What Is Texas Talking About This Week?
Good afternoon everyone!
As I sit here writing this week's Weekly Insight on Saturday afternoon, we just had a nice little shower move through BES-TEX Supply. The current temperature is a pleasant 78 degrees, something we don't usually get to say on the first day of August in West Texas.
Now, by the time you're reading this on Sunday afternoon, it may already be back to 105 degrees. You never know what West Texas weather is going to do. But as I write this, I'm certainly enjoying the break from the heat.
Normally, August means triple-digit temperatures, dry conditions, and another month of trying to help our lawns simply survive until fall. August has never been known as one of our wetter months, so maybe Mother Nature is giving us a good start. If August finishes the way it started, we'll all be smiling a little more by Labor Day.
That got me thinking.
I spent a little time looking at what homeowners across Texas are searching for online when it comes to their lawns and landscapes. The interesting part wasn't that their questions were different from ours. It was that they were almost exactly the same.
The most common questions being asked across Texas are:
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Why is my Bermuda grass turning brown?
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How much should I water my lawn?
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Do I have a lawn fungus or is my grass just heat stressed?
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How do I know if I have armyworms?
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Why are my trees dropping leaves?
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How do I save water and still have a healthy lawn?
Sound familiar?
Whether you live in San Angelo, Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, or the Rio Grande Valley, homeowners are dealing with many of the same concerns. Every part of Texas has its own challenges, but this time of year almost everyone is trying to keep their landscape healthy through the hottest part of the summer.
Here's the important part.
Just because people in another part of Texas are treating for armyworms doesn't mean we should be. Just because someone on social media says they sprayed a fungicide doesn't mean fungus is the problem in your lawn.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is treating before identifying the problem.
At BES-TEX Supply, we believe the first step is always the same. Slow down, observe, and identify the cause. You can't solve a problem until you know what the problem actually is.
One of my favorite sayings is:
"What's the number one thing you can put on your lawn?"
Your own shadow.
Get outside. Walk your yard. Look at your trees and shrubs. Watch how your irrigation system is performing. Look for insects, disease symptoms, dry spots, or areas that stay too wet. The sooner you notice a change, the easier and less expensive it usually is to correct.
As we move through August, don't feel like you have to treat every problem just because someone else is. Every lawn is different. Every landscape is different. Good lawn care starts with good observation.
Our goal has never been to sell you the most products. Our goal is to help you make the right decision for your lawn.
If we can correctly identify the problem, we have an excellent chance of finding the right solution.
Have a great week, enjoy the cooler weather if it sticks around for a while, and let's all hope August continues to surprise us.
See you next Sunday!
Monte Sims
BES-TEX Supply, LLC