It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW

With a couple of back-to-back summers of drought and torrid heat behind us, we have seen conditions that have taxed even the healthiest of lawns.

Even folks with sprinkler systems have not always been able to keep their grass from dying… what with water restrictions and HOA edicts.

Now of course we have an over-abundance of rain, and along with it comes an explosion of winter weeds to deal with in our distressed lawns.

These short day weeds and their eradication seem to be on the mind of many gardeners who come into the nursery or who I meet at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market.

How do we get rid of them? The choice is physical, or chemical.

The least toxic solution is simply to dig them up. This can be painstakingly slow, and is not always an option for most.

For existing weeds in turf grass, you need a water-based spray that will kill the weeds without harming or killing the grass. An array of broad-leaf weed killers are on the market. Grass is a monocot and broad-leaf plants are dicots. Broad-leaf weed killers target the dicots while not harming the monocots.

The problem with broad-leaf weed killers is that they’re toxic. When using them, read the labels carefully, and use sparingly.

On the organic side, while the grass is still dormant, spray broad-leafs with a 20 percent vinegar solution. This will not harm grass until it begins to grow. After the grass has started growing, avoid using the vinegar since it will burn the grass as well.

The key to eradicating weeds is to break the cycle. Don’t allow them to mature, flower, and set seeds. If seeds are allowed to form, the weeds will return the following year.

An effective way to break this cycle (and remain organic and safe) is to use corn gluten meal.

This is a pre-emergent that kills seeds’ ability to successfully germinate and grow. Applied late September through early October, corn gluten will stop the winter weeds from getting a start.

Applied in February, corn gluten will stop the germination of summer weeds.

Pre-emergents are highly effective in long term management of weeds. They help to break the cycle and control weeds in turf, flower beds and the vegetable garden.

Please choose the organic method of corn meal gluten and help to keep our watershed and environment chemical free.

Question: Through the winter months I have seen landscape crews cutting or topping back crepe myrtles. Is this beneficial to their flowering, and is this something I should be doing?
Walter Symmes, Manchaca

Radical pruning of crepe myrtles will scar them terribly. “Knuckles” are created that will be visible for the rest of their lives. This arboreal amputation should be against the law!

The only pruning a crepe myrtle needs is the removal of suckers that appear around the base and off the major stems. If you need to cut back a crepe myrtle that has become too large or tall for an area, consider planting a shorter variety such as Acoma (white), Hopi (pink), or Tonto (fuschia). These varieties mature less than 10 feet.

Happy Gardening, everyone… and let’s all stop butchering our wondrous crepe myrtles!

If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to iathyme@yahoo.com.  Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748. www.itsaboutthyme.com