Bats
Did you know bats can eat up to 600 mosquitoes hourly?
If you are thinking about putting up a bat house, here are a few suggestions. Bat houses should be 12’ – 15’ high facing east to southeast for morning warmth. Preferably within 1000’ of water, higher insect population. Bat guano is high in nitro gen, great for the garden but not the nose. Therefore, don’t install your bat house close to your house.
Mom bats generally have a single offspring a year, a pup. Bats stay up all night eating approximately 600-1000 insects an hour to include scorpions and centipedes. All bats have a thumb and four fingers which they can use to comb their fur. Yes, a bat is a flying mammal.
Fall Wildflower seeds
Millie from Hoover Valley asks, “Why do we plant wildflower seeds late in the fall?”
Good question Millie. Yes, with wildflowers we try to mimic nature. When you toss seeds or use seed bombs the action is like spring and aerial dispersal. The main reason why we wait til late fall to “plant” wildflower seeds is because of the birds.
Wildflower seeds are yummy to our avian friends. Late fall is in time for the winter stratification, but late enough that all our wildflower seeds aren’t gobbled up. Gentle reminder: do not fertilize wildflower areas!!
Shade Planting
Are you hanging out in the shade these days to stay cool? You can plant a garden in the shade with these yummy edibles: arugula, asparagus, basil, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, catnip, celery, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Swiss chard, chives, Endive, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, leeks, lemon balm, mints (have you tried the chocolate mint?), mustards, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rosemary, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, summer squash, turnips and watercress.
Mint is also great to plant by your A/C condensation drip or your grey water exit.
Fall fruiting plants: American Beautyberry, Bradford Pear, Carolina Buckthorne, Cherry Laurel, Cotoneaster, Euonymus Alata, Flowering Dogwood, Hawthorns, Mexican Plum, Nadina Domesti ca, Persimmon, Pyracantha, Rusty Blackhaw Virburnum, Rough Leaf Dogwood, Soapberry, Southern Magnolia, Southern Wax Myrtle, Sumac (smooth, flameleaf), Sweet Gum, Wax-leaf Ligustrum.
Watering the birds is especially important. Maintaining bird baths and other watering devices is something that needs to be done year around, and especially in the Texas heat.
Till next time. Keep your souls and soles in your garden!
Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1 Have questions or comments? Contact Bill at The Luedecke Group Realtors (512) 577-1463 or email bill@texasland.net. Or contact Martelle Luedecke (512) 769-3179 or at luedeckephotograph@gmail.com.
