September 2006

Dear Valued Client,

 

Relentless heat and continued drought – summers do make Austin a less attractive place to live. Although temperatures here have been around average, nationally this was the hottest summer on record. If there is any consolation in this fact it is at least we are equipped for the heat – imagine not having the respite of air conditioning.

 

Unfortunately the National Weather Service does not anticipate much change in the weather pattern, which means dry conditions will persist. NOAA Weather has one model that shows some relief in October, with wetter than normal conditions, but they are fairly non-committal. (They are calling this El Niño 3.4. Let's hope predictions improve by the time they get to El Niño XP).

 

High temperatures and lack of rain are not conducive to most landscapes. Heat and dry conditions combine to create the ‘perfect storm' for chinch bugs. If you have not been watering your grass sufficiently, then you probably are seeing, or will see signs of chinch bug damage. Chinch bugs eat the roots of grass; often the damage is again noticeable in the spring, when large sections of sod fail to ‘green up'. If the damage is not too extensive, the lawn should grow back given time. Our crews are instructed to be on the lookout for chinch and to treat as needed * . Because chinch are so prevalent and because recovery often takes a long time, the best means of chinch control is prevention. Although chinch used to be considered a summer problem, the last several years chinch have been active well into fall.

 

You may have noticed billboards or information in the American Statesman regarding ‘ET'. This is not an allusion to cute aliens who phone home, but rather refers to Evapotranspiration. Although this is just a fancy way to say that the hotter and dryer it is the more water your landscape will require, the city does offers some excellent information on their web site. To reach the ET site go to http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/et.htm.

 

As we creep into fall another problem emerges - fungal disease. We have already been seeing active Take-all Patch; Brown Patch usually becomes active when the nights become cooler. To compound the problem chinch and fungal disease are often confused, understandable since both result in browning, unhealthy grass. Good watering techniques can help prevent fungal ‘Patch', but once present it needs to be addressed. If you need more information on watering please feel free to call.

 

Although cooler weather seems like wishful thinking at this point – eventually it will come. Now is a good time to plan for fall color. Last year fall bedding plants were scarce so we are trying to collate orders early. We will also be putting our Rye seed orders in sometime in September.

 

On a final note ‘outdoor rooms' are quite in vogue right now. This is an old idea (before air conditioners kept us all inside) making a comeback. There are some great new inventions (like outdoor ‘air conditioning', outdoor fireplaces, shade/mosquito cloth) that extend the enjoyment of your landscape to almost year round. You have invested a lot in your landscape – enjoy it!

As always, our many thanks for the opportunity to be of service.

Sincerely yours,

 

Sherri and Chris Pomeroy

 

Member International Society of Arboriculture State of Texas Board Certified Irrigator Texas Certified Nurseryman Honorable Mention – City of Austin- Xeriscape City of Austin – Certificate of Appreciation Water Wise Irrigation Professional City of Austin – Parks Program Partner Member – Texas Urban Forestry Council