Gardening by the moon: STRUGGLING TURF!

Many of you have to be frustrated with the appearance of your turf this spring.  Our winter was not kind to many of our plant materials and it was also hard on turf.   Freeze damage on turf is causing a slow green-up this spring.  This winter, the quick change from warm weather to freezing temperatures with no time for a slow transition and then the length of the freeze, killed turf tissue.  Once that happens, it can take weeks and even months for the grass to recover. 

If your turf is brown and struggling, you need to put it on life support!  Once the cool night temperatures finally exit, the grass will begin to recover more quickly since it is a warm season grass. 

If there is 50 to 70 percent of your turf that is still green and trying to recover, control the weeds growing in the turf with a post-emergent weed control for southern grasses.  Fertilize the grass every 2 to 4 weeks for two applications with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen to help the grass begin growing vigorously.  Nitrogen will be the first number on the fertilizer bag.  Once the grass greens up, cut back on the fertilizer to every 6 to 8 weeks for the rest of the growing season.  If you applied a pre-emergent weed control in February such as Preen or Halts, apply again in May and September.  This will protect the turf from weeds that will continue to germinate.  If you did not apply in February, apply now and then again in September.

If your turf has less than 50 percent green, recovery will take longer.  Fertilize and control weeds the same as above.  If you still have dead areas in your turf after following the above fertilization schedule, at the end of July or first of August, you may want to re-sod those areas that have not recovered.  If the brown appearance makes you impatient, you can sod anytime once night temperatures begins to stay in the 70’s.

The good news is that we live in Texas and warm temperatures will be here soon to stay for a few months and your turf will respond to the heat!

GARDENING BY THE MOON: SPRING GARDENING

This is the time of the year that you need to start paying attention to your yard.  If you do the following 4 things, you will set your landscape up for success through the remainder of the year and avoid most weeds and sprinting away from fire ants.

1.                  Neem Oil Landscape Treatment- Spray all trees, shrubs, perennials and ground cover with Neem Oil for the control of over wintering insects and diseases. Neem Oil is a non toxic, organic pest control material that is very safe for use in your yard. This is a homeowner’s dream material. Safe and it works!  It is the only product I use in my yard and garden. 

2.                  Summer Weed Prevention- Apply a pre-emergent weed control to all turf and beds now to avoid summer weeds. Treatment times for the year are March15, May 15 and September 15. Apply Halts, Preen or Pre-M. Selective pre-emergent herbicides are mild materials that effectively control weeds without endangering turf and landscape plants that already have existing roots. They kill only germinating weed seeds.

3.                  Spring Fertilization- Fertilize your turf and shrub beds now with a fertilizer such as Scott’s Turf Builder for Southern Lawns slow release fertilizer with an analysis of 32-0-10. Use a spreader with edge guard to keep fertilizer off hard surfaces. Scott’s spreaders are good to use with Scott’s fertilizers.  Any fertilizer you purchase should be more expensive indicating that the nitrogen  is slow release.  The quick release fertilizers are polluting and not as safe for the environment.

4.                  Fire Ant Control- Treat your whole landscape (turf and beds) with fire ant control such as Over’n Out at the end of March or in April for 6 month long fire ant control. Apply per label instructions.

Enjoy your landscape!! 

We Create Community!

What makes our community different from any around town?  I'm glad you asked.  Here's why:

At Pomona we create community living.  We are different from other communities because we bring back the nostalgic feel of community that you don’t really see much of anymore.  It’s neighbors doing life together—through the good and the bad times. The culture of community here is strong. People move here because they want to know their neighbors, they want to make friends, and they want to be active and social. There is a great sense of togetherness and belonging that you just don’t see in other neighborhoods.

Your HOA team—both the General Manager and Lifestyle manager--promotes a culture of community by investing in the lives of our residents. We live it out with them. Neighbors become our family. We help neighbors when they are struggling, connect them to others who are walking through similar situations. We know people by name, their children’s name, their interests, and what sports their kids play.  We are authentic and relational, which builds trust with the neighbors and the HOA team.  CLICK HERE to enjoy a video we created to help show you what we are talking about!

Gardening by the Moon: Plants Vs. Extended Freezing Temperatures

It has happened again this year!  There has been 60 to 72 hours of 20 degree weather depending on your location.  The events in December and January with extended, extreme cold weather has been very hard on many of your plant materials.  The damages are severe because of the temperature fluctuation from warmer temperatures to extended freezing temperatures with no opportunity for plants to acclimate to the colder temperature.  Once this happens, tender foliage and stems die.   Plants turn brown, drop leaves, and often look like wet tissue paper due to cells in the plant bursting when the moisture in the plant cells turns to ice.

Unfortunately, all newly planted plant materials were very susceptible to this freeze damage.  Thin barked trees such as lacebark elm trees, vitex and crape myrtle will have severe damage.  There is a possibility that these plants will die back to the ground, especially the crape myrtle and vitex.  Even heavier barked trees such as live oak and Chinese pistache will experience bark splitting from this kind of extreme weather.

Do not panic because most of your established perennial plants and shrubs are still alive.   They will need to be cut back but you do not have to rush to do this.  They will need to be cut back by the end of February to the middle of March to remove dead and damaged leaves and branches.  If you have already cut back these plants, that is okay.  I normally wait and give some time to be able to identify all the damage to the plant.  Many times you will see splitting on the stems and that is also freeze damage.  That will need to be removed in spring, if you see this damage.  If you are unsure about what to remove, wait until spring greenup and cut back to new green growth.

I have had questions about covering plant material during periods of extreme cold weather.  Covering only helps for a short period of freezing temperatures (four hours or less).  When temperatures are in the 20’s or below for an extended period of time and especially with high winds, covering does not help.  If you see that a period of freezing weather is expected, you should make sure plants are watered before the event. 

To encourage new plant growth, fertilize all plant material – trees, shrubs and ground cover – in February.  Unfortunately, living in Texas, we can always expect extreme temperature changes in the winter.  This year has been a repeat of last year when unusually cold temperatures occurred for an extended period of time with wind and no time for plants to acclimate.

Most Popular New Year's Resolutions

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the past 12 months and consider what went well and what you’d do differently. More often than not, you’re able to think of a few things you’d like to accomplish in the year ahead. We’re with you on that. But, it can be pretty challenging to hold to those resolutions. (Studies show 80% don’t make it past the first week of February.)

What do you say we change that number this year and commit to bringing our New Year’s Resolutions to life? Here are some of the most popular things people want to focus on for 2018. Let’s do this.

Health & Wellness

This one tops the list each year, and it’s easy to see why. After indulging on seasonal treats, grandma’s home cooking and one too many holiday parties, it makes sense that people would start thinking about a healthier lifestyle come January 1.

It can be tough to stick with this one, though, so experts suggest finding a partner or friend to hold you accountable. By teaming up with someone else, you’re more likely to continue on the path to health and wellness. Need some extra motivation? Talk to one of our community wellness managers for tips and suggestions.

Learn Something New

Ever wanted to play the piano? Learn a different language? Master the art of cooking? We’ve all been there, and we’ve all found reasons not to do the things we’ve be wanting to do. Life is busy and other things get in the way - it happens to the best of us. But this year, let’s really do it.

Find a local piano instructor to help you get started. Buy Rosetta Stone and teach yourself French. Sign up for some cooking classes. There is so much out there to learn and do, and you have plenty of time to dedicate yourself to whichever you choose. You simply have to choose what you want to do and get out there and do it. We guarantee you’ll be happy with the end result.

Disconnect to Connect

Are you reading this on your cell phone right now? If we had to bet, we’d guess the answer is yes. In 2017, the average person spent approximately 4-5 hours on their mobile device. That’s roughly one-third of your total waking hours. Sounds like a lot, right? We agree, but let’s face it. Our phones play a vital role in our lives and getting rid of them isn’t very realistic.

Instead, consider unplugging more frequently. When you’re visiting family or friends, stash your phone in another room and make the most of that quality time together. Rather than calling a friend to chat, think about meeting them in person. Face-to-face interactions are more necessary than ever and truly help fuel your body and spirit. That connectivity will bring more energy to your day and leave you feeling content and refreshed. That’s a resolution we can keep.

Travel to New Places

These winter months bring a lot of snow and frigid temperatures, so can you blame us for dreaming of sandy beaches and tropical weather? (We’re looking at you, Hawaii.) Whether you hop an international flight or pile in the car for a road trip, travel is good for the soul. Not only are you able to visit new places, but you’re poised to learn more about yourself and the world we live in, too.

Combine this resolution with the previous one and you have everything you need for a memory-making adventure. If you choose the islands, save us a beach chair. We’re always looking for some more Vitamin D.

Reduce Stress

It’s starting to seem like all of these resolutions tie together somehow. Want to know how to reduce stress? Focus on your health and wellness, spend more time with friends and family, learn something you’ve always wanted to learn, and take a vacation. There! We solved it.

It’s not always so simple, though. The holidays can be overwhelming and work and family obligations can add to your stress. Sometimes, it seems like the only skill we can master is worrying about every detail of our lives. Will we have time for the gym today? When was the last time we called our friend? Should we really eat that second bagel? It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. The first step towards stress relief is recognizing that you feel it. Look for ways to streamline your day and make things easier on yourself. Think about what brings you happiness and set some time aside to do it, whatever “it” is. When all else fails, just remember - a positive attitude can go a long way.

There you have it. Four of the most popular resolutions for 2018. Which are you taking on this year?  We would love to hear from you.  Share your successes with Lifestyle Manager, Lori Evans by email lori.evans@fsresidential.com . 

Cookie Exchange with Santa Claus!!!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came and brought yummy treats to our cookies exchange with Santa!  How much fun that Mrs. Claus was able to join in on the fun too.  See below for your pictures from the event.  Happy holidays!!!

Flag Football!!!

Written by: Kristian Gambrell, Founding Member and Historian for Pomona Teen Advisory Board

We had a thrilling time with Coach Todd McArthur (former NFL pro) and AJ Martin (plays for Kansas and looking to get drafted this year) as they came out to show residents how to train and prepare for a pro football game.  They taught our teens good skills and football techniques along with how important it is to have love for the game but also a good education.

Residents of all ages then played a very entertaining game of flag football.  It was a joy to see the community come together, father/sons, neighbors, old/young, for the love of the sport.  The game was close but the yellow team won with a score of 56-49!  We look forward to making this a Pomona Thanksgiving tradition for years to come!!!

2017 Annual HOA Meeting Presentation

We had a great turnout for our 2017 Annual HOA meeting held on October 24.  In case you were not able to attend, click HERE for the presentation.  For any questions contact Donna Grice, HOA GM @ donna.grice@fsresidential.com.

Gardening by the Moon: Mulching Time is HERE!

There is a time and place for everything and if you have not cleaned up your planting beds from summer, now is a good time. 

First, if you have not switched your irrigation system to off, do so now.  There has been plenty of natural rainfall to keep your plants thriving.  Only leave your irrigation system on if you have recently planted new plants and only provide water to those new plantings.

Now for the mulching part.  Start by removing any weeds and unsightly plants from your beds and tree rings.  Once debris is cleaned, it is time to mulch to improve appearance of beds and tree rings during the winter months.    If you are asking why you need to mulch now, here are the best reasons!

1. Mulch will help you conserve moisture in the soil to reduce watering.  It also evens out the moisture in your beds and helps save money all other times of the year.  It reduces surface evaporation and improves water penetration and air movement in the soil.

2. You will really like this reason.  It discourages weed growth and makes weeds easier to remove.

3. Mulch will provide winter protection for your plants by insulating the roots during periods of cold weather.  It also protects roots from extremely hot weather and prevents quick temperature changes to the roots moderating soil temperature fluctuations.  For plants that are shallowly planted, it protects roots from freeze damage and frost-heave.

4. By mulching, you are improving the holding capacity of soil nutrients and as mulch decomposes, it improves soil structure.

5. New, fresh mulch makes beds and tree rings look decorative.

6. You can save valuable time and back pain by reducing bed care.

After cleaning beds, add 2 to 3 inches of bark mulch that is double or triple ground hard wood.  The HOA guidelines require brown mulch so stay away from the colored mulches.

Find your next pretty day and add another thing to do in an already busy season.  Mulch away!

You've Been Booed!!!

Boo baskets start this Sunday so keep an eye on your front door!!!  Getting "boo-ed" is a fun Halloween tradition where a neighbor will leave a fun basket of goodies on another neighbor's door step.  There will be a note on what to do next after you get "boo-ed".  Make sure to share all your fun pics on the private Homeowners Facebook page.  See below for the print outs in case you need them.  Have fun!!!

 

GARDENING BY THE MOON: Brown Patch in Turf!

Is your yard turning brown for no apparent reason?

On my last visit to Pomona, I talked with several homeowners at the HOA meeting that are experiencing problems with their turf browning due to all the recent heavy rains from Harvey and since Harvey.  These wet conditions have made your yard susceptible to brown patch disease.  This disease starts as a circular area or irregular brown patches in the turf and as it continues to rain, it quickly spreads to the entire yard. 

If your grass is browning and thinning, treat with a fungicide for turf that you can purchase from a local garden supply store.   Make sure brown patch control is listed on the label.

As long as it keeps raining, turn your irrigation controller to the “off” position.  More water will make the disease spread faster.  If your yard gets dry, water only in the morning so the grass can dry quickly during the day.

The fungicide will control this disease if you stop watering and the rain ends.  If heavy rains keep coming your way after treating, wait 10 to 14 days and treat again.  Do not fertilize your yard until the grass recovers.   Do not be discouraged if you do not see recovery quickly.  Your turf is bermudagrass with underground rhizomes, so if the disease is treated, your turf should recover in the spring.  Due to the severity of the disease, if brown areas are still present at spring green-up, some re-sodding or seeding may be necessary!  But do not be in a hurry to do that this fall!

Gardening by the Moon: URGENT! FLOATING FIRE ANTS LOOKING FOR A HOME!

All the recent, heavy rain and flooding from Hurricane Harvey has misplaced many animals and insects.  But the number one insect that is floating to find a home is the fire ant.  During heavy rains and flooding, these insects roll up into a ball for protection and they travel anywhere the flood water takes them.  Unfortunately for all of us, they usually end up in our yards.

The fire ants that land in your yard from their recent travels will build mounds high for protection from future heavy rains, so they can be easily seen.  The best way to solve this problem is to use the good old “Texas Two Step” approach.  No, you are not going to dance them away but you are going to use the following two steps to reduce the populations in your yard.

Step One – treat your entire yard and around your foundation, not just mounds.  Mound treatment is part of Step Two.  Treat with a bait.  Baits are most effective when ants are looking for food.  Ants remove the bait from the soil surface and take it back to the mound.  Purchase one of these baits,  Amdro, Combat, ProBait, Seige, ProAscend, Varsity, Chipco, Fire Star, Distance, Spectracide Fire Ant Bait, Ellminator, Justice or Extinguish.  I wanted to give you several names so if supplies are limited, you can find one of the above available.  Amdro is usually the easiest bait to find.  Try to apply to your yard when it is not going to rain for at least 8 hours for most effective use of the product.

Step Two – Treat the fire ant mounds with Bayer Advanced Turf Multi Insect Killer, Orthene, Sevin, Real Kill Fire Ant Killer, Spectracide for Lawns, or any product that is granular and has fire ants listed on the label.

Tell your neighbors about the Texas Two Step method of fire ant control and encourage them to treat or just have a block party where all can treat at the same time.  The more adjoiningyards that treat, the more effective the control.

If you have your yard treated by a professional, they can use Fipronil which will give a longer control. 

Good luck in controlling this floating nemesis!

College Tips and Tricks

By: Qualee Marshall

Our PTAB advisor, Qualee Marshall, is heading off to UT Austin this week to begin her new journey as a college student.  At the last PTAB meeting, she shared with us how she made it through the whole process of getting ready for college: what you need to do in high school to prepare, the application process, scholarship tricks, the selection process and more.  Please click HERE to view her power point in its entirety.  Wishing you all our best!!!

Pick Your Neighbor: Resident Referral Program

Do you tell everyone about how much you LOVE our community so much so that they buy a house in Pomona?  We want to THANK YOU for spreading the word about our gem of a neighborhood which is why we are introducing our resident referral program!!!

Pomona Teen Advisory Board Positions Elected!

Elections were held and the following teens were voted into their leadership positions for our founding year of the Teen Advisory Board:

President – Destiny Osei

VP- Tyler Li

Historian – Kristian Gambrell

Secretary – Trinity Grays

Social Chair – Kailey Watson

Sports Chair – Jacob Johnson

Join me in congratulating our leaders and all of our founding teen members in their leadership and community involvement.  Moving forward, each and every member will help each other achieve their goal to better our community, as a team.  For Pomona's First Responder Car Wash on July 15t,h they were able to give back to those that take care of us when in need.  Brazoria County Sheriff's Department and Manvel Volunteer Fire Department were very appreciate of their efforts and enjoyed driving off in their clean vehicles!

GARDENING BY THE MOON: Weed, Weeds and More Weeds!

Recently, homeowners have been fighting weeds – lots of weeds in their beds and turf!  I have been told by many of you that you have followed all weed control recommendations and you still have weeds.   It is hard to understand why all these weeds keep coming.  Well, these weeds are in the soil.  Your neighborhood was developed in a native area.  There are many years of weed seed in your yard soil to keep giving you problems. 

The common areas are also experiencing the same weed problems.  Eventually, by following the schedule given below, your weed problem will become less and less and you will achieve control.

• September 15 – Apply a pre-emergent weed control such as Preen or Halts. 

• February 15 - Apply a pre-emergent weed control such as Preen or Halts. 

• May 15 - Apply a pre-emergent weed control such as Preen or Halts. 

• Treat any breakthrough weeds with Weed Control for Southern Grasses.

• Fertilize your turf and beds 4 times per year to encourage healthy, vigorous growth of your plant materials.

All the above materials can be purchased at a local garden store, Home Depot or Lowes.

Unfortunately, weeds are a problem in new developments but don’t give up!!  You can win. 

Gardening by the Moon: Develop Your Own Green Thumb!!!

For the most part, I think having a green thumb is overrated.  Knowledge goes a long way in making people successful at gardening.  I have listed 12 facts that will help you be a good gardener.

1. Know your soils.  A soils test is very helpful in knowing what to do for your plants and turf.  Just go online to http://al-labs-plains.com.  This is the website for A & L Agricultural Plains Laboratories.  On this site, you will find information telling you how to take a soil test and a form to fill out to send in with your test.  The results are the key to what needs to be applied for healthier and more vigorous plant growth.

2. Know your hardiness zone.  At Pomona, you are in Zone 9 so do not fall in love with plants that will not survive in this area.

3. Know proper plant spacing.  Plant accordint to a plant’s mature size.  Over-crowded plants are unhealthy.  Most labels on plants will give you the height and width of a mature plant.  If not, there is always the internet!

4. Know what plants are native to your area.  Native plants will survive our hot summer, periods of drought and most of the time, any rapid temperature changes in the fall.  They are also more resistant to insect and diseases.  And most importantly, they like our soils.

5. Know water requirements for your plants.  Do not overwater.  Your soils hold water!

6. Know how to select an interesting plant pallette.  Do not plant too many of any one plant.  Mix your planting.

7. Know how to mulch your yard.  Mulching with a brown, double-ground hardwood mulch will help to consesrve water and give your beds a neat appearance.  Maintain mulching depth at 2 inches.

8. Know how often to fertilize.  Fertilize your turf all your plants growing in the soil 3 to 4 times per year in march, May, July and September.  Use an organic based, slow release fertilizer like Holganix.  Fertilizer your container plantings every 2 weeks during with growing season with Miracle Gro plant food.

9. Know how often to apply a pre-emergent to help with weed control.  Apply to your turf and beds 3 times a year in February, May and September.  Use Preem or Halts to help prevent a weed invasion in your yard.

10. Know how to correctly prune plants.  There are many books and information online for proper pruning of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, etc.

11. Know to remove dead wood, dead leaves and dead plants from your landscape.  Do this removal as soon as dead appears.  Not only is this dead wood and leaves and spent blooms unsightly, by removing, you will know if the plant continues to decline and you will have time to react before it dies.

12. Know how to identify pests.  Neem Oil is a very safe insecticide and fungicide.  It is orangic and affective, so be sure to apply before pests take over your plants.

Just a little knowledge in these key areas will turn you into a green thumb and your success will be based in knowledge and not just luck or chance!