Taking Care of Your Roses

Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) is a devastating disease of roses.  It makes the rose unsightly because of abnormal growth of the rose plant tissue.  Symptoms such as witches’ brooms, excessive thorniness, enlarged canes, malformed leaves and flowers are associated with this disease.  This disease has been reported since the early 1940s but only in 2011 did research demonstrate that it is caused by a virus, aptly named the Rose Rosette Virus (RRV).  For more information and current research results, go to:

Roserosette.org

Rose Rosette Demystified (PDF Published 2014) 

Rose Diseases (6 Page PDF)

What is Earth-Kind Landscaping

Earth-Kind Landscaping is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program that combines the best of organic and traditional gardening practices to achieve attractive, healthy landscapes.  These methods embrace research-proven techniques that reduce maintenance yet still preserve and protect the environment.  Earth-Kind Landscaping Encourages:

• Water conservation
• Reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use
• Energy Conservation
• Reduction of landscape wastes entering landfills

LAWNS

Turf – Timely Tips for the Brazos Valley:

When to water?
Deeply and infrequently during the growing season, 4am to 9am and only if needed.
Do lawns need fertilization?
Maybe, soil test to find out and if yes, exactly what and how much to apply.
When to fertilize?
If needed, after April 1 and by early October.
When to prevent weeds?
apply pre-emergence herbicides late August to early September and mid-February to early March. Note that time varies based on location and weather conditions.
When to manage weeds?
When they are small and immature, but first identify the weed and use an appropriate herbicide, carefully following label directions.
When to mow?
As needed and avoid removing more than 1/3 of the total turfgrass height at one time.

Helpful Links:

Starting a New Lawn (PDF)

10 Ways to make your Landscape Earth-Kind (PDF)

All About Bermuda Grass

Bermuda Grass Lawn Management Calendar (PDF)

St. Augustine Grass

Zoysiagrass

Turfgrass Weeds

Landscape Plants

Lawn Care

10 Point Checklist – Lawn Fertilization (PDF)

Fertilization for Warm Season Turfgrass (PDF)

Common Lawn Problems – Weeds & More

Southern Chinch Bugs in Lawns (PDF)

White Grub Identification and Control (PDF)

Weed Management – herbicide selection (12 page PDF)

Videos

BEST WATERING PRACTICES: 

Cycle-soak method of watering lawns video: