March 2004 Edited by: Dr. William C. Welch PROFESSOR & LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURIST Editorial Assistant: Cynthia W. Mueller HORTICULTURE UPDATE is designed as a source of information for County Extension Agents and Specialists to utilize in local news releases and as part of their educational programs across Texas, but will also appeal to gardeners and plant-lovers of all kinds, especially those interested in growing plants under the tough conditions of Texas and the Southern United States. Our information is oriented for Texas gardeners and Texas conditions. Each issue includes a monthly checklist for suggested garden activities along with articles on gardening topics and profiles of plants especially suitable for Texas and the South. Another feature of the publication is information about forthcoming educational opportunities sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension. Dr. William C. Welch and Dr. Douglas F. Welsh, both Extension Horticulturists in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, share editorial responsibilities for the newsletter. Articles from County Extension Agents (Horticulture), and Specialists in related disciplines are welcome and encouraged. WEB CONSTRUCTION BY CYNTHIA MUELLER

Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus by Dr. William C. Welch Ortho's All About Dry Climate Gardening (Dr. Douglas F. Welsh, Contributing Editor) Book Review by Cynthia W. Mueller The Virtuous Tree By Dr. Michael Morrison, Extension Horticulturist, Harris County, Texas Identifying and Controlling Most Common Spring Plant Diseases in the Landscape Dr. Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia Plant Pathology Department, Griffin Identificando y contralando las enfermedades de plantas mas comunes en la primavera en el paisaje por Dr. Alfredo Martinez Spinosad: An Insecticide to Make Organic Gardeners Smile By Dr. Mike Merchant, Urban Entomologist Texas A&M University Garden Checklist for March, 2004 By Dr. William C. Welch   Photographs by Cynthia W. Mueller Return to Aggie-Horticulture