Sirhornsalot
**The Official Horn Sports Landscaper and Landscap
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2013
- Messages
- 34,157
Talk about playing catch up, that is exactly what Texas has been doing for the past few weeks with regard to rainfall. For the past four to five years we’ve experienced severe drought. Lake levels were at historic lows. Water restrictions were tightened.
That should ease up now that many of our lakes have risen back to capacity or are close. With more rain forecasted this week, we could get the rest of those lakes filled up. Many cities have already released their water restrictions or at least relaxed them. This is great news for lawns and landscapes.
Why we love rain for our plants
Why is rainfall so good? Why does your lawn and landscape look so perked up after a nice rainfall as opposed to the way it responds after you’ve watered it? Rainfall, before it becomes rainfall, it tossed around in the atmosphere and becomes oxidized, meaning it contains high amounts of oxygen molecules (and other chemicals, such as nitrogen).
Oxidized water allows for higher intake of nutrients by the plant. Along with the trace amounts of nitrogen that come with it, rainfall creates a nice bounce in the landscape. Tap water, on the other hand, is not oxidized and contains chlorine. Response is not as favorable to the sprinkler system.
Mowing wet turf
Why do we not mow a wet turf? If you mow with a lawn tractor, you probably already know the answer to this question. Ruts. Soft, wet turf is not a good idea to mow because lawn tractors and even push mowers will leave behind ruts. The result is a lawn that has tire tracks all over it. Not good. It’s worth waiting until it dries out.
There are a number of other reasons but the above is reason enough for me. Wet turf doesn’t cut as well. It’s messy and hard to clean up afterwards.
Mowing tips
A number of us mow our own lawns. If you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, here’s a couple of tips for you to take in.
1. Change your mowing direction with each mow. Mowing in the same pattern each time will, over time, will create the same type of ruts we discussed in the wet turf/ruts paragraph. In order to prevent that, change the patterns and directions that you mow. If you mow straight across your lawn, do so in the opposite direction. You can also mow in a diagonal pattern, which is nice once finished.
2. If you have St Augustine or Zoysia turf, go ahead and raise your blade to 3.5 inches now. Both of these turf types prefer to be kept high during warm weather. Mowing it short will create stress, discoloration and then disease/pests can set in. Keeping it higher will keep it healthier and it will retain that lush emerald green color even during the hottest weeks. Bermuda can be kept shorter, deeper into the season.
3. Gassing up. A small detail, but important one. When you refill your mower’s gas tank, do so while the mower is on concrete or a paved surface. That way, if you have a spill, no grass has to die as a result. This holds true also for fertilizer and spreaders. Always load/refill over a paved surface.
Weeds!
With all the rain and cool weather we’ve been having over the past month, the conditions have been ripe for weed production, both broadleaf and grassy types. Weed sprays, weed/feeds are having a very tough time doing their job in cool weather as most weed killing products only work when temperatures are in the upper 80s or higher.
Mother Nature doesn’t always follow our calendar so when things come together perfectly for weeds, they are tough to kick.
Grub worms, fungus
Due to the wetter than usual conditions, two issues have emerged that are somewhat rare for this time of year. Grub worms are feeding a bit early this year. We normally treat for these guys in early June, but this year we’ve had to respond to them earlier. If you have St Augustine turf and have noticed some decline in some locations, chances are you’ve got some grub activity. They damage turf by eating the roots of the turf, weakening it then killing it. The continues through July and sometimes beyond.
A number of products out there will work swiftly to kill grubs. Merit, Arena and Dylox are popular in the professional realm. Retail products should be applied twice, two weeks apart.
The wet/cool conditions have created a perfect environment for lawn fungus. There are several types, but the most common is recognized by it’s circular shape of dying turf. This is one way to distinguish from grub damage, as well. There are both liquid and granular fungicides that will work on almost every fungus out there. Treat, then follow up with another treatment two weeks later.
Fungus is not common during the spring. Most often, we have warm spring times that prevent fungus from forming. And with each day we march toward summer, the chances of fungus survival diminish. Fall is the most common time to see fungus appear. At that time, each day presents a better situation for fungus as the days grow shorter and nights get cooler.
More Texas flowers!
In last month’s Landscape Thread, we highlighted a few flowers from both the perennials and also the annuals. This time, we’ll highlight some by location, places where they grow best:
Houston
In the picture shown, they look almost like Palm Trees. But they’re not. Technically, they’re not a tree, but a fern. The Australian Tree Fern requires a humid, moist environment with mild winters. Houston is a good fit for that criteria so the Australian Tree Fern can grow well there. It’s highly unusual in look, making it an instant conversation starter or point of interest.
Tyler
Everyone associates Tyler with Roses, even Azaleas. And it’s true, they grow some beauties there! BUT, they also grow some of the best looking Crape Myrtles in the state. All the tree’s requirements are present in Tyler. Subtropical climate with humid, moist summers, soft humus soil and plenty of sunshine.
San Antonio
Pride of Barbados (aka Mexican Bird of Paradise) is a plant that is native to south central Texas and in San Antonio, they can be seen everywhere. They can be grown in places like DFW, but one would need to provide winter protection as they will not survive a Dallas winter. Some treat them as annuals in DFW. They can look gangly when they’re young, but when they bloom in mid to late summer, they are one of the most impressive residents in any landscape!
Austin
We plant these as annuals in Dallas-Ft Worth. And they’re always causing a stare because so many up here don’t know what they are. The Firecracker Fern is both beautiful, and remarkably resilient in the hot Texas summer sun. They are not a true fern. They get their name because their “fronds†look like a Fern’s. Put this guy in the sunniest, hottest spot in the landscape and watch it bloom, bloom, bloom. You see them all over the Austin area landscapes and rightfully so. They grow so well there.
El Paso
One of the most breathtaking blooms I ever see comes from the Prickly Pear Cactus. You will seldom see a more vivid tone of yellow. They are spectacular. Right now, landscapes in El Paso that feature the Purple Prickly Pear are in full bloom. The spring rains always bring out the best in mother nature and this year, El Paso is alive in color thanks to a wet spring.
Lubbock
One type of plant that seems to thrive in the Texas Panhandle are the various Sages. One that will provide tons of bloom time in cities like Lubbock is the Russian Sage. It is perennial and people will be tempted to trim off the plant during the winter, but DON’T! This plant will reclaim those winter twigs each spring and bloom faster, longer if you do not trim them. Very little care is needed for them, they are a winner in Lubbock.
That should ease up now that many of our lakes have risen back to capacity or are close. With more rain forecasted this week, we could get the rest of those lakes filled up. Many cities have already released their water restrictions or at least relaxed them. This is great news for lawns and landscapes.
Why we love rain for our plants
Why is rainfall so good? Why does your lawn and landscape look so perked up after a nice rainfall as opposed to the way it responds after you’ve watered it? Rainfall, before it becomes rainfall, it tossed around in the atmosphere and becomes oxidized, meaning it contains high amounts of oxygen molecules (and other chemicals, such as nitrogen).
Oxidized water allows for higher intake of nutrients by the plant. Along with the trace amounts of nitrogen that come with it, rainfall creates a nice bounce in the landscape. Tap water, on the other hand, is not oxidized and contains chlorine. Response is not as favorable to the sprinkler system.
Mowing wet turf
Why do we not mow a wet turf? If you mow with a lawn tractor, you probably already know the answer to this question. Ruts. Soft, wet turf is not a good idea to mow because lawn tractors and even push mowers will leave behind ruts. The result is a lawn that has tire tracks all over it. Not good. It’s worth waiting until it dries out.
There are a number of other reasons but the above is reason enough for me. Wet turf doesn’t cut as well. It’s messy and hard to clean up afterwards.
Mowing tips
A number of us mow our own lawns. If you’re one of those do-it-yourselfers, here’s a couple of tips for you to take in.
1. Change your mowing direction with each mow. Mowing in the same pattern each time will, over time, will create the same type of ruts we discussed in the wet turf/ruts paragraph. In order to prevent that, change the patterns and directions that you mow. If you mow straight across your lawn, do so in the opposite direction. You can also mow in a diagonal pattern, which is nice once finished.
2. If you have St Augustine or Zoysia turf, go ahead and raise your blade to 3.5 inches now. Both of these turf types prefer to be kept high during warm weather. Mowing it short will create stress, discoloration and then disease/pests can set in. Keeping it higher will keep it healthier and it will retain that lush emerald green color even during the hottest weeks. Bermuda can be kept shorter, deeper into the season.
3. Gassing up. A small detail, but important one. When you refill your mower’s gas tank, do so while the mower is on concrete or a paved surface. That way, if you have a spill, no grass has to die as a result. This holds true also for fertilizer and spreaders. Always load/refill over a paved surface.
Weeds!
With all the rain and cool weather we’ve been having over the past month, the conditions have been ripe for weed production, both broadleaf and grassy types. Weed sprays, weed/feeds are having a very tough time doing their job in cool weather as most weed killing products only work when temperatures are in the upper 80s or higher.
Mother Nature doesn’t always follow our calendar so when things come together perfectly for weeds, they are tough to kick.
Grub worms, fungus
Due to the wetter than usual conditions, two issues have emerged that are somewhat rare for this time of year. Grub worms are feeding a bit early this year. We normally treat for these guys in early June, but this year we’ve had to respond to them earlier. If you have St Augustine turf and have noticed some decline in some locations, chances are you’ve got some grub activity. They damage turf by eating the roots of the turf, weakening it then killing it. The continues through July and sometimes beyond.
A number of products out there will work swiftly to kill grubs. Merit, Arena and Dylox are popular in the professional realm. Retail products should be applied twice, two weeks apart.
The wet/cool conditions have created a perfect environment for lawn fungus. There are several types, but the most common is recognized by it’s circular shape of dying turf. This is one way to distinguish from grub damage, as well. There are both liquid and granular fungicides that will work on almost every fungus out there. Treat, then follow up with another treatment two weeks later.
Fungus is not common during the spring. Most often, we have warm spring times that prevent fungus from forming. And with each day we march toward summer, the chances of fungus survival diminish. Fall is the most common time to see fungus appear. At that time, each day presents a better situation for fungus as the days grow shorter and nights get cooler.
More Texas flowers!
In last month’s Landscape Thread, we highlighted a few flowers from both the perennials and also the annuals. This time, we’ll highlight some by location, places where they grow best:
Houston
In the picture shown, they look almost like Palm Trees. But they’re not. Technically, they’re not a tree, but a fern. The Australian Tree Fern requires a humid, moist environment with mild winters. Houston is a good fit for that criteria so the Australian Tree Fern can grow well there. It’s highly unusual in look, making it an instant conversation starter or point of interest.
Tyler
Everyone associates Tyler with Roses, even Azaleas. And it’s true, they grow some beauties there! BUT, they also grow some of the best looking Crape Myrtles in the state. All the tree’s requirements are present in Tyler. Subtropical climate with humid, moist summers, soft humus soil and plenty of sunshine.
San Antonio
Pride of Barbados (aka Mexican Bird of Paradise) is a plant that is native to south central Texas and in San Antonio, they can be seen everywhere. They can be grown in places like DFW, but one would need to provide winter protection as they will not survive a Dallas winter. Some treat them as annuals in DFW. They can look gangly when they’re young, but when they bloom in mid to late summer, they are one of the most impressive residents in any landscape!
Austin
We plant these as annuals in Dallas-Ft Worth. And they’re always causing a stare because so many up here don’t know what they are. The Firecracker Fern is both beautiful, and remarkably resilient in the hot Texas summer sun. They are not a true fern. They get their name because their “fronds†look like a Fern’s. Put this guy in the sunniest, hottest spot in the landscape and watch it bloom, bloom, bloom. You see them all over the Austin area landscapes and rightfully so. They grow so well there.
El Paso
One of the most breathtaking blooms I ever see comes from the Prickly Pear Cactus. You will seldom see a more vivid tone of yellow. They are spectacular. Right now, landscapes in El Paso that feature the Purple Prickly Pear are in full bloom. The spring rains always bring out the best in mother nature and this year, El Paso is alive in color thanks to a wet spring.
Lubbock
One type of plant that seems to thrive in the Texas Panhandle are the various Sages. One that will provide tons of bloom time in cities like Lubbock is the Russian Sage. It is perennial and people will be tempted to trim off the plant during the winter, but DON’T! This plant will reclaim those winter twigs each spring and bloom faster, longer if you do not trim them. Very little care is needed for them, they are a winner in Lubbock.
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