Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about how easy it is to get out of step this time of year. Planting by the calendar instead of conditions could be making decisions that feel right now but create problems later.
So, what are the folks who consistently get good results doing differently?
They’re paying attention.
Right now, the best managers—whether they’re working in a garden, a lawn, or a pasture—are watching conditions and using that to make decisions.
They’re checking soil moisture before they plant, not after something struggles to come up. They’re paying attention to how quickly soils are drying out, especially with these drier conditions. And they are being wise in the application of fertilizers so they can get the most out of this investment.
If you want to stay ahead, here’s a simple place to start.
Walk your place this weekend and check these three things.
First in gardens and landscapes, add mulch. Landscape beds benefit tremendously from it. Adding three to four inches is enough. You can add more, so long as you do not form a ‘volcano’ of mulch against the base of your trees and shrubs. Also, keep it shallow right as it touches your house. We do not want to give termites a conduit into your home, so we should always be able to easily check the slab of your foundation without moving away piled-up mulch.
Next in pastures, look for young summer-emerging weeds. While your ryegrass and other winter annuals play out, summer growing weeds can be more easily controlled when they are young and tender. I do not expect you to find any Goatweed (Woolly Croton) just yet, but be on the watch so that you can spray when they do arrive.
And if you don’t know the names of your weeds, learn them. I spent some time with a lady this week who was just having so much fun identifying all the different plants found on her place. Using your smartphone’s camera in conjunction with a plant ID app will help you be able to identify so many plants that we often ignore. I just use Google’s photo option.
Lastly, don’t rush fertilizer applications just because things have turned green. Grass growth needs to be active, roots need to be functioning, and moisture needs to be there to support it. Otherwise, you’re spending money without getting much return.
Research recommends fertilizing only when the nighttime air temperatures remain above 60 F consistently. For those truly science-minded folks, take a thermometer and take the temperature four inches deep in your soil and fertilize then it reaches 65 F.
Successful growers are not just planting—they’re preparing now for the conditions they know are coming. They’re protecting and building the soil now in preparation for the expected dry summer heat. Likewise, they’re thinking ahead about irrigation before dry weather shows up, not after plants begin to stress.
By doing this, they stay ahead of problems.
I love the wise adage, “the most important thing to grow gardens successfully is your shadow.” Keeping an eye out and walking your place will allow you to identify problems long before issues show up. The ones who wait usually end up reacting instead of managing.
None of this is complicated.
It’s the difference between reacting to what you see and responding to what’s actually happening.
And that difference shows up later.
By the time we hit the heat of summer, you can usually tell who paid attention in April and who didn’t. Growth is either steady or it struggles. Pastures either hold up or they don’t. Gardens either produce or they fight stress the rest of the season.
And by then, most of those outcomes are already decided.
Right now, the opportunity isn’t just to stay busy.
It’s to be intentional.
Cary Sims is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Angelina County. His email address is cw-sims@tamu.edu. To receive a monthly newsletter about local Extension educational events and other offerings, e-mail Angelina-TX@tamu.edu
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.
By Cary Sims, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Angelina County
