May Landscapes – Winter Storm throws Landscape Industry into crisis

[Sirhornsalot]

What about sod? It seems that St Augustine is nowhere to be found. I’ve heard the grass farms were hit hard. Can’t find a pallet or cuts anywhere.

Its really not that bad. I haven't had any trouble getting sod. St Augustine can tolerate a couple of days of freezing weather. Most of the St Augustine sod farms are near the coast, because it is a coastal grass. The only issue I've heard they're having is finding help.

Bermuda is grown mostly in Oklahoma, which had it worse than we did. But Bermuda is a very resilient grass and does bounce back.

Where are you located? Maybe I can help you out on the sod?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I just got home for the first time since the storm. It looks like WWIII was fought here. 75% of my Live Oaks are gone and about a 3rd of my Post Oaks. I have fire wood for years.

Don't give up on your Live Oaks. Give them a little time before you cut them down. They are coming back very well up here in DFW, but very slowly. Not all Live Oaks respond the same way.

Those Post Oaks and Pin Oaks will make good firewood.

 

[Soldierhorn]

SH, have you heard of this?  I was watching a video and the guy was saying that a fungus is growing in the abdomen of the insects. when they come out of the ground, their rear end comes off and all that is left is a white fungi mass. The fungi apparently is hitting certain receptors that cause the cicadas sex drive to go into overdrive and, since they dont have a rear end where the sex organs are they are literally tearing themselves apart trying to satisfy the sex urge. I havent heard how wide spread this is nor what it ultimately means n nature.  

 

[Sirhornsalot]

SH, have you heard of this?  I was watching a video and the guy was saying that a fungus is growing in the abdomen of the insects. when they come out of the ground, their rear end comes off and all that is left is a white fungi mass. The fungi apparently is hitting certain receptors that cause the cicadas sex drive to go into overdrive and, since they dont have a rear end where the sex organs are they are literally tearing themselves apart trying to satisfy the sex urge. I havent heard how wide spread this is nor what it ultimately means n nature.  

View attachment 4156

That sounds so sad. I've not heard of it before. Maybe there won't be so many of them at my front door this year. lol

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Price gouging anyone?

As I said in my column, landscapers are having to shop retail nurseries to complete some of their orders this season due to the winter storm effects.

Yesterday, I'm hitting the retail nurseries looking for Oak Leaf Hydrangeas in a 3-gallon size. I needed 5 of them. I found two at a local nursery and purchased them for $30 each, which is what I normally pay for that plant in that size.

I later walk into Lowes and into their nursery to try to complete my order. I found three Oak Leaf Hydrangeas in a 3-gallon size. Lowes price?

$63 each.

Seems like you can COUNT ON LOWE'S to stick it to you when things are bad.

 

[nstr]

All the rain we've had has shown me that water puddles on the side of my house allot. Would you just use dirt to try to slope it away from the house? Thx.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

All the rain we've had has shown me that water puddles on the side of my house allot. Would you just use dirt to try to slope it away from the house? Thx.

The sides of your home are supposed to drain to the street. But thats not always the case and sometimes that slope just sort of disappears over time due to a variety of things.

You should only see three inches of foundation before you see your home's brick or siding. So you can't take your dirt that high. You may need a drain set up there, hooking your downspouts directly into the line so that water never sees the surface.