Michael Womack
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Saturday, August 7, 1999

Rid your yard of those pesky bugs

Just be sure not to kill good bugs along with the bad

 

Q. For some reason, I seem to have an outbreak of bugs in my yard. I don't understand it and need to know what to do to control them.
   A. The recent grain sorghum harvest combined with the beginning of cotton harvest and heat related dieback of some native grasses and underbrush has caused the beginning of insect migration into more urbanized areas.
   Most flying insects are somewhat migratory. They search for a habitat that will give them an abundance of succulent plant material. Our current drying trend along with agricultural harvesting has reduced habitat so they are searching for new food. Your yard may be the their new-found delicatessen.
   Before you pull out the spray bottle to "wipe out those suckers," it is important to take some time to identify the insects. Remember, all of your new residents may NOT necessarily be BAD! Many beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybugs also make the trek into town late each summer. A broad-spectrum insecticide used at the first sign of any bug will kill out the beneficials and make controlling the detrimental insects even harder in the future.
   When you find insects in the lawn, first determine what you have and the category in which it falls: the good, the bad, or the ugly (which may not be bad). Most general garden books will have illustrations of insects to help with identification. Garden-related sites on the Internet such as Aggie Horticulture (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu) are another resource. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service also has publications available for the arm-chair entomologist.
   Finally, samples of insects and damaged plant material can be taken to your favorite full-service nursery for identification and control recommendations.
   Also realize the if you don't see plant damage, then the insect probably doesn't need to be controlled. Taking these steps prior to using an insecticide is necessary.
   Q. I've got a lot of palm trees on my property and am unsure about how and when to trim them. I thought that the best time to trim all trees is in the fall or spring.
   A. Palms are typically considered the big exception to tree rules. The best time to plant and trim them is in the summer because it is their active growing season. Trimming a palm now will remove any flowering/fruiting structures and give them an opportunity to quickly replenish their leaves before winter.
   Probably the biggest problem with trimming palms is getting too carried away. Although palms can survive being trimmed back to 2-3 fronds, they don't prefer such severe trimming. Also, people that shave the trunks to get that smooth appearance need to beware of shaving too close to the crown or growing point. If too much is removed, the trunk will show a girdled effect in the future. This reduction in trunk girth will also make the palm more susceptible to high wind damage.
   For more information on palms, visit the web site for the Palm Society of South Texas at www.raingardens.com/psst.htm.
  
  

1999 Caller-Times Publishing Company, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.