Mysteries in the landscape can be explained
Published 12:00 am, Sunday, January 26, 2014
SAN ANTONIO — Sometimes even experienced gardeners find themselves befuddled by things happening in their landscapes.
Take these two examples.
It has been a good year for satsuma, lemon and grapefruit production in our backyards. However, many of the fruit have blemishes in the form of black specks on the peel.
The black specks are scar tissue from young grackles pecking at the fruit as it matures. We haven't figured out why they do it or how to stop them, but it is a growing issue.
The pecks do not usually penetrate the citrus peeling, so the fruit is fine to eat, just not attractive.
You've sprayed winter grassy weeds such as rescue grass and annual bluegrass with a grass-specific contact herbicide such as Grass-B-Gon, Over the Top, Ornamec or Vantage, but the grass didn't die.
Sometimes we don't mix the product as the labels require, but I think this year it is mostly weather-related.
Contact herbicides must move from the surface of the leaves into the stems and down to the roots. That happens best when temperatures are warm (70 degrees) and the sun is shining.
But even in cold overcast weather, the herbicides will work. After the first spray, the weeds should quit growing and after a second spray, two weeks later, the weeds should die.
Calvin R. Finch is a horticulturist and director of the Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org.
This week in the garden
Fruit trees are available at area nurseries for planting now. Choose a variety that's recommended on plantanswers.com or the Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service to make sure you get varieties that will survive and produce in our climate.
To maximize bird cover through the coldest part of winter, wait until the end of February to cut back freeze-killed foliage on esperanza, lantanas, salvias and other sub-tropical plants.
Let leaves decompose on the lawn to provide nutrients and organic material. Run the lawn mower over the leaves to speed up decomposition.
To minimize the chance of spreading oak wilt, purchase only red oak firewood that has dried out for a whole summer. If your red oak firewood is not dry, wrap it lightly in clear plastic before spring.
Stage 2 water restrictions