My son just bought a house in East Austin. It has 2 chinaberry trees and not much else. Are they undesirable?
If he is patient enough, I will help him with the garden. Any suggestions for a some evergreen shrubs ~10 feet to place along the fence for privacy? It is full sun.
Where do you like to buy compost and plants?

Some people may consider chinaberry desirable but it is an invasive species.
http://www.texasinvasives.org/...

Nurseries

The Natural Gardener
The Great Outdoors
Shoal Creek
Barton Springs

Compost

The Natural Gardener
Geo Growers
Creedmoor Landfill

Thankyou! I am very excited that I can plant some of the tenders in my area like bulbine and batface cuphea. I plan on using his garden as my "vault".Ha Ha don't tell him!
I suggested that maybe he can get a professional to make a plan for him since my method is plant and then move. Any suggestions on designers?

Pam Pennick has a blog and is a designer....might be expensive!

Linda Wall works at The Natural Gardener and does consulting. She charges by the hour (seems very reasonable) and is knowledgeable about our funky Austin dirts. She has a blog, http://www.theredneckhippie.co... that'll lead you to her consulting business. We had her speak at our garden club about growing tomatoes from seed. She's great. If you go to her blog, scroll down past her instructions for making a raised bed to the Jan. 27th entry. She posted about her presentation at our garden club. We loved her!!!

Check out some of the Austin gardening blogs too. Central Tx Gardening has a website and lists gardening blogs. Some of these are also consultants.

I knew you would be helpful, Sandi. Thanks!

I'd cut down the chinaberry in my yard if I thought that would make it go away! Unfortunately, it's one of the few shade trees in my yard though.

Yes. Looks like an expensive procedure to get the whole root system out

I wouldn't cut down a shade tree in this heat and drought until I had something to replace it....even if it's a chinaberry. Ask the Travis County Extension ofc. to send a recommended list of trees.

I am thinking of making a lasagna garden. Is there a place to get leaves?

Oak leaves?

Sure, but not live oak with all those acorns

The acorns fall in fall.

We all have oak leaves falling. The wind has been terrific. You just need to ride around and pick up the bags on garbage days.

I can't guarantee that there aren't any stray acorns, though. Seems there's always a few nuts around!

Didn't you once tell me it was illegal to take anything from the "garbage" in Austin ?

Yep! You have to live on the edge sometimes!

Bubbles said:Yep! You have to live on the edge sometimes!

Sandi, the rules were made for you to break!

We live in the county. One stop light over is the city. Perfectly legal to pilfer leaves out here.

Ok...I coming over to get some of your stash!

Tuesday is pick-up out here, so Monday night is always good. Are you in Austin this weekend?