Photo by John Cappadonna By John Cappadonna – Master Gardener Why do some gardeners claim that compost is so much better than fertilizer? To answer that question, it is important to understand a little about the relationship plants have with soil. Plants take up almost all the nutrients they require from the soil dissolved in water. There are about 17 nutrients that plants take up from the soil. The ones we hear most about are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They are

Large Stem Plants Waiting to Be Chopped Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Emmy Ulmschneider, Permian Basin Master Gardener In a native landscape, winter is important, and one of winter’s last gifts for spring growth is the organic material left on the ground. I am slow to take down my native beds because I often find my garden invertebrates using the dead organic material for shelter. In addition, we often experience cold snaps in April, and life sometimes gets in the way of

A native plant garden in Midland, Texas, that provides habitat, reduces water demand, and inspires joy. Photo by Emmy Ulmschneider By Mary Sirgo, Permian Basin Master Gardener I love native Texas landscapes; you don’t have to sell me on the value of a sense of place. My fondest memories are exploring natural wild spaces and undeveloped lands across the state. Even with that perspective, I don’t recommend setting the goal of planting 100% native species in your yard and garde

Photo by Amanda Green By Amanda Green, Permian Basin Master Gardener Now that spring is here, you may be thinking of planting your patio planters. Some do vegetables, some do ornamentals, but we do small native butterfly gardens. As we’re trying to move towards more native plants, we had trouble finding a good fit. Texas native plants are known for having deep roots, some up to 15 feet long, so they wouldn’t work. Would they? Through trial, error, and lots of practice, we’ve