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Brenda's
 Garden

by Brenda Beust Smith
(THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S LAZY GARDENER)

January 30, 2004
 

Based on Brenda Beust Smith's “Lazy Gardener” column in the Houston Chronicle — the newly revised and updated “LAZY GARDENER'S GUIDE" (2nd edition/River
Bend Company) is hot off the presses and is available at area nurseries.  Month-by-month gardening tips for the Greater Galveston/Houston area, plus 12
designs for different type gardens (sun, shade, hummingbird, butterfly, etc.). 

Sitting quietly, doing nothing,
Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.
- The Gospel According To Zen

 
DEAR BRENDA: Our new (to us the past year or so) home has an established lawn which has a few areas with brown patch.  I guess the fungicide I am using a spot treatment is working somewhat (I don't think it has been eliminated in the know areas yet) but a new patch has popped up in one corner of my yard. I plan to treat the known spots again in the spring (March?) and again in the fall but wanted to get the benefit of your experience.  In the past, once I have gotten it under control it is no longer a problem. H. H.

DEAR H. H: You are treating a symptom that is going to continue to come back until you correct the reason it's growing there.  Brown patch picks certain spots for a reason.  Focus on that reason, not on killing all the beneficial microbes in your soil in that area.

For some reason, the soil is not healthy in that spot.  If it were, the grass in that spot (like the rest of your lawn) would be able to repel brown spot damage on its own.  Brown spot is everywhere.  But it only causes damage where plant roots are weak.

Could the area be too low and stay wet too long in our heavy rains? If so, leveling might be the answer (but be careful of tree roots).  Is it too high, and is getting scalped when you mow?

Have you been using a high phosphorus (Miracle Gro, Rapid Gro) fertilizer in that area, or could any excess have been poured on that spot?  These are fine as long as you apply them to the leaves of flowering plants (only), but if they get on the soil, they can cause a phosphorus buildup which actually prevents roots from taking in nutrients, hence weakening them and making them more susceptible to problems like brown spot.

Are there too many tree roots in that area?  Could there be a dead tree underneath?  Could someone have poured paint or other chemicals in that spot (builders) creating a dead or almost-dead soil zone? 

What about shade?  Trees may have clusters of roots in the areas where you are having brown spot, which would lower the number of nutrients available.  Compost will help this.

Compost is not the same as fertilizer. Compost works on the soil, not the plant, but in the long run makes more nutrients available by correcting naturally any imbalances in the soil.

St. A. is our most shade tolerant grass, but even it needs a lot of sun.  Are you sure it's getting enough?  Watch the area.  Shade is seldom uniform.  Is it possible that it is denser in the spots where you are having trouble?  If so, you can either thin the branches a little (which I never recommend — trees are too valuable in my opinion.  But my husband (men seem to be lawn fanatical) trimmed off all the lower branches in our yard.  I feel like Alice in Wonderland when I walk outside.  But the grass does grow well now.

You can counteract almost all the problems that might cause brown patch with a good compost applied in the area.  I not talking about cheap stuff.  Go to a good nursery (see below) and ask for either their own compost mix, or something from Nature's Way or Living Earth Technology.  One of our best compost sources in this area is Nature's Way in Conroe.  I don't know if they sell bagged or not from their main soil yard.

Apply this now.  Then keep the area well mowed.  St. Augustine is such a tough plant, if not weakened by chemicals or some of the problems listed above, it would eventually crowd out all plants except trees.  What we discovered after the horrible winter of 1990 was that pampered lawns (over treated, over fertilized) died, while the lawns of those homeowners who basically just ignored them survived just fine.

Put on the fertilizer now.  At the end of February, mow once.  This will allow the sun's heat to reach the roots.  If you have a lot of winter weeds now, which we all do, and you can't stand the sight of them, DON'T apply more chemicals. Just mow them down.  They're going to go away when it gets warm anyway, and you can't stop seeding, birds are going to do it.

After you mow in February, wait until you see the grass actively growing.  That's the time to fertilize.  If you fertilize before, you're just fertilizing weeds, the grass won't use it.  (But it will be appreciating the compost action.)  

Fertilize again in fall with a winterizer.  And that's it. 

In between, keep it well watered (the average St. Augustine lawn uses more water than all your other typical suburban plants combined, excluding trees).  And keep it well mowed.  St. A. is going to grow.  If you don't mow, it will grow up.  If you do mow, it grows sideways.  It will have problems from time to time, but if you mow regularly (twice a week around problem areas) fresh healthy grass will fill in the weaker spots.

Just please don't overfertilize or overtreat.  The chemical runoff from our yards is causing major problems in our bayous and Galveston Bay.

Personally, we totally ignore our yard except for mowing it.  It's thick and healthy.

Hope this helps.

DEAR BRENDA: My potted plants, which include some cannas, a plumbago and a russellia, were so beautiful, but now they're all brown.  I threw blankets over them when it got cold and they seemed fine afterwards. What could be wrong?  A. T.

DEAR A. T. : Nothing's wrong.  It's winter.  Plants are supposed to go dormant in winter.  We've been spoiled by our succession of warm winters but even with the milder temperatures, plants know when they should rest and that's what all the ones you've mentioned above are doing.  Don't prune them back now.  If you do, you might trigger new growth that will be very sensitive to cold damage.  This could kill a plant that would have otherwise survived.  If you absolutely cannot stand the dead branches, carefully prune them back leaving a just a stub of dead.  Do not cut into live, or green, wood unless you're more of a gambler than I am.

The Farmer's Almanac says February will be the coldest we've had in a long time.  So far predictions of an extra cold winter have affected only areas further north.  I hope they're wrong about February too, but we've had major deadly freezes as late as March, so there's no telling.

GARDEN CALENDAR:

Jan. 30: Fruit Tree Seminar with Heide Sheesley Treesearch Farms 11 a.m., The
Arbor Gate, 15635 FM 2920, Tomball 281-351-8851 or www.arborgate.com; free. 
Learn how to grow fruit and citrus here in Houston. 

Jan. 31: Registration deadline for the February 21-April 5 Master Gardener
Training Course, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays, Extension Office, 5115 Highway
3 in Dickinson. Galveston County Master Gardener event, 281-534-3413, ext. 6
or http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston.

Feb. 2:  “Introduction to Hybrid Tea Roses” by John Jons, 10 a.m., 1202
Genoa Red Bluff; free.  Harris County Master Gardener Precinct 2 event,
281-991-8437. John Jons is a Galveston Master Gardener and member of the American and
Houston Rose Societies.  His presentation on an "Introduction to Growing Hybrid
Tea Roses" won a first place award at the 2004 Texas State Master Gardener
Conference.

Feb. 2: Slide show and talk by Paula Furtwangler, Director of the Plumeria
Society of America about propagating, feeding, growing and storing plumerias 7-9
PM, Bear Creek Park Community Center, Highway 6 at Patterson Road.  Free. 
Houston Pond Society event.  713-688-8875 or www.houstonpondsociety.org.

Feb. 2:  “Garden Colors of Spring” by Gudrun Opperman, 9:45 a.m., Southwest
Bank, 303 East Main in League City; free.  Kemah Bay Area Garden Club event,
281-339-2367.

Feb. 3: "Volunteer Orientation and Training" 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mercer
Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer. Reservations requested. Mercer offers information on learning what
it takes to be a volunteer. Orientation is from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and
provides information about Mercer and what volunteering is all about. Garden and
greenhouse training is from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and shows volunteers what
they can expect to do at Mercer as they join the ranks of others that give
their time.

Feb. 4: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20. Register at
713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org. Winter is the season for
this garden maintenance activity so critical to healthy trees and successful
fruit production.

Feb. 4-5: Southwest Lavender Conference, Clarion Inn & Conference Center,
2200 IH 35 South, Austin, TX 78704; 800-434-7378; $150. Gabriel Valley Farms, 440
Old Highway 29 East, Georgetown, TX 78626; 512-930-0923;
www.gabrielvalleyfarms.com.

Feb. 5: Fruit Tree Sale & Seminar, 8 a.m. “Fruit Trees” by Heidi Sheesley, 9
a.m.-1 p.m. sale, Carbide Park's Wayne Johnson Community Center, 4102 FM 519
in La Marque; free. Galveston County Master Gardener event, 281-534-3413, ext.
6 or http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston

Feb. 5: "Bird ID Skills" with Gary Clark,and "Roses" with Gaye Hammond of the
Houston Rose Society, 10 a.m., Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 E 11th St,
713-861-5702, www.buchanansplants.com; free.

Feb. 5: Ask the Rosarians, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Teas Nursery, 6400 Bellaire
Boulevard, Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713/664-4400, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Buchanan’s Native Plants, 611 East 11th, 713-861-5702; free. Houston Rose Society
events, www.houstonrose.org.

Feb. 5: "Buying, Planting & Pruning Roses", presented by Gaye Hammond at
Buchanan's Native Plants, 611 East 11th, Houston, Texas 77008, 713/861-5702 (10:00
- 11:00 a.m.)

Feb 5: Earth Kind Roses, by Rich Boettler, 10 am, Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire
Blvd., 713-664-4400; free; no reservation needed;

Feb. 6: Herb Garden Dedication Honoring Madalene Hill, 2-4 p.m., The Arbor
Gate, 15635 FM 2920 in Tomball; free but reservations required at 281-351-8851.

Feb. 6:  “Landscaping with Begonias” by Tom Keepin, 2 p.m., Houston Garden
Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free. Begonia Society event, 713 686-8539.

Feb. 7: "Master Gardener Registration", 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Harris County
residents only from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306
Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731, www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/index.htm. Mercer
offers registration for upcoming Master Gardener training. Designed for gardening
enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds, Master Gardener training includes
landscaping, vegetable gardening, lawn care, pest control, propagation, pruning,
and more. Class size is limited to 35 with a course fee of $150. Register in
person only. For more information and a brochure, please call (281) 443-8731.

Feb. 8: "Orchids You Can Grow With Camellias"  by Gregg Scott, 7:30 p.m., St.
Luke's Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, free. Houston Camellia Society
event. 713-781-1996

Feb. 8:  "Garden Petites on Parade" by Claire Lober, 9:30 a.m., Jersey
Village Civic Center, 16327 Lakeview Drive.  Visitors Welcome, $5 program fee.
Jersey Village Garden Club event, 713-466-6885 or 832-243-0909.

Feb.  9: "Snakes" by Mike Howlett, noon to 1 p.m., Mercer Arboretum & Botanic
Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer/index.htm. Reservations requested. Join Mike Howlett from Jesse H. Jones Park &
Nature Center for a discussion of common local snakes. Howlett tells why snakes
can be great to have around and which ones to avoid. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy
during the program. Please call ahead for reservations.

Feb. 10:  “Home Lawn Care” by Fort Bend Master Gardeners, 7-9 p.m., Bud
O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Rd in Rosenberg; free. Green Thumb Seminar
event, (281) 342-3034 or www.fbmg.com.

Feb.11: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20. Register at
713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org.  Winter is the season for
this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit production.

Feb. 11: Registration deadline for the Feb.12  8:30 to 3 p.m. Landscape
Design Plus
Morning lectures on Principles of landscape design, WaterSmart concepts,
Plant Selection, Recommended plants for Harris County landscapes. Afternoon will
have breakout sessions with some hands-on training and topics include
micro-irrigation, pruning and planting, and design. Lunch is provided. Speakers include
Michael Todd Morrison, Dr. Carol Brouwer, Karen
Breneman, and others. Registration and information 281 855 5600.
Bear Creek Extension $50.00

Feb. 11:  “Roses in the Garden” by Mike Shoup and plant sale, 10:30 a.m.,
Houston Garden Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free.  Houston Federation of Garden
Clubs event, 713-284-1989.

Feb. 12: Spring Volunteer Orientation, 9 a.m. - noon, Houston Arboretum &
Nature Center, 4501 Woodway; Free. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center,
713-681-8433, www.houstonarboretum.org.

Feb. 12: "Antique Roses", presented by Clyde Cannon, Texas Master Gardener
and Rose Specialist, 11 a.m. at Martha's Bloomers, 8101 Hwy. 6 Bypass, Navasota,
Free.  Reservation deadline Friday, February 11 by calling 936 870-4044 or
email: registration@MarthasBloomers.com

Feb. 12: Volunteer Orientation, 10 a.m.-noon, Sheldon Lake State Park &
Environmental Learning Center, Park Road 138 off Business 90, 281-456-2800 or
www.foslsp.org; free.  Also Feb. 17-19. The newly renovated Learning Center needs
volunteers who enjoy working with kids to help them learn to fish, take nature
walks looking for herons, alligators and other wildlife or help with other
outdoor activities.  Volunteers work with park staff weekday mornings and many
weekends.  Volunteers are also needed for native plant gardening, trail
maintenance and other projects.

Feb. 12:  Fruit Tree Sale and Program, 8 a.m. "Fruit Trees Available" by
Heidi Sheesley; 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. sale, Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 Highway 36
South; free. Fort Bend County Master Gardeners event, 281-341-7068 or
www.fbmg.com

Feb. 12: Preserving Memories with Flowers, by Gayle Christie of FLORAGE, 10
am, Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400; free; no reservation
needed;

Feb. 13: Rose Pruning Seminar and Demonstration, 1 p.m., Antique Rose
Emporium, 10,000 Highway 50 in Independence, 979-836-5548 or www.weareroses.com; free.

Feb. 12: Ask the Rosarians, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., RCW Nurseries, 15809 Tomball
Parkway, 281-440-5161; free. Houston Rose Society event, www.houstonrose.org.

Feb.14: "How to Start a Community or School Garden" by Gary Edmondson, 4-6:30
p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; free. Register at 713-880-5540. Information
at www.urbanharvest.org.  Learn the basic ingredients for a successful
community garden, including planning, coordination, finances, and garden design. Gary
Edmondson is the School
& Youth Gardens Coordinator for Urban Harvest.

Feb. 14: “Organic Soil Preparation” by John Ferguson, 7-9 p.m., Good
Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood; free.  Lake Houston
Garden Club event, 832 368-9870.

Feb. 15: Trees for Suburbia by Kathy Lord, Executive Director with Trees for
Houston, 7:00 p.m., Burgess Recreation Center, 4200 Kalwick in Deer Park,
Free.  Deer Park Petal Pushers Garden Club meeting, 281-542-9731.

Feb 15:  "The Native Are Friendly Once You Get to Know Them" by Tim Kiphart,
Naturalist & Native Plant Nut, 6:30 pm., Harris County Extension office, 3033
Bear Creek Dr.  Free.  Master Gardener event.  Call 281-855-5600; access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu

Feb 15:  "The Native Are Friendly Once You Get to Know Them" by Tim Kiphart,
Naturalist & Native Plant Nut, 6:30 pm., Harris County Extension office, 3033
Bear Creek Dr.  Free.  Master Gardener event.  Call 281-855-5600; access
http://hcmga.tamu.edu

Feb. 17: "Where Native Plants Fit into the Whole Web of Existence," by Kate
Hillhouse. 7 PM at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, free.
Native Plant Society event. (713)681-3665, or www. npsot.org.

Feb. 17: Annual Rose Pruning Demonstration, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Houston Garden
Center, 1500 Hermann Drive; free.  Houston Rose Society event, 713-236-2600.

Feb.18: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree Pruning" by Dr. Bob
Randall and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20. Register at
713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org.  Winter is the season for
this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit production.

Feb. 19: Preparing Your Garden for Summer" by Greg Harmison, 10 a.m. to noon.
Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, 281-443-8731,
www.cp4.hctx.net/mercer. Reservations requested. Are you ready for summer? You
have dusted off your swimsuit and blown up the kids wading pool, but what about
your garden? Attend this seminar at Mercer Arboretum to learn what you can do
to have a beautiful garden throughout the summer. Please call ahead for
reservations.

Feb. 19:  "Fruit & Nut Trees for the Home Gardener", presented by Millie
Burrell, M.S. Horticulture, Texas A&M, 11 a.m. at Martha's Bloomers, 8101 Hwy. 6
Bypass, Navasota. Free.  Reservation deadline Friday, February 18 by calling
936 870-4044 or email: registration@MarthasBloomers.com

Feb. 19: Volunteer Orientation, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Armand Bayou Nature Center,
8500 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena (Bay Area Houston), 281-474-2551 or email to
_donna@abnc.org_ (mailto:donna@abnc.org) .  free.

Feb. 20: "Planting for your Spring Garden" by Greg Harmison, Program Manager
of Mercer Arboretum, 2:00 p.m., Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501
Woodway 77024; Free.  Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 713-681-8433,
www.houstonarboretum.org.

Feb. 19: Ikenobo School of Ikebana Flower Arranging, by LaVerl Daily, 11 am,
Teas Nursery, 4400 Bellaire Blvd., 713-664-4400; free; no reservation needed;

Feb. 20: Cold hardy Cycads, palms, and bamboo, Grant Stephensen, 2:00pm,
Houston Garden Center, 1500 Herman Drive, 713-649-3535, Free, Texas Gulf Coast
Fern Society event.

Feb. 19-20: Spring Home & Garden Show at The Woodlands, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb.
19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 20, Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601
Lake Robbins Drive at The Woodlands Mall; seminars and consultations by Brenda
Beust Smith and Joni Porter; $8 adults, $6 seniors, children free.  Complete
schedules available at www.woodlandsshows.com or 832-274-3944.

Feb. 21: "How to Start a Community or School Garden" by Dr. Bob Randall,
1-3:45 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; free. Register at 713-880-5540. Information
at www.urbanharvest.org. Learn the basic ingredients for a successful
community garden, including planning, coordination, finances, and garden design. Dr.
Bob Randall has advised
over 150 community garden projects since 1987.

Feb. 24: "Fire Ant Biology & Management," presented by Paul R. Nester, Ph.
D., Harris County Extension Agent - IPM.  Ft. Bend County Master Gardener
monthly programs are held at the Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in
Rosenberg from 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm.  For more information, call 281.341.7068 or
visit www.co.fort-bend.tx.us  or www.fbmg.com.

Feb.25: "Backyard Orchard III: Hands-On Fruit Tree Pruning" byDr. Bob Randall
and Diana Liga, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane; $20. Register at
713-880-5540. Information at www.urbanharvest.org.  Winter is the season for
this garden maintenance
activity so critical to healthy trees and successful fruit production.

Feb. 26:  Tomato/Pepper Sale, 8 am-2 pm. at the Harris County Extension
office at 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Tomatoes will include Celebrity, Champion, Carmello,
Beefmaster, Bush Early Girl, Carnival, Dona, Goliath and many more. A variety
of cherry tomatoes include: Cherry Orage, Juliet (grape type) Sweet Chelsea
and Sungold. We are also offering 14 varieties of peppers this year, Big Betha
and Golden Summer are Bell Peppers.  Other sweet peppers include LaParie, Sweet
Banana  and Giant Marconi.  For those who like it Hot: Jaloro, Red Savina and
Native Pequin and more. Basils one of our tastiest herbs is available with
Sweet Aussie, African Blue, Thai Siam Queen, Large Leaf Italian, sweet Basil
etc. Also offering Green Eggplant, its delicious!

Feb. 26-27:  17th annual Galveston Home Garden & Leisure Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 26, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 27, Galveston Conventin Center at the San
Luis, 56th at Seawall Boulevard in Galveston; adults $5, children $3.
www.galveston.com/homeandgardenshow

Feb. 26-27: African Violet Show & Sale,  Hermann Park Garden Center, 1500
Hermann Dr., free.  Spring Branch African Violet Club event, 713-462-4257. The
Spring Branch African Violet Club will hold their twenty-sixth annual show and
plant sale on February 26 & 27, 2005, at the Houston Garden Center,1500 Hermann
Drive, Houston, Texas. Numerous African violets and other related plants of
all sizes will be offered for sale.  In addition, growing supplies and other
African violet related items will also be for sale. Club members will be on hand
to answer questions concerning the care and grooming of this popular and easy
to grow houseplant. The Show will be open on Saturday, February 26, 2005 from
1-5pm and Sunday, February 27, 2005, from 10am-4pm.  Plant sale hours are
Saturday, February 26, 2005, from 9am-5pm, and Sunday, February 27, 2005, from
10am-4pm.  Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

Email questions to Brenda at brenda@guidrynews.com.
------

IF YOU ENJOY BRENDA'S COLUMNS, YOU'LL LOVE HER GARDENING BOOKS —  available
online at www.urbanharvest.com.

FROM THE LAZY GARDENER •

• “The Lazy Gardener's Guide” — revised and updated!  First published 10
years ago, The Guide is described by Brenda as “a gardening book in calendar
format … so you don't have to think!”  Based on her humorous-yet-informative
Houston Chronicle calendar, The Guide details what gardeners should be doing in
the garden each month, provides garden designs (using the hardiest plants for
our climate) for butterflies, hummingbirds, sun, shade and a variety of other
typical suburban situations.  Filled with funny and touching anecdotes from
decades of covering gardening in the Greater Houston/Galveston area.  As the
daughter of a BOI, many of these involve Galveston sites and people!

• GARDENING WITH DOGS.  Co-authored with Frances Burke Goodman, this little
booklet offers tips, landscape plans, good plants for dog-challenged areas and
lots of fun insights into why dogs do what they do (and how you might just
unknowingly be encouraging “bad” behaviors!)

Look for all these River Bend Company books at your neighborhood nursery this
fall or online at www.urbanharvest.com.  For a list of potential retail
sources, to order by email or to receive an order form, contact River Bend Company
at 713-621-3468 or email: RiverBendBook@aol.com.



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