QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Why is my lawn so yellow looking?
Answer: In spring, iron cholorosis, a deficiency of iron in the soil, is fairly common.
But usually by the time summer arrives, it greens up thanks to decaying clippings and active biological activity in the soil, it tends to green up.
If you’re still seeing yellowing at this time, your lawn may have a disease called take-all patch. Check the roots. If they’re dark and rotted, and you can simply pull them up, this may be what you have. Take a sample to your Extension office or local nursery. Or check out Grow Green info online or pick up one their free Lawn Problems handouts at most nurseries. These Earth-Wise guides include pictures of lawn diseases, causes, and solutions.
past Questions of the Week →
PLANT OF THE WEEK
Firecracker Plant
(Cuphea ignea)
Need a plant that will blaze right through a Texas summer like a Fourth of July firecracker? Cuphea ignea goes by the common name Firecracker Plant or Cigar Flower. Its fiery bright reddish orange 1" tubular blooms are a magnet for hummingbirds and several types of butterflies. Give this Cuphea lots of sun and moderate soil moisture for best results. When the first freeze burns the foliage back, cut the plants down to a couple of inches high and mulch it well to protect the base and roots over the winter season. The cultivar 'David Verity' is preferred by many gardeners for its dense habit and prolific blooms on 2-3 foot plants. A close cousin, Tall Cigar Plant or Candy Corn Plant (Cuphea micropetala), sports larger 2 inch orange and yellow blooms on 3-4 foot plants in late summer to fall. It is equally attractive to hummingbirds.
past Plants of the Week →
PLANTING TIPS OF THE WEEK
- Shear back salvias, give them a little fertilizer and water to encourage more flowering. Salvias bloom on the terminal end of new growth.
- In early morning or evening, inspect your plants for signs of caterpillars, mites, and aphids. These pests are easier to manage when you catch them early. With mites and aphids, a good strong blast of water is often enough to keep them at bay. Caterpillars are easy to control with a little spray of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). Just be careful to apply it only to the affected plant. Otherwise, you’ll wipe out all your butterflies.
- You see, we’re not trying to eradicate garden pests—that’s really not practical or even possible. We just want to keep their numbers in balance.
- Deadhead and fertilize annuals to keep them going.
- Take care of your fruit trees in the summer. If they don’t have fruit on them be careful not to over fertilize. Trim out suckers or water sprouts to allow light into the center of the tree. That’s important, because fruit trees like peaches, plums, apples and pears are setting their bloom buds for next year right now. So by continuing to maintain good light, you’ll have good fruitfulness going into next year.
- Mulch, mulch, mulch.
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THIS WEEK'S FEATURE
Texas AgriLife entomologist Wizzie Brown introduces a few of the latest pest invaders, including the agave snout weevil, chilli thrips, and cycad scale.
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