To the uninitiated—or just unobservant—January might seem like an odd time to start working on your gardens and landscaping. Sure, most people know it’s the season to plant and trim trees—maybe fertilize them (preferably with something organic). But—whether you made it your intention to renew and refresh the greenery in and around your house last July, when it was already way too late, or put it on your list of New Year’s resolutions—it’s time to get going.
Or at least a good time to start. In fact, it’s never too early to start creating and planning garden beds, getting your compost up to snuff, sprouting seeds in a greenhouse or sunny windows if you have them, weeding and clearing dead plants and leaves, and otherwise just getting your environs as excited as you are about spring.
Because of the temperate (overheating?) climate locally, there are some plants you can go ahead and put in the ground now (the staff at the stores on this list can tell you more about that and all of this). And even if you’re a staunchly indoor cat, house and porch plants provide many benefits besides just sprucing up your place.
So really, there’s no excuse (not that most of us need one) for not exploring the local gardening stores on this list posthaste. In addition to the huge variety of plants of all kinds—herbs, vegetables, fruit-bearing, decorative, drought-resistant, and on and on—they all have knowledgeable staff members who are full of advice and answers to just about any question you have. They all come recommended by Central Texas residents (a few are located just outside of Austin, to serve the burgs and ‘burbs around the city), and they’re all fun to visit, even if you don’t buy a thing (though you’ll probably have a hard time resisting).
Map points are ordered west to east.
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