“Because in the garden, the enemy is everything.”:  The Top 5 Enemies in Houston Gardens

By Jennifer Bennett, Harris County Master Gardener

Jennifer writes, edits and is the coordinator for the Harris County Master Gardener Newsletter, Urban Dirt. She believes many of the world's issues can be solved in the garden.

In her book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott writes about the garden as a metaphor for humanity:

The garden is about life and beauty and the impermanence of all living things….

And what a wonderful relief, every so often, to know who the enemy is.
Because in the garden, the enemy is everything: the aphids, the weather, time.

Gardening in Houston Requires Preparation

Before stepping outside, we suit up for protection and make sure our tools are in fighting shape.  What are the weather conditions?  Are the mosquitoes waiting by the door?  Does this shirt have UPF protection?  Where’s my hat?  While it may be tempting to step out in flip-flops and shorts for a quick tour around the yard, odds are you’ll be regretting that decision in a few minutes.  Here’s my quick guide to keep you ready for any surprises:

Mosquitos and Fire Ants

When it does rain for days, you know that the bugs that bite will have multiplied or moved to unexpected locations.  Be ready by always wearing shoes and gloves.  Stepping in fire ant beds or sticking your hand into one can cause pain that lasts for days.  Wear clothes that cover you up. Who among us hasn’t stepped outside just in the last week for a quick walk around the garden and come back inside covered in mosquito bites?  The easiest way to fight these bugs is to cover up.

Our Intense Summer Heat

But cover up in this heat??  How does that work?  First, wear fabrics that breathe.  Here is a Guide for how to pick the most breathable fabrics.  Second, look for fabrics with built-in UPF. UPF is Ultraviolet Protection Factor, and it measures how effectively fabrics block potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching your skin. You can protect your skin while keeping yourself cool.  Third, work outside during the coolest times of the day.  Early morning is often the best time to avoid the sun’s most intense rays, but early evening is good, too.  Fourth, stay hydrated under that wide-brimmed hat.  Replace those electrolytes and know when it’s time to get out of the heat.  Finally, plant native species. Make it easy on yourself and reap the rewards that plants made for this heat can bring to your garden.  For a complete list and description of native species guaranteed to thrive in your garden, the Texas Superstar website is a great resource.

Garden Tools and Pesticides

Make sure your tools are in good shape.  Use the right tool for the job.  Shortcuts can cause injuries.  Clean your tools after you use them to avoid spreading mites, bacteria, or fungi. If you must use a chemical in your yard, read the directions carefully.  Make sure you protect yourself and your family when spraying any type of pesticide.  Avoid using them if it’s windy, and always properly store or dispose of anything leftover.

Microbes in the Soil

Science shows that plunging your hands in the soil gives you immediate health benefits.  As described in his article, “Why does playing in the dirt feel so good?” Integrative Physiology Professor Christopher Lowry discusses how contact with the earth lowers cortisol, increases serotonin, alleviates anxiety, and steadies the nervous system.  But how can you get those benefits without picking up an unfriendly bacterium?  Avoid working in unfamiliar soil without your gloves on.  In your own garden, especially if you’ve made raised beds with fresh soil and without pesticides, you’re in less danger of picking up a dangerous microbe.  No matter where you garden, though, always clean your hands thoroughly afterward with soap and water.  Keep a nail brush handy, too. And you get bonus points if you’ve had a recent tetanus shot.

So why do we garden even under these adverse conditions?  I’ve gardened here in Houston for decades, and I’m hooked.  Maybe it’s the joy from the small wins, my love of nature, or just the quiet time to think.  As Anne Lamott’s next line says:

And so you pour yourself into it, care so much, and see up close so much birth, and growth, and beauty, and danger, and triumph.
And then everything dies anyway, right?
But you just keep doing it.”

For More Great Advice 

On this month's Green Thumb, Dr. Karen Gerlach talks about all the "Enemies in the Garden"

Bird by Bird