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October in review

October or August 3.0 …. I am not sure which month we just turned the page on but it was not our normally pleasant weather for October. Furthermore, after a year of generous rainfall, we fell in to a mini drought. Even though it was only 45 days without rain the heat really burned up the unirrigated turf. The most frustrating part of the past month was that we were all teased by some nice cool fall weather back in September. The cooler nights and then dry weather put a halt to most of the growth of our turf grasses, but it also made the weeds go reproductive. So every time a lawn was mowed you where mostly just knocking down seed heads and very little else, but then the seed heads came back within days.

What to expect in November

Last month I said you “you can depend on a reprieve from the heat of our summers” about October and that turned out to be a lie. So, I will just say I hope November is cooler and it’s already starting out wetter than the preceding month.

Home gardeners, again I led you astray about getting fall/winter crops in last month. The good thing is you can try again since most of those plants are directly sown from seed into the garden. If you did get some plants started in October hopefully, they made it through to November

Normally, November would be the month we expect to see mowing frequency reduce. The growing season for our warm season grasses close with this month. Nighttime temps below 65 degrees F will shut down the Bermuda and St. Augustine lawn grass.

Also, this month it is time to switch out your seasonal color in your landscape beds and freshen up the mulch while you are at it. While we are talking about mulch, lets discuss tree volcanos.

• Use a hardwood mulch, as it breaks down and decays it adds organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
• Think donut instead of volcano when spreading mulch around the tree. Keep mulch away from the trunk by a few inches at the least, larger trees go up to a foot. Do not cover the flare of the trunk if it is exposed, and avoid covering roots that are visible on the surface.
• Mulch should be 2-3” thick total, adding 2-3” of mulch twice a year will create the dreaded “tree volcano” that suffocates the roots and prevents water from infiltrating. Stirring existing mulch around will keep it from forming a crust that is resistant to water infiltration. You can do this a few times a year and it gives you a freshly mulched look.

Image credit: Texas A&M Forest Service

Action items for this month- repeats from last month but November is the new October

• Fertilization- We need to feed our grass to support root and plant health as the turf prepares for winter dormancy. It is very important we use the correct fertilizer currently. Using some leftover summer fertilizer will cause excess growth and stress the grass when it is trying to store nutrients for the winner. Below is my one and only recommendation.
  • Nitro-Phos- Brown bag- Fall Special fertilizer
• Weeds- This month we need to get down an application of pre-emergent herbicide. Barricade, Dimension or Pendimethlin are the chemicals that you are looking for, I use “Nitro Phos Barricade”
• Roses- Monthly feedings for roses are still important. Your roses should continue to bloom until the frost. In our area the First frost could be 30-90 days away, but keep feeding until then.
  • A fall pruning of your roses is generally a good idea. Do it before putting down fresh mulch to make the clean up easier. Follow the steps here for best results.

Municipal Drainage Happenings

October was the driest month I we have seen this year, and historically it is the second wettest. Turf conditions have rebounded well this year following 3 high stress years with droughts and hard freezes. The past 2 months have put a strain on turf, but I think this year has been 5 steps forward 1 step back at the worst.

Fall fertilization and herbicide are nearing completion for us.

Mowing schedules for most districts will drop back to monthly service on tractor-maintained areas and from weekly to every other week for shortgrass. However we will keep an eye on this, with a good shot of rain at the beginning of November we could see turf growth take off especially if the weather remains in the 80s during the day and above 65 at night.

Hunter Soape

September in review

I am a little late getting this out but I was waiting on September weather to leave and October to arrive. We did have a weird but wonderful week in September of fall weather. Rainfall was in short supply last month; I am pretty sure that is the first time I have said that in 2024.

What to expect in October

October is always the month I am looking forward to in the heat of the summer. Weather is pleasant. Rainfall is usually present but not overwhelming. It is the first month you can depend on a reprieve from the heat of our summers.

Home gardeners be thinking about your cool season crops and before the end of the month they need to be in. Most of all for us is being able to have home grown lettuce again. If you haven’t grown your own lettuce for salads, it will make you throw rocks at the stuff in the grocery store. It is extremely easy to grow and quick from germination to harvest.

We are changing gears in our lawns and landscapes as well. The growing season for our warm season grasses close with this month. Nighttime temps below 65 degrees F will shut down the Bermuda and St. Augustine lawn grass.

Also, this month it is time to switch out your seasonal color in your landscape beds and freshen up the mulch while you’re at it.

Action items for this month

• Fertilization- We need to feed our grass to support root and plant health as the turf prepares for winter dormancy. It is very important we use the correct fertilizer currently. Using some leftover summer fertilizer will cause excess growth and stress the grass when it is trying to store nutrients for the winner. Below is my one and only recommendation.
  • Nitro-Phos- Brown bag- Fall Special fertilizer
• Weeds- This month we need to get down an application of pre-emergent herbicide. Barricade, Dimension or Pendimethlin are the chemicals that you are looking for, I use “Nitro Phos Barricade”
• Fungal problems – Gray Leaf Spot and Brown patch will could be present this month, but with our dry weather pattern and low humidity early in the month I do not see it being prevalent. Just make sure your irrigation is not overwatering
  • Brown Patch
  • Grey Leaf Spot
• Landscape pest pressure is reduced this month. Caterpillars are the biggest culprits we will see and most likely it will be web worms in your oak trees.
  • BT Worm killer and caterpillar killer is an organic option that is highly effective on smaller caterpillars. Keep it on hand and follow directions. It can be used in the garden as well against tomato hornworms and to some degree Squash vine borers. It does not last long once applied so may
• Roses- Monthly feedings for roses are still important. Your roses should continue to bloom until the frost. In our area the First frost could be 30-90 days away, but keep feeding until then.

Municipal Drainage Happenings

September was the driest month I think we have seen this year. Turf conditions have rebounded well this year following 3 high stress years with droughts and hard freezes.

We are starting up fall fertilization and herbicide this month. Much like I discussed above. We want drainage turf to be healthy and reduce competition for nutrients and sunlight.

Hunter Soape

July in review

What a month! Direct impact from a Cat 1 Hurricane early in the month and then heavy rainfall for over a week toward the end of the month. One thing that holds true, our weather tends toward extremes here in the greater Houston area. Last month we talked about wet conditions and the weed and pest pressure, none of that has changed and we are going to start seeing new problems crop up.

What to expect in August

If your garden hasn’t been destroyed between winds, excessive rainfall and long-term saturated soils or pest consider your self a master gardener. Okra and green beans are doing well for me currently but everything else is gone.

Insect pressure is still persistent, we are seeing web worms still in trees and some army worms in lawns. Cinch bugs and grubs can show up anytime, see specific info about them both below. We are going to see fungal problems in many lawns this year with all the moisture and high heat returning.

Weeds have taken off in the best managed lawns this summer. So do not feel bad if you are seeing new weeds pop up in your lawn that where not there 30-45 days ago.

Action items for this month

• Our “normal” schedule would not call for a fertilization in August, but I am going to feed my yard. We have had a lot of heavy rainfall with runoff to leach out nutrients. The silver bag Nitro – Phos is my preference again; it has a high-quality slow-release nitrogen so you will not get excessive growth and extra Iron to get that dark green color.
• Weeds- normally we do not see broadleaf weed problems in July and August. But ample moisture and cooler soil conditions caused a lot of nuisance weeds to germinate and begin to show up. Use a premixed weed killer from the hardware store that attaches to the end of your garden hose for easy application and fast results.
• Fungal problems – Gray Leaf Spot and Brown patch I expect to be more prevalent than normal and especially more than the past 2 years with drought. Managing your irrigation so that the top of your soil layer is drying out between irrigation days will make a big difference. I have linked to more resources on identifying and treating these two problems
  • Brown Patch- Link
  • Grey Leaf Spot- Link
• Chinch Bugs- normally chinch bugs gravitate toward yards that are not maintained at as high a level as we discuss. Low fertility, weedy, stressed lawns are their normal target. But, if reproduction rates are high, and they probably will be this year, expect to see them in lawns that don’t usually have them. Identification and treatment
• Landscape pest pressure will continue this month. Aphids and caterpillars are the biggest culprits we will see. Ants are really active after all the rain as well.
  • BT Worm killer and caterpillar killer is an organic option that is highly effective on smaller caterpillars. Keep it on hand and follow directions. It can be used in the garden as well against tomato hornworms and to some degree Squash vine borers. It does not last long once applied so may need to be used every few days and after rains.
  • Cyonara is a broad range insecticide that will treat most of your insect problems from aphids to ants and caterpillars.
  • You may consider reapplying a granular insecticide if you applied one early in the growing season and are now seeing lots of fire ants. Something like Over N Out we work well.
• Roses- Monthly feedings for roses are still imperative, if you have been on our program, you should be reaping the rewards.

Municipal Drainage Happenings

Our drainages and corresponding maintenance to them was front and center in most MUDs and LIDs we serve this past month. Most importantly everything went well and worked as intended. The Hurricane damage was most extensive in areas with old big mature trees, especially where lines of single trees ran North and South. Privacy fences were also impacted heavily and we are still working around a lot of debris from them. Grass growth is looking great, we are continuing to see lots of Johnson grass and expect it to get worse over the next 60 days before slacking off in late September. Just like with lawns, broadleaf weeds are showing up that are not normal for the late summer.

Warm weather and green grass,

Hunter Soape