Suggested Herbs for Mind and Body

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Suggested Herbs for Mind and Body

by Trisha

Bay: stimulating
Calendula: soothing
Chamomile: restorative, calming
Clary Sage: relaxing, euphoric
Comfrey: emollient, astringent
Fennel: uplifting
Eucalyptus: antiseptic, decongestant
Horsetail: astringent, toning
Lavender: relaxing, restorative
Lemon balm: cleansing, sedative
Marjoram: decongestant, invigorating
Peppermint: stimulating, invigorating
Rose Geranium: calming, emollient
Rosemary: invigorating, conditioning
Sage: antibacterial, calming

Article Type: Formula

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Herb

Trisha Shirey

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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 →

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February To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Annual transplants: pansies, violas, calendula (wildlife plant), snapdragon, stock, larkspur, ornamental kale & cabbage, bluebonnet transplants, poppies. Transplants are preferred over seeds at this point.
Evergreen perennials & vines
Trees, shrubs, roses
Evergreen groundcovers like monkey grass, liriope, creeping germander, frogfruit

Plant: herbs

Calendula, chervil, cilantro, chives, dill, parsley, feverfew, oregano, sorrel, thyme, garlic chives
Protect cilantro and chives in below freezing weather.

Plant: food crops

Artichokes, asparagus, onions, greens, lettuce, spinach, radish, carrots, beets, bok choy, collards, kale, peas, turnips, leeks, broccoli, shallot bulbs, cabbage
Potatoes
Get tomatoes and peppers to move to pots. Late month: plant if well protected from late freezes.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Plant: fruit

Apples, peaches, pecans, pears, pomegranates, persimmons, figs, almonds, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries

Prune

Roses
Prune dormant perennials and ornamental (clumping) grasses.
Prune grapes, fruit trees, blackberries
Cut asters and chrysanthemums to rosettes
Late month: prune woody salvias as much as ⅔ to encourage new growth
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.
Prune rosemary and oregano
Late month: prune evergreen shrubs as they start to set new growth

Divide/Move

Dormant perennials, roses, shrubs and trees. This is the best time to move plants!

Prep

Add compost to vegetable gardens along with organic fertilizer in prep for another round of winter vegetables
Soil test

Fertilize

Roses
Iris. Use a fertilizer with a higher middle number (phosphorus)
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.

Other tasks

Keep floating row cover available; avoid covering plants with plastic
Spray fruit trees with dormant oil to control overwintering scale, plum curculio and other pests.
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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