the grass for winter survival – do it now.

ODD JOBS: Do not allow heavy accumulations of leaves to pile up on the lawn area. If they get wet and pack together, the grass can be damaged. It is best to rake leaves or pick them up with a mower and bagger and place them in a compost pile or spread them over the garden area and work them into the soil. Add additional fertilizer to assist in decomposition.

Pruning and PlantingBy Dr. Jerry Parsons

DECEMBER GARDENING AND LAWNCARE TIPS

For more detailed and complete Gardening Tips for this month go to www.milbergernursery.com

Milberger’s Landscape Nursery3920 N Loop 1604 ESan Antonio, TX 78247

PRSRT STDU. S. Postage

P A I DKerrville, TXPermit 89

Texas mountain laurel grows best in the dry alkaline soils of the central, south and western parts of Texas. It is an evergreen shrubby tree that can grow to 30 feet although it typically grows around 15 feet tall. The Texas mountain laurel can be sheared to form a hedge or left to grow into a naturally attractive shape. The outstanding feature of the Texas mountain laurel is its fragrant purple flowers followed by conspicuous seed pods.

Christmas TreesMilberger’s offers the most reliableSelection of Christmas Trees. Fresh cut,Displayed and kept in water

Noble Firs

Nordmann Firs

Frazer Firs