AUSTIN – The Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service office in Travis County and Travis County Master Gardeners will present a series of five monthly drought-related programs in Austin, beginning with a composting program on Feb. 6, according to program coordinators.
Gardening and landscaping with drought in mind is the focus of monthly programs presented Feb.-June by the Texas AM AgriLife Extension Service and Travis County Master Gardeners. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo)
“Drought is a persistent issue in Central Texas and throughout the state,” said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture, Travis County. “These programs are intended to help people make gardening and landscaping choices that will allow for greater drought tolerance and lower water use, as well as using fewer chemicals that might enter the water table.”
Richards said all five Dealing with Drought Conditions programs will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on their respective dates at the AgriLife Extension office in southeast Austin, located at 1600-B Smith Road. .
Each program is $10 for early registration and $15 for late or on-site registration. To register, go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu.
The series dates topics will be:
Feb. 6 – Composting for building and maintaining healthy soils. Whether getting ready for a spring garden or just improving the health of lawn and landscape, compost is an easy and inexpensive amendment, safe to use and beneficial for the environment.
March 6 — Rainwater harvesting. Don’t let valuable rainwater wash down the gutter; capture it and use it to water gardens and landscapes. Learn the basics of rainwater harvesting and how to construct a basic system suited to your needs.
April 3 – Landscaping to conserve water. Learn proper techniques for watering, feeding and maintaining healthy grasses and landscapes.
May 1 – Drip irrigation for the garden. Learn how to install an effective water-wise drip irrigation system and how to monitor its efficiency. Includes an explanation of the irrigation system at AgriLife Extension’s demonstration garden.
June 5 – Alternative methods of gardening and irrigation. People with time, space or physical limitations can learn how to raise vegetables, herbs and flowers using self-sufficient grow boxes, as well as keyhole gardening and “hugelkultur,” to expand their gardening repertoire.
“We hope people will take advantage of as many programs as they can in this Dealing with Drought Conditions series,” Richards said. “The programs not only will provide great ideas for developing and improving gardens and landscapes, they will also show how you can save money and, at the same time, help preserve valuable water resources.”
For more information, contact Richards at 512-854-9600 or drichards@tamu.edu.
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