1 00:00:00,900 --> 00:00:02,100 - Hi, there, I'm Tom Spencer. 2 00:00:02,100 --> 00:00:04,000 This week on Central Texas Gardener, 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,866 discover how plants, beneficial insects and pests interact. 4 00:00:07,866 --> 00:00:10,433 Harris County Extension Horticulturist Skip Richter 5 00:00:10,433 --> 00:00:11,900 explores the relationship 6 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:14,233 and what new research has uncovered. 7 00:00:14,233 --> 00:00:16,433 On tour, a makeover controls flooding 8 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:18,400 and adds dimension with low-care plants 9 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,366 for wildlife and curb appeal. 10 00:00:20,366 --> 00:00:22,333 Daphne answers your top question 11 00:00:22,333 --> 00:00:25,233 and Daniel Cunningham shows how to make rain barrels. 12 00:00:25,233 --> 00:00:28,633 So, let's get growing, right here, right now! 13 00:00:28,633 --> 00:00:30,066 - [Announcer] Central Texas Gardener 14 00:00:30,066 --> 00:00:32,200 is made possible by the University of Texas at Austin 15 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,200 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 16 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,400 displaying Texas native plants in sustainable gardens. 17 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:38,733 And with generous support 18 00:00:38,733 --> 00:00:41,600 from Lisa & Desi Rhoden, thank you. 19 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,566 Support for this and other KLRU productions 20 00:00:43,566 --> 00:00:45,566 made possible by the Producers Circle, 21 00:00:45,566 --> 00:00:47,333 ensuring local programming that reflects 22 00:00:47,333 --> 00:00:48,533 the character and interests 23 00:00:48,533 --> 00:00:50,300 of the Greater Austin, Texas community. 24 00:00:51,566 --> 00:00:54,133 (upbeat music) 25 00:01:05,500 --> 00:01:07,600 - On tour, a makeover controls flooding 26 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,166 and adds terraced dimension 27 00:01:09,166 --> 00:01:12,300 with low-care plants for wildlife and curb appeal. 28 00:01:13,566 --> 00:01:14,966 - [Narrator] After living in Santa Fe, 29 00:01:14,966 --> 00:01:17,100 Kathy Lund wanted a water-thrifty garden 30 00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:20,900 when she moved to Austin and renovated a 1960s home. 31 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:24,100 Long hours as a veterinarian called for low-care plants 32 00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:26,833 that didn't demand lots of spare time. 33 00:01:26,833 --> 00:01:28,833 Friend and former husband Richard Lund 34 00:01:28,833 --> 00:01:31,666 of Grupo Pacific in Carlsbad, California, 35 00:01:31,666 --> 00:01:35,033 styled the exterior's facelift with slatted panels. 36 00:01:35,033 --> 00:01:39,733 James Mack, of Jemco, executed precise construction. 37 00:01:39,733 --> 00:01:41,533 They also teamed up to design and build 38 00:01:41,533 --> 00:01:45,000 slatted privacy fences anchored with stainless steel. 39 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,866 The side fence encloses a small courtyard patio. 40 00:01:49,233 --> 00:01:52,166 Landscape designer Bud Twilley turned Plain Jane flat 41 00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:55,500 into terraced levels that control rainwater runoff. 42 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:59,533 He revamped the entrance walkway with offset limestone pads. 43 00:01:59,533 --> 00:02:01,400 - The front door is so far to the left, 44 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,833 I wanted to bring people 45 00:02:04,966 --> 00:02:07,033 more towards the center of the house 46 00:02:07,033 --> 00:02:10,800 and have a nice meandering pathway up to the front 47 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,300 instead of a straight shot from the street. 48 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,533 - [Narrator] Gravel tempers rainfall on the slope 49 00:02:15,533 --> 00:02:17,566 to let it slowly sink in. 50 00:02:17,566 --> 00:02:19,666 - [Bud] At first she didn't want any lawn. 51 00:02:21,300 --> 00:02:24,033 So I had designed gravel for the whole yard. 52 00:02:25,466 --> 00:02:28,533 I finally talked her into a little bit of zoysia grass 53 00:02:28,533 --> 00:02:30,533 just to soften the whole effect. 54 00:02:30,533 --> 00:02:32,766 And I think it works. 55 00:02:32,766 --> 00:02:35,833 On this kinda slope I definitely would use gravel. 56 00:02:35,833 --> 00:02:37,400 And there's so many different types. 57 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,066 This is a rainbow gravel. 58 00:02:39,066 --> 00:02:41,300 Mulch would just be down in the street. 59 00:02:41,300 --> 00:02:43,100 She wanted to be able to walk around the house, 60 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:46,133 so we did that path around to the back of the house 61 00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:47,433 with the stepping stones. 62 00:02:48,633 --> 00:02:50,333 I like to use larger gravel on the streets 63 00:02:50,333 --> 00:02:54,566 'cause that usually prevents dogs from walking in your yard. 64 00:02:54,566 --> 00:02:56,366 Then that's the Brazos brown. 65 00:02:56,366 --> 00:02:57,600 - [Narrator] Bud's first step 66 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,333 was to clear the area of weedy growth 67 00:02:59,333 --> 00:03:02,966 and cover it with two to three inches of quality top soil. 68 00:03:02,966 --> 00:03:06,633 - And then we put the gravel on top, the thicker the better. 69 00:03:06,633 --> 00:03:09,700 So try to go three to four inches on the gravel. 70 00:03:11,166 --> 00:03:13,266 - [Narrator] He accented with boulders, dotted with lichen, 71 00:03:13,266 --> 00:03:16,000 for an Austin-meets-Santa Fe connection. 72 00:03:17,466 --> 00:03:19,966 Steel planters add another layer of depth 73 00:03:19,966 --> 00:03:22,066 between the curb and grassy upper level. 74 00:03:23,633 --> 00:03:27,033 - [Bud] Along with the limestone walkway, and the boulders, 75 00:03:27,033 --> 00:03:29,066 we've got a good match going with the steel 76 00:03:29,066 --> 00:03:31,033 and the stone and the gravel. 77 00:03:31,033 --> 00:03:32,966 - [Narrator] Succulents and perennials for wildlife 78 00:03:32,966 --> 00:03:35,933 need little water and very little tending. 79 00:03:35,933 --> 00:03:37,366 Still a young garden, 80 00:03:37,366 --> 00:03:40,900 wide spacing prevents overcrowding in a few years. 81 00:03:40,900 --> 00:03:43,033 Although Kathy wasn't going for privacy, 82 00:03:43,033 --> 00:03:44,366 her plants break up the view 83 00:03:44,366 --> 00:03:46,966 while connecting to the upper level. 84 00:03:46,966 --> 00:03:48,633 Hummingbirds and butterflies flock 85 00:03:48,633 --> 00:03:51,000 to fall-blooming Salvia leucantha. 86 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,566 Pride of Barbados stars in warm weather 87 00:03:54,566 --> 00:03:57,466 to attract all kinds of pollinators. 88 00:03:57,466 --> 00:04:00,866 Low maintenance Knock Out roses color things up for months. 89 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:05,500 - [Bud] Taking this through to the side, 90 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,633 we just incorporated the Brazos brown 91 00:04:08,633 --> 00:04:09,966 with the stepping stones. 92 00:04:09,966 --> 00:04:12,500 And it gets full, full sun. 93 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:15,833 So it's harsh conditions. 94 00:04:15,833 --> 00:04:20,800 So I think on that side we put sotols, and yuccas, 95 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,333 and heartier plants that would take this full sun. 96 00:04:24,333 --> 00:04:26,500 And I think it goes well 97 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:31,133 with the contemporary fence that she had built. 98 00:04:31,133 --> 00:04:33,066 - [Narrator] One side frames a shady courtyard 99 00:04:33,066 --> 00:04:34,433 where Kathy's dogs hang out 100 00:04:34,433 --> 00:04:36,500 with her and friends after a long day. 101 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:40,633 She makes the most of this small L-shaped space 102 00:04:40,633 --> 00:04:43,500 with a sculptural, concrete water fountain. 103 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:45,766 Later, Kathy found a silvery metal sculpture 104 00:04:45,766 --> 00:04:47,233 that spirals dimension 105 00:04:47,233 --> 00:04:50,200 and gleams after hours under moonlight. 106 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,633 Kathy and friends also hang out on the front porch 107 00:04:52,633 --> 00:04:54,466 to chat with neighbors strolling by. 108 00:04:56,533 --> 00:04:58,100 Richard and James collaborated 109 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:00,333 on what they've all dubbed the wine bar. 110 00:05:01,766 --> 00:05:04,866 In her free time, Kathy can actually enjoy it all. 111 00:05:04,866 --> 00:05:07,033 Sure, she's out there for seasonal pruning, 112 00:05:07,033 --> 00:05:08,833 clean-up, and planting. 113 00:05:08,833 --> 00:05:11,833 But she doesn't have to sweat it out every weekend. 114 00:05:11,833 --> 00:05:15,866 - If you start out right, and with the right materials, 115 00:05:15,866 --> 00:05:20,866 and the right plants, you can do low maintenance. 116 00:05:22,533 --> 00:05:24,233 It's pretty self-sufficient. 117 00:05:25,700 --> 00:05:28,133 - Well it's Old Home Week, we have a reunion of sorts 118 00:05:28,133 --> 00:05:30,133 going on on the Central Texas Gardener set. 119 00:05:30,133 --> 00:05:31,966 We're joined by Skip Richter, 120 00:05:31,966 --> 00:05:34,433 who is an alumnus 121 00:05:34,433 --> 00:05:36,833 of the Central Texas Gardener. 122 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:39,900 And great to have you be a part of the program again. 123 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:42,433 You are currently the AgriLife Extension horticulturalist 124 00:05:42,433 --> 00:05:43,666 in Houston. - Yes. 125 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:44,900 - Welcome back. 126 00:05:44,900 --> 00:05:46,333 - Thank you, it's good to be back. 127 00:05:46,333 --> 00:05:49,800 - We have a great topic to discuss today, 128 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,066 and that is beneficial insects, 129 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:55,066 how to know them and how to encourage 130 00:05:55,066 --> 00:05:57,533 their presence in your garden. 131 00:05:57,533 --> 00:06:00,300 And this is a topic that you're really passionate about, 132 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:01,600 and it grows from your experience 133 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,966 of just taking some time to look. 134 00:06:03,966 --> 00:06:07,233 - That's right, the more I get close up to nature 135 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:10,333 and look, and learn, the more fascinated I become. 136 00:06:10,333 --> 00:06:12,766 And rather than seeing it's me 137 00:06:12,766 --> 00:06:14,266 versus the pests in the garden, 138 00:06:14,266 --> 00:06:15,600 and I've gotta kill everything. 139 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,533 Whether it's synthetic or organic sprays. 140 00:06:17,533 --> 00:06:21,300 That approach, getting and looking at how nature operates. 141 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:23,433 What I did one day is I was out in the garden, 142 00:06:23,433 --> 00:06:25,466 and I just sat down and started looking 143 00:06:25,466 --> 00:06:26,966 at one of my cole crop leaves. 144 00:06:26,966 --> 00:06:29,533 I turned it over, and there were a bunch of aphids on it. 145 00:06:29,533 --> 00:06:32,400 And then this little gnat-like thing crawling around. 146 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,166 And it was going up to the aphids. 147 00:06:34,166 --> 00:06:36,900 And so I used my phone, 148 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:40,033 which, buy a little hand loop which is about 10 bucks. 149 00:06:40,033 --> 00:06:41,466 - I know, right? - And sticking it 150 00:06:41,466 --> 00:06:42,966 over the lens of your phone, 151 00:06:42,966 --> 00:06:46,366 now your whole phone screen becomes this giant magnifier. 152 00:06:46,366 --> 00:06:49,933 And I saw that the it was a parasitoid wasp 153 00:06:49,933 --> 00:06:53,533 going up and laying eggs in aphids, individual aphids. 154 00:06:53,533 --> 00:06:55,333 And that just got me started. 155 00:06:55,333 --> 00:06:58,233 And I just think if people would take time 156 00:06:58,233 --> 00:07:00,566 to go out and sit in the garden a minute 157 00:07:00,566 --> 00:07:02,600 and watch up close. - Right. 158 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,500 - And when you see a pest, don't just run to go kill it, 159 00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:06,633 look at what's going on around it. 160 00:07:06,633 --> 00:07:08,366 - Right. - And you may find 161 00:07:08,366 --> 00:07:10,333 that your job's been done. 162 00:07:10,333 --> 00:07:12,433 - Right, and the beneficial insects, 163 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:13,900 you don't wanna kill them. - No. 164 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:16,666 - In fact, you encourage putting plants in the garden 165 00:07:16,666 --> 00:07:18,033 to attract them. 166 00:07:18,033 --> 00:07:19,533 - I actually do. 167 00:07:19,533 --> 00:07:21,533 That's a hard sell for gardeners. 168 00:07:21,533 --> 00:07:23,533 But one of my favorite plants for that 169 00:07:23,533 --> 00:07:27,200 is the tropical milkweed, or also called Mexican milkweed, 170 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,100 with the yellow and orange flowers on top. 171 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:31,166 It just loads up with the yellow aphid 172 00:07:31,166 --> 00:07:33,200 we call the oleander aphid. 173 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:34,966 And I plant those in the garden, 174 00:07:34,966 --> 00:07:36,700 'cause it covers up with aphids. 175 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:38,966 But that aphid doesn't get on my roses, 176 00:07:38,966 --> 00:07:42,700 or tomatoes, or crepe-myrtles, or cole crops or anything. 177 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:44,933 It's specific to that plant. 178 00:07:44,933 --> 00:07:46,933 And one day I turned a leaf over 179 00:07:46,933 --> 00:07:50,333 and saw about 12 parasitized aphids, 180 00:07:50,333 --> 00:07:53,233 and a lady beetle larvae and two Syrphid fly larvae. 181 00:07:53,233 --> 00:07:55,400 All on one leaf, and I realized, 182 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,033 this isn't an aphid problem, 183 00:07:57,033 --> 00:08:00,500 this is a nursery for beneficial insects. 184 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:02,000 - [Tom] Right. 185 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,033 - So when that lady beetle goes through its life cycle 186 00:08:03,033 --> 00:08:04,533 and goes flying around, 187 00:08:04,533 --> 00:08:07,233 it has to go four feet to get to my plants 188 00:08:07,233 --> 00:08:08,633 rather than come across 189 00:08:08,633 --> 00:08:11,833 the St. Augustine yards of the neighborhood 190 00:08:11,833 --> 00:08:14,100 and I hope it discovers my little garden there. 191 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:16,666 - Right, right, so effectively you're putting 192 00:08:16,666 --> 00:08:18,933 food crop out for the beneficial insects, 193 00:08:18,933 --> 00:08:20,433 knowing that they're gonna take care 194 00:08:20,433 --> 00:08:22,933 of more than what you're serving. 195 00:08:22,933 --> 00:08:24,166 - Absolutely, you know, 196 00:08:24,166 --> 00:08:27,333 some adults and their young eat aphids, 197 00:08:27,333 --> 00:08:29,000 like lady beetles and their larvae. 198 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,333 And some adults feed on pollen of flowers, and nectar, 199 00:08:32,333 --> 00:08:34,466 and their babies eat the aphids, 200 00:08:34,466 --> 00:08:36,233 or whatever the pest is we're talking about. 201 00:08:36,233 --> 00:08:38,333 - [Tom] This is really exciting work, 202 00:08:38,333 --> 00:08:40,866 and I think that a lot of people 203 00:08:40,866 --> 00:08:43,600 are keen to hear these kind of thing, 204 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,766 they wanna do right by mother nature. 205 00:08:45,766 --> 00:08:48,733 But how do they learn, where do they go to learn, 206 00:08:48,733 --> 00:08:51,033 what is beneficial and what is harmful? 207 00:08:51,033 --> 00:08:53,400 - There is a lot of good websites out there. 208 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,766 There's one called bugwood.org, bugwood, 209 00:08:56,766 --> 00:08:58,433 strange word, dot org. 210 00:08:58,433 --> 00:09:01,166 That is insect images from across the country 211 00:09:01,166 --> 00:09:03,200 that entomologists, people send them in, 212 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,966 they go put the name on them and categorize them. 213 00:09:05,966 --> 00:09:08,333 So you could go hunting for a particular insect 214 00:09:08,333 --> 00:09:11,933 by its proper scientific name, or by its common name. 215 00:09:11,933 --> 00:09:14,266 And you can just learn more and more. 216 00:09:14,266 --> 00:09:17,300 But you become the expert on what's in your garden. 217 00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:19,033 - Of course, yeah. 218 00:09:19,033 --> 00:09:22,166 But to become an expert, people need to replicate 219 00:09:22,166 --> 00:09:25,566 kind of what you did, which is to stop for a moment 220 00:09:25,566 --> 00:09:29,033 and just pay attention, which is a very rare thing nowadays. 221 00:09:29,033 --> 00:09:31,266 - Just learn what's going on. 222 00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:35,333 I use those plastic containers that salad comes in, 223 00:09:35,333 --> 00:09:38,900 the little boxes, and I have a little vase, vases, 224 00:09:38,900 --> 00:09:43,533 and I'll pick a leaf that's got an unknown larva on it 225 00:09:43,533 --> 00:09:45,900 or a pupa, put it in there and close the door, 226 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:47,566 and set it in the house and just watch it 227 00:09:47,566 --> 00:09:48,833 and see what comes out of it. 228 00:09:48,833 --> 00:09:50,466 - Oh, interesting. - And that's how 229 00:09:50,466 --> 00:09:53,566 I learned a lot of the different insects that we have. 230 00:09:53,566 --> 00:09:54,900 - That's smart. - Which is, 231 00:09:54,900 --> 00:09:56,366 most people wouldn't put up with 232 00:09:56,366 --> 00:09:58,933 having bugs inside the house, 233 00:09:58,933 --> 00:10:02,133 but going out to the garden and just sitting and being still 234 00:10:02,133 --> 00:10:04,033 because some of the best beneficials 235 00:10:04,033 --> 00:10:06,966 are the ones you don't see when you're just looking 236 00:10:06,966 --> 00:10:08,533 at the garden from a distance. 237 00:10:08,533 --> 00:10:10,133 - You can learn so much, 238 00:10:10,133 --> 00:10:13,333 and people need to get over the fear of insects. 239 00:10:13,333 --> 00:10:15,500 One thing that I've heard is that 240 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:18,466 plants actually recruit insects 241 00:10:18,466 --> 00:10:20,400 by sending out pheromones into the air 242 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,400 and they say come help me, I've got a pest here, 243 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,133 and I need a little hand. 244 00:10:25,133 --> 00:10:28,566 - It is amazing, this is a new frontier in entomology 245 00:10:28,566 --> 00:10:31,166 and plant-insect interrelations. 246 00:10:31,166 --> 00:10:33,633 You know, when a pest chews on a plant, 247 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:37,633 the plant may put out some type of a pheromone 248 00:10:37,633 --> 00:10:41,633 that other plants pick up, and they start to make defenses 249 00:10:41,633 --> 00:10:44,433 against the insect because their neighbor told them 250 00:10:44,433 --> 00:10:46,166 there's a problem over here. 251 00:10:46,166 --> 00:10:50,166 Beneficial insects pick up that pheromone, certain ones, 252 00:10:50,166 --> 00:10:53,533 and that may tell them I'm likely to find a meal 253 00:10:53,533 --> 00:10:56,800 down on this plant, and they kinda hone in. 254 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,966 And then there's all kinds of other ways 255 00:10:58,966 --> 00:11:00,133 that that interaction 256 00:11:00,133 --> 00:11:01,566 goes on. - Ah, it's amazing. 257 00:11:01,566 --> 00:11:03,466 Above the ground and under the ground, as well, 258 00:11:03,466 --> 00:11:04,933 all sorts of interactions. 259 00:11:04,933 --> 00:11:07,266 - Yes, interaction between roots, and yeah, 260 00:11:07,266 --> 00:11:09,266 it's just fascinating. - Right, right. 261 00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:11,166 Well you had some really practical things 262 00:11:11,166 --> 00:11:14,400 that you've done in your garden to create 263 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,200 kind of like delis for 264 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,033 the beneficial insects. - Yes, yes. 265 00:11:18,033 --> 00:11:19,266 - Let's talk a little bit about that, 266 00:11:19,266 --> 00:11:21,200 because I love the strategies you devise. 267 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,000 - Well, if you build it, they will come, it's true. 268 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,166 And one thing, as I mentioned earlier, 269 00:11:26,166 --> 00:11:28,733 some of the adult beneficials need pollen and nectar. 270 00:11:28,733 --> 00:11:30,433 In fact, even lady beetles will go 271 00:11:30,433 --> 00:11:32,100 and feed a little bit on that. 272 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:34,100 But so you need some flowers, 273 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:36,200 flowers that are in the daisy family. 274 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,066 Like chamomile, or daisies, or cone flower and other things, 275 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:43,733 they're real easy for the insects to get into the nectar. 276 00:11:43,733 --> 00:11:46,433 Flowers that are in the carrot family, 277 00:11:46,433 --> 00:11:48,900 they have an umbrella-like seed head 278 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:52,233 and that would be things like yarrow, for example. 279 00:11:52,233 --> 00:11:54,100 Or when I harvest my carrots, 280 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:55,533 I leave a few at the end of the row 281 00:11:55,533 --> 00:11:57,966 to go ahead and bolt and they send up a lot 282 00:11:57,966 --> 00:11:59,533 of these wonderful flowers 283 00:11:59,533 --> 00:12:01,433 that just really attract things in. 284 00:12:01,433 --> 00:12:03,433 And I've got all the rest of that bed 285 00:12:03,433 --> 00:12:05,166 to plant the next crop in. 286 00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:06,966 And there's a lot of other ways to go about that, 287 00:12:06,966 --> 00:12:11,866 but herbs are great, chives when they bloom 288 00:12:11,866 --> 00:12:13,366 bring in a lot of pollinators. 289 00:12:13,366 --> 00:12:15,000 - And it's interesting you say that, 290 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,633 'cause as you talked about, 291 00:12:16,633 --> 00:12:19,933 letting plants bolt and go to seed, 292 00:12:19,933 --> 00:12:23,200 I just recall yeah, I can remember so many times 293 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,866 being out in the garden and seeing a plant that had bolted 294 00:12:25,866 --> 00:12:29,700 and it would be covered with insects. 295 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:32,233 - And I've evolved a lot over the years 296 00:12:32,233 --> 00:12:34,833 from that traditional farm-looking garden 297 00:12:34,833 --> 00:12:36,733 where everything was controlled 298 00:12:36,733 --> 00:12:39,433 and we pounded the soil to death with rototillers, 299 00:12:41,833 --> 00:12:45,033 to more of trying to make more of a natural setting 300 00:12:45,033 --> 00:12:47,233 without just making it a wild garden, which is fine. 301 00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:49,033 Cottage gardens are fine, 302 00:12:49,033 --> 00:12:52,233 but I wanna get the most production that I can out of it. 303 00:12:52,233 --> 00:12:55,566 And yet at the same time, bring in all of the things 304 00:12:55,566 --> 00:12:56,966 that are helping me so I don't have to 305 00:12:56,966 --> 00:12:58,200 get out there and spray. 306 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,133 - [Tom] Well, you know, it makes sense. 307 00:13:00,133 --> 00:13:03,300 It's cheaper, it's better for mother nature, 308 00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:05,500 it's easier for you in the long run. 309 00:13:05,500 --> 00:13:07,633 - And it's fun. - Exactly. 310 00:13:07,633 --> 00:13:08,866 - It is just fascinating. 311 00:13:08,866 --> 00:13:11,633 - Yeah, fascinating and wondrous, you know? 312 00:13:11,633 --> 00:13:13,100 - If I just want vegetables, 313 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:15,400 I can go to the store and buy a carrot. 314 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,733 But where can I sit and look, and learn, 315 00:13:18,733 --> 00:13:20,900 and see this interaction going on? 316 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,166 - Well you had some other strategies, 317 00:13:22,166 --> 00:13:25,000 including what you call insectary buckets. 318 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,500 - Yes. - Well now, 319 00:13:26,500 --> 00:13:29,166 stop for a moment and tell us what an insectary is. 320 00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:30,733 - Okay. - And then describe 321 00:13:30,733 --> 00:13:32,700 the bucket idea. - An insectary garden 322 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:35,233 is a garden designed to bring in beneficials. 323 00:13:35,233 --> 00:13:37,200 And it could be just an ornamental, 324 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,000 like a cottage garden of sorts. 325 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,900 Or you could do it in your vegetables. 326 00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:44,733 My particular vegetable plot is a little small, 327 00:13:46,466 --> 00:13:49,266 so I don't want to give up space 328 00:13:49,266 --> 00:13:51,433 planting all of these flowers everywhere. 329 00:13:51,433 --> 00:13:53,066 I have a few. 330 00:13:53,066 --> 00:13:55,733 So I use buckets to grow plants 331 00:13:55,733 --> 00:13:57,933 that I know will attract beneficials. 332 00:13:57,933 --> 00:14:01,466 Alyssum in the cool season and Lobularia in the warm season, 333 00:14:01,466 --> 00:14:04,433 and small daisy-like flowers like I mentioned. 334 00:14:04,433 --> 00:14:05,833 And I have a post in the garden, 335 00:14:05,833 --> 00:14:07,633 and I just hang a couple of buckets on it. 336 00:14:07,633 --> 00:14:09,333 In fact, I have buckets all around 337 00:14:09,333 --> 00:14:10,800 the periphery of the garden. 338 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,600 And so when a particular annual starts not blooming, 339 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,500 or it kind of finishes its season, 340 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:19,200 I can just bring a bucket with something blooming in. 341 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,866 So without giving up garden space, 342 00:14:21,866 --> 00:14:25,933 I've got all of these insectary plants that are present. 343 00:14:25,933 --> 00:14:28,700 - Well that's I think a very wise approach, 344 00:14:28,700 --> 00:14:30,433 and especially for people nowadays 345 00:14:30,433 --> 00:14:32,733 with such tight garden spaces. 346 00:14:32,733 --> 00:14:36,966 You know, we don't have, we can't grow acreage, right? 347 00:14:36,966 --> 00:14:38,333 Nobody can do that anymore. 348 00:14:38,333 --> 00:14:41,000 But we can have these little pocket gardens 349 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,533 that include the kinds of elements 350 00:14:43,533 --> 00:14:44,733 that you were just talking about. 351 00:14:44,733 --> 00:14:46,133 - Right. - Which is really great. 352 00:14:46,133 --> 00:14:49,233 You know, one thing that you alluded to earlier 353 00:14:49,233 --> 00:14:50,633 and I just wanted to underscore too, 354 00:14:50,633 --> 00:14:52,300 is you know, 355 00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:56,100 our tendency to always want gardens 356 00:14:56,100 --> 00:15:00,533 to be hyper tidy, you know? - Yes. 357 00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:03,333 - And having some freedom there 358 00:15:03,333 --> 00:15:05,166 to let things get a little loose 359 00:15:05,166 --> 00:15:07,733 and sometimes a little bolting and things like that 360 00:15:07,733 --> 00:15:11,333 can really be of great benefit to the overall project. 361 00:15:11,333 --> 00:15:13,033 - It really can, yes. 362 00:15:13,033 --> 00:15:16,466 And being willing to just experiment with different things, 363 00:15:16,466 --> 00:15:20,266 find out what works for you, and how you want it to look. 364 00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:22,700 Some people are very engineer oriented, 365 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:26,733 it's all square, right angles, perfect boxes with string. 366 00:15:26,733 --> 00:15:28,800 And other people are just like, 367 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,400 the garden just looks wild. 368 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,733 - Yeah, right. - And that's fine too. 369 00:15:31,733 --> 00:15:33,000 - Sure. - It's your garden, 370 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,500 do what you want with it. - Exactly. 371 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:35,700 - And the fun thing about gardening 372 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:37,533 is it's like a big Etch A Sketch, 373 00:15:37,533 --> 00:15:38,933 you can draw whatever you want. 374 00:15:38,933 --> 00:15:40,100 If you don't like it, you just shake it 375 00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:42,000 and you get to start over. 376 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,166 That shaking is called pulling all the plants up 377 00:15:44,166 --> 00:15:45,300 and replanting, you know? 378 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,166 - Well shaking to the benefit 379 00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:50,700 of all the great insect friends that we have out there, 380 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:53,133 Skip Richter, this has been a lot of fun. 381 00:15:53,133 --> 00:15:55,666 Great to see you again, best wishes to you 382 00:15:55,666 --> 00:15:59,066 and the good work you're doing in Houston. 383 00:15:59,066 --> 00:16:00,800 We miss you here in Austin, though. 384 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,633 - Well thank you very much, I've enjoyed it. 385 00:16:02,633 --> 00:16:05,033 - Alright, and coming up next, it's Daphne. 386 00:16:05,033 --> 00:16:07,633 (jovial music) 387 00:16:08,966 --> 00:16:10,366 - With the abundance of rain, 388 00:16:10,366 --> 00:16:12,800 and unusually mild temperatures this spring, 389 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,366 we've seen plants growing by leaps and bounds 390 00:16:15,366 --> 00:16:17,400 in very short time spans. 391 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,466 And as all that rainfall percolates through the soil, 392 00:16:20,466 --> 00:16:22,466 soluble minerals move with it, 393 00:16:22,466 --> 00:16:25,566 washing essential plant nutrients below the root zone, 394 00:16:25,566 --> 00:16:27,833 putting them out of reach at a time when plants need 395 00:16:27,833 --> 00:16:29,300 more of them than usual. 396 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:31,200 While native plants are more accustomed 397 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,033 to our natural weather patterns, 398 00:16:33,033 --> 00:16:34,933 and more accustomed to the natural level 399 00:16:34,933 --> 00:16:37,400 of nutrients in our soil to begin with, 400 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,600 adapted ornamentals may struggle a bit with these swings 401 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,700 and need a supplemental boost in spring. 402 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:46,733 Nutrient deficiencies manifest in very particular patterns, 403 00:16:46,733 --> 00:16:49,466 making it relatively easy for astute gardeners 404 00:16:49,466 --> 00:16:51,633 to course correct with a bit of fertilizer 405 00:16:51,633 --> 00:16:54,200 before things get too out of wack. 406 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,666 There's no shortage of products to choose from, 407 00:16:56,666 --> 00:17:00,166 including many fertilizers that are naturally derived. 408 00:17:00,166 --> 00:17:02,200 But before you apply any product, 409 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,833 even an organic one, indiscriminately, 410 00:17:04,833 --> 00:17:06,733 you need to know just exactly 411 00:17:06,733 --> 00:17:09,200 which nutrients your plant needs. 412 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,500 Most nutrient deficiencies manifest 413 00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:15,700 as some sort of yellowing, which we refer to as chlorosis. 414 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:19,233 And while there are over 20 essential plant nutrients, 415 00:17:19,233 --> 00:17:22,033 plants require most of them in such minute amounts 416 00:17:22,033 --> 00:17:25,033 that only a handful will ever be so low in the soil 417 00:17:25,033 --> 00:17:26,966 as to cause any issues. 418 00:17:26,966 --> 00:17:29,833 Also, plants can move some of these nutrients around 419 00:17:29,833 --> 00:17:31,300 within their own bodies, 420 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:34,366 buying time for the external environment to improve. 421 00:17:34,366 --> 00:17:36,866 Because of this, some nutrient deficiencies, 422 00:17:36,866 --> 00:17:40,033 such as nitrogen, will manifest in older leaves 423 00:17:40,033 --> 00:17:42,200 while new leaves appear healthy. 424 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,133 But other deficiencies, such as iron deficiency, 425 00:17:45,133 --> 00:17:47,066 will manifest on new leaves, 426 00:17:47,066 --> 00:17:49,533 because plants aren't able to move iron around 427 00:17:49,533 --> 00:17:52,500 once they've incorporated it into their tissues. 428 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:54,533 Nitrogen is a nutrient needed by plants 429 00:17:54,533 --> 00:17:55,833 in the highest quantities, 430 00:17:55,833 --> 00:17:58,466 so it's the most common nutrient in fertilizers. 431 00:17:58,466 --> 00:18:00,200 Iron deficiency is very common 432 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,000 for gardeners in the western US, 433 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,033 where soil pH tends towards the alkaline side. 434 00:18:05,033 --> 00:18:08,166 And it manifests as interveinal chlorosis: 435 00:18:08,166 --> 00:18:09,533 yellowing of the leaves 436 00:18:09,533 --> 00:18:12,933 between the green veins on new leaves. 437 00:18:12,933 --> 00:18:15,133 Unfortunately, putting nails in your garden 438 00:18:15,133 --> 00:18:17,633 to correct iron deficiency doesn't work. 439 00:18:17,633 --> 00:18:19,366 And before you buy any product, 440 00:18:19,366 --> 00:18:22,233 be sure to consult with your local county extension office 441 00:18:22,233 --> 00:18:23,600 or nursery professional, 442 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,000 to make sure you've correctly diagnosed the issue. 443 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,933 Early spring wildflower seeds, including bluebonnets, 444 00:18:28,933 --> 00:18:30,933 should be getting dry and brown enough to clip 445 00:18:30,933 --> 00:18:32,833 if you want to save some seeds. 446 00:18:32,833 --> 00:18:34,433 Remove the seeds from the pods 447 00:18:34,433 --> 00:18:37,700 and let them dry completely in the house before storing. 448 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:40,033 Plant in October and November. 449 00:18:40,033 --> 00:18:44,000 KLRU's vice president, Benjamin Kramer and his family, 450 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,666 planted bluebonnets last fall in their yard. 451 00:18:46,666 --> 00:18:49,966 As a nod to CTG producer Linda Lehmusvirta, 452 00:18:49,966 --> 00:18:52,533 they named them Linda Bluebonnets. 453 00:18:52,533 --> 00:18:54,200 What a fun family project, 454 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:55,433 and she's certainly proud 455 00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:57,833 to have a bluebonnet named for her. 456 00:18:57,833 --> 00:19:00,266 From Carrolltown, Monica and Darrell Miller 457 00:19:00,266 --> 00:19:03,133 are celebrating their first hydrangea bloom. 458 00:19:03,133 --> 00:19:06,133 They're growing this beauty in a container in part shade 459 00:19:06,133 --> 00:19:08,666 on their patio, where it's obviously thriving. 460 00:19:08,666 --> 00:19:12,666 We'd love to hear from you, visit centraltexasgardener.org 461 00:19:12,666 --> 00:19:16,266 to share your stories, pictures, and videos. 462 00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,433 - Now let's check in with Backyard Basics. 463 00:19:22,733 --> 00:19:25,100 - At Texas A&M AgriLife Water University, 464 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:26,666 one of the things were focused on 465 00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:29,266 is how we can save water in the landscape. 466 00:19:29,266 --> 00:19:31,000 One way you can do that at home 467 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,333 is by building your own rain barrel 468 00:19:33,333 --> 00:19:35,966 where you can save from a rainy day. 469 00:19:35,966 --> 00:19:40,966 What we have here is a food grade 55 gallon plastic drum. 470 00:19:41,833 --> 00:19:43,866 This is made from HDPE plastic, 471 00:19:43,866 --> 00:19:46,833 the same plastic you use in your milk jug. 472 00:19:46,833 --> 00:19:48,333 This one had soda in it, 473 00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:49,833 but you can look in your community 474 00:19:49,833 --> 00:19:53,233 and try and find them from local beverage distributors. 475 00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:56,366 Perhaps you can find some that had pickles in them, 476 00:19:56,366 --> 00:19:58,200 but you definitely want to avoid any 477 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,600 that had any petroleum products, soaps, or any chemicals, 478 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,200 because we don't want those leaching out of our barrel. 479 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,433 You're going to need to get a template. 480 00:20:07,433 --> 00:20:11,366 A lot of times the template we use is just a five inch pot, 481 00:20:11,366 --> 00:20:15,133 but we have our five inch template already here. 482 00:20:15,133 --> 00:20:18,833 We put that to one side of the barrel like you see there, 483 00:20:18,833 --> 00:20:20,733 and were just gonna trace this. 484 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:29,100 So now that we've traced our five inch hole for our barrel, 485 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:31,566 we need to drill a pilot hole. 486 00:20:31,566 --> 00:20:34,733 So the best way to do that is to use a paddle bit. 487 00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:37,633 I have a 3/4 inch paddle bit right here 488 00:20:37,633 --> 00:20:39,666 hooked up to my power drill, 489 00:20:39,666 --> 00:20:41,466 and just drilling your hole 490 00:20:41,466 --> 00:20:44,566 on the inside of that edge you just drilled. 491 00:20:45,733 --> 00:20:49,166 The next step is to grab yourself a jigsaw. 492 00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:51,766 We have a special blade for our jigsaw 493 00:20:51,766 --> 00:20:54,866 that's specifically made to cut through PVC. 494 00:20:54,866 --> 00:20:57,700 These work great at cutting through the barrel as well. 495 00:20:57,700 --> 00:20:59,800 Simply put the blade of your jigsaw 496 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,200 into the pilot hole and follow your pattern. 497 00:21:11,366 --> 00:21:13,066 Now that we've got our hole drilled 498 00:21:13,066 --> 00:21:14,900 right here with our jigsaw 499 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:19,033 we want to turn the barrel around, and flip it on its side 500 00:21:19,033 --> 00:21:22,333 to do the hole that our faucet is going to go into. 501 00:21:22,333 --> 00:21:25,833 Now we have a hole saw attached to our drill. 502 00:21:25,833 --> 00:21:29,000 This is an inch and 3/4 hole saw 503 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,900 that is gonna receive our bulkhead. 504 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,333 We simply come up about two inches. 505 00:21:34,333 --> 00:21:36,233 It doesn't have to be exact. 506 00:21:41,833 --> 00:21:44,366 Next step in order to get our bulkhead assembly 507 00:21:44,366 --> 00:21:46,666 inside and attached to the barrel, 508 00:21:46,666 --> 00:21:49,566 we have a high tech piece of technology 509 00:21:49,566 --> 00:21:52,100 that most everyone should have at home. 510 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:56,166 Simply a yardstick and a roll of duct tape. 511 00:21:56,166 --> 00:21:59,866 We are going to wrap it around the end of our yardstick, 512 00:21:59,866 --> 00:22:02,566 and just wrap it around a few times 513 00:22:02,566 --> 00:22:05,933 to provide ourselves a bit of a sticky surface. 514 00:22:05,933 --> 00:22:07,766 Now we've got our bulkhead, 515 00:22:07,766 --> 00:22:09,933 the part that's going to be on the inside. 516 00:22:11,833 --> 00:22:15,433 And we're just going to slap the yardstick on there. 517 00:22:15,433 --> 00:22:18,100 And we're just gonna slap the yardstick on there. 518 00:22:19,500 --> 00:22:20,733 And it's wet. 519 00:22:20,733 --> 00:22:23,566 So we just simply take our yardstick, 520 00:22:23,566 --> 00:22:27,133 take the bulkhead and stick that on there 521 00:22:27,133 --> 00:22:28,633 to where its secure. 522 00:22:28,633 --> 00:22:31,466 Now we're gonna drop our bulkhead into the barrel, 523 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:37,133 there we've got it. 524 00:22:40,566 --> 00:22:43,333 Because our bulkhead assembly is plastic, 525 00:22:43,333 --> 00:22:46,500 and our faucet here is brass with, again, 526 00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:51,500 that 3/4 inch outside diameter to receive the bulkhead. 527 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:53,700 We need to make sure that we put 528 00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:56,500 a little bit of Teflon tape around it. 529 00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,100 What this is going to do is make sure 530 00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:01,933 that those threads don't cut into the plastic. 531 00:23:01,933 --> 00:23:04,933 One of the things that people have difficulty with 532 00:23:04,933 --> 00:23:07,733 is making sure that your brass faucet 533 00:23:07,733 --> 00:23:10,800 is seated correctly inside your bulkhead 534 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,200 so you can avoid stripping the threads. 535 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,700 If at any time it starts getting cock-eyed 536 00:23:15,700 --> 00:23:18,633 one way or the other simply back it back out, 537 00:23:18,633 --> 00:23:20,600 make sure it's level, left to right, 538 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,166 front to back, and try again. 539 00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:24,700 As we tighten the faucet, 540 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:28,700 our bulkhead is also gonna tighten against our barrel 541 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:30,933 to give us a good seal 542 00:23:30,933 --> 00:23:34,700 so we don't have any leaks and lose any rain water. 543 00:23:34,700 --> 00:23:36,333 One of the most important things 544 00:23:36,333 --> 00:23:39,300 when you are harvesting rain water on your property 545 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,366 is to make sure you're not breeding mosquitoes. 546 00:23:42,366 --> 00:23:45,466 One way that we can keep mosquitoes out of our barrel 547 00:23:45,466 --> 00:23:48,066 is to simply take some insect netting. 548 00:23:48,066 --> 00:23:50,033 This is the same netting that you would buy 549 00:23:50,033 --> 00:23:53,366 at any hardware store for the screens on your windows. 550 00:23:53,366 --> 00:23:54,800 We're going to use this 551 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,566 in conjunction with some silicone caulk that dries clear 552 00:24:00,966 --> 00:24:02,833 so we can affix the netting on top of our barrel 553 00:24:02,833 --> 00:24:06,000 to not only keep mosquitoes from breeding inside here, 554 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:07,900 but also it's gonna create a barrier 555 00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:10,333 to deter any types of leaves or debris 556 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:11,900 from getting inside our barrel. 557 00:24:11,900 --> 00:24:13,266 It's important to think about 558 00:24:13,266 --> 00:24:15,433 how we're actually going to set up our barrel 559 00:24:15,433 --> 00:24:17,266 to start harvesting water. 560 00:24:17,266 --> 00:24:19,133 There's a few things to consider. 561 00:24:19,133 --> 00:24:21,733 We wanna make sure we put it on a level surface 562 00:24:21,733 --> 00:24:23,666 so there's no tipping hazard. 563 00:24:23,666 --> 00:24:26,400 Another thing to think about you may want to consider 564 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,966 is raising your barrel up a little bit. 565 00:24:28,966 --> 00:24:31,700 We like to use cinder blocks for that purpose. 566 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:33,200 When you raise up your barrel, 567 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,266 not only do you have better access to the faucet there 568 00:24:36,266 --> 00:24:38,266 to put watering cans underneath, 569 00:24:38,266 --> 00:24:40,933 but also it raises the head pressure 570 00:24:40,933 --> 00:24:44,166 of the water in the barrel so it flows out quickly. 571 00:24:44,166 --> 00:24:45,800 One common misconception 572 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,666 is that you have to have a gutter to harvest rain water, 573 00:24:48,666 --> 00:24:50,533 and that's actually not true. 574 00:24:50,533 --> 00:24:53,866 If you have a natural valley in your home's roof 575 00:24:53,866 --> 00:24:57,300 and water comes down traveling at that valley when it rains, 576 00:24:57,300 --> 00:24:58,966 you can typically look on the ground 577 00:24:58,966 --> 00:25:01,833 and tell and see where that water is splashing. 578 00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:04,100 If you do have a gutter system, 579 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:06,333 the easiest way to get water in your barrel 580 00:25:06,333 --> 00:25:08,366 is to cut your downspout. 581 00:25:08,366 --> 00:25:11,533 Some downspouts you simply undo a screw 582 00:25:11,533 --> 00:25:13,700 and you attach this attachment. 583 00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:16,366 This attachment kind of works like an accordion, 584 00:25:16,366 --> 00:25:18,566 so you have some flexibility 585 00:25:18,566 --> 00:25:20,766 on where you wanna put your barrel. 586 00:25:20,766 --> 00:25:25,133 Simply attach this adapter, screw it in there, 587 00:25:25,133 --> 00:25:27,300 and direct the water into your barrel. 588 00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:29,733 It's a great way to help your plants 589 00:25:29,733 --> 00:25:33,133 but also make a splash in your landscape. 590 00:25:33,133 --> 00:25:35,033 You can harvest rainwater too. 591 00:25:35,033 --> 00:25:36,466 Water you waiting for? 592 00:25:36,466 --> 00:25:38,400 - Find out more and watch online 593 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,833 at centraltexasgardener.org. 594 00:25:40,833 --> 00:25:42,466 And subscribe to our weekly newsletter 595 00:25:42,466 --> 00:25:44,433 to see what's coming up this week. 596 00:25:44,433 --> 00:25:46,666 Until next time, I'll see you in the garden. 597 00:25:48,133 --> 00:25:51,233 (lighthearted music) 598 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:20,733 - [Announcer] Central Texas Gardener 599 00:26:20,733 --> 00:26:22,866 is made possible by the University of Texas at Austin 600 00:26:22,866 --> 00:26:24,833 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 601 00:26:24,833 --> 00:26:28,033 displaying Texas native plants in sustainable gardens. 602 00:26:28,033 --> 00:26:29,333 And with generous support 603 00:26:29,333 --> 00:26:32,233 from Lisa & Desi Rhoden, thank you. 604 00:26:32,233 --> 00:26:34,833 Support for this and other KLRU productions made possible 605 00:26:34,833 --> 00:26:37,433 by the Producers Circle, ensuring local programming 606 00:26:37,433 --> 00:26:39,000 that reflects the character and interests 607 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,933 of the Greater Austin, Texas community.