Dear Neil: I know St. Augustine gets planted into lawns from sod, but how do they start the grass at the sod farm? Seed isn't available, is it?

Answer: When pieces of sod are harvested in the fields, a thin strip of the existing sod is left behind to re-cover the field. You're correct: there is no St. Augustine seed sold for purposes of turf in Texas.

Dear Neil: Last year's garden was really productive, but this year, things have done very poorly. The Texas A&M soil test showed we have too much phosphorus. The plants have just been sitting there for the past couple of weeks. Squash bugs have been worse than ever. What should I do the rest of this season or for next year?

A: Let's start with the facts. Phosphorus didn't cause these problems (although you still want to use a quality all-nitrogen fertilizer next time around). This has been a very difficult year for vegetable gardening. It turned very hot very early. That, coupled with the drought, weakened the plants badly. Spider mites hit many different types of plants (tomatoes, beans, squash and others), while both squash vine borers and squash bugs were widespread. Spring vegetables are pretty well done now. It's time to focus on the fall crop. Plant tomatoes and pumpkins immediately, using small-fruiting varieties for the most dependable yield. Peppers will come next, in mid- to late July, followed by squash, cucumbers, beans and corn the first week of August. Cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts) in mid-August, and leafy and root crops in late August. Next year, be sure your plantings always are made at the best possible time. You have a 2- or 3-week window in which to plant most types in the spring.

Dear Neil: How long should I water the sphagnum peat moss I've put on my lawn. It still seems dry beneath it.

A: You'll need to water for a short period of time, wait a couple of hours, and then water again for another short period. It might help if you used a leaf rake to stir the peat up between waterings. I assume you did this for Take All Root Rot. Honestly, that disease shouldn't be persisting now that it's turned so hot. Be sure that's the proper identification of your problem.

Dear Neil: I had a grass others called goosegrass. It died when it got hot. I used a broadleafed weedkiller on it, but it hasn't worked. How can I stop it next season?

A: Apply a pre-emergent weedkiller the first week of September. Goosegrass is an annual weed that germinates in the fall. Use Dimension, Team, Balan or Halts granules to kill the germinating seeds. Timing is critical. Once the seedlings have emerged, there is no second chance for another entire year.

Dear Neil: I have a problem with raccoons or armadillos. The chemicals that are supposed to repel them haven't worked at all. If I were to trap them, I'd have to find a place to release them, and that doesn't seem likely. I can't afford to have an exterminator take them away. Any suggestions?

A: Trap them. Farm supply stores sell humane traps, and they can give you advice on the best way to attract them into the trap. I've caught several dozen armadillos and a couple of possums with our traps. I use a 15-foot-long piece of chicken wire on each side of the trap to act as a funnel. I have found a river bottom where they will bother no one, and I release them there. You have to go several miles from your home. I agree on the repelling products. They've always been pretty useless in my gardens. I hope this helps you.

Dear Neil: I am new here. How long should I let the stations on my sprinkler system run? Our lawn is a mix of St. Augustine and bermuda.

A: First of all, this answer is based on normal conditions. We certainly do not have those conditions right now. With Texas' current exceptional drought, your use of your system will be very limited. Follow all local regulations. To your question: there is no good answer, because it really depends on the types of plants involved, types of heads, sun/shade, soil type, slopes, temperature and so on. Your goal would be to have all plants dry out at the same time and then be watered to the same depth. Some stations might end up running for 20 minutes, while others would run for 10 and still others for 40. You'll need to adjust the clock a couple of times to get it all working properly. Better yet, buy a smart controller that will monitor things and determine when the sprinkler needs to run.