June Newsletter

Hotter weather means faster growing lawns. Mowing every 5-7 days, rather than 8-14, allows for clippings to fall back on the lawn as opposed to bagging them. Allowing the clippings to settle back into the lawn recycles the nutrients and keeps thatch at bay.

Quick growing, lush lawns are also susceptible to grey leaf spot in hot, humid conditions. This disease is more prevalent in newly sodded, rapidly growing grass as opposed to well established lawns, and is found most frequently in shady areas that stay moist for long periods of time.

Supplemental water needs to be applied to lawns as spring rains slack off and give way to drier days.

(For more information on watering requirements, please check out our blog.)

June is a good time to pay special attention to sensitive flowering bushes.

Mulching roses will help to conserve moisture and keep summer weeds at bay. Fend off black spot by watering in the morning, avoiding the foliage. Rake and clean around roses, throwing any dead leaves away, as the spores can survive in fallen leaves. Removing fading flowers and regular feeding will encourage new blooms.

Apply a pine needle mulch to azalea plants to ensure proper pH levels throughout the growing season. Feed them lightly with a complete fertilizer, which encourages new growth. Check each plant for lace bugs and spider mites and treat as necessary.

Just a small amount of urushiol oil, a chemical found in all parts of the poison ivy plant, has the potential to cause an allergic reaction leading to a blistering rash and intense itching. Poison ivy can be found throughout the state of Texas except for the western panhandle.

The poison ivy plant can be identified by its leaf clusters of three. There are other harmless plants with this same configuration which makes recognition difficult. Generally, coming from the stem is a larger leaf at the end with two smaller leaves shooting off on either side and all of them coming to a point. In early spring, the plant has a reddish hue, turning green in summer and then changing to a yellowish orange in late fall. Clusters of greenish white berries or yellow-green flowers are not uncommon through spring and summer months.

Unlike the common myth, poison ivy is not contagious and cannot be spread by touching the rash or blisters. It is only if the urushiol oil is present on hands, clothing, tools or pets and contact is made with these items that can cause the allergic reaction to occur.

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