Pollinators on the Patio for the Small Space Gardener  

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Christian Anderson said, “Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower”

Living in an apartment or a home with little to no outdoor space can be challenging, especially for those with a green thumb. Large suburban yards allow homeowners to create lush greenspace that invites birds, pollinators, and wildlife to visit them daily. However, abundant space is not required to grow native plants or welcome our pollinator friends. Whether you are an urban apartment dweller, are renting your home, or are limited on space, you can still plant natives in containers and enjoy all the benefits they provide.  

Follow these container gardening tips to create a pollinator habitat by adding greenery to your small spaces.  

Eco Friendly Containers  

When choosing your perfect pot, it is important to think about sustainable options that can be used for years to come or can be recycled for future use. A container must be the right size and have adequate drainage for the plant to flourish. If the plant is too crowded by a small pot or doesn’t have drainage, it will be hard to keep it alive. Cork containers are a fantastic option for native flowering plants because the material is natural and has built-in aeration and drainage capabilities. Other sustainable materials for plant containers include recycled plastic, clay, wood, bamboo, or tough fibers like Jute.  

Also, don’t forget to recycle the clean plastic planter pot once you have transferred it into its new eco-friendly container. These can be put in your recycling cart, or you can recycle them at Home Depot and Lowes.    

Texas Native Plants  

Native Texas plants thrive in our humid climate, storm-prone summers, and chilly winters making them the perfect candidate for container gardening. Local Texas plants require less maintenance than their non-native counterparts, which can save you time and money, allowing you to enjoy your garden.  

By including natives in your small space, you welcome native pollinators, like the monarch butterfly and mason bee to your oasis. Planting a variety of native grasses and flowers together will add texture and color to your pot, making it beneficial for pollinators and beautiful to look at. Think “thriller”, “filler”, “spiller”: tall plants in the back or center, lush texter in the middle, and trailing plants to soften the edge.  

Determine how much sun your small space receives, and choose from the following: 

Shade Container Plants  

Inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)  

Chilie Pequin (Capsicum annuum)   

Rose Pavonia (Pavonia lasiopetala) 

Texas Spiderwort (Tradescantia humilis) 

Part- Shade Container Plants

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)  

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)  

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) 

Prairie Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida)  

Sun Container Plants  

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)  

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)  

Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)  

Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)  

Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) 

Woolly Stemodia (Stemodia lantana) 

Event Spotlight

Don’t miss the Woodlands Landscaping Solutions on September 30th from 9 am – noon at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming.

This event will help you turn any space into a garden oasis. Stop by the small space gardening booth to get expert advice and design ideas. There will be native plant vendors, landscape designers, and many more standing by to assist you on your gardening journey. This is an event you won’t want to miss! 

Got Questions? Contact The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800 or enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov  

Drip Irrigation is the new ethic in water use – and you CAN do it yourself! 

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The movement within the most progressive landscape companies is to find ways to help their customers save water; they may be promoting upgrading some zones with drip lines already. And let’s face it: drip irrigation is a much better way to water flowerbeds and garden areas of your landscape! Your plants get water right where they want and need it – at the roots – with less lost to wind, evaporation, or runoff into the street. The advantages of drip irrigation are many, and installation is easier than you may think if you are a DIY type who likes to save money rather than paying a contractor.  

Come learn why drip is the latest ethic in water use for landscapes of all sizes. You will also get the “nuts and bolts” of installing – whether it’s converting existing spray heads or setting up a drip zone from your hose bib. With information about parts and tools needed, you can decide whether to self-install. Even if you choose to hire a contractor, you can feel more in control knowing the basic needs and processes. The workshop is FREE. REGISTRATION is required.  

For further information email to: enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or call 281-210-3800. 

Intern Spotlight: Meet Zachary Thibodeaux

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Zachary Thibodeaux is currently a senior in the Academy of Science and Technology at The Woodlands College Park High School. He is also a dedicated environmentalist who wanted to pursue an internship where he could make a difference in the community. This summer he did just that, lending his talents and passion to The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department’s education programs.  

One large role Zachary played was taking the Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) on the road to local grocery stores. There he engaged with residents, providing information about recycling plastic bags and film at the store and helping to reduce single-use plastics by handing out over 234 reusable produce bags. Using a data sheet he created, Zachary collected information on how many residents knew that plastic film was accepted at the store, and other metrics that will help improve WRAP education and outreach. 

He stated, “The most valuable thing I learned is that community involvement is vital to achieving environmental goals.” He believes the Environmental Services internship inspired him to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. For example, working on the WRAP Program has helped him to remember to bring reusable bags to the grocery store to reduce plastic waste. The WRAP Program also motivated him to check all plastic film to see if it can be recycled before he throws it away. He feels this internship helped him prepare for studying environmental engineering in college because it helped expand his knowledge of several environmental issues, including litter/pollution, recycling, and native vs. invasive species, all of which environmental engineers might focus on. He also acquired more experience working with data, such as determining what data to collect, analyzing it, and reporting his results, which is especially important for fields related to science or engineering.  

Zachary assisted the Environmental Services Department with several other projects including the Bioblitz BioBooth, where he shared information about the importance of native plants alongside a prospective Eagle Scout working on Invasive Species Removal. A Texas Waters Specialist, Zachary also attended litter audits as part of the department’s Watershed Project. He participated in the Waterway Cleanups and analyzed data from past litter audits to determine what types of litter were of the greatest concern in The Woodlands, and compare the debris found at various locations within The Woodlands to inform future messaging.   

From day one, Zachary had a positive attitude and came in with an open mind and motivation to learn. Seeing Zachary grow professionally and academically this summer was inspiring, and a reminder that the next generation of professionals will surely make a positive impact on society. We’re grateful for all the work Zachary has put into his internship with Environmental Services and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors! We have no doubt he has a bright future ahead. 

Optimizing your rain barrel’s benefits… it’s easier than you think! 

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Rain may feel like a distant memory right now – but that’s a potent reminder to make the most of every drop when it does fall again. If you already have a rain barrel or two and use the captured water for your garden, your plants will thank you! But there may be more you can do with that water, and we’re here to help with that. Even if you have just been thinking about a rain barrel but aren’t sure how helpful it might be, we’ve got a 2-minute video for you to see why its worth “catching the rain”.

Learn from the best 

One of the most knowledgeable rainwater harvesting gurus in the region is demonstrating everything you need to know to optimize the use of rainwater and take your rain barrel to the next level! Basics will also be discussed in case you need the nuts n’ bolts knowledge before you dive into purchasing one. 

Bob Dailey will present Rain Barrel Optimization, a workshop on getting the most benefit from captured rainwater and moving it efficiently from the barrel to your plants. Tools, parts, tips, tricks and hands-on demonstrations will set you up for success. Join us Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 8:30 to 11:30 am and sign up now to reserve your seat! 

Success with rain barrels 

If you can’t make it, catch this first video in a three-part series from a past online class covering rain barrel basics and beyond.

Buy a barrel, get a rebate 

If you get your water bill from Woodlands Water Agency, check out their rebate program. When you buy a rain barrel and turn in your receipt you are eligible to receive 50% of the cost back as credit on your water bill. You can find details for all water-saving items that qualify for rebates on the WWA Website. Ready to buy a rain barrel now? Purchase one at a discount through our nonprofit partner, The Woodlands GREEN. 

Join us for hands-on optimization 

Rain Barrel Optimization Saturday, September 16, 2023 8:30 to 11:30 am Multipurpose Room of the Aquatics Building at 8203 Millennium Forest Drive (next to The Woodlands High School)

This workshop is FREE, but space is limited. Registration is required, so sign up now to reserve your seat.  

This workshop is sponsored by Woodlands Water Agency, Alspaugh’s Ace Hardware of The Woodlands, The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., Chevron Phillips Chemical, H.E.B., and Howard Hughes Corporation. 

Discover more!  

Want to learn more about rain barrels? The Woodlands Township Environmental Services YouTube Playlist has 3 videos to help you optimize rainwater at home: 

Success with Rain Barrels – 6 Things to Know

Creating a Self-Watering Garden for Birds and Butterflies 

Beyond the Barrel – Easy Ways to Work with Rain 

Check out the whole playlist here! 

A Better Way to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

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Getting rid of mosquitoes doesn’t have to involve deadly chemicals or the latest expensive gimmick. Effective control is a combination of vigilance, personal repellent and using the right products to target specific areas.

Garlic barrier, commonly sold as Mosquito Barrier, has been used for years in agriculture to repel insects from crops and even keep birds from eating tree fruits. It works by overwhelming the mosquito’s sensory system which is 10,000 times more finely tuned than ours. Once the product is dry, you can’t smell it, but they sure can – and they can’t stand it! As it is not a contact pesticide like other backyard sprays, it is safe for beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

Easy to apply

Sold as a liquid concentrate, garlic barrier is 95-99% garlic with a natural sulfur compound that repels mosquitoes and other pests. There are three easy steps to mix and apply:

  • Dilute the concentrate with water according to the label in a clean pump sprayer that has not held herbicides or “weed and feed.”
  • Pressurize the container by pumping, and apply to shrubs, trees, fences and other structures around the perimeter of your yard. Spray as high as you can reach and avoid coating flowers.
  • Reapply after it rains or after 30 days, whichever comes first.

This can be a great tool to use ahead of a pool party, family barbeque, or to simply enjoy your yard free from pesky bloodsuckers.

As this creates a barrier at the edge of your yard, make sure you don’t have any sneaky water sources within the perimeter that are breeding mosquitoes. Keep in mind, many common culprits are out of of sight. Do you have any of the following?

  • French drains
  • Gutters with leaf debris
  • A water meter box that gets flooded by rain or irrigation
  • Plant saucers
  • Toys, tarps or bags of potting soil that collect water

Address these first so you aren’t trapping mosquitoes within your property.

For other easy ways to mosquito-proof your patio – check out this two-part series.

For more information on keeping mosquitoes out of your backyard, check out thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/mosquitoinfo. To report a mosquito problem, contact the Environmental Services Department at enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov or 281-210-3800.