Many times, a smaller tree will re-establish itself more
rapidly, producing a nicer tree in a shorter time period. With the money
you save buying smaller trees, you can get a good start on the rest of
your landscape.

High-quality trees are a good investment. Although there is a
time and place for 'fast growers', do not overlook the dependable oak
varieties, Chinese elm, bald cypress, and Drummond red maple. They will
last longer, and you will have fewer insect, disease, and pruning
headaches in the meantime.

Beware of door-to-door tree trimmers who insist that topping
your tree is a good idea. Topping trees opens up large wounds, leaving
them vulnerable to insects, disease, and decay.

Select plants well adapted to your area. There are excellent
choices available, including many interesting native varieties. You may
not have the most unique landscape on the block, but at least it will be
healthy.

When using chemicals, read and follow label directions carefully
to avoid mistakes and save money. You can ruin quality plants by
spraying before reading. Using the wrong insecticide in your vegetable
garden may make the harvest unsafe for the dinner table.
Choose your fertilizer carefully. The three numbers on each bag
(16-4-8, 15-0-5, for example) indicate nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium content, respectively. To promote leaf growth on any plant,
choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen. For improved flower and fruit
production, select a fertilizer high in phosphorus, but be aware that
too much phosphorous can be as bad or worse than too little. Potassium
is generally only needed in our sandy soils, it is seldom lacking in
clay soil.

Save money by making and using compost as a soil conditioner.
Any home landscape has an out-of-the-way spot large enough to
accommodate a compost pile. This not only saves money spent on peat
moss, but it gives you an easy way to dispose of leaves and grass
clippings.

Beware of 'miracle' products that may or may not aid your
landscape or garden. Every year, dozens of deceptive products hit the
market. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Read labels
carefully, and use common sense with regard to unbelievable claims.
Shop and compare. While many nursery and garden supplier prices
are competitive for many products, prices do vary for nursery stock and
plant materials. Check several nurseries before buying, to be certain
you are getting the best price for quality merchandise.

Lastly, beware of the Internet. The Internet is a tremendous
resource and there’s loads of really good information out there but
there’s a lot of junk as well. You have to be very careful when
getting information from the Internet to insure it’s coming from a
reliable source. I try to restrict myself to university sites,
botanical gardens or similar sites for the bulk of my information. I
realize that if I read something somewhere else that I must be cautious
and check the information from other sources to be sure of its
accuracy.

Landscaping is a lot of work, but it’s also a joy that can add
beauty and value to your home. With a little planning and thought it can
also be easy on the pocketbook.

Don’t forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at
9020 FM 1484, Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail me at t-leroy@tamu.edu .
Educational programs of Texas Cooperative Extension are open to
all citizens without regard to race, color, sex, disability, age or
national origin.