You might have noticed something munching on your pansies and violas this winter. Usually, first guess is either rabbits or squirrels. In fact I've been asked a few times lately about how to keep the squirrels from munching on their pansies. BUT...you might need to take a closer look to discover the real culprit. Yep, could be Roly Polys! Also known as pillbugs.

I've replanted the pansies and violas along my front sidewalk bed twice this winter. I just figured the first round's demise was due to my neglect. Yes, neglect. See, I'm so busy helping all of you guys with your gardens I barely have time to tend my own! Anyhoo, I didn't pay much mind, I just replanted some new ones. About three days later, they were all pretty much toast. Now, I thought to myself "really Leslie, what is your problem.." But a quick close-up inspection confirmed what had been in the back of my mind as a possible issue...pillbugs.

See those little buggers down there munching my pansies away? This is what happens when we have mild moist winters. Two in a row only makes the problem worse. Without sustained cold weather or repeat freezes, critters like these pillbugs will just keep multiplying all winter long. To the point that there isn't enough food out there to sustain their numbers. Normally, pillbugs feed on detritus, or decaying plant matter. But when that food source runs low, they'll move to the green living parts of your plants. Little bastards. Excuse my French.

Looks like I'll be putting down an application of DE (Diatomaceous Earth) around these plants to try and reduce the pillbug population. You could also spray your plants with Spinosad, an organic non-selective insecticide. Just be sure if you use Spinosad, you only spray it at dusk, AFTER the honeybees have gone home for the night.

Ok folks, if you in DFW, you're going to need to go ahead and get your roses pruned! Roses are already budding out and if you wait too long, you'll end up removing too much new growth. Normally, Valentine's Day is a good pruning target. But with this warm weather, you need to get on it asap! Fertilize with a rose food after pruning.

There is still time to plant fruit trees in North Texas! Make sure you choose varieties that will grow to the proper size for your space, are within a reasonable range for our chilling hours, and make sure you get a cross-pollinator if you need one. Dallas/Ft. Worth zone 8 usually receives between 750-850 chilling hours, but it can vary...some years 600 hours, some years 900 hours. Further north and you'll get more, further south and you'll get less.

Now, as you might know, I'm not a strict rule follower! I think gardening is about experimentation and pushing the boundaries. Each year is a little different and experimentation is how you learn. Each of has a landscape with unique characteristics and micro-climates. Something might just work for you that doesn't for your neighbor.

For example, don't expect to get good production on a sweet cherry here, but you just might get good tart cherries off of a Dwarf 'North Star' cherry. The trick will be keeping it happy in the summer. Some Citrus are not hardy here and must be grown in containers...others, like 'Changsha' tangerine are perfectly hardy outdoors. Plenty of fruit trees can be grown in containers, especially with all the new dwarf selections available. Be reasonable, but don't be afraid to try new things and push the boundaries! Click the link to view North Haven Gardens fruit tree list, with detailed descriptions, chilling hour requirements and pollination info.

Have a gift card to your local garden center burning a hole in your pocket? Think there's not much to do in your Texas garden this time of year? Don't worry, there's lots to do!

Now's the time to pick up your onion slip for planting in January (in Texas), pick up specialty seed potatoes for February planting and get your seed starting supplies and equipment set up! This weekend will also be your last good shot at planting your tulip bulbs. Also, you know you have to start those tomato seedlings next week, right?!!

So I've always had this goal to be my own boss by the time I was 40. Since that happened TODAY, the turning 40 thing that is, I decided that it was high time to make good on that deal with myself. So I Thelma & Louise'd it a couple of weeks ago, created my very own fiscal cliff and drove right off it!

As of 12/29/12 I will officially be a free agent full time with Halleck Horticultural. I will be providing horticultural, marketing and business consulting for green industry businesses. I will also continue providing residential horticultural consults. This move will also free me up for more garden writing, teaching, media and keeping my blog up to date here at growLively!

I've had an awesome eight-year run as general manager for North Haven Gardens here in Dallas. I love the business, staff and customers and I'm still highly invested in its success. The plan is for me to continue working with NHG as a consultant so I can help keep up the "awesome".

Happy birthday to me! And happy gardening to you! I look forward to many new gardening adventures in 2013...

Leslie

Down here in the South, we have to pre-chill our tulips each fall in order for them to have an adequate vernalization and initiate a flower bud. It's a pain. But, tulips are gorgeous and I always find it worth my while to repeat this task each season. Typically, we can start planting our pre-chilled tulips in the garden after Thanksgiving, once soil temps have reached about 50F. Well folks, if you haven't noticed, it's still 80F outside here in North Texas, and many parts of Texas. Soil temperatures are simply not yet where they need to be in order to plant your tulips. Honestly, I never plant my tulips until about the 3rd week of December, here in Dallas. After my tour of duty at the Dallas Arboretum, where I was responsible for planning and scheduling all of the color and bulb installations (we planted abouta bizillion), I know a think or two about doing tulips right.

One of my favorite single late tulips, 'Maureen', in my garden mixed with Dutch Iris 'Imperator'

Don't plant to early, but don't plant to late either. My advice, keep those tulip bulbs chilling for now. If you don't have one, invest in an inexpensive soil thermometer. Start checking soil temperatures next week, a couple of times per week, to see where they are heading. My bet is still always on the 3rd week of December as the optimal planting window. Get them in the ground by end of December. Don't wait until January. Plant deep...6"-8", no exceptions. Then add 2" of mulch on top of your tulips plantings.

Have trouble with squirrels digging up your precious bulbs? Once you've set your bulbs in their planting hole, cut out a piece of chicken wire and lay it on top of the bulbs, then cover with soil. The squirrels will have a much tougher time getting to them that way!

If you live in Texas, you're probably having one of the prettiest pansy and volia seasons in recent memory. Boy has this mild fall just put the love on our cool season color! Pansies are blooming like gangbusters and the flowers are big and bold. Mild days, cool nights. Perfect! Here is one of my favorite viola varieties, 'Peach Jump Up':

Just gorgeous! The mild warm days have also really brought on the nectar flow and fragrace from these cool season favorites. The bees are as happy as can bee! It's still a great time to plant these beauties so get to the garden center and get digging!

It's "Green Friday" today and I just found myself at North Haven Gardens...figuratively and literally. Here is my tree! It's a lovely Nordmann Fir that will be going home with me today. We care lovingly and painstakingly for our fresh American grown trees and greens at NHG.

No matter your religion or choice of celebration, bringing the outdoors indoors this time of year just makes you feel good. The fragrances are wonderful so I always make sure to add garland to my entryways, banisters and use some mixed greens as table centerpieces. So whether it's a Christmas tree, Festivus tree, Solstice tree or you name it, it's just pretty. And it smells good. Nothing wrong with being pretty and smelling good. Enjoy the season!