Big country farmers/gardeners give a green thumbs-up as steady showers bring relief

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – While you’d be forgiven for seeing dark clouds as bad omen, here in West Texas those clouds (occasionally) mean rain. Texas A&M AgriLife Taylor County Extension Agent Steve Estes said those rains came as answered prayers to so many Big Country growers this season. Even if they didn’t come quite as soon as some may have hoped.

“Rain’s always a good thing here. We certainly don’t want to complain about it because once we do complain it’ll turn up dry again.” Estes told KTAB/KRBC.

The showers fell a bit too late to save some summer cotton crops. But the steady, even distribution put wheat growers in a good position for a strong start to their September planting..

“Most of this rain was a slow-soaking rain, which was very good for our soil, whether it be for the farmers or ranchers both. Farmers who plant wheat to graze cattle through the winter time on the wheat. They start planting usually right around Labor Day, and that was exactly the time that this rain fell.” Said Estes.

However, not all green-thumbed Texans aren’t focused on cash crops, and those that grow for the love of it also feel the heat from the drought, as Big Country Master Gardener Association President Jackie Sledge can attest.

“Oh, it’s brutal, it is so brutal. All the yards have just suffered. I have Bermuda [grass], and I have cracks in the yard.” Sledge said.

While the summer sun may have been less than kind to her Bermuda Grass, Sledge says the recent precipitation has put the fight back in her flowers, a pep in her produce, and given her a hope of a fortuitous fall growing season.

“Fall is the best time to plant for flowers, perennials, shrubs, and trees. So we are getting into the time that it will be great planting for us.” Said Sledge.

But before you take out your trowels, gardeners beware. Sledge advises anyone who hasn’t done so in at least the past three years to send a soil sample. Although rainfall may be good for growers, your plants may need more than the clouds can provide to thrive.

“The Extension office has bags and instructions where you can do a soil sample. It’s sent to A&M, and then you get a very detailed report back telling you what you have in your soil as well as what you need to fertilize, what you need to add to it to amend it, to make it where you’re gonna be more successful with whatever you plant.” Sledge said.

Estes added that the moisture may stick around to help growth over the next few weeks/months, assuming that the temperature remains below those triple digits.

“Before we know it, it’ll be dry again. If we could get away from these 100-degree days, the soil moisture will stick around for a little longer.” Said Estes.

Soil sample instructions and envelopes can be obtained at the Taylor County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office, Located on the Taylor County Fairgrounds at 1982 Lytle Way B. On the Big Country Master Gardeners Association website , you can also find a list of drought-tolerant and native gardening plants that Sledge recommends for local growers.

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