GARDENER’S MAILBAG

Dear Neil: I have an acre of native grasses that I normally mow one time per year, usually in January. This year I wasn’t able to do that, and now I have numerous purple verbena plants growing across it. I’d like to let them reseed themselves. When, if at all, can I mow my field to allow the seeds to spread?

Of all our Texas wildflowers, that’s one of my favorites. It blooms in really bad places where nothing else wants to grow, not implying that about your acre, plus it stays in bloom for a comparatively long time. It’s mannerly and it’s a color that we don’t see widely represented in other wildflowers. I would suggest simply keeping an eye on the plants. As the seeds start to dry and release, then fall to the ground you’ll be safe to mow. It’s going to be a while longer – another month or two at a minimum. Don’t mow while the plants are still producing new flowers. Would it be possible to set your blade higher than usual this time around so you can leave the seeds that are at the bottoms of the plants even longer?

Dear Neil: We are not allowed to fence our front yard. Deer keep the St. Augustine mowed to the ground. What is the best way to prevent that kind of damage?

I wish I had the perfect answer, but there isn’t one. Usually, you’ll have to use a combination of things. Unfortunately, when it gets hot and dry and their natural food sources dry up, you can expect deer to become more desperate and willing to bypass your control measures. I did a quick online search and found scores of matches – too many to read and condense. Most included suggestions of bad smells like putrefied eggs, etc., motion devices like pie plates that spin, or motion-activated sprinklers, sound devices such as horns and loud whistles, and lights. None of those sounded too good for a residence in an urban environment, but perhaps there is something in there that you will find useful. Better Homes and Gardens has a good list of deer-resistant plants at https://www.bhg.com/ gardening/pests/insectsdiseases- weeds/tips-fordeterring- deer-from-eating- gardens/. If you want tips that are legitimate and carefully researched, you might Google “University deer resistant landscapes”. Hope that’s all a help. It’s not going to be easy.