The Somewhat Bad: Ball Moss

Ball moss, a grayish mossy growth, usually around the size of a tennis ball, often is seen clinging to the branches of live oaks. Although it might appear to be a parasite of the tree, it actually is an epiphyte, which means that it may attach itself to a tree or other perches but it feeds itself by capturing moisture and nutrients from the air, rather than taking nutrients from the tree.

Ball moss likes shade and humid air, conditions that are naturally found under the canopy of live oaks. The branches on which it grows are not dead or dying because of the ball moss. They are dying because they are shaded by the branches above that form the canopy. Tree branches need a certain amount of light for photosynthesis in the leaves. Without light, leaves cannot produce sugars through photosynthesis and the branches ultimately die. However, those same branches provide food and shelter for birds, and the ball moss hosts a small spider that is food for wrens, warblers and other insectivorous birds.

While ball moss may be harmless to its landlord, many people object to it on aesthetic grounds. It can be physically removed from the tree as part of a pruning regimen or by careful periodic spraying.

More information about how to manage ball moss without harming your trees is available at this link -http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=1264&terms=ball+moss

The Good: Wildflowers!

Plant Them Soon

The spring show of wildflowers depends on something that may be counter-intuitive – fall planting, ideally during September and October.

Many wildflowers depend on fall rains and cooler weather to germinate and develop a deep root system. That root system may determine whether the plant lives and flowers or dies when our hot and dry weather arrives in the spring and summer.

To plant wildflowers, make sure that there is good contact between the seed and the soil. This may mean clearing existing vegetation, planting the seed at the recommended depth, then covering with soil and pressing the seeds into the soil. Check the planting instructions that come with the seeds, or consult a reliable source such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. http://www.wildflower.org/howto/

If you are planting bluebonnets, some sources recommend scarifying (scratching or nicking) the seedcoat prior to planting them, to allow moisture to reach the seed and speed up germination. However, see the to-scarify-or-not-to-scarify discussion at this link: http://www.wildflower.org/howto/show.php?id=34&frontpage=true

since scarified seed may require supplemental watering.

Simple techniques such as rubbing the seeds between two sheets of sandpaper may do the trick, or line a sturdy container with sandpaper, add the seeds and lid, and shake it vigorously. The wildflower center has specific information on how to establish a stand of bluebonnets, including how much seed is needed and good ways to encourage year-after-year blooms: http://www.wildflower.org/howto/show.php?id=1&frontpage=true

A number of Mystic Shores streets are named for wildflowers, so consider eponymous selections for your yard or street border!

Patience Pays

Perennial wildflowers may need to develop roots for a year or two before they are ready to bloom. Once the blooms fade, wait until the seeds are set before mowing them, to help assure future generations of blooms. Since the germination period may be long, avoid spreading pre-emergent or other herbicides in the area where you’ve planted wildflowers.

Don’t Forget the Birds

Our native birds, both year-round and migratory, can benefit from certain wildflowers and other plants that provide food or forage. Premixed seed blends for birds are available from some wildflower seed providers.

Seed Sources
We are fortunate to have these wildflower seed sources in Central Texas, along with the Lady Bird Wildflower Center:
Wildseed Farms, Fredericksburg - http://shop.wildseedfarms.com/ (sells pre-scarified bluebonnet seeds)
Native American Seeds, Junction (the catalog indicates the soil types for which seeds are suitable. Also sells a “sustainable quail and dove mix" - http://www.seedsource.com/ (bluebonnet seeds are not scarified)