Bill Lamson-Scribner

While walking and driving around, it seems that brown patch/large patch/Zoysia patch (I will use these names interchangeable) has invaded the Lowcountry. As the cooler weather comes and the grass growth rate slows down, large patch/brown patch/zoysia patch fungus began to show up in our lawns. Does it seem to you that right when we got the army worms and sod web worms under control, here comes the large patch? Proving once again, the Lowcountry is the hardest place in the world to grow grass and why it is so important to have a program for your lawn. Do you see areas of your grass that are brown when other parts are green?

The pollen and the gnats are here and so is spring! Spring is like St. Patrick's Day when everyone is Irish for the day. It seems like everyone is a gardener in the spring.

Another dry spring. Do you have mites trying to come into your house for some water? I did a little shopping on the broken bag pallet at Possum's and have been putting out organics to bring my grass out of dormancy — Perk, SeaHume, Organic Dethatcher, 04-04-04, and dolomitic lime (based on soil test). I also used a broken bag of fungicide, insecticide and pre-emergent. The one thing that probably saves me the most time is something I put on my shrubs called Cutless Growth Regulator — no pruning or picking up after pruning!

We finally got some rain! Last week after the air show was cancelled, I went to plant some native pollinator attracting plant seeds that I picked up from the Native Plant Society at MUSC's Greenest Day celebration, and just below the mulch the ground was still bone dry! I love walking this time of year and getting to smell the wonderful magnolias. What a Lowcountry signature tree! Here is a quick list of questions about events in the yard.

I still hear that we are 6.5 to 8 inches in deficit for rain in the Lowcountry, depending on where you are located. Not good! Extreme Drought conditions! I'm seeing some trees that are weakened and being attacked by secondary invaders.

Depending on where you live in the Lowcountry, you might have had some rain. Others like me, still dry as a bone. The high tides have provided a place for mosquitoes to breed, and they are out — and hungry (Mosquito Pro)! Summer is here and that means the kids are out of school, maybe time to look at colleges and summer vacation. The talk of bed bugs is not in the news like it used to be, but if you saw our sales of bedbug control products at Possum's, you would be amazed. Whether you live South of Broad or in “affordable” housing, we have helped you with your bedbug situation. We have learned that is not necessarily the homeowner that brings in the bed bugs, but often it is a guest that is traveling from place to place. We all know people like to visit Charleston!

Depending on where you live in the Lowcountry, you might have had some rain. Others like me, still dry as a bone. The high tides have provided a place for mosquitoes to breed, and they are out — and hungry (Mosquito Pro)! Summer is here and that means the kids are out of school, maybe time to look at colleges and summer vacation. The talk of bed bugs is not in the news like it used to be, but if you saw our sales of bedbug control products at Possum’s, you would be amazed. Whether you live South of Broad or in “affordable” housing, we have helped you with your bedbug situation. We have learned that is not necessarily the homeowner that brings in the bed bugs, but often it is a guest that is traveling from place to place. We all know people like to visit Charleston!

The dry and windy spring kept the mosquitoes at bay, but after that little bit of heavy rain that flooded low areas and ditches, regular rains and high tides, they are out in full force. Last night I was talking to a neighbor while she was pushing her 18-month daughter around in a stroller, and the mosquitoes were attacking the young girl. The mother, with child again, had five mosquitoes on her immediately. We cut our conversation short and headed to our air-conditioned houses. B^ST#$%S!