Garden Guy

Garden Guy Todd Farber, B.S. Horticulture from Texas A & M and President of Garden Guy, Inc. has owned and operated his company since 1991.

🌟 Aggie Horticulturist & Expert Landscaper
📍 Sugar Land, TX | Serving Houston + The Gulf Coast
💡 30+ years solving Houston lawn & garden problems
🎯 Expert advice + Full landscape services Congrats to Garden Guy for WINNING Nextdoor FAV 2021! We make landscape dreams come true every day! We love working with the homeowner and integrating your ideas with our professional experience. Garden Guy, Tod

d Farber uses his Aggie Horticulture degree and 30 years of dealing with Houston-area plant issues, which means you can trust him to recommend design ideas and plants for your home that will GROW more beautiful with time.

🐦 WHAT EATS A HUMMINGBIRD?The answers may surprise you…With Tropical Storm Edouard coming ashore near the Louisiana–Texa...
09/01/2026

🐦 WHAT EATS A HUMMINGBIRD?
The answers may surprise you…

With Tropical Storm Edouard coming ashore near the Louisiana–Texas border, we recently talked about where hummingbirds go during severe weather.

Now for another fascinating question: What predators are brave—or fast—enough to catch these tiny birds?

Hummingbirds may be incredibly quick and fearless, but most weigh only about 3–4 grams. Their list of predators is much longer—and stranger—than you might expect.

🐈 CATS

Domestic and feral cats are believed to be among the most common predators of adult hummingbirds. A feeder hanging too low or beside thick shrubbery can become an easy ambush spot.

Keep cats indoors and hang feeders at least 4–5 feet above the ground in a location where a stalking predator would be visible.

🦅 SMALL, FAST BIRDS OF PREY

Huge hawks are generally looking for a more substantial meal, but smaller, agile hunters can catch hummingbirds.

The list includes:

• Sharp-shinned Hawks
• American Kestrels
• Merlins
• Mississippi Kites
• Loggerhead Shrikes

Greater Roadrunners have even been observed waiting beneath feeders for an opportunity.

And here is the funny part: hummingbirds are not always intimidated. They have been observed chasing and confronting hawks, especially when defending a nest!

🪺 NEST RAIDERS

Hummingbird eggs and chicks cannot fly away, making nests vulnerable to jays, crows, ravens, snakes and large lizards.

This is one reason hummingbird nests are so tiny, camouflaged and difficult to find.

🦗 PRAYING MANTISES

Yes, really.

A large praying mantis may position itself on a flower or directly beside a feeder port, wait for a hummingbird to return and strike with remarkable speed.

Mantises are beneficial garden predators, so there is no reason to harm them. If you find one staking out your feeder, carefully relocate it a good distance away.

🕷️ ORB-WEAVER SPIDERS

Hummingbirds collect spider silk to construct their nests, but a large web can become a dangerous trap.

If you see a substantial web stretched directly across the flight path to a feeder, consider moving the feeder rather than removing every spider. Spiders are valuable members of the garden, too.

🐉 LARGE DRAGONFLIES

Large dragonflies have been observed eating hummingbirds. In some cases, it is difficult to prove whether the dragonfly made the kill or found an already-dead bird—but imagine being a dragonfly large enough for this to even be a question!

🐸 FROGS

There are also reports and documented observations of large frogs catching very small birds, including hummingbirds near ponds and feeders.

🐝 BEES AND WASPS

They are not normally hunting hummingbirds, but they may chase them away from feeders. In rare cases, a sting could be deadly to something with such a tiny body.

Does this mean we should remove every hawk, spider, frog, dragonfly or mantis from the garden? Absolutely not. They are all part of the natural ecosystem.

We can simply make our feeders safer:

✅ Hang them at least 4–5 feet high.
✅ Keep outdoor cats away from feeding areas.
✅ Check periodically for a mantis beside a feeding port.
✅ Avoid placing feeders directly beside large webs or low hiding places.
✅ If a hawk begins regularly staking out the feeder, take it down temporarily and allow the predator to move along.

These tiny birds survive tropical storms, cross enormous distances during migration and occasionally pick fights with birds many times their size.

The more we learn about hummingbirds, the more remarkable they become. 💚

Which predator surprised you the most?

We are unapologetically on a hummingbird kick right now! We hope you’re following our page as we climb ever closer to three million views.

—Sabrina & Todd
Garden Guy 🌿

🌱 WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR’S GRASS CROSSES THE LINE…One of our followers is fighting about 50 feet of St. Augustine and Bermud...
09/01/2026

🌱 WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR’S GRASS CROSSES THE LINE…

One of our followers is fighting about 50 feet of St. Augustine and Bermuda creeping under a wrought-iron fence and into her flower beds—all while trying to stay friends with the neighbors. 😂

She got permission to work from their side, edged the fence line, pulled what she could and carefully treated the unwanted grass. Now she plans to maintain it from her side and use no-till mulching.

Here is what makes this such a battle:

🌱 St. Augustine spreads through above-ground runners. Consistent edging, pulling and mulch can usually keep it under control.

🌱 Bermuda spreads both above and below the soil. Every little piece of runner or underground rhizome left behind can potentially grow again.

That means ordinary edging may stop St. Augustine, but Bermuda does not respect borders—or property lines.

Here is the best plan:

✅ Install a solid metal or heavy-duty plastic barrier at least 6 inches into the soil. It can slow Bermuda down, but you will still need to watch the top, ends and seams.

✅ Walk the fence line weekly during the growing season and remove new runners before they root. Five minutes now beats reclaiming the entire bed later.

✅ Do not till established Bermuda in moist soil. Tilling can chop it into smaller pieces that root and create even more Bermuda. Her no-till approach is smart.

✅ Remove the runners completely. Don’t leave chopped pieces lying in moist soil, and don’t casually toss them into the compost pile unless it gets hot enough to destroy them.

✅ Mulch helps, but ordinary wood mulch alone is not a guaranteed Bermuda killer. Cardboard covered with several inches of mulch can improve suppression, but tough perennial grass may require two growing seasons—and Bermuda will still search for openings around the edges.

✅ Pre-emergent will not kill the Bermuda or St. Augustine already growing in the bed. It only helps prevent certain weeds from germinating from seed.

✅ Some grass-selective herbicides may be labeled for use around certain flowers and shrubs, but they can also injure ornamental grasses. The exact plants listed on the product label matter. Nonselective products can damage anything they touch.

If you use an herbicide, apply only according to the label when the unwanted grass is actively growing and not drought-stressed. Protect every desirable plant from contact and spray drift.

Unfortunately, there is no one-and-done answer for 50 feet of Bermuda. The winning combination is a barrier, careful removal, mulch and consistent patrol.

Have you ever had to negotiate a grass border treaty with your neighbor? Which one gives you more trouble—St. Augustine or Bermuda?

We hope you’re following our page! Our little two-person Garden Guy operation is climbing ever closer to THREE MILLION VIEWS, and that is incredibly exciting to us. Thank you for learning, laughing and gardening alongside us! 💚

—Sabrina & Todd
Garden Guy 🌿

09/01/2026

NEW HERE?? WELCOME TO GARDEN GUY! Here are four of our most popular resources:

HUMMINGBIRDS: Download our new, full-color Hummingbird Yard Guide—completely free:
https://bit.ly/myhummingbirdyardguide

NUTGRASS: Why pulling it makes the problem worse and what to do instead:
https://bit.ly/nutgrass

LAWN WATERING: How long should you water a Houston lawn? Start here:
https://bit.ly/summerwateringhouston

GARDEN QUESTIONS, GUIDES AND MORE:
https://askgardenguy.com

Save this comment so you can find these resources again—and follow Garden Guy for practical advice from real Houston gardeners.

🌿 THE VINE THAT SURVIVED THREE SPRAYINGSA homeowner in El Campo recently bought a house with beautiful mature oak trees—...
09/01/2026

🌿 THE VINE THAT SURVIVED THREE SPRAYINGS

A homeowner in El Campo recently bought a house with beautiful mature oak trees—but this vine had climbed four of them and spread across the backyard.

After looking closely at her pictures, we’re confident this is cat’s-claw vine . Its leaves grow as two pointed leaflets with a tiny, three-pronged “claw” between them. Those claws allow it to grip bark and climb high into trees.

A spraying company treated it three times. Each time it disappeared—and each time it returned.

Why? Cat’s-claw vine develops tough underground tuberous roots. Spraying the visible leaves may damage the top growth without completely eliminating the stored energy underground.

For vines growing on valuable trees, the more targeted approach is generally to:

🌿 Trace each vine back to the ground.
✂️ Cut the stem close to the soil.
🖌️ Immediately apply a brush and stump killer directly to the fresh cut, following the product label exactly.
🌳 Keep the product off the oak’s trunk, foliage, sprouts, exposed roots and surrounding soil.
👀 Continue watching for new growth and retreat only as the label permits.

Don’t yank old vines out of the canopy. Cut them at the bottom and allow the upper growth to die and loosen gradually. Anything large or dangerous overhead should be handled by a certified arborist.

Brush and stump killer can also be helpful for many other labeled woody vines, unwanted brush and freshly cut stumps that insist on growing back. The product we’re sharing includes a very useful applicator, so you can place it directly on the cut instead of spraying everything nearby.

We’ll put the link in the first comment.

Always wear gloves and any other protective equipment required by the label. Read and follow every label direction—it’s the law and the safest way to protect yourself and the plants you want to keep.

Have you ever battled a vine that simply refused to leave? Drop your pictures below!

—Sabrina & Todd
Garden Guy | Ask Garden Guy
Two real people in Sugar Land—not a content mill. 🌿

09/01/2026

🥔 CAN YOU PLANT A GROCERY-STORE POTATO? YES. SHOULD YOU? NOPE. Details in first comment ⬇

🚜 MEET THE NEWEST TEXAS SUPERSTAR: TRACTOR SEAT PLANT!Its botanical name is Farfugium japonicum, but most Gulf Coast gar...
09/01/2026

🚜 MEET THE NEWEST TEXAS SUPERSTAR: TRACTOR SEAT PLANT!

Its botanical name is Farfugium japonicum, but most Gulf Coast gardeners know it as Tractor Seat Plant—and one look at those enormous, round leaves explains why!

Farfugium was named the newest Texas Superstar after years of testing by Texas A&M AgriLife. To earn that designation, a plant must prove it can perform reliably in different soils and growing conditions across Texas.

Why did Tractor Seat Plant make the cut?

🌿 Its bold, glossy foliage gives shady areas a lush, tropical look.

🌿 It handles a surprisingly wide range of soils—including our heavy Gulf Coast clay.

🌿 It generally stays green through mild Gulf Coast winters, although a hard freeze may damage the foliage.

🌿 Yellow, daisy-like flowers rise above the leaves in fall.

🌿 It works beneath trees, beside covered patios, along shaded foundations, near water features or in large containers.

This should be a very good choice from Houston, Galveston and Beaumont across the Gulf Coast into Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. LSU AgCenter also recommends it for Louisiana shade gardens. It can even grow into northern Louisiana, although it may freeze to the ground before returning when temperatures warm.

Give it:

⛅ Shade, filtered light or gentle morning sun
🔥 Protection from intense afternoon sun
💧 Consistently moist—but well-drained—soil
🌱 Rich soil with a layer of natural mulch
🌬️ Some protection from strong wind, which can damage those big leaves

Most selections grow approximately 1–2 feet tall and wide, although the giant forms can grow larger. It may wilt dramatically when thirsty, but it doesn’t want to sit continuously in soggy soil.

When shopping, ask for Tractor Seat Plant or Farfugium japonicum. You may also see it labeled Giant Leopard Plant or Farfugium ‘Giganteum.’ Check with your local independent garden centers, but call before driving because this new Superstar designation may make it much easier to find—and much more popular!

Do you already have a Tractor Seat Plant? Drop a picture below and tell us your city or parish. We would love to see how it is performing across Texas and Louisiana! 🚜🌿

—Todd and Sabrina
Garden Guy | Ask Garden Guy

09/01/2026

We’re getting VERY close to 3 MILLION views, but Jeffery just discovered something funny:

“Done. Ngl totally thought I had.” 😂

He had been seeing our posts—but wasn’t actually following the page!

And then James made our day:

“Love what you’re doing—and thanks for the personalized answer earlier! You both rock!” 🤠👍🏻

Comments like these mean so much to us. If you enjoy our gardening advice and personalized answers, please check that you’re actually following Garden Guy. Facebook may show you our posts without ever adding you as a follower!

Thank y’all for helping two real people in Sugar Land grow this little gardening community. 💚🌱

Sabrina & Todd
Garden Guy

09/01/2026

🥔 GARDEN CONFESSION: Our fall potatoes should already be in the ground. Ours aren’t. 😂
Who else is running late? Garden Guy

🌱 WHAT CAN WE PLANT RIGHT NOW?Our Veggie Garden Calendar was written for Houston and the Gulf Coast—primarily Zone 9—but...
09/01/2026

🌱 WHAT CAN WE PLANT RIGHT NOW?

Our Veggie Garden Calendar was written for Houston and the Gulf Coast—primarily Zone 9—but it can also be a helpful starting point for gardeners in nearby Zones 8b–9b across parts of Texas and Louisiana.

If you’re farther north, south or west, adjust the timing for your weather and first expected freeze. Zone 8b gardeners may need to move a little earlier, while Zone 9b gardeners often have a little more time.

And before anyone comes at us: this is not moral law. 😂 It isn’t 100% foolproof, and it certainly isn’t every vegetable you can grow. This is simply what we included on our calendar based on what works well for us.

🌱 DIRECT-SOW FROM SEED:

• Bush or snap beans
• Radishes
• Turnips
• Mustard greens
• Beets
• English or snap peas

🪴 SET OUT AS STARTER PLANTS:

If your seedlings are sturdy and around 4–6 weeks old, begin hardening them off and moving them outside. If you didn’t start seeds, look for healthy starter plants at a local nursery.

• Broccoli — Green Magic is our best bet
• Cabbage — Rio Verde
• Cauliflower — Snow Crown
• Kale — Red Russian, Lacinato or Dwarf Blue Curled
• Collards — Georgia Southern, Vates, Champion or Top Bunch
• Swiss chard — Bright Lights
• Kohlrabi — Early Purple Vienna or White Vienna
• Brussels sprouts — only if you enjoy a challenge! 😂

🥔 ABOUT THOSE FALL POTATOES…

Technically, they probably should have been planted by now.

But we’ll tell you a secret: we haven’t gotten ours into the ground yet either. 😂

Our completely non-foolproof opinion is that the most likely result will simply be a later harvest. Of course, the weather always gets the final vote—so please don’t come at us, potato people!

Our list includes Yukon Gold, Kennebec, Red LaSoda and Purple Majesty.

⏰ WAIT UNTIL LATER IN SEPTEMBER:

• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Dill

There are plenty of other vegetables you can plant successfully. Tell us what you’re growing—and please include your city or zone so everyone can learn from one another!

This is our list and our way, not the only way. Gardening is part research, part experience and part standing in the yard saying, “Well, let’s see what happens.” 🌱

—Todd & Sabrina
Garden Guy
Serving Houston, the Gulf Coast and gardeners across Texas and Louisiana since 1991

09/01/2026

🌱 SEPTEMBER 1 LAWN CHECK-IN: We can talk about lawns again… softly. 😂

This is our way of caring for a Houston lawn. It may not be everyone’s way—and some of it has definitely been controversial.

All summer, we told you not to push nitrogen onto a heat-stressed lawn. We know the bags were stacked at the stores. We know the advertisements told you to feed.

We still stood tall—and we’re standing tall on it today.

Fertilizer isn’t medicine for a lawn struggling through extreme heat. Heavy nitrogen pushes tender growth that needs even more water and can make the lawn more vulnerable to insects and disease.

So, what should you do on September 1?

Honestly, not much yet.

❌ Don’t apply winterizer.
❌ Don’t start a heavy fall feeding.
❌ Don’t apply pre-emergent simply because the calendar changed.

If you really want to accomplish something, go ahead and buy your fall pre-emergent so you’re ready later this month.

Late September into October, that pre-emergent becomes the second bookend of our Texas Two-Step Lawn Method. It helps prevent henbit, chickweed, annual bluegrass, burweed and those miserable spring stickers before they ever begin.

Then, in October–November—while the lawn is still green and actively growing—we’ll talk about a potassium-forward winterizer. That means emphasizing the third number on the fertilizer bag, not pushing a bunch of late nitrogen.

Our free Texas Two-Step Lawn Guide walks you through the entire year for St. Augustine and Bermuda:

🌱 The two pre-emergent bookends
🌱 When to feed—and when not to
🌱 Houston’s most common lawn pests and diseases
🌱 Our product choices and shopping lists
🌱 The difference between St. Augustine and Bermuda care
🌱 A special tribute to Randy Lemmon, who taught Houston how to think about its lawns for 25 years

If you do nothing else, remember this: two correctly timed pre-emergents and one main spring feeding will get you about 80% of the way there. Everything else is polish.

The guide is completely free, and we would love for you to have it. Look for the link in our first comment.

—Todd & Sabrina
Garden Guy

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