Lawn Weeds, Pests & Disease

Article Source: Woodlands Water Take-All Patch Appearance Yellowing of the grass & darkening of the roots Thinning of the turf in irregular shapes Causes Spreads during other seasons due to too much moisture or overly alkaline soil Shows in summer due to heat and compaction Prevention & Treatment Maintain good drainage and raise mowing height […]

By John Geiger More and more gardeners are moving away from Roundup (glyphosate) for weed control. A simple vinegar-based solution provides a powerful alternative without the health and environment impacts. Ingredients 1 cup household salt 1 tablespoon dish detergent 1 gallon distilled vinegar (you can increase the potency by using agricultural vinegar which has a

By John Geiger Beneficial insects are the unsung heroes in sustainable gardening, accounting for more than 95% of the bugs you find in your landscape. Helping these little allies means you’re supporting ecosystem balance, increasing plant health, and supporting the reproduction of flowering plants and the production of fruits, vege’s and seeds. Oh, and you’ll

By Bob Dailey Every winter and early spring along the Upper Gulf Coast, weeds begin appearing in even the best-maintained lawns. Chickweed, henbit, burweed, dandelion and other weeds, carried in by the wind, by birds, or merely lying in the soil for years until sprouting, begin their annual blight across our landscapes. Whatever way they

By Bob Dailey That’s right. The fungal plague that makes big splotches of yellow and brown in your yard is now known as “large patch” – at least here in southeast Texas. Both are caused by the same fungus (Rhizoctonia solani – try saying that quickly three times.) But there are two different strains of the

Plantain weed and Nutsedge By Bob Dailey While winter-dormant St. Augustine lawns have yellowed, something is going on under the soil. Winter weeds are beginning to germinate. And a lot of weeds do well here. Plantain weed, nutsedge, henbit, spurge, purslane, chickweed, and thistle are a few of the unwanted guests that plague our lawns

By Bob Dailey Chinch bugs are tiny creatures – barely visible to the naked eye, but their damage to lawns belies their size. They destroy grass by penetrating grass blades with razor-sharp beaks and then sucking out the juices. The grass then dehydrates and dies. Chinch bugs love hot areas and begin their journey across

By Bob Dailey Fungal problems are a fact of life in Southeast Texas, where fungus is the main disease vector in plants. Actually, most soils here are full of fungal spores. Some are beneficial. Some, harmless. And some, like the fungi that cause take-all patch, brown spot or dollar spot, are problematic. Given the right

By John Geiger What are chinch Bugs? Chinch bugs are tiny creatures measuring about 1/5 inch in length when they reach adulthood. They feed on the sap of grasses using their sharp mouthparts and can do significant damage if left untreated. Because chinch bugs proliferate during hot and dry times of the year, many folks