Just like the title says I think I have a question about everything in my yard. Hoping y'all can help me out. Im not new to dirt manicures, but my mentor and best gardening friend passed a few years ago. I miss her dearly and I went im out there fussing over and talking to my plants I always seem to add her the convo. lol... but I digress.
My azaleas are giving some trouble. Two last year just dried up and died. I water and fertilize with the correct azalea fertilizer but they still died. One this year is looking like its trying to do the same thing. I do not know what to do. I did notice that when they bloomed that looked strange and stuck to the leaves once dead. I replaced the two dead ones with some someone was going to throw away. They looked like healthyish plants but the color was off. They have never looked any different than these pics. No new growth and bright green leaves. Any help would be appreciated.









Moving on to grass.... Last year I wanted to try and plant grass.... again. But by seed. Never got around to it. Probably 15 years ago we laid sod, St. Augustine. It lasted maybe 2 years. I was young and didn't realize the water intake needed for that varitity. Well I just happen to notice last year the was some of it growing under the Cedar trees in my front yard. So I have been watering and loving it and watching it grow. Then I started wondering what other grass I had growing and didn't know about. I asked the previous owners, they said they had planted Bermuda and St. Augustine as well. And ya know what, now that I sorta know what im looking for I can see it.... St. Augustine that is. Not sure which is the Bermuda. My question is what are the others that I have growing. Hell the others maybe all weeds.














My Cannas had some worms that rolled the leaves and messed them up this year.... whats that about....





My geranium is a trooper.... I left it for dead one winter and the next spring it was the best looking plant on the porch. but it has always been leggy and not quite right. Miracle grow and water the same as others. It blooms but is not pretty.




Lets start the "What This" section of this thread....













Now just let me show off some notable others.

Here is my "born again" 20 year old Croton. It was six feet tall before that one dreadful winter night. Brutus, we call him, was in the green house, heaters going, just like the winters before. But this night it dropped to teens and we lost electricity. Everything in my greenhouse was affected. Brutus looked sad with his colorful leaves wilted and gooey. I thought he was dead.... broke my heart!!!! I left him in there and came to check on him often. I cleaned all the dead leaves and cut the limbs back a bit is see if there were any signs of life. There was nothing.... Until one day, many months later I was walking by and some green caught my eye. OMGEEZSUS it was Brutus. HE LIVES!!!!! The sticks are what I cut off the second time, and I didn't cut them close, he still has some sticking up.... he was huge yall!!!!!









These two bottom plants, Peace Lily I believe... also was in the green house and died to nothing and they both grew back. Both are from funerals... so I was happy!!! The arrangement looked much better berfore the bird won the war against the nest building. I could water it better.





Others I have is an African violet, Mother of Thousands, Mother in law tongue and new this week Venus Fly traps.













The other non notable things I have is my braided Hibiscus, Purple jew, Spider plants.. variegated and not, pothos ivy, elf ear or butterfly bush.. I think, and two orange trees... one common one and one ornamental, Iris, Calla lily, passion vine, hosta, monkey grass, and caladiums. Any advice or suggestions or anything of the such would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff!

In your grass pictures I do see St Augustine, some seed heads that look asif they belong to Bermuda, and possibly some Bahia Grass too. Where is all this growing?
I know nothing about Azaleas, but, you're right, they look bad.
Picture 12 looks like a Kolanchoe.
Congratulations on the reseurection of Brutus!

And I hope someone else will take over from here.

@tx_flower_child should be able to help with some of the IDs. More importantly, I think you two may have been sisters in another life! I kept thinking I was reading her post! Welcome to the Texas Gardening thread.

@Bubbles - Are you sure you were thinking about me? I appreciate your vote of confidence but I mostly grow native perennials.

But first, I have to ask — unless I missed it, whereabouts do you live @sreyomac? (Don't mean your street address.) Just in general. Like state?
EDITED: You obviously live in Texas because you're posting in the Texas forum. Duh. So I'll refine the question. What part of Texas do you live in? It's a big state and we got all kinds of climates in it.

And do you know what your gardening zone is? These things might help us. Do you get a lot of sun or mostly shade or??

I know nothing about azaleas except that they can be beautiful. I found a link from the Azalea Society of America which might provide some answers.
https://www.azaleas.org/faq/

As far as grass, if you live in Texas, especially in some parts of the state anyway, and if you want to start over, you might consider growing a mix of native grasses. They only need to be mowed once or twice a year. Same with water. Good deal, eh?

St. Augustine vs Bermuda? Here's an interesting answer from Mr. Smarty Plants at the Lady Bird Johnson wildflower Center.
http://www.chron.com/life/gard...

I have some St. Augustine, some Bermuda, and some I don't know what. But it all looks green when it's mowed. If I could remove all of it, I would be a happy camper. I'm not someone who is fond of lawns.

Don't know too much about cannas but I'm sure someone here does. But what I do know is that what you have are worms called Canna Leaf Rollers. Maybe google them to find a solution.

Never grown geraniums. Some here has and hopefully they will jump in.

Picture #10. My mother grew it as an indoor plant and it basically was hitting the ceiling. Doesn't mean it has to be indoors. Just saying. But the name escapes me. If I remember, I'll come back and edit this unless someone beats me to it.

Pictures 11 and 12 are succulents. Never grown them. Lot of folks on this site do. @valleylynn can you help or is that not your 'territory'?

Picture #13 sure looks like some type of philodendron to me. Looks healthy. Maybe flip through pictures of philodendrons on our plant database and see if you recognize yours. Or once again, maybe someone here will know.

Gotta admit that you sure have a large variety of plants. And most of them look very healthy. Your dog looks like it's waiting for you to put away your camera and go for a walk.

So sorry about your losing your mentor and best gardening friend. I know that must be hard. But it is ok to talk to her. Trust me on that one.

Ok. Time for you to answer the few questions that I asked at the beginning of this post. They'd be most helpful, especially to the next person to take over here.

Best wishes!

No experience with Azalea issues but I'll follow along and maybe learn. I was gifted one earlier this year. I have no clue but it is in the ground and for right now looks a tad better than yours.

Yes, you have Canna rollers but again, I have no experience with dealing with that headache.

On the geranium, I love them for their willing blooms but they seem to melt in the heat of summer. By the time they look ugly, I feel ugly about them and toss them in the compost.

What's this?
#1 familiar but not sure
#2 purslane
#3 sedum
#4 split leaf philodendron

Hang in there Brutus!

Pretty grouping of plants you have... at 6 o'clock in the photo is a Hoya (aka wax plant)

And isn't that just like one of our pets to look at us like ~ why are you looking at plants when you could be looking at me!

I actually think you nailed some of your own questions with your statement about watering. All the plants you have require different care. Sorry but it isn't a one size fits all.

Ditto on your location in this great state. It may help us better answer your questions. And to the Texas forum.

Thank you for warm Texas welcomings. I totally meant to state my region, but I got caught up in telling you about my aunt. I live in historic Henderson Texas, in Rusk county. Named after James Pickney Henderson, the first Governor of our great state. We are the home of the annual Syrup Festival, the oldest Diary Queen and have 19 historical markers, including some homes and churches that date back before 1900's. Im not sure the zone we are in. I think its 9b or a... one of those too. My yard is tricky in the whole sun/shade descriptions. Nothing gets more 6 hours of sun.... there is more shade than sun in most my yard. I have HUGE bull pines all around. We jokingly call them our east Texas red woods. My back porch, East side of the house, get the most sun. straight dense shade on the north and south and dapple sun to the west, the front of my house.

I have all these grasses growing in my yard, just different areas.... just randomly but in patches. So Bermuda will go to seed? I have seen this in other lawns. When might it do this? That would be a great indicator. I see Bahia now too that Porkpal mentioned it. I mean I knew I had it but I thought it was only the tall weedy seedy thing, not actual grass too. Its the thinner blade one. I wish the pic picked up how different the other two look... in the pic they look the same. Because the 2nd grass pic is what I most of. Well what are your thoughts on a weed and seed? Im scared all the green that I have worked for will go by the waste side. Yet I have clover and crab grass are rampant.

I think I have found a reason for the azaleas blooms to be funky... Petal Blight. I have never heard of it before and am still reading about it. Its a fungus. Would that kill the whole plant too??? Do any yall use a fungicide? Any DIY or home remedy, that is the way I like to do it. Truly at this point I would use anything to keep my investment alive.... Im surprised not more of you have azaleas... they are soo common here. Tx flowerchild, ty for the links, I haven't read them yet, but I will.

I have never heard of a canna roller... pesky little things. I will google. This is the first year I noticed them. They really did a number them.

Thank you all for identifications.... Now I can better care for them. I just got a cutting today of a bouginvillia that am going to try and root. So excited about that.

Pod, I totally thought that too about the geranium.... but it was growing and blooming out there so I scooped it back up. I need those hardy low maintenance plants, so I was hoping I could get it to look better. That one is about 5 years old, not that she is a beauty queen or anything. She also suffered in the green house incident. And thanks for naming the Hoya... he was one I missed to put on the "what is it" list. I don't know if you can tell from the pic but its spotted white. I am almost 100% it wasn't when I got it. Any ideas.... There is one more I forgot, its in pic 17, in an arrangement of succulents, about 4 and 5 oclock. Its not a good pic tho.

I do realize that not all plants require the same water and light as others.... I try to group them similarly on the porches, and plant accordingly. I really just watch the plant and see if its like it there and then move it around according to its reaction.... burnt leaves, your going to the front porch, less sun.... you need more water your going on the north side of the porch type thing.

And lastly my "Brown Bear" we call him. He comes to that better than his name, Diesel. Any time im outside he is there with me. Best dog ever.... but I say that about all my dogs. But he especially is a mommas dog...

@sreyomac — you can find your zone right here on garden.org. On the top of the screen you should see (left to right) a little house kinda like in Monopoly, then Learning Library, then Plants Database, and stop at Tools & Apps. Click on it and at the very bottom is Zone Lookup. Click on that to find your zone.

The plant that I said looked like one my mother had — the name is still on the tip of my tongue. She always wanted to start one for me but that was when I was moving every couple years and didn't feel like taking anything with me. Maybe my aunt might know if I can find another picture.

So you have mostly shade. I'm lucky if I can get 6 hours of sun. One year when my oaks lost their leaves kind of early, I was able to put in a bed with native perennials. They've done pretty well but some of them will start leaning like they're just trying to stretch a little further for more sun.

Grass. As I've previously said, I have a little of this and a little of that and when it's mowed it all looks green. If I find a picture that doesn't identify my house, I'll show you what I mean. But the mix of native grasses won't work for you. They need more sun. I'm still annoyed that the City flooded my parkway, the only spot with full sun. And I was all set to seed it with the mixed seed. Anyway, someone else will have to advise you about your 'grass'.

Never heard of petal blight. And yes, I do see a lot of azaleas. They're very pretty in the spring when they're in full bloom. If you have a fungus, I hope someone will hop on this thread and advise you.

Like you, I hadn't heard of canna leaf rollers. Just found them when I googled. Again, maybe someone will hop on any help you with that issue. I don't remember what the link I found said about them other than they weren't a good thing. Here's a link that's easy on the eyes and has 2 organic solutions. One is to find the caterpillars and hand pick 'em. The other organic solution is to use Bacillus thuringiensis. It's a good product but I can't tell you much more than that. Here's the link I was reading.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.c...
and another I just found
http://www.GardenSMART.com/?p=...

You're doing good by experimenting to see which of your plants are happier where they are or need to move. Same with water. Watching and making changes when needed is probably the best way to learn what each of your plants like. Good job!

A shred of advise on the grass: if you have a lot of shade, St Augustine will tolerate it better than the others.

The little succulent draped over the edge of the pot??? I think that will be one of the Crassula family which is quite large and I'm not familiar with specific IDs. Sorry.

On your Hoya ~ it may not have had those spots when you placed it outdoors. If I recall, some of them get the marbled effect due the light exposure. It won't hurt a thing and makes the plant look more interesting IMO.

Your area sounds similar to mine. I am to the east of you in Shelby county, near Toledo Bend. Lots of pine trees although I had trees removed from around the house last year. Now there is not enough shade and I had to build a small shade house for some of my plants. I will have to do some reading on your Azalea issue. As I said, I was gifted my first one earlier this year. Lots to learn.

Quick answer for your azalea. Iron. And they love acidic soil. But the sun? Not so much.

ShadyGreenThumb said:Quick answer for your azalea. Iron. And they love acidic soil. But the sun? Not so much.

Thanks Cheryl, Good to know. At least it sounds like I planted mine in the right spot.

Image# 10 aka the first in your "What's This" section is driving me battier than I already am. It's that 'tip of the tongue' thing. Except it's not got past the tip of my tongue.

I'm not sure what you need to do with it but my mom's was really full. I looked to see if I happened to have a picture where it might have been in the background but no luck. I'm guessing that you need to give it more sun. She kept hers by the sliding glass doors facing the sunny patio. I previously mentioned that it was tall, which it was, but it was also very full, sort of bushy.

tx_flower_child said:Image# 10 aka the first in your "What's This" section is driving me battier than I already am. It's that 'tip of the tongue' thing. Except it's not got past the tip of my tongue.

It reminds me of Polemonium aka Variegated Jacobs Ladder but I don't think that is correct either.

You will wake up in the middle of the night and think of it.... just write it down so you can tell us.

I am going to guess
#10 is a pseuderanthemum. Mine turns green when it doesn't get enough sun.

#11 Moss Rose/portulaca of some type.
#12 I am going to leave to the Succulent Experts but guessing again Giant Portulaca as it looks similar to something in my DD's yard.
#13 Split Leaf Philodendron

In your lawn photos I see:
#1 what I consider crab grass
#2 Nut Sedge
#3 St. Augustine

Never had luck with geraniums and believe me you, I have TRIED. It just gets too hot here for them even in the shade. The tags, planting instructions may say full sun, but not here! I treat them as spring annuals. Only the strong survive our summer but it's work to help them along.

I agree on the geraniums yet I love their brilliant colors.

This spring I convinced myself to try a couple of scented geraniums. (not the first time by the way)
They are malingering in ground as I struggle to keep them alive till cooler weather. Hope (in the gardeners heart) springs eternal!

I quit buying geraniums when I lost a dozen at around the same time a few years ago. As I was tossing them, I decided to shake off the potting soil to use for something else. Each geranium stem was nestled in a cube of floral foam. The roots were trying to get out, but not very successfully. The same thing happened with some new tropical hibiscus. All were purchased at Lowes.

Interesting...!

Bubbles said:I quit buying geraniums when I lost a dozen at around the same time a few years ago. As I was tossing them, I decided to shake off the potting soil to use for something else. Each geranium stem was nestled in a cube of floral foam. The roots were trying to get out, but not very successfully. The same thing happened with some new tropical hibiscus. All were purchased at Lowes.

Wow! That is definitely a lesson learned. I'm going home and unpot some of my lastest acquisitions.

When I co-managed the Master Gardener greenhouse at Zilker, we gathered quite a few hard to come by old roses and made cuttings. We stuck the cuttings in small squares of floral foam soaked in water, and then planted them in flats. We had quite a success rate. But, we didn't leave them in the foam after they started growing roots. We carefully took the foam off and potted them up to larger pots. Im pretty sure we sold most of them in gallon pots during Zilkerfest.

The foam works for rooting, but you have to remember to take it off. I check now when I buy small pots of anything.