Will Houston Palms pull through Blizzard ’09?

Hi Jen, These are my sick palms we talked about from the freeze.  See you in kickboxing class on Wed. Bernadette Hey Jen, Hope all is good with you. My buddy bought some fox tail palms last year (approx. 20 foot tall) and this winter has them brown.  Will they come back or are the [...]



Freeze Damaged Bird of Paradise and Crepe Myrtle Pruning

Jen My bird of paradise leaves are brown with green stalks from the snow last year. Should I cut them back to stimulate new growth? If so how far? Is it time to prune my crepe myrtles? Paul H., Bellaire, Texas   Hi Paul, You can do either two things with your bird of paradise: [...]



Jeff Law’s 2009-2010 Houston Freeze Data for Xeriscape plants in Houston

Jen, Aren’t you big into native plants?  How do they fair in a Houston freeze? Jon Yes, I love the  indigenous plants.  I think all natives did well. During this time of the year they are not blooming so they just look dead.    Interesting you asked Jon,  I was just in the car with my mentor and friend Jeff Law, [...]



Artic tips from Houston’s Green Movement to Protect your landscape

Hey Jen, Hope all is well. Any suggestions for how to handle the cold?  I think we lost some ixoras and lantana.  Also, how should we handle the sprinklers? Thanks and best for 2010! Jeff and Jamie Bellaire, Texas   Hi Jeff and Jamie, Cover your plants with a sheet or blanket and water in your favorite [...]



Behind The Garden Gate

Dear Jen,   It was very nice to meet you too, here is the photo of the tree I talked to you about one of the nick names”silk floss”I am not sure what is the botanical name.In this photo you will notice that the tree has almost no leafs,no flowers,because I have taken this picture [...]



Bougainvillea Looper Caterpillar

Hi Jen, Can you tell me what might be eating my Bougainvillea folliage?    Thank you, David Vincente     David, It sounds like its the bougainvillea looper.   The caterpiller is a green or brown and about 1 inch long.   It feeds primarily at night, which is why you may see the damage but fail [...]



Brown Patch from Rain and John Palmer ART tomorrow

There is an expanding brown patch of grass in the front yard , it started this past week.  Could it be due to all the rain?  Can grass get over-watered? J&J Weinberg Hello J and J, You have Brown Patch which can be very damaging to St. Augustine in the fall.   Brown patch varies in size from 4 inches [...]



Rye Seed and St. Augustine how does that work?

“Dumb Question!     What happens to the St Augustine grass we currently have?  Will it return?” Yolanda Ramirez Hi Yolanda, Not a dumb question….Many of my clients have asked the same question and yes it will return. Keep in mind that there are two kinds of Rye, both annual and perennial. The difference is in the [...]



Lost in My Oleanders

Hi Jen, What to do what to do. I planted some oleanders last year and they are thriving. I read somewhere that they should be cut back in late August or early September. What is the best way to prune these? I read something about cutting below the three leaves! What and how do you [...]



My Papaya tree is oozing?

Hey Jen, Do you know what the little clear dots are on my Papaya?  And do you know when the fruit will be ready for harvest? Jules, Houston, Texas       Hi Jules, I think the oozing from the Papaya are sugars produced by the plant. It is probably a normal phenomenon caused by heat, [...]