September Landscapes – Installing Winter Rye!

[Sirhornsalot]

I'm asking because I dont know: is glyphosate (roundup main ingredient) safe to use near to creeks and ponds?

Yes, but you would want to make sure there is no rain in the forecast before you use it. It will break down into other, more harmless form within 24 hours of exposure to the elements. I like to have a larger window of time, though.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

that's a good idea. I still have some bottomless cages that I built for a rabbit (Ravishing Rick). that should work

View attachment 2731

Ravishing Rick is a handsome fella!

 

[Soldierhorn]

Yes, but you would want to make sure there is no rain in the forecast before you use it. It will break down into other, more harmless form within 24 hours of exposure to the elements. I like to have a larger window of time, though.

good to know.  In the past I have drilled holes in stumps and poured Roundup gel into the holes. it didnt seem to have much effect

 

[Soldierhorn]

Ravishing Rick is a handsome fella!

`yeah, I find that it works using old wrestling names: blackjack (mulligan), the shiek, Wahoo (Mcdaniel), Pretty Boy (Rick Flair), etc etc. 

 

[Soldierhorn]

You know what would be nice?  a plant/insect identification thread.  I put three plant identification apps on my phone and each one is not helpful at all.  I took snapshots of plants that I knew what they were and the apps only got about 1 out of 10 or 12 right. And, even then some of the results were so generic that it really didnt help.  "I know it's a grape vine!  what type of grape vine!"  

 

[Sirhornsalot]

`yeah, I find that it works using old wrestling names: blackjack (mulligan), the shiek, Wahoo (Mcdaniel), Pretty Boy (Rick Flair), etc etc. 

I'm naming my next one "Von Erich" lol

 

[Sirhornsalot]

You know what would be nice?  a plant/insect identification thread.  I put three plant identification apps on my phone and each one is not helpful at all.  I took snapshots of plants that I knew what they were and the apps only got about 1 out of 10 or 12 right. And, even then some of the results were so generic that it really didnt help.  "I know it's a grape vine!  what type of grape vine!"  

This IS an ongoing plant ID thread. You can always post a photo here of something you want ID'd.

The type of grape vine will usually be determined by where it's growing.

 

[Soldierhorn]

This IS an ongoing plant ID thread. You can always post a photo here of something you want ID'd.

The type of grape vine will usually be determined by where it's growing.

good. I'll start doing that. I have some of Howard Garrett's older books (Texas insects, Texas trees, etc) and they help but it seems to be hard to find what I'm looking for.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

good. I'll start doing that. I have some of Howard Garrett's older books (Texas insects, Texas trees, etc) and they help but it seems to be hard to find what I'm looking for.

Howard Garrett is a good guy, I enjoy his shows.

 

[Soldierhorn]

Howard Garrett is a good guy, I enjoy his shows.

20 yrs ago or so they use to play his radio show on the local AM station out of Temple but they quit doing that about 15 yrs ago.  I dont always agree with him but I'll try the natural way first and see if it works.  

We are getting some good slow rain here in central Texas.  For those that dont know, this is the PERFECT time to kill ants. They will build mounds to get the eggs out of the ground so they dont mildew.  drench the mound with an 1/2-1 gal orange oil mixture (and plant food, citrus dish soap, ammonia or anything else you want to add).  If you dont get the queen, you'll at least kill generations of ants. Often the first application kills the mound and is all that is needed.  

Edited to add: in between the bouts of rainfall, I walked around the yard and home foundation.  I found only one small ant mound being built and it was near the exterior fence. that happens when ant colonies come from the neighbor's yards.  I already had a solution ready-made and poured about third gallon on the mound.  I'm confident that is all I will have to do to that colony.  From my experience, I will sometimes see a new colony being started about 2 ft away from the drenched colony.  I dont think that means the queen is in the second colony but, more likely, the workers are trying to get something made for the queen to get into.  It doesnt really matter, I will drench the second mound as well and that almost always ends that colony. Only once or twice in the last 10 yrs or so have I seen a third colony attempt but an attempt is about all that it is.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

20 yrs ago or so they use to play his radio show on the local AM station out of Temple but they quit doing that about 15 yrs ago.  I dont always agree with him but I'll try the natural way first and see if it works.  

We are getting some good slow rain here in central Texas.  For those that dont know, this is the PERFECT time to kill ants. They will build mounds to get the eggs out of the ground so they dont mildew.  drench the mound with an 1/2-1 gal orange oil mixture (and plant food, citrus dish soap, ammonia or anything else you want to add).  If you dont get the queen, you'll at least kill generations of ants. Often the first application kills the mound and is all that is needed.  

Edited to add: in between the bouts of rainfall, I walked around the yard and home foundation.  I found only one small ant mound being built and it was near the exterior fence. that happens when ant colonies come from the neighbor's yards.  I already had a solution ready-made and poured about third gallon on the mound.  I'm confident that is all I will have to do to that colony.  From my experience, I will sometimes see a new colony being started about 2 ft away from the drenched colony.  I dont think that means the queen is in the second colony but, more likely, the workers are trying to get something made for the queen to get into.  It doesnt really matter, I will drench the second mound as well and that almost always ends that colony. Only once or twice in the last 10 yrs or so have I seen a third colony attempt but an attempt is about all that it is.

I haven't seen a single ant in my yard. That is probably because I treated for chinch bugs in late August and probably killed all the insects there was.

I do use the orange oil. I keep a generic spray bottle filled with a 1 part Orange Oil and 9 parts water mixed. I even use it in the house because it smells good.

Thanks for the tips on the ants!

 

[Soldierhorn]

I'm naming my next one "Von Erich" lol

Another good theme is using old SyFy character names such as Buck Rogers, Col Deering, Spock, Chekov, Yeoman Rand, Uhura, Adama, Cpt Apollo, Starbuck, David Vincent, and on and on and on

 

[Sirhornsalot]

By the way, if you have ferns around your property . . . use some of that "Garrett Juice" diluted with water and pour around the base of those ferns. They love the stuff. Only do it in warm weather, too.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Another good theme is using old SyFy character names such as Buck Rogers, Col Deering, Spock, Chekov, Yeoman Rand, Uhura, Adama, Cpt Apollo, Starbuck, David Vincent, and on and on and on

Or "Dammit Jim, I'm just a country doctor" lol

 

[Soldierhorn]

By the way, if you have ferns around your property . . . use some of that "Garrett Juice" diluted with water and pour around the base of those ferns. They love the stuff. Only do it in warm weather, too.

good tip. he use to recommend using his "garrett juice" as his base treatment for trees as well. 

 

[Soldierhorn]

I haven't seen a single ant in my yard. That is probably because I treated for chinch bugs in late August and probably killed all the insects there was.

I dont think I've seen any chinch bugs on my bermuda or buffalo grass. Do chinch bugs mostly feed off of broad leaf grasses such as St Augustine, fescue, rye, etc?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I dont think I've seen any chinch bugs on my bermuda or buffalo grass. Do chinch bugs mostly feed off of broad leaf grasses such as St Augustine, fescue, rye, etc?

Rye is a cold season grass and Chinch bugs are very much a hot weather insect.

They feed on Bermuda and St Augustine. Not sure about Fescue, I seldom see Fescue.

If you see deteriorating turf in the middle of the hottest spot in your lawn, you should check for Chinch bugs. Their damage will look like a bronze hue in the grass. They will destroy the whole plant, roots and all. They literally suck the plant dry. At the end of their destruction, it will look as though someone took a blow torch to areas of your turf.

They gravitate toward things that heat up in direct sun, such as concrete, stone, metal, etc. You often see their damage next to streets or sidewalks.

You can take a coffee can, knock out the ends. Tap into the dirt about a quarter-inch. Fill with soapy water. If you have Chinch bugs, they will float to the top. You would want to do this in a location where you suspect their presence.

 

[Soldierhorn]

hhhmmm... What is a natural way to get rid of Chinch bugs?  Spray with a dish soap mixture or orange oil and then water it in? I'm just guessing

 

[Sirhornsalot]

hhhmmm... What is a natural way to get rid of Chinch bugs?  Spray with a dish soap mixture or orange oil and then water it in? I'm just guessing

I don't know if Malathion would kill them but it seems like it would. Malathion will kill aphids and scale, although it may take two applications to do it. Orange oil would prolly provide a pretty good sting to them if not kill them.