Southern California Gardening FAQ

While this FAQ is geared toward the Southern California region, there are questions and answers here that pertain to lawns and gardens everywhere. Take a look, and if the answer you need isn't here or if you need more details, don't hesitate to Ask Joe. Questions and answers will be added regularly so check back often.

#1)Why does the grass look greener on the other side of the fence?
#2)Why are there some raised areas in my lawn and little piles of dirt?
#3)Why are my plants covered with black sooty stuff?
#4)How often should I fertilize?
#5)What type of fertilizer should I use?
#6)Why don't my flowering plants bloom like my neighbors'?
#7)Why are there holes in my leaves?
#8)How often should I water my lawn?

#1)Why does the grass look greener on the other side of the fence?
There are many factors that determine how green your lawn is, including type of fill used, soil Ph. maintenance (mowing, watering, fertilizing), and the type of grass itself. And remember color is not always an indicator of health. However, if the lawn is very weak, has many weeds, or just doesn't "look good," you may need professional help. Although seemingly simple, establishing the correct balance can be tricky.

#2)Why are there some raised areas in my lawn and little piles of dirt?
These are probably a sign of moles which are active in our area year-round. They spend most of their lives in the soil and out of sight. As they grow larger their tunnels become visible and where they come out to mate forms the little piles of dirt you see in your lawn. Pushing your finger or a stick into this furrow should reveal a small tunnel. Moles  have always been a problem in Bahia grass but in the past few years they have developed a taste for St. Augustine as well, usually in narrow strips of grass between two beds. They have six mating flights per year and need to be treated as often. If left unchecked they will destroy an entire lawn.

#3)Why are my plants covered with black sooty stuff?
Sooty mold is a fungus that is a byproduct of an insect infestation. Aphids, white fly and scale insects secrete "honeydew," a sweet substance that is attacked by the sooty mold fungus. Sooty mold is harmless to the plant but looks quite bad. The insect population must be controlled and the sooty mold will go away. Soap and water can help abate this problem, but professional insect control is recommended.

#4)How often should I fertilize?
Three times per year should do the trick in most cases. We prefer to apply fertilizer four times per year in slightly smaller amounts. The trade off is appearance in return for added effort in maintenance. If you want to handle fertilization yourself, be sure to buy quality, professional products. Several dollars more per bag is well worth the effect you will receive...cheap fertilizer speaks for itself.

#5)What type of fertilizer should I use?
People will give you a bazillion answers to this question. If you are doing it yourself, stay with balanced numbers and be sure the product you use includes all of the micro and minor elements. 16-4-8 and 14-4-14 are commonly used on turf and 8-10-10 on plants with palm specials used on palms and ixora. Never exceed the recommended rates. It's much better to do it more often lightly than too much at one time. Fertilizer has an environmental impact, so please use caution and be sure to be aware of where your runoff goes.

#6)Why don't my flowering plants bloom like my neighbors'?
There are a lot of reasons for blooms on plants: soil, water, sun and fertilizer. Fertilizer is important and easy to control. Cheaper fertilizers from garden centers tend to lack sufficient minor elements and release nitrogen too quickly. Use a fertilizer distributor in your area for better results. The first number on the package is for growth. It is better to have this number higher than the 2nd or 3rd after punning or if you are looking for growth. This also slows or stops flower production. The 2nd and 3rd numbers are generally for roots and stems, thereby giving the strength and ability for flower and seed production. Keep the 2nd and 3rd numbers higher for more blooms. Basically, any balanced fertilizer will work if it is applied consistently and properly. There's the rub. Most forget or over do it.

#7)Why are there holes in my leaves?
Caterpillars are a constant problem. Some species can defoliate an entire plant in a single day. Many caterpillars have a specific plant species they attack, some attack at night and some are bold and go for daylight, and some varieties sting quite badly. If your leaves have holes inside the margins but the margins are still there it is possibly a snail or slug problem. These are not insects so insecticides will have no effect on them. This can be a tricky one, so a professional consultation may be best.

#8)How often should I water my lawn?
If you are able to monitor your lawn daily, the best sign is to watch for the grass blades to start to fold in half and there will be a grayish hue to the lawn; now is the time to water. If the blades are wide open it means they are turgid and full of water and you will be wasting money and resources to water the lawn. The less water you use the more your roots reach out and the stronger they become, making them more resistant to disease, insects, and draught. The more water you use the more weeds, fungi, insects, and higher water bills you will have. There are very good rain sensors now to turn off irrigation systems when the soil is wet enough. People using well water tend to over-water more than anyone else. This is part of the reason why water restrictions are constantly enacted in our area.