Tree Webs Not Just for Halloween From Hopkins County Master Gardeners October 26, 2020
That fake webbing that we like to adorn our trees and porches with for Halloween has a certain scary element to it but is not near as scary as the real thing! Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) ‘nests’ often start becoming noticeable in our landscapes during the late summer to late fall. The caterpillars will spin their communal webs on the ends of branches on which they are feeding. They have been found on over 400 different species of...
Hopkins County Master Gardeners Club Ready to Plant
It is a little early in the gardening season, but the Master Gardeners are ready for spring planting. However, at the monthly meeting held at the AgriLife Extension Building on Houston St, business items took precedence over more agrarian pursuits. An executive session before the regular meeting revealed that a Board of directors must be elected and sent to meetings across Texas. Upcoming events include a Plant Swap, and a Pesticide...
Lawns – Two Main Types in Hopkins County By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
June 5, 2025 – 1. Bermuda #1 Texas lawngrass, grows by underground rhizomes, and above ground stolons. Needs full sun to thrive, and can be grown from seed or sod. Spreads quickly and can become invasive to flowerbeds, gardens, and walkways. Goes dormant during periods of drought, recovering when moisture (rain) returns. Cannot tolerate shade. Bermuda grass 2. St....
Texas Superstar Plants by Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
March 12, 2026 – Did you know that Texas has a list of 90 plants that are considered “Super Stars”? Each plant on the list has been chosen by a board of horticultural experts from Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, AgriLife Extension agents, Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Landscape and Nursery Association. These experts live and work in all parts of Texas, testing and providing reports on plants...
The Next Meeting of the Master Gardeners will be Held February 26th
February 24, 2026 – The Hopkins County Master Gardeners plan to meet at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office on Houston Street, in front of the Hopkins County Civic Center, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, on Thursday, February 26th, 2026. The meeting will begin at 10:00am. At this meeting, Hopkins County Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson will present a program on the insect pests of plants. Anyone and everyone interested in...
February Gardening can be a Challenge by Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
February 15, 2026 – February gardening can be a challenge, but it is possible! Most gardening chores in February involve preparation for the spring season–pruning, transplanting, and garden clean up. Start by finishing pruning shade trees, fruit trees, blueberries, and other perennials. Bush roses can be pruned by about 50%, always cutting above an outward-facing bud. Wait to prune climbing roses until...
January Gardening List by Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
January 8, 2026 – Gardening in January can be cold and uncomfortable, but in Hopkins County we are usually gifted with many pleasant winter days. Planning, planting, transplanting, pruning, and other general garden maintenance can all be accomplished during this time when many plants are dormant. Here are a few ideas to help gardeners get off the couch and be productive until spring arrives! January is a perfect time to prune...
POINSETTIAS By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
November 28, 2025 – Poinsettias are everywhere! Nurseries, garden centers, even grocery stores are now selling these plants for Christmas color and decorations. These plants are famous for their bright red foliage, and make a great Christmas display of holiday cheer. Although we are used to seeing poinsettias as red plants, they come in many varieties and colors. The “leaves” are actually called “bracts”,...
Master Gardeners at Work! By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
October 21, 2025 – Last week the Hopkins County Extension Office received a phone call from a Sulphur Springs resident who was concerned about the condition of the lawn, as well as information on how to move and re-plant a shrub that had overgrown its space. Mario Villarino called me and asked if I could go by and talk with the homeowner, so my wife Charlotte and I did just that. The homeowner had moved to Sulphur Springs...
LOOK, BUT DON’T TOUCH!! By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
October 26, 2025 – This plant has some of the most vivid, striking, and attractive fall foliage! I have never seen it for sale at any nursery or garden center, and I have never heard of anyone planting or cultivating it, but it thrives in Hopkins County without any help from gardeners! Found in shady areas, it is perennial, and a member of the pistachio and cashew family. Toxicodendron radicans is its...
