Q&A – Ask Neil: May 5, 2022

I’ve been pedaling uphill all week. If you heard my radio programs last weekend you know I was struggling. Allergies to pecan pollen and migraine-associated vertigo for a couple of days this week left me feeling like I’d had a few rounds with a prizefighter – and I didn’t win the prize! I’ve been behind ever since. I’m going to ask for one more week to handle the influx of questions I started answering last week. I’ll open things back up next week for new questions. For now, though, if you sent a question, please check here for my reply. I’m answering all of general interest (if people told me their home cities and if the questions aren’t duplicates). Thanks for your patience.

Here, then, are this week’s questions:

Question 1
POORLY PERFORMING PAMPASGRASS

Dear Neil: I have several 5- to 7-year-old pampasgrass plants. I prune each clump back to 18 to 24 inches each February. This year I have some plants that are 50 percent rotted. Why would that happen? Mike C., Grapevine.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 2
PALMETTO VS. RALEIGH

Dear Neil: I am ready to try something different to replace my Raleigh St. Augustine. The past two winters plus three years with gray leaf spot have taken a toll on my lawn. Is Palmetto a better alternative? Gary D., Southlake.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 3
WHY DO THEY PLANT TREES ABOVE GRADE?

Dear Neil: I have always been taught to plant at the same depth at which a plant had been growing originally, but when I see commercial landscapes, I often see that the plants are several inches above the surrounding grade. Why would they be doing that? Tom, Northlake.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 4
DEER-PROOF PLANTS

Dear Neil: We retired to Northeast Texas. We have a great deal of shade. And deer! What can you recommend that deer won’t eat? Angie N., North of Tyler.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 5
WHEN SHOULD CALADIUMS BE PLANTED IN DFW?

Dear Neil: When should caladiums be planted in the Dallas area? They were sent to me way too early. M.S., Dallas.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 6
BERMUDA IS BEING OVERRUN WITH WEEDS

Dear Neil: My bermudagrass in my backyard has been overrun with weeds. I was thinking of planting St. Augustine from plugs. Will it crowd out the weeds? C.B., Forney.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 7
MORE WEEDS! IN A FLAGSTONE WALK

Dear Neil: What is the best way to keep weeds from growing through gravel in a flagstone walk? I’ve tried Roundup and hand-pulling, but I need a better way. K.R., Plano.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 8
BEST ANNUALS FOR LATE AFTERNOON SUN

Dear Neil: I have a tough spot in my yard. It faces west. It’s in the shade until 4 p.m., then it gets sun the rest of the day. What would be good flowering annuals or perennials for containers in that space? R.D., no city given, but doesn’t this really apply to just about any Texas city!
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 9
BUR OAKS HAVE SUDDENLY GONE DOWNHILL

Dear Neil: I have two bur oaks. They looked terrific for 16-17 years, then something happened. This is how they look this year. I fertilize them and water them. What gives? J., Colleyville.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 10
DOES ASIAN JASMINE HURT A TREE IF IT CLIMBS THE TRUNK?

Dear Neil: Should I discourage Asian jasmine from climbing up the trunks of my pecan trees? C., McKinney.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 11
WHAT IS DULL BLACK GROWTH ON MY MAGNOLIA?

Dear Neil: My Little Gem magnolia tree bloomed beautifully last year and it has buds all over it now. But it also has this black film all over the backs of the leaves. What can I do? C.H., Manvel.
Click to see Neil’s answer.

Question 12
WHY DO OUR CRAPE MYRTLES BLOOM LATE AND BLOOM POORLY?

Dear Neil: Every year our neighborhood’s crape myrtles look great. Except ours. By the end of the summer we will get a few red blooms on the 20-foot-tall plants along our driveway. Should we cut them back to the ground? N.H., Near East Fort Worth.
Click to see Neil’s answer.