John Dromgoole

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John Dromgoole

John Dromgoole is featured on CTG many times for the how-to Backyard Basics segments. He is owner of premier organic gardening center, The Natural Gardener, radio host for America’s longest-running organic gardening radio show, Gardening Naturally, and has also written articles for Texas Gardener Magazine and Organic Gardening Magazine since 1983.

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Recent Episodes

Garden for Birds and Pollinators

Bird populations have declined dramatically in recent years. Wildlife biologist Rufus Stephens, co-author of Land Stewardship for Birds with Jan Wrede, explores how to give our birds a helping hand, even in our backyards. Chris Garza sheet mulched his small front yard to kill weedy Bermuda grass to restore soil health and wildlife diversity. Watch | watch episode →

Changing the Winter-Tidy Mindset

Explore nature-to-garden perceptions with Dr. Bob Duke and Dr. Art Markman of KUT’s podcast, Two Guys on Your Head, produced by Rebecca McInroy. A Army Veteran’s new backyard lacked personality until she dug into gardening. Find out where beneficial insects snuggle down in winter with entomologist Wizzie Brown and get the secret to composting with | watch episode →

March To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Annuals: It’s a tricky month for annuals since we get hot days. But the soil is still cold and freezes could still arrive. Late: plant cosmos, sunflowers, morning glory, gomphrena but keep an eye on upcoming freezes. Avoid planting caladiums.
Wildflower transplants: early in month, you can still plant bluebonnet, larkspur, poppy and other transplants.
Perennials & vines
Ornamental (clumping) grasses like muhly and Mexican feather grass (late month)
Trees, shrubs, roses (as soon as possible before heat sets in)

Plant: herbs

Nasturtiums, chives, catnip, comfrey, fennel, horseradish, feverfew, oregano, thyme, rosemary, Mexican mint marigold, peppermint, lemongrass (after last freeze)

Plant: food crops

Chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, endive, Malabar spinach, mustard, peppers, pumpkin, summer & winter squash, tomatillos (you need at least two!), tomatoes, beans, cantaloupe
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas)

Prune

Roses (early)
Evergreen shrubs
Prune dormant perennials and ornamental (clumping) grasses.
Trees: DO NOT prune red oaks and live oaks unless damaged. Spray immediately with clear varnish.
No need to apply pruning paint to other trees
Avoid topping crape myrtles: simply remove sprouts or entire limbs at the trunk.

Divide/Move

Dormant perennials, roses, shrubs and trees. Still time, but don’t wait!

Fertilize

Citrus with high nitrogen fertilizer like Citrus-tone. Fertilize every few weeks through growing season.
Add compost to beds as you cut back dormant perennials. Fertilize with slow-release granular late in the month or as dormant perennials leaf out
Add compost around trees and fertilize. Be sure to dig out grass several feet from the trunk, ideally to the drip line of the tree canopy.
Watch for powdery mildew. Apply a natural fungicide like Serenade.

Lawn

Mow weeds before they set seed. Do not fertilize at this time except with compost!
Plant native Habiturf seeds after soil prep
Plant other turf late in month once freezes aren’t coming

Prep

Add compost to vegetable gardens along with organic fertilizer in prep for more summer crops
Soil test

Other tasks

Keep floating row cover available; avoid covering plants with plastic
Mulch, but avoid touching the base of trees and roses
Till in winter cover crops
WEED!

Tips

When planting, dig hole twice as wide as root ball but no deeper than where it sits in the pot.
Backfill and water until it sinks in.
Continue filling in.
Water again until it sinks in and pack the soil down.
Mulch.

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