Compost Isn’t the Whole Story

🌱 Compost Isn’t the Whole Story: Building Healthy Soils in Central Texas If you’ve spent any time gardening in Central Texas, you already know our soils can be…challenging. From alkaline clays to rocky Hill Country ground, growing healthy plants often starts with improving what’s under your feet. One of the best tools we have is compost—but it’s not a complete solution on its own. Let’s break down what compost really does in your soil—and why fertilizers still play an important supporting role. 🌿 What Compost Does for Your Soil Compost [...]

By |2026-02-26T08:01:21-06:00February 26th, 2026|Native Plants, Plants, Disease, Vegetable Gardening|
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Oil Products for Insect and Disease Control

Using Oil Products as Effective Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides Gardeners today can choose from a wide range of oil-based products that serve as effective alternatives to synthetic insecticides and fungicides. These products include oils refined from petroleum as well as oils extracted from plants and animals. In Central Texas landscapes, horticultural oils offer reliable pest and disease control with minimal environmental impact. Petroleum-Based Horticultural Oils Petroleum oils, including mineral oils, consist of highly refined paraffinic oils commonly sold as horticultural spray oil, summer oil, or white mineral oil. These modern [...]

By |2026-02-02T13:13:12-06:00January 11th, 2026|Insects, Disease|
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Fig Leaf Rust

Fig Leaf Rust is a common fungal disease affecting Fig trees in the South. When fig leaves start looking sad in late summer we get a lot of questions about what can be done. Most fig varieties are susceptible to a fungal disease called Fig Rust, and it is not uncommon to see symptoms of this fungus on stressed trees. What are the symptoms of Fig Leaf Rust?     Fig Rust symptoms begin as angular yellow-green flecks on the leaf. The spots become more yellow and eventually turn a [...]

By |2025-12-29T12:40:27-06:00October 12th, 2025|Disease, Fruit & Nuts, Plants, Trees|
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White Mold on Mulch or Potting Soil

Have you ever opened a bag of mulch, compost or potting soil only to find it is infested with white mold? Have you ever found a white moldy substance growing on or below the mulch in your yard? What is that white stuff on my soil or mulch? It is likely just a harmful saprophytic fungus that is busy at work decomposing organic matter in the mulch or soil. If the white fungus does not look string-like, it could be another fungus called Dog Vomit Slime Mold. Is the white [...]

By |2025-12-28T11:18:35-06:00September 30th, 2025|Plants, Disease|
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Septoria Leaf Spot of Tomato

    Tomatoes are susceptible to a variety of fungal leaf spot diseases. Proper cultural methods go a long way in preventing them.           Septoria leaf spot usually shows up on the lower leaves after the fruit has begun to set. Removal of the lower leaves as the plant grows so that splashing water will not spread the disease is recommended.       The fungus overwinters on plant debris or on any plant in the Nightshade family. It can also survive on tomato cages and [...]

By |2025-04-17T13:29:24-05:00April 17th, 2025|Plants, Disease, Vegetable Gardening|
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Rapid Decline of Post Oaks in Texas

I first became aware of this Decline of Post Oaks when visiting a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension booth at an annual trade show several years ago. I had been aware of how the severe drought in 2011 was continuing to plague our trees even more than a decade later, but had not heard of the Post Oak Decline. The incidence of Rapid Decline began in earnest after the severe drought of 2016. Since then I have experienced first hand the devastation this has caused to so many stately old trees.  [...]

By |2023-06-13T15:29:15-05:00June 13th, 2023|Trees, Disease|
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Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab

The Texas Plant Disease and Diagnostic Lab at Texas A&M University will test samples of diseased leaves from trees/shrubs and samples from lawns showing possible signs of disease. Please read the directions for payment and collection of samples. NOTE: They do not want DEAD LEAVES! Living tissue is best for diagnostic purposes. For a lawn sample, a 4"-6" divot with about 1" of soil/roots taken from the area NEXT TO the affected area (transition zone) is preferred to sending a sample of dead grass. Tree/shrub leaves that are just beginning [...]

By |2023-02-28T08:25:50-06:00November 30th, 2022|Disease|
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Galls

Plant galls are fascinating to me. They are all around us, yet we seldom notice them unless they appear in a favorite landscape tree. Plant galls are produced by a variety of organisms which include mites, wasps, midges, thrips, fruit flies, moths, psyllids, and aphids, as well as bacteria and fungi. Most plant galls are not harmful to the host plant, with the exception of some formed by bacteria and fungi. Many plant galls are produced by the host plant in response to the egg laying activity of the insects [...]

By |2023-02-28T08:27:30-06:00October 2nd, 2022|Trees, Insects, Disease|
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Seiridium Canker of Leyland, Arizona and Italian Cypress

With the increased use of these three evergreen members of the Cupressaceae family in Central Texas, it is inevitable that we have begun seeing increased incidences of this common canker disease. Although Italian Cypress seems to be the most common species to be affected due to its prevalence in the landscape, this disease can also infect juniper and arborvitae. Leyland Cypress is now showing more symptoms in Central Texas, most likely because it is planted in soil that is not as well-drained or as high in organic content that the [...]

By |2023-02-28T08:31:43-06:00February 4th, 2022|Disease|
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Ganoderma Butt Rot

The presence of a “fruiting body”, or conk, at the base of a tree or palm is a sign that the tree may be infected by a species of fungus called Ganoderma. There are several species of this fungus that affect different hosts. This one is Ganoderma sessile, and it affects oaks, maples, honeylocusts and other hardwoods. The conks appear annually in summer and fall at the base of the tree or on a lateral root close to the trunk. The fungus enters through wounds in the trunk commonly made [...]

By |2023-02-28T08:32:25-06:00January 4th, 2022|Trees, Disease|
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Root Knot Nematodes

Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are parasitic microscopic worm-like animals that infest plant roots and interfere with the uptake of water and nutrients. Infected plants will appear stunted, they may wilt on hot days even though soil is moist, they may have chlorotic or light green leaves and usually have reduced yields.       The roots will have "knots" on them where the nematode has entered the plant, and the "knots" do not come off easily, as can be seen on this nematode infested potato.         [...]

By |2023-02-28T08:33:07-06:00July 21st, 2021|Plants, Insects, Fruit & Nuts, Disease, Vegetable Gardening|
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Gray Leaf Spot on St. Augustine Lawns

Gray Leaf Spot (Piricularia grisea) usually shows up on St. Augustine Lawns during late spring to early summer, especially if there is abundant moisture available. Spring rains and nighttime watering schedules contribute to disease incidence. Many times cultural practices contribute to the lawn’s susceptibility to disease. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers, weed and feed fertilizers and frequent, shallow watering. Do not water in the late evening or overnight. Catching the clippings while the disease is active will slow the spread of the disease, as will cleaning mower blades with alcohol before [...]

By |2022-01-15T12:08:01-06:00July 21st, 2021|Disease, Lawn Care|
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