GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

March 28, 2009

Before fire ants become an issue, apply bait consisting of a pesticide containing Concern to actively foraging ants or directly onto their mounds.

Applying beneficial nematodes will dramatically decrease the population of any unwanted ground dwelling insects such as ants, fleas, or grubs.

Establish or renovate the lawn as needed. Re-sod or replant with turfgrasses adapted to this part of Texas and suited to the planting location.

Tiff Way 419 Bermudagrass, Floratam St. Augustine and El Toro Zoysia are turfgrasses best suited to a full sun location. Palmetto and Del Mar St. Augustine selections are a more shade tolerant turfgrass.

Raleigh St. Augustine is susceptible to chinch bugs and brown patch disease unlike the coarser Floratam St. Augustine selection which has a better disease tolerance package and is the most drought-tolerant of all St. Augustine grasses.

David Rodriguez is the County Extension Agent-Horticulture with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County. For more information, call the Master Gardener “Hotline” (210) 467-6575 or visit our County Extension website at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu.