VOLUME 22, ISSUE 16 • April 16, 2026

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Oh, don't you love gardening in mid-spring across Texas! So many great things to see and get done.

In this issue…
• Critical questions about shade trees;
• Gorgeous Guzmanias;
• This weekend's gardening goals;
• Planting new turf from plugs; and
• I answer your questions.

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Photo: The little hill that keeps us penned in during winter ice storms. It’s a lot more compelling for gardening once spring arrives.

Gardening This Weekend

Most of the recent days and evenings have been absolutely delightful. Hopefully you've put them to good use in your landscape and garden. In that trend, I've jotted a list of things for this weekend.

Photo: Twist-n-Shout hydrangea is a colorful spring bloomer.

Gorgeous Guzmanias

Can you imagine hiking into a rainforest and encountering trees filled with these beauties in bloom? That's what happened to early botanical explorers into Central and South America 200 years ago. Let me share some of the plants' secrets.

Photo: Colorful Guzmanias bloom as long as any flowering houseplant you'll find.

Plugs might be a quick fix

I have a simple Garden Tip for you today that might come in handy if you're trying to convert a lawn from bermuda to St. Augustine. It can also work to fill in bare spaces. It involves using plugs. Click to see if you like it.

Photo: St. Augustine plugs from the garden center are grass just waiting to grow.

LAQ about shade trees

I've taken thousands of calls about shade trees in my almost 50 years on the air. I'll tell you the FAQ and the LAQ among them if you'll just click through to see them.

Photo: Nurseries are well stocked with shade trees. I have two questions you ought to be asking.

Q&A – Ask Neil

You get a solid A-plus for your questions this week! How to get rid of St. Augustine that's invading bermuda grass. What's killing the zoysia? Are the fringe flowers worth saving? Why won't iris bloom? And Poa annua is always there! See how I answered these and others.

And, in closing…

That's it for this week's e-gardens. Thanks for reading, and in advance, thanks for letting our advertisers know you appreciate their support.

Image clickable for larger view.

We got to meet our second great-granddaughter Frankie last weekend as her mom and dad brought her by the house. Lynn’s comment after everyone had gone home, “She’s as pretty as any baby I've ever seen.” One forgets how truly tiny our little ones are at their beginnings. What beautiful beginnings.

I'll be on the air statewide on upwards of 30 stations Sat. morning 11:06-noon, then on KLIF 570AM Sat. afternoon 1-2, and on WBAP 820AM Sun. morning 8-9. Click here for the phone numbers. Give me a listen and give me a call. I'll look forward to visiting with you live.

Until this weekend on the air or next Thursday evening here in your email, have a great week.

Until then,

Happy Gardening!

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