VOLUME 12, ISSUE 17 • May 26, 2016

Neil Sperry, editor. Gretchen Drew, design.

It's Memorial Day weekend, so fly your flag proudly! And if you decide to plant a memorial tree in honor of someone, make it an oak. No tree so symbolizes strength, permanence and beauty to the world as a magnificent oak. Have a child help you plant it. Neither one of you will ever forget it.

Look down at the bottom of this e-gardens for a one-time special on my newest book. They're at half-price for books where I messed up the inscription. The books are otherwise perfect, and I've concealed my flubs with white permanent inserts (which I'll sign correctly).

Photo: A respectful Memorial Day weekend in the Sperry home landscape

Gardening This Weekend

Tending the lawn and landscape may not be your highest priorities this holiday weekend, but there are still things to be done (soon), and I've pulled the most critical out for you.

Photo: Containers abound in the Sperry landscape. Two types of begonias are shown here. We feed frequently because of their limited soil reservoirs.

From the Sperry Gardens

I love this groundcover. It grows beautifully in shade. It blooms each spring. It's easy to propagate. I've never seen a pest or disease bother it. I've been growing it for 30 years. But there are some downsides. For one thing, what is it?

Photo: Lamium is a Sperry favorite groundcover. But why don't I talk about it more?

Our Easiest Fruit Crop

Forget all the others! Blackberries are urban gardeners' easiest fruit crops. They don't need much space, and they have very few problems. Learn how quickly you can be in full production.

Photo: There's nothing better than a freshly picked bowl of Texas blackberries!

Question of the Week

By this time of year, questions begin to swing over to those of diagnoses. All kinds of problems start to show up. This week's question is one of the most common.

"Neil, why are my plants' leaves turning brown around the edges?"

Photo: Sweetgum leaf is struggling with marginal burn. What might have caused this problem?

Explaining "Root Rot"

This is the least-appealing title in the history of garden writing. Even "Slime Mold" sounds better. But "root rot" and "cotton root rot" get mixed up frequently.

Photo: Cotton root rot fungus overtakes large lacebark elm in Allen's black clay soil.

Special Offer on Book!

Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening (not in stores, not on Amazon). We have 42 copies in which I have made mistakes in inscriptions. I've inserted white labels to cover my blunders, and I'll inscribe the book (correctly) on those labels as I sign them. Let me know how you would like you book inscribed.

While those supplies last, half price! Reg. $28.95, while those 42 last, only $14.47 plus tax and postage. Orders must be called to our offices (800) 752-4769 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, May 27.

Coming Next Week...

• Common problems with sprinkler systems
• More of my favorite plants of the summer
• Gardening This Weekend
... and a bunch more.

Until then, stay safe.
And happy gardening!
Neil

Join Neil on Facebook. It’s a community of almost 53,000 gardeners (including Neil) helping one another enjoy the world’s greatest hobby.

(Please share us with your gardening friends. Click our "Forward email" invitation below!)