VOLUME 12, ISSUE 26 • July 28, 2016

Neil Sperry, editor. Gretchen Drew, design.

 
 
 
 

This issue of e-gardens marks the beginning of the second half of our first year with this new and streamlined format. I hope you're still enjoying it.

In this issue:
• Things to get done the final weekend of July
• Question of the Week (chinch bugs)
• Cannas and their source
• My favorite shade tree
• The best groundcover nobody knows

Those last two are stories from spring that merited a second look. Gretchen Drew, my right-hand lady who assembles e-gardens each week, is away on a much-earned vacation. Many of you didn't see those two stories before, so we've called them back up for an encore appearance.

If you like what we have here, I really hope you'll tell all your friends!

Photo: Bougainvilleas are great late-summer and fall tropicals to brighten the landscape.

 
 
 
   

Gardening This Weekend

The great thing about the end of July is that cooler September is little more than one month away. Yet late summer remains in our way. I've outlined the most critical current events in your gardening tasks for the next several days.

Photo: Red cockscomb (celosia) is a great plant now until frost.

 
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Cannas Can Do!

Did you ever wonder where canna roots came from? Some are given to us by friends. Some were probably grown in other countries. But one of the biggest sources of all is just outside the border of Texas, and I thought I'd share them with you here.

Photo: Orange cannas stand tall in historic area of McKinney.

 
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If I Had Only One Tree

By this time in the summer, you're probably wishing for more shade in several sunny parts of your landscape. Well, choose carefully, gardener. Not all trees are created equal. Here's a story we ran back on April 7. It might be of interest if you missed it.

Photo: This species is Neil's all-time favorite for Texas.

 
 
 
   

Question of the Week

"Neil, I can't figure out why my St. Augustine continues to get worse. It looks dry, and I water it, but the next day it looks like it has spread. Is this grub worm damage?"

The culprits that inflict this damage to Texas lawns have arrived.

Photo: Chinch bugs do serious damage to St. Augustine lawn.

 
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I Love This Groundcover!

Beautiful groundcover. Sorry dog name: dead nettle. Or, maybe you'd prefer its other name, yellow archangel. Yeah, that sounds better. Either way, it's been a favorite in the Sperry gardens for several decades. In case you missed it, we featured it here back on May 26.

Photo: Lamium spreads freely to provide soft color in shade.

 
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And, in closing…

So much for another edition of our little baby. If you enjoyed e-gardens, please tell several others. (Thanks in advance.)

And here are some links you may find of interest:

• My newest book (not in stores, not on Amazon).
• Join me on Facebook.
Podcasts of my radio programs on WBAP.
• Recent e-gardens archived on my website (scroll to see list).