VOLUME 17, ISSUE 30 • July 29, 2021

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

We're two-thirds of the way through the summer months, with an eye toward autumn. I've arranged e-gardens accordingly.

In this issue…
• If you're planning plantings for shady spots;
• Why do edges of leaves turn brown?
• This weekend's prime projects;
• Armies of worms move into Texas; and
• Should I save this tree that looks like a maple?

Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening
A Real Deal at Only $36.95

Might be your favorite
gardening reference!

• Covers all aspects of gardening for all of Texas:
lawns, landscapes, fruit, flower and vegetable gardening.
• Hardback: built to last.
• Printed in Texas: because I care.
• 344 pages and 840 of my photos: because that's what it took me to tell the whole story.
• Self-published: so I could have the book I wanted the first time. So much better than the old "boot" book, and a quarter-century more up-to-date.
• Buy it and if you don't agree with all of this, I'll buy it back for every penny, tax and postage included.
• I sign every copy: just because I need the exercise!

Not in stores, not on Amazon.
Order it from my website (neilsperry.com)
or call my office weekdays 9-5
(800) 752-4769

Photo: Liriope bed blooms its heart out in mid-summer.

Gardening This Weekend

This year is speeding by so quickly. We're staring at some critical tasks that need to be done as we step from July into August. I've chosen the chief ones among them. Please take a moment to click through to read them.

Photo: Green and wax beans are among the easiest of the fall vegetables.

Made for the Shade

If re-landscaping your home grounds is on your fall gardening plans, you may be looking at finding plants than can hold up to shade. I've assembled some thoughts that might be of help.

Photo: Shade abounds in the Sperry home landscape.

Question of the Week - Number 1: July 29, 2021

"What is killing my bermudagrass? How can I save it?"

This is damage done by armyworms, and they're attacking lawns in big parts of Texas. I'll show you what they look like.

Photo: This kind of damage can show up within just a couple of days.

Question of the Week - Number 2: July 29, 2021

"Is this a tree that's worth saving? It came up volunteer in my bed and I don't even know what it is."

You have a seedling mulberry. I'll give you my opinion.

Photo: Juvenile foliage of seedling mulberry.

Question of the Week - Number 3: July 29, 2021

"Why are the leaves on my red oak tree turning brown around their edges?"

I'll explain the several possible reasons this could happen.

Photos: Marginal leaf burn of a fairly new Shumard red oak.

And, in closing…

That's it for this week's e-gardens. Keep the water hose handy, and soak those new plantings deeply every two days.

Click image for larger view.

I thought you might enjoy seeing this Red-Spotted Purple butterfly (odd name, but that's what it's called) that stopped by our landscape earlier this week. Beautiful species that was new to me. Here's more information on it.

Join me live on the radio this weekend. Check out the information I have on my website, as well as podcasts of my radio programs, and perhaps I'll see you in your local newspaper. Join us in church, either live or virtually, and shop your favorite nursery some morning or evening.

In the meantime, thanks for reading…

And Happy Gardening!

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