Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Central Texas Horticulture

Travis County Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Texas First Detector

RoseRosette-DetectorSaturday, February 6, 2016
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin 78746

“See something, say something”…a program that gardeners can use to improve observation skills detecting invasive pest (insects) and diseases such as the brown marmorated stink bug and rose rosette (see picture) that may appear and cause problems in our gardens and landscapes. Susan Jung and Tommie Clayton, Travis County Master Gardeners, will introduce you to the National Plant Diagnostic Network program, review “wanted posters” so you’ll know what to look for, web based resources, and where to report sightings for confirmation.

Seminar is free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over),
$3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted.
For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Natural Pest Control

Thursday, September 10, 2015
10 am to 12-noon
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
1600-B Smith Road, Austin, 78721

Come learn how to tell pests from other insects found in your backyard.
Learn a combination of practices to prevent or avoid pest problems rather than treating them once they occur.
Stabilize your landscape so that conditions are more favorable for plants than for pests.

Wizzie Brown serves as Program Specialist – IPM in the Austin metroplex encompassing Travis County and surrounding counties.

Space is limited so register on-line early to reserve your seat!

Cost: $15, No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Backyard Basics series.

Inside Austin Gardens Tour

Oct 17, 2015,   9 am  – 4 pm                    

Six special private gardens and one public experimental garden that demonstrate realistic, sustainable gardening practices for Central Texas.

Tickets may be purchased in advance via the website or at the garden sites. Complete information and tickets at www.InsideAustinGardens.org.

Tour presented by Travis County Master Gardeners Association and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis County, 512-854-9600

Backyard Basics Fall Series

10 a.m. to noon
AgriLife Extension office, 1600-B Smith Road, Austin

Backyard Basics, offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County, will provide consumers, backyard gardeners, homemakers, educators and farmers a “do-it-yourself” learning opportunity on raising chickens for home egg production, implementing integrated pest management principles, starting new plants from cuttings, and growing edible plants with ornamental potential.

August 6 – Backyard Chickens
September 10 – Natural Pest Control
October 8 – Plant Propagation
November 12 – Bold and Beautiful Edibles

Cost: $10 for early registration, $15 late and onsite, No cash accepted-checks & credit cards only.
Register: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Register by Phone: 979-845-2604
Contact: Sue Carrasco, 512-854-9610 or sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu

Details on the blog:  http://centraltexashorticulture.blogspot.com/2015/06/backyard-basics-fall-series.html

 

Pond Basics – the Big, Bad and Beautiful

Saturday, July 18,  10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746

Come learn about the steps of building a pond in your backyard and the best tips for success.
Jeannie Farrier, Austin Pond Society Board Member and 2014 President, and also a retired teacher, has had ponds for over a decade. Her most recent pond holds 10,000 gallons.

Seminar is free.  Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over),
$3 for non-Austin Residents. Cash or check accepted.For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Preparing for the Fall Garden

June 11, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office
1600 B Smith Rd, Austin, 78721 

Imagine gardening without sweat dripping from your brow or mosquitos buzzing in your ears or having to water every day. Those are just a few of the many benefits of the cool season vegetable garden. Join us as we discuss vegetable selection, soil preparation and the importance of timing for the fall and winter garden.

Master Gardener Patty Leander is a writer for Texas Gardener magazine and grows vegetables year round in her Oak Hill garden.

Space is limited, register to reserve your seat!
Cost: $10 thru 6/07, $15 starting 6/08 and onsite
Register by Phone:  (979) 845-2604
Register Online: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty
Contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600, Sue Carrasco, sacarrasco@ag.tamu.edu

Best Culinary Herbs for Austin

June 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Zilker Botanical Garden
2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, 78746

Make meals more flavorful by growing your own herbs.  Mild or savory herbs are delicate while pungent herbs add zest. Master Gardener Judith Craft will talk about the best herbs to grow in the Austin area. If time allows, she will lead a walk through the herb garden at Zilker.

Judith became a Master Gardener after retiring and has been the primary volunteer in the herb garden at Zilker Botanical Garden for the past 10 years and a member of the Austin Herb Society for 25 years.

Seminars are free
Zilker park entrance fee is $2 per adult, $1 per child (ages 3-12) or seniors (age 62 & over),
$3 for non-Austin Residents. cash or check accepted.

 

Dealing with Drought-Tree Care

April 9, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Travis Co AgriLife Extension Service Office
1600 B Smith Road,  Austin, TX 78721

Registration: $10 through 4/05, $15 starting 4/06 and onsite
https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty

Many trees are stressed by prolonged periods of hot, dry weather. Selecting trees that use water efficiently is one way to make your landscape more resistant to droughts. Learn about several tree maintenance procedures to increase a tree’s chance during drought such as mulching, proper pruning, limiting fertilization and supplemental irrigation.

Lara Schuman, an ISA Certified Arborist and acting Program Manager at City of Austin Urban Forestry will share her knowledge on caring for trees.

See the Workshops & Events Calendar for more information.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/

For more information contact: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Travis County, 512-854-9600

Dealing with Drought-Using Native Plants

March 12,  2015 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Travis Co AgriLife Extension Service Office
1600 Smith Road

Registration: $10 through 3/08, $15 starting 3/09 and onsite
https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty

Native Texas plants bring beauty and function to your garden while being well adapted to handle Texas’ blazing summers, drought, and other weather extremes. In addition to being water-wise, native plants provide great benefits to pollinators and birds. 4-H CAPITAL’s gardening specialist and Texas Master Naturalist Meredith O’Reilly will guide you in choosing the right natives for your yard and your garden goals.

See the Workshops & Events Calendar for more information.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/

 

Dealing with Drought -Landscaping Basics

February 12,  2015 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Travis Co AgriLife Extension Service Office
1600 Smith Road

Registration: $10 through 2/08, $15 starting 2/09 and onsite
https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty

Learn basic landscape principals and become familiar with the native and adapted plants to incorporate into your garden. Carolyn Williams has been a Master Gardener for over 14 years and a gardener in Central Texas for over 40 years. She hold both Basic and Advanced Landscape Design Certification from ACC. She will share her experience of working with good Texas tough plants to use in your designs.

See the Workshops & Events Calendar for more information.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/local-extension-resources/calendar-2/