TURFGRASS IRRIGATION MANAGMENT

Information through the City of Corpus Christ Water Department and the Nueces River Authority indicated that a household uses approximately 165 gallons of water per day. This equals 60,000 gallons of water used per residence. Potentially, half of the yearly consumption of water is used to irrigate landscapes.

Water conservation, in times of drought, drives targeted educational programs to address needs of local clientele. A recent survey of Nueces Master Gardener Interns suggested that turgrass from 11 participants was watered 2 times the amount recommended. The average lawn size of the participants was 725 square feet accounting for an average of 451 gallons of water that is required on a weekly basis if the minimum application rate of 1” of water is applied. Potential water usage for each homeowner should be 23,452 gallons of water used on a lawn. However, results of the survey showed that twice the recommended rate of 46,904 gallons was applied by each residence. A 50% water savings is assumed.

Implementing Best Management Practices and performing irrigation audits will save the participants approximately 30% on their current irrigation water usage bills on a yearly basis. Proper application techniques such as:

· Watering when turfgrass shows symptoms of drought stress.

· Watering in the early morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

· Performing an irrigation audit.

· Reduce watering during cooler months

Better awareness reduces the impact on the watershed that supplies a growing population. In addition, the same principles and techniques can be utilized to the rest of the landscape.

It is up to us to preserve our natural resources.

Resources

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/docs/pubs/audit.pdfhttp://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/drought/lawns_water_2010.pdf

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/drought/water_efficient_practices_2010.pdf

Planning for Fall Vegetable Gardens

Do not count yourself out when it comes to planting a fall vegetable garden. This past spring and summer has taken a toll on vegetable gardens. The drought and heat put many vegetable gardens in harm’s way. There are several things that will help you will have a successful fall garden.

Start with a plan

Putting a little thought into the selection of vegetable will allow you to properly space your vegetables and allow for better production. Drawing a diagram on a seasonal basis will allow you to keep track of what vegetables were planted and where they were located in the garden. Keep in mind that certain crops need to be rotated around the garden. For example, tomatoes should be located in a location that was not used for tomato production last season. Moving them around will decrease potential infestations of nematodes, bacterial and fungal problems. Also, keeping additional detailed information about the crop will help you determine which vegetable did well in your situation.

Prepare your soil

Doing some preparation to the soil is a must. Now would be a great time to add additional soil amendments to your garden. Adding compost is a great addition that will help break up soil that has been dormant or lacks the proper texture and drainage. Compost comes in many forms. Compost can be bought in the forms of cotton burr compost, composted manure or even in bulk form from the J.C. Elliot landfill. Whichever you choose, add at least 3-5 inches to the soil and till or work it into the soil. By doing this, you will notice the soil structure change. This will help your vegetable beds stay productive for seasons to come.

Vegetable Selection

Many varieties of vegetables can be purchased at local garden centers and nurseries every season. If you would like to get an idea of the different vegetables and the varieties that can be grown in your county, go to http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/veg_variety/. This selector will allow you view the vegetables and varieties that will perform well in your county.

Planting time
The best time to start planting is starting August 15th. However, environmental factors can move that date around a little. The last week in August and week in September will be a good time to start planting. Keep in mind that these dates are general and can be altered. In fact, there is a consideration that most vegetable gardeners can apply.

We have always heard the saying "don't put all your eggs in one basket". Well, there is common theory with vegetable gardening. Every season I hear gardeners talk about having too many vegetables at one time. Have you ever had so many tomatoes that you lose them to rot or simply are unable to give them away fast enough? One thing that can be done is to stagger the planting dates of your vegetables. For example, plant new plants in the garden on two week intervals. Doing this will have several benefits. First, the vegetable will be able to be harvested at different time frames and will prolong harvest throughout the season. Secondly, vegetables prone to insect and fungal problems during a certain growth stage or environmental factor (wind, humidity, etc.) will not be as severely affected as others planted at different times.

Happy Gardening!

Water... Wise!!!

The drought has continued to take a toll on landscapes in our area. Want to learn more? Just click below and learn tips and techniques to help you and your landscape get through the tough times.

Drought

We are quickly approaching fall garden preparations. Stay tuned!!!

Hurricane Preparedness for Home Landscapes

Most of us are watching the tropics in anticipation of a developing storm. When and where it may strike, keeps us watching the weather. Distant memories of hurricane Katrina and hurricane Ike has makes us realize the importance of preparation. Routine maintenance around the yard can speed up last-minute preparations for a storm. So, how do we protect our assets and allow for better response times from emergency and cleanup crews in our community? A few weeks ago I was walking around the neighborhood, looking at landscapes, as usual, when I realized that most of the landscapes had many items that will become airborne during high winds. This short walk around the block became a good column to remind us how to prepare for the worst and to be proactive in the event of a storm. Walk around your neighborhood and ask yourself “Will that withstand 100mph winds and where will it land after it becomes airborne?”

Checklist for hurricane preparation in landscapes

Number 1: Trim out all dead wood from your trees and remove sick or diseased trees. These branches can break off during heavy winds and cause damage to your home. One thing I would like to mention. Carefully evaluate removal of limbs and trees. Your safety is very important and some jobs may appear easier than what they truly can be. It will be worth your time to get several estimates from different tree trimming companies. Keep in mind there are two questions that need to be asked when getting estimates. A. Do they utilize the three cut method? B. Is their company insured? The three cut method is utilized to minimize damage to the tree. C. Is the company insured? An insured tree trimming company protects its workers, rather than a mishap falling under your homeowner’s insurance. Diseased trees with decaying trunks or limbs are considered hazard trees and should be removed. Weak or diseased trees will uproot or break during high winds. Where do you think these trees will fall? Since winds from storms typically come from multiple directions, it is possible that the tree may end up in your home or your neighbors’ homes. Eliminating these trees will help keep homes intact and keep water penetration into your home at a minimum.

Number 2: Remove or secure all patio furniture and other yard art. Small potted plants and decorative garden pieces can become projectiles that will contribute to additional property damage. Garden art and patio furniture can be thrown around, especially in backyards and damage the home landscape. Limiting the amount of flying debris will also minimize damage to landscape plants, which will increase the chances of survival after a storm.

Number 3: Remove and secure other items around the home. So you ask, “What’s left?” (Small pieces of wood, wind chimes, trellises, bird houses, water features, BBQ pits, bird feeders, garden hoses, sprinklers and yard tools.) If you have children, let’s not forget all of the play equipment and toys that are around the yard. Even trampolines and pools need to be taken into consideration.

Regular maintenance around the home can save you time, when it comes to preparing for a storm. Periodic inspection and maintenance of the roof, fascia boards and siding will also decrease or minimize flying debris. Taking these steps will help give emergency and cleanup crews prompt access to our city in the event of a hurricane. This will also allow citizens quicker access their neighborhoods and homes. ARE YOU PREPARED? If you would like more information on preparing for disasters, here are several websites and phone numbers for references:

Preparing for the Unexpected - https://agrilifebookstore.org/

Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas Dept. of State Health Services sponsored publication for preparing for disasters.

2-1-1 Texas First Call For Help - www.211.org or Dial 2-1-1

For non-emergency information and referral. Information on evacuation routes and locations of food and shelter during a disaster will be available.

Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) - http://texashelp.tamu.edu Provides access to resources on disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Federal Emergency Management Agency - http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/ Provides resources for all types of disaster information, as well as information about different types of disasters.

American Humane Society Animal Emergency Service - www.americanhumane.org

Provides rescue and support services for pets and other animals during and after a disaster.

Texas Agrilife Extension Service Volunteerism at Commissioners Court.

Volunteerism is a major force in Texas AgriLife Extension programs. Master Gardeners are highly trained volunteers that deliver educational programs to adults and youth. Interns are recruited and trained on a yearly basis to help educate and disseminate research based information to the public.

Nueces Master Gardeners delivered the 2010 in-kind volunteer hour’s contribution check to Nueces County Commissioners on April 20^th. Ninety two Master Gardeners contributed 9,592 volunteer hours resulting in $204,000 of in-kind service.

“Now more than ever, there is a need to educate citizens on producing their own vegetables, saving money and promote nutrition.” says Stephanie Martin, Nueces Master Gardener President. Vegetables are not the only thing Master Gardeners can do. They can help homeowners save water, reduce fertilizer and pesticide use. Reducing the pollutants that ultimately end up in our bays and estuaries is a major educational goal of Texas Agrilife Extension Service.

If you are interested in becoming a Nueces County Master Gardener please contact our office at 361-767-5217. Orientation will be given in late July and classes will begin in August and continue until December.

Environmentally Sound Insect Control

Insect control plays a major role in the success of our plants this time of year. Just when our prized plants and landscapes start to excel, invariably, insects join the party and take their share.

Insect identification plays an important role in choosing the right method to control insects. Using the wrong insecticide can cause more damage than good. There are a few things to think about when selecting insecticides. If physical removal of the insect is not an option, choose insecticides that are either plant based or made from naturally occurring products. A few examples are Bt, spinosad and insecticidal soaps.

Bt is short for Bacillus thuringiensis. Bt is a soil dwelling bacterium that, when ingested by a larval stage worm, reacts with the cell lining in a insects gut and paralyzes the digestive system. Without the ability to digest and feed, insects will die within a day or two. This product is very effective but does have some limitations. Bt will degrade naturally with sunlight and is washed off the leaf surface by rain or watering. This will result in a shorter time frame between applications to ensure coverage and activity. However, the major advantage is that Bt is nontoxic to people, pets and wildlife. This is beneficial for use on food crops or in other sensitive sites where pesticide use can be a problem.

Spinosad (Saccharopolyspora spinosa) is also a soil dwelling bacterium. Spinosad is relatively fast acting. Once the bacterium is ingested, the nervous system of the insect is sent into overdrive and will thus cause death. Spinosad is both a nerve poison and a stomach poison, so it kills pests that it contacts and those that consume it on the foliage they eat. The insect dies within one to two days after ingesting the active ingredient. This product works on many different types of insects (caterpillars, flies, thrips and beetles) but most beneficial insects are spared. This means that you may need to spray less often if you use this type of material. The natural enemies will be preserved and should help moderate pest populations later in the season.

Insecticidal soaps work best on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Insecticidal soaps work only on direct contact with insects. The fatty acids disrupt the structure and permeability of the cell membranes of the insect. Thus, the insects’ cell contents leak from the damaged cells and the insect quickly dies. The insecticidal soaps can be either purchased at home and garden centers or nurseries. However, if you like to do-it- yourself, you can make your own soap and water solution and save a little money in the process. Do not use soaps that contain a degreaser. The degreasers will damage the leaves of the plant. The degreaser may cause leaves to be deformed or discolored, or even die back. In addition, it is best to be mindful that soaps that advertise as a concentrate will need to be diluted much more than simple soaps. More than likely, the generic soaps are a good choice. Another good choice would be to use a soap that contains a citric acid. The acid benefits the effectiveness of the solution by increasing irritation of soft bodied insects. Regardless of what soap product is used, sprays are always applied diluted with water and typically at a concentration of 2 to 3 percent.

Insect control can leave you in dismay when you visit a local box store or nursery. The sheer number of chemicals that line the shelves can be discouraging. With a little research, you can choose a product that is going to have the desired result for your situation. Keep in mind to READ THE LABEL on products you purchase. The label states all the information that is needed to use the product safely. The label will also state the type of equipment that should be used and what insects are controlled with the particular product. The chemical world provides the tools we utilize to combat the issues we face with insects, however; with a little planning and education we can choose products that are just as effective and have less impact on the environment.