I hope that your garden preparations for the fall crops have been or are almost complete. It’s time to plant squash, beans, and okra from seeds. Fall plants should be here mid-August. Keep an eye on Facebook and we’ll let you know when they’re here.

Of all the different things that we put in our vegetable gardens, none is more important than fertilizer. It is the food that grows the food. Because I grow my vegetables all-naturally  I need to fertilize sooner and more often than synthetic gardeners do. In a perfect world, I add a bag or 2 of compost and my pre-plant fertilizer about three to four weeks before I plant. My choice of fertilizers runs between  Wells Brothers Dirt Diet (4-1-2) or  Medina (3-2-3). I will add between 30 and 40 pounds to about 200 square feet of garden area.

If that sounds like a lot it’s not and here why. Most gardens (including mine) in the North Texas area are raised beds that have a lot of compost added. That’s a good thing but compost only has about 1% nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen is already spoken for since it’s one of the engines that drives decomposition and plant growth. This means the plants and dirt are in competition for the same resources. Adding nitrogen feeds the plants but also fuels more decomposition. Nitrogen can also be washed out with a lot of rain and some types can evaporate. Compost has such small quantities of P and K that they should be considered nonexistent and should be added to the garden.  A soil test will give you an idea of what the garden needs.

Depending on the weather, this pre-plant fertilization lasts four to six weeks after planting. After that, I need to start fertilizing. Normally I change pre-plant fertilizer from season to season but it’s not necessary.

The four things you need to grow a garden (or any other plant) are soil, sun, water, and fertilizer. How you get the four basics are as individualistic as selecting shoes. Centuries of gardening have yielded some interesting approaches. These gardening myths carry a lot of weight with some folks. Some work and some don’t. One that works is to plant a fish (even fish sticks without the breading) in the hole below the crop. There should be soil between the fish and the plant. You have just planted an excellent slow-release fertilizer.

The one that always makes me smile is planting a specific crop on a specific date. Like planting potatoes on February 14th. I seem to remember, by the light of the moon was also included (I’m just not that dedicated). Sorry to burst your bubble but plants and seeds do not care what day it is. What they care about is temperature, moisture, sunlight, and soil. This is why the planting guides give date ranges and not exact dates. One thing for sure, if you miss the window by a week or so and you don’t plant it, it won’t grow! The other side of this is if you miss it by 6 weeks, try again next season.

See some of the most common garden myths here. By the way, it’s time to get started preparing the garden for fall crops.

Chinch bug, you say? Almost every year they are responsible for a lot of damage to lawns. They prefer St. Augustine grass, but will also feast on Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede grass. Chinch bugs like it hot and dry. That’s why the damage occurs in full sun, next to streets, driveways, and sidewalks. Grass damaged by chinch bugs remains attached to its roots, unlike grub damage. Before you start spraying or spreading your insect killer of choice, you need to identify the cause of your problem.

The chinch bug is a surface-dwelling creature and it is easily detected. Remove the top and bottom of a steel coffee can (3 pounds if you can find one). Push it into the soil at the edge of the healthy and damaged grass and then fill it with water. Since they don’t like water they will swim to the top. If you see them, treat them.

Ok, you found chinch bugs. Now we start to control them. All-natural products include DE (Diatomaceous Earth), Beneficial Nematodes, or my favorite, orange oil. On the synthetic side, I like Kill-a-Bug (permethrin) and Cyonara spray (lambda-cyhalothrin). As always read and follow the label directions.

Come see us at Wells Brothers Pet, Lawn, and Garden Center for all your lawn and garden needs. We’re conveniently located at 5001 K. Ave in Plano, Texas.