Gill Garden Center + Landscape Co.
Corpus Christi, TX Garden Center
Texas Sage eaten by caterpillars? Take a close look at your Texas sage and see if you find small black spiny caterpillars.
Although they are small they have a huge appetite for sage leaves. They can devour the leaves of your plant in a matter of days. They are easily killed with Thuricide, Dipel dust or Spinosad and your plants will leaf back out in no time.
-DeAnna
These tiny little green worms eat your grass blades down leaving the brown thatch beneath visible giving the appearance of a dead patch. The grass will also be stunted in that area since they have eaten the blades.
Inspect closely and should see irregular bites out of the edges of the blades. Another easy way to check for these worms is to fill a bucket with soapy water and drench the area. The sod webworms will come to the surface and be visible.
An easy organic solution is to spray Spinosad or BT (a.k.a Thuricide) to the lawn. You could also use Cyonara, Triazicide or Broad Spectrum Insect Killer spray.
-Deanna
Oak Tree Caterpillars
Be on the look-out for oak tree caterpillars in your oak trees. They cluster together in large groups feeding on the leaves of your trees or you may notice poop under your tree (on your patio or walk.) They can be killed with Thuricide sprayed onto the leaves or with Spinosad. If your trees are too large to spray or you just don’t want to, they will not kill your trees. The tree will leaf back out in the Spring. I have had customers say that early in the mornings they could hear them chewing the hard oak leaves. Crunch, Crunch, Crunch!
-DeAnna
Driving around town, one surely has noticed the purple blooming trees and if you were within nose shot, their fragrance would make you think of grape soda pop hanging from their branches.
Meet Texas Mountain Laurel -Sophora secundiflora. This native large shrub or small tree has taken center stage all over South Texas landscapes. They are about as tough as a plant can get. They are cold hardy, drought tolerant and will grow in stony alkaline soil. They are evergreen with no disease issues other than an occasional worm that likes their foliage and it’s easy to treat with Thuricide worm control.
These Texas troopers bloom every spring but it seems this year they’re especially beautiful. I’ve noticed them in new and established neighborhoods, full of blooms. What a treat! Their beans are known to be poisonous so keep them away from young ones and pets.
We just got in a great shipment, they’re a grand addition to any landscape! See ya soon!
-Debbie
I have had several customers bring me Tussock Moth Caterpillars they found munching on their oak tree leaves.
The creamy white hairs on the caterpillar are long and bristle-like and spread out in tufts down the sides. Two long, sharp black pencil like hairs protrude near the front and rear and these hairs are connected to poison glands, which excrete venom on contact. Contact with the venom may result in itchy irritation.
You can spray your tree with Hi Yield Thuricide Concentrate or Natural Guard Spinosad Hose-end. Both of these products are organic and safe to use on all plants. Thuricide reacts with the cells of the stomach lining of the target pest causing them to not be able to feed within hours of ingesting. Spinosad is a contact kill, but still safe and organic for all plants.
(photo via ocala.com)
-DeAnna
We were watering Pentas earlier this week and came across this funky looking fellow (above). At first, we thought it was a more common Tomato Hornworm, but after doing some research, it’s a Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa) caterpillar! Actually, both in the photo are Tersa Sphinx caterpillars at different stages. Pretty soon they’ll transform into their beautiful moth form.
Caterpillars have been a big topic of conversation here at Gill’s this Summer; more rain than usual = more caterpillars. A good rule of thumb is to leave them alone unless you see a large congregation and they’re eating enough of a plant to cause harm. A few munched leaves here and there is not a problem. If you do get a large infestation, you can treat with organic Thuricide that only targets caterpillars.
Most different species of caterpillars are only attracted to specific host plants. Pentas are a host plant for the Tersa Sphinx, which was a big clue for identification. We know that Monarch caterpillars like milkweed, Gulf fritillary’s host plant is Passion Vine, and Swallowtail caterpillars like Rue and Dutchman’s Pipe Vine.
Once caterpillars reach their butterfly or moth form, they feed on nectar from a broader variety of South Texas plants like Lantana, Zinnia, Mist flowers, Turk’s Cap, and lots more. So, it’s a good idea to plant host plants and nectar plants together to enjoy the caterpillar’s full life cycle.
-Jesse
Read: Organic Gardening
Read: Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth
Read: Fall’s Around the Corner – it’s Garden Time!
Plant tomato, eggplant, and pepper transplants after August 10th. Be sure to keep watered well and evenly shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
Read: Homegrown Tastes Best
Garden Guide: Fall Tomatoes
Seeds of beans, cabbage, peas, winter squash, and turnips. Start in pots and then transplant to garden. Protect from intense heat and sun.
If you want pumpkins by Halloween, plant your seeds by August 10th.
Sow bluebonnet seeds now for spring bloom.
All tropicals including allamandas, mandevillas, palms, pentas, blue daze, hamelia, hibiscus, esperanza, and plumbago will continue growing and blooming.
Annuals such as zinnias, moss rose, gomphrena, purslane, periwinkles, caladium and coleus will continue to flourish.
Don’t forget that “house plants” are generally tropical in nature and love a nice shady or semi shady patio to put on the best show. Ficus, schefflera, corn plants, dracaenas, ivies, ponytail palms, and bromeliads all like heat and humidity.
Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air
Garden Guide: Planting Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers
Read: Crape Myrtle Season
Fertilize organically with Milorganite, Medina Growin Green, or Plant Tone.
Fertilize organically with Medina Growin Green, or Hasta Gro, or conventionally with Osmocote Time Release Granules.
Fertilize organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo, or conventionally with Hibiscus Food.
Read: Use the Cycle Soak Method
Garden Guide: Lawn Care
Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.
Read: Mealy Bugs are Here!
Treat organically with Spinosad or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.
Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.
Note: Spraying your plants with seaweed extract helps repel spider mites, and it’s good for your plants too!
Treat lawns organically with Spinosad, or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.
Treat organically with Spinosad.
Treat organically with Neem Oil, or Bee Safe 3 in 1, or with Fertilome Broad Spectrum Fungicide, Fung-onil, or Systemic Fungicide.
If necessary, treat organically with Thuricide or Spinosad.
Read: Darn Those Summer Bugs!
