Garden Calculators | Landscaper Referral | Growing Citrus Trees

Aromatic Herbs

An herb’s essential oils are released when the leaves are crushed. To pick one with a pleasing flavor, gently roll a leaf between your thumb and forefinger. Do you like the scent? You will likely enjoy the flavor! Also use this trick for other herbs, such as rosemary, oregano, or basil.

The possibilities are endless! Try:

Chocolate Mint in desserts
Spearmint in beverages
Apple Mint for salads
Pineapple Mint for garnishes

Mint comes in a myriad of varieties, and in our area, it prefers part sun with afternoon shade. Give it well draining soil with regular moisture. Remember that mint can be aggressive spreader, so keeping it in a container makes it easier to control.

While it might look pretty to plant a container with multiple mint varieties, this is not recommended. They easily cross pollinate, which can result in hybrid plants that have weaker, or less desirable flavor than their originals. Keep your different mint varieties on opposite ends of the garden.

More than just mint…

Homegrown herbs are one of the easiest was to elevate your cooking while cutting costs. Look for cilantro, rosemary, oregano, and other flavorful favorites.

Citrus are here!

Look for lots of Meyer lemons, as well as grapefruits, limes, satsumas, and oranges. Citrus trees do very well in sunny Central Texas, but they do need protection from our unpredictable freezes. Read more about Growing Citrus in Central Texas.

Citrus blooms attract all manner of butterflies and pollinators, and are the host plants of the giant swallowtail. If your citrus gets eaten by a strange caterpillar that looks a bit like bird poop – don’t kill it! It’s a giant swallowtail butterfly!

pictured right Two Tailed Swallowtail
bottom left Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
bottom right Giant Swallowtail Butterfly